WELCOME TO THE PORTVILLE FREE LIBRARY

BORROWING RULES

BOOKS:            Loan period-four weeks

                            Fines are ten cents a day
                            for adult materials and
                            five cents a day for
                            children's materials

VIDEO:              Loan period-one week
                            overdue fine is
                            $1.00 per day per video

Please return borrowed items on time, using the book drop if we are not open.
You may renew by telephone or in person.

Special services are offered you may be interested in:

                            Books on Cassette
                            Books for fun reading
                            Genealogy Materials
                            Up-to-date encyclopedias
                            Magazines and newspapers
                            Videos for children and adults
                            Local historical newspapers on microfilm
                            Displays
                            Large Print Materials
                            Community  Room
                            Community Events
                            Popular Paperback and Jigsaw Exchange
                            Preschool Reading Program
                            Summer Reading Program
                            Income Tax Forms
                            Fax and Copy Service
                            Computers and internet access
                            Scanner
                            Basic Computer Classes and Help
                           

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Portville Free Library is to provide a comfortable, welcome atmosphere filled with a variety of resources and services that help to satisfy the need for people of all ages to pursue happiness and well-being. This essence is sustained by a continued emphasis to maintain a collection with elements of local popular interests, current widespread concerns and healthy recreational enjoyment.

Current Members of the Board of Trustees

Dr. Thomas Clark       President  
    Ronda Pollock            Vice President
            Dan Schmidt               Secretary/Treasurer

Priscilla Griffith
Larry Welty
Debbie Phillips
Chris Piaggi
James Torrey

 
                 PORTVILLE FREE LIBRARY'S PROUD HISTORY

In 1857, a young school teacher, Marilla C. Wheeler ( who could not live in a community where there was no library) went from house to house soliciting at least one book from each family. After adding her own donation of twenty-seven volumes, she created the humble beginning of the Portville Free Library's book collection.

March 14, 1857, the Portville Library Association was formed. Membership was open  to anyone in the villages who paid the quarterly dues of twenty-five cents. Bookplates used in the first books circulated stated that  "the library will be opened for drawing and returning books on Saturday of each week from 3 to 4 and from 7 to 8 o'clock p.m."

The growing  library collection was kept in various and sundry places until 1909 when 
E. G. Dusenbury purchased the property on Main Street. This building was the home Smith Parish which he built in the colonial Georgian architecture in 1847. Mr. Dusenbury funded and supervised extensive renovations of the building and grounds to convert the home into a beautiful library. He established a liberal endowment fund to cover operating expenses of the library. He continued to augment the funds with frequent contributions as the need arose.

On March 31, 1910, the present absolute charter was granted by the Regents of the University of the State of New York.

Several major additions were made to the original building in1915, 1930 and 1960. In 1991, we were placed on the National Register of Historical places. 

You are invited to come to the Portville Free Library and continue the story of fascination people and interesting developments that have created our library heritage. (Charles Bretzin)

Trustees  1901-2002

Librarians

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