Pope Memorial Library
🏢 Caledonia County · Danville, Vermont
Pope Memorial Library
Built in 1890 on Danville's historic Town Green with funds donated by the widow of Chicago businessman Charles Pope — a Danville native who never forgot his Vermont roots — the Pope Memorial Library has been the Northeast Kingdom's 'Jewel on the Green' for more than 130 years.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–5pm |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 10am–7pm |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–12pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 121 Park Street, Danville, VT 05828
Phone: (802) 684-2256
Website: popememoriallibrary.org
Plus Code: 87P9CV65+CJ (Danville, VT)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Pope Memorial Library
Pope Memorial Library stands at 121 Park Street on Danville's historic Town Green, a short walk from the gazebo that hosts the celebrated Autumn on the Green craft fair each October. The library was endowed in 1890 by Sarah H. Pope of Chicago, who commissioned architect Marshall J. Morrill to design the building as a memorial to her late husband Charles — a Danville native who had made his fortune in Chicago before his death in 1885. Morrill's neo-classical design was dedicated in December 1890 at a cost of approximately $8,000, and Charles Pope's portrait still hangs in the reading room. Today the library serves Danville and surrounding Northeast Kingdom communities with books, digital resources, youth programming, and interlibrary loan access through Vermont's CLOVER network — guided by a mission to inspire the love of learning through open access and professional guidance.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Endowed 1890 by Sarah H. Pope in memory of Danville-born Charles Pope; architect Marshall J. Morrill; dedicated December 1890 for approximately $8,000
- Neo-classical building on Danville's historic Town Green — the civic heart of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom since 1797
- Free statewide digital access: Vermont Online Library (Gale databases, Udemy courses) and OverDrive/Libby e-books and audiobooks
- Participates in Vermont's CLOVER statewide Interlibrary Loan network — borrow materials from libraries across Vermont and beyond
- Free 24/7 Wi-Fi accessible from the parking lot and surrounding green; public computers available during open hours
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Pope Memorial Library cardholders can stream and research free through Vermont's digital resources:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet access and free 24/7 outdoor Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary Loan (ILL) via Vermont's CLOVER network — borrow from libraries statewide; ILL coordinator on staff
- Community meeting rooms available to Danville and surrounding-town groups and clubs
- Youth services room with dedicated children's collections
- Book donations accepted (call ahead for guidelines)
- Volunteer opportunities for community members
🎸 Programs
- Storytime — weekly sessions with stories, songs, movement, a craft, and a snack (children 5 and under, older siblings welcome)
- Movie Night on the Green — outdoor screenings on Danville's Town Green (summer/fall series)
- Community participation in Danville's annual Autumn on the Green craft fair (October, 250+ vendors)
- Summer reading programs for all ages
📍 Nearby Libraries in Caledonia County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Charles Pope, and why is this library named after him?
Charles Pope was born in Danville, Vermont in 1835 and later moved to Chicago, where he built a successful business career before his death in 1885 at age 50. His widow, Sarah H. Pope, chose to honor his memory by funding a public library in his hometown. She hired architect Marshall J. Morrill to design the building, dedicated in December 1890 at a cost of approximately $8,000 — most of it funded by Sarah Pope. Charles Pope's portrait has hung in the reading room ever since.
Can I borrow items from other Vermont libraries through Pope Memorial Library?
Yes. Pope Memorial Library participates in Vermont's CLOVER (Collaborative Libraries Of VERmont) statewide Interlibrary Loan network, administered by the Vermont Department of Libraries. A dedicated ILL coordinator is on staff to help you request books, DVDs, and other materials from libraries across the state — and beyond through national ILL networks.
What free online resources can I access with a Pope Memorial Library card?
Cardholders get free access to OverDrive/Libby (e-books and audiobooks 24/7) and the Vermont Online Library (VOL) — a statewide Gale database collection including newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, and Gale Presents: Udemy for online skill courses. These resources are funded for all Vermont public library patrons through the Vermont Department of Libraries and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
When is the library open, and is there Wi-Fi when it's closed?
The library is open Monday 10 AM–5 PM, Wednesday 10 AM–7 PM, Friday 10 AM–5 PM, and Saturday 9 AM–noon. It is closed Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. The building's Wi-Fi network is unsecured and accessible 24/7 from the parking lot and surrounding Town Green — so you can connect even outside open hours.
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