Fletcher Free Library
🏢 City of Burlington · Burlington, Vermont
Fletcher Free Library
Vermont's largest public library, the Fletcher Free Library has anchored Burlington's cultural life since 1873, when Mary L. Fletcher and her daughter donated $20,000 to launch the collection — half for books, half for an endowment. The 1904 Carnegie building, a Romanesque landmark at 235 College Street, holds more than 155,000 items and stays open seven days a week.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–6pm |
| Sunday | 12pm–6pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 235 College Street, Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 863-3403
Website: fletcherfree.org
Plus Code: 87P8FQGQ+QQ (Burlington, VT)
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📖 About Fletcher Free Library
The Fletcher Free Library is Burlington's main public library and the largest public library in Vermont. It began in 1873 when Burlington residents Mary L. Fletcher and her daughter Mary M. Fletcher gave the city $20,000 — half to purchase the initial book collection, half as a permanent endowment — making it one of the oldest public libraries in the state. By 1901 the original City Hall location was too small, and industrialist Andrew Carnegie contributed $50,000 for a new Romanesque building that opened on August 17, 1904. When structural damage threatened the Carnegie building in the 1970s, community advocates formed the Committee to Save the Fletcher Free Library Building, secured its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in August 1976, and won a 1978 bond issue that funded a major addition completed January 4, 1981. Today the library holds more than 155,000 books, films, audiobooks and digital titles, operates a North End Branch at 1127 North Avenue, and offers unique extras like a Seed Library, 3D printing and museum passes to 20-plus Vermont venues.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Vermont's largest public library — founded 1873 with a $20,000 gift from Mary L. Fletcher and her daughter, making it one of the oldest in the state
- The 1904 Carnegie Romanesque building at 235 College Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1976)
- Collection of 155,000+ books, audiobooks, films and digital titles — plus a North End Branch at 1127 North Avenue
- Museum & event passes to 20+ Vermont venues, including the Shelburne Museum, ECHO Leahy Center, Ethan Allen Homestead and Vermont State Parks
- Unique maker services: Seed Library, 3D printing lab, and a Tech Center — open seven days a week
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Fletcher Free cardholders stream, borrow and research free through Vermont's statewide and consortium digital collections:
📚 Services
- Museum & event passes to 20+ Vermont venues (Shelburne Museum, ECHO, Ethan Allen Homestead, Vermont State Parks and more)
- Seed Library — free vegetable and flower seeds for Burlington gardeners
- 3D printing lab and Tech Center
- Public computers, printing, scanning & free Wi-Fi
- Meeting and program spaces
- Interlibrary loan
- Reference and research assistance
- Outreach services
🎸 Programs
- Adult programs: author events, art exhibits, yoga, computer workshops
- Book discussion groups
- Teen and tween programming
- Children's storytimes and STEAM activities
- Summer Reading Challenge
- Community outreach
📍 Nearby Libraries in Chittenden County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Burlington · Browse all Vermont libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Fletcher, and how did the library get its name?
The library is named for Mary L. Fletcher and her daughter Mary M. Fletcher, Burlington residents who donated $20,000 to the city in 1873 — half to purchase the first books, half as a permanent endowment. Their gift created what grew into Vermont's largest public library.
Is the Fletcher Free Library building a historic landmark?
Yes. The Romanesque Carnegie building at 235 College Street opened August 17, 1904, funded by a $50,000 Andrew Carnegie grant. Community advocates saved it from demolition in the 1970s and secured its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in August 1976.
Does Fletcher Free Library offer museum passes?
Yes — library cardholders can check out passes to more than 20 Vermont venues, including the Shelburne Museum, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Vermont History Museum, Billings Farm & Museum, Vermont State Parks and many others.
What are the library's hours, and is there a second location?
The main library at 235 College Street is open Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; and Sunday noon–6 p.m. The North End Branch at 1127 North Avenue has its own schedule (Tuesday & Thursday 2–6 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.).
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
