Celebrating 40th Anniversary
of Service

1947-1948
The transition from neighborhood book-swapping shelves to a centralized public library for the Town of Pownal, Vermont was begun by a committee consisting of Genevieve Barber, Elizabeth Burrington and Ruth Gardner.  In 1947 the book collection was moved into its original location, the Baptist Church vestry, from "Rightholme", the residence of Agnes Rathbun who had been acting librarian.

The first Pownal Public LIbrary report of January 2, 1948 lists selected titles, expenses, donors, new bookshelves and a new volunteer librarian, Helen Thompson Renner.  Mrs. Renner, a Pownal native, graduate of Oak Hill School started by the Pownal Literary Association, and later a graduate of Syracuse University's Library Science program began her devoted library oversight and duties which lasted for 40 years.  The "bookwagon" visited, the donations were catalogued, and many part-time volunteers helped guarantee service for the rural community.