Editing Hardwick, Massachusetts (section)

==Library==

The public library in Hardwick was established in 1892.<ref>Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. [https://books.google.com/books?id=gbUYAQAAIAAJ v.9] (1899)</ref><ref>[http://www.paigelibrary.org/ Paige Memorial Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620051637/http://www.paigelibrary.org/ |date=June 20, 2010 }} Retrieved November 10, 2010</ref> In fiscal year 2008, the town of Hardwick spent 1.58% ($64,023) of its budget on its public library—approximately $24 per person.<ref>July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008; cf. The FY2008 Municipal Pie: What's Your Share? Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Library Commissioners. Boston: 2009. Available: [http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/index.php Municipal Pie Reports] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123010127/http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/index.php |date=January 23, 2012 }}. Retrieved August 4, 2010</ref> In fiscal year 2017, the town budget provided the library with 1.16 percent of the total budget, or $26.18 per year for each resident.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners |title=The FY2017 Municipal Pie What's Your Share? |url=https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/bitstream/handle/2452/802161/ocn725879606-2017.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |website=State Library of Massachusetts |access-date=June 19, 2022 |oclc=ocn725879606 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023172120/https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/bitstream/handle/2452/802161/ocn725879606-2017.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |location=Boston |page=2 |date=December 2018 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

A library in the Village of Gilbertville was constructed in 1911 to replace a library housed over one of the nearby Gilbert Company mills. The Gilbertville Library was dedicated on March 29, 1913, by Association President, Charles A. Ware, who acknowledged the library being given by E.H. Gilbert.

The building today retains most of its original design. The only significant change occurred when a barrier-free entrance was added. This new entryway, completed in 2002, was designed to complement the charm and beauty of the original plan. The library is funded through donations, fundraising by the Association and town funds.