Wood Memorial Library Association, Trustee

Mission Statement since 1928

• To care for and maintain the Wood Memorial Library

• To provide for the accommodation of a free public library, assemblies and lectures, musical, literary, social and other entertainment, exhibitions, and a place of meeting or general community purposes

• To undertake and execute the Trust established to support and preserve the Wood Memorial Library

A Brief Look Back

The Wood Memorial Library was built in 1927 by William R. Wood, according to his mother’s wish that the Town of South Windsor should have a public library. Will Wood dedicated the building to the memory of his parents, Dr. William R. Wood and Mary Lyman Ellsworth Wood and he also established an endowment, the Wood Memorial Library Trust, to fund the Library’s upkeep. The Wood Memorial Library Association Inc., Trustee, oversees the administration of the Trust by an all-volunteer Board of Directors.

Wood Memorial Library served as one of South Windsor’s two public libraries from 1927 until 1968 when the Town decided to build a new facility. A group of residents, intent on preserving a much-loved community institution, incorporated as a nonprofit organization named the Friends of the Wood Memorial Library and Museum. With the partnership and support of the WML Association, the Wood’s doors were reopened to the public as a lending library and museum in 1971. The Association and Friends together have acted as Will Wood’s two oxen: the Trust maintains the Library's building and grounds and supports rent-free use of the building by the community, and the Friends are responsible for overseeing the Library's programs.

Our wonderful Colonial Revival building houses a main reading room on the first floor, with presentation, exhibition and meeting space on the second floor and ground level. The Wood Memorial Library and Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Windsor Farms Historic District.

The Directors of the Association serve as dedicated stewards for this beautiful brick building which houses many valuable antiques, artworks, artifacts and unique archival collections. This has been the Association’s mission for nearly a century, and we remain committed to it today. However, we need your help!

Timeline

1925    The Wood Memorial Library Trust is established to build a library and fund its maintenance and operation

1927    The Wood Memorial Library opens as one of South Windsor’s two public libraries

1928 The Wood Memorial Library Association is incorporated as Trustee of the WML Trust

1964    More unique collections are added to permanent exhibitions and the name is changed to The Wood Memorial Library & Museum

1968    The Wood is decommissioned as a town library as the Town of South Windsor builds a new public library

1971    The Wood Memorial Library & Museum reopens to the public as a privately-run institution

1976    An addition is built to house more books and provide office space

1990    An custom-built, climate-controlled Archive Room is created to preserve local history

2007    A second addition is built to provide an elevator and to make the building ADA-compliant