CCL is an incorporated library. What does this mean?

The General Assembly declares it to be the policy of the State of Vermont that free public libraries are essential to the general enlightenment of citizens in a democracy and that every citizen of the State of Vermont should have access to the educational, cultural, recreational, informational, and research benefits of a free public library.  (22 V.S.A. § 67)

 The above Vermont state statute makes it clear that providing library services is every town’s obligation; these services can be through a municipal or incorporated library. Carpenter-Carse is an incorporated, or non-profit, library. What does this mean?

In 1946, the citizens of Hinesburg voted to contract with what was then called the Sarah Carpenter Memorial Library, Inc. to “furnish books to the inhabitants of the town without charge.” Prior to this arrangement, residents relied on the small and underfunded Hinesburg Public Library which was housed in the town hall.

A group of private citizens, led by the efforts and generosity of Leonard Carpenter, were responsible for the creation and endowment of the new library; the building was dedicated on Mother’s Day in 1947. This version of the library served the town for 50 years, always depending on support from private citizens as well as the funding from the town raised through taxes.

When the town outgrew the library building that still stands today in the center of the village, another private citizen stepped in to help. Thanks to Henry Carse’s generous gift of property on Ballards Corner Road and the dedicated fundraising efforts of many local volunteers, the former hardware store was transformed into the Carpenter-Carse Library that we know and love today.

Carpenter-Carse Library was established by private citizens to do the job of providing a library to the town. It is not a municipal department and its staff are not town employees. The budget is developed by the library’s Board of Trustees and the library director; it is funded by an allocation from the Town of Hinesburg (which is voted on by the citizens on Town Meeting Day), private donations, grants, and earnings from endowment funds.

The FY26 draft budget that was brought before the town select board on December 4th, 2024 can be found here.