History of the
Westwood Public Library

The Westwood Public Library began in 1919, when the Girls’ Patriotic League, originally formed during World War I to assist the Red Cross, directed its efforts to creating a library for the community. Guided by Mrs. Mabel Coan and other local women, the group collected donated books and opened the Westwood Free Circulating Library on June 7, 1919.

Volunteers ran the library until 1924, when Westwood voters approved municipal support, officially establishing it as a public institution. Over the decades, the library expanded to meet the town’s growing needs, with a Children’s Room addition completed in 1962 and an Adult space addition in 1994. Today, the library continues to grow and adapt, serving as a vital resource and gathering place for the Westwood community.