According to Fran Martin's 1965 history of our town, the Lanesborough Public Library began full operation in 1871, thanks to the efforts of Justus Tower, Mr. Dickie, Rev. William F. Avery, Josiah Royce and Verlorus Burlinghame. Prior to that, Justus Tower had appealed to the state legislature to direct the "dog tax" to the support of libraries throughout the Commonwealth.
In 1890 the government created a system for the running of public libraries. Management was delegated to three Trustees. Lanesborough's first Trustees were Rev. Charles Palmer, J.C. Pratt, and E. M. Whiting. Mr. Whiting served for 40 years in that …