Scarsdale Library 60th Birthday Celebration
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The Scarsdale Library opened its doors in 1951 and will celebrate its 60th birthday on September 25 at noon. Festivities will include arts and crafts, games and story time for children as well as a look at the history of the library, which was twenty years in the making. The original Scarsdale Library opened in 1925 at Scarsdale High School, was moved to Wayside Cottage in 1928 and relocated into its new building in 1951, after the Depression, a World War and lots of fundraising to secure donations to finance the construction. On display at the library on September 25 will be historical documents and photos that shed light on the challenges the community faced in building this new resource.
The community is invited to celebrate on September 25th at noon at The Scarsdale Library at 54 Olmstead Road.
Here is a history of how the library in its current form came to be:
In 1925, Scarsdale residents John W. and Mary F. Dickinson gave 2,500 books to start a library and a $10,000 trust fund to
maintain them. The library was housed at Scarsdale High School. On February 28, 1928, the Village Board voted to establish the Scarsdale Public Library; two months later, it secured the right to assess a tax for library equipment and maintenance. On April 26, 1928, the Regents of the State of New York granted a charter incorporating the Library. The library opened at Wayside Cottage on October 28, 1928 at which time 100 residents raised $15,000 for services, materials and equipment.
In 1944 the Village Board endorsed the Town Club’s recommendation of a library site in the 11 acre Harwood Park north of the high school. It was agreed that part of the funds would be raised by public subscription; to this end the Friends of the Scarsdale Library was formed in May 1946. The Village set up a reserve fund for public buildings. The new library was its first project, but construction was not authorized until 1950.
The new building opened on September 30, 1951. The total cost was $316,900, of which the Village paid $207,303. Contributions accounted for the remainder, and included gifts from the Friends of the Library, the Junior League, the War Memorial Fund, and remaining funds from the Dickinson donation.
Twenty years later, it was determined that an addition was needed due to increases in the population of the Village, the number of cardholders and the size of the collection. A new wing, containing an additional 7,800 square feet, would increase the original size of the building of 11,700 square feet by 50%. The total cost of the addition, exclusive of a program room, was estimated at $775,000. On February 5, 1973, Scarsdale voters approved an $800,000 bond issue to be paid off in 20 years. The $180,000 cost of the program room was given impetus by the generous initial gift of the S. Spenser Scott family. Additional financial support came from the Scarsdale Foundation, the Friends of the Scarsdale Library and other Village organizations. In addition, over 300 individuals donated money to the project. Funding for a local history alcove came from the family of John K. Starkweather. The new addition was opened on June 22, 1975.
In 1981, a gift of $12,500 was given by George Jaffin to construct a conference room in the main part of the library.
In 1995, the Children’s Room was renovated, funded by a gift of $100,000 from Alfred and Luella Slaner. The room was named the Finney Children’s Room, in honor of Eleanor and Burnham Finney, long time volunteers on behalf of the library.
The main reading room, part of the 1975 addition, had been designed to include a mezzanine; however, it was not built at that time. In 1998, the mezzanine was added to the library, using a gift from Luella Slaner of $900.000. The original architect of the 1975 addition designed the project.
In 2007, the Reference Room was renovated, using a gift of $300,000 from the Virginia and Leonard Marx Foundation.
Book Sale to Begin September 9th
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The Friends of the Scarsdale Library will hold their annual Book Sale from Friday, September 9th through Sunday, September 18, 2011 at the Scarsdale Public Library, Olmsted Road and Post Road, Scarsdale, NY
The Book Sale boasts more than 50,000 almost-new and out-of-print books, encompassing a wide range of types, topics, and genres spanning the entire Dewey Decimal System. Our inventory includes art and antiques, bestsellers and classics, biographies and fiction, cooking and computers, humor and self-help, drama and religion, business and poetry. We also have a large selection of books for children, as well as, DVDs, CDs, videotapes, books on tape, and sheet music.
A members-only preview will be held Friday, Sept. 9, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. New members may join at that time for $25.
The Book Sale will then open to the general public. Dates and times are as follows:
Regular Sale:
Saturday, Sept. 10 9am - 4:30pm
Sunday, Sept. 11 10am - 4pm
Monday, Sept. 12 11am - 8pm
Tuesday Sept. 13 11am - 8pm
Half Price Sale:
Wednesday, Sept. 14 11am - 8pm
Thursday, Sept. 15 10am - 5pm
Friday, Sept. 16 10am - 4pm
Saturday, Sept. 17 9am - 4:30pm
Blow-Out Sale:
Sunday, Sept. 18 10am - 4pm
For questions or more information, call 914-722-1300.
Scarsdale Library’s Museum Pass Program Adds More Places to Visit
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Enjoy even more beautiful works of art and pieces of history for free, all thanks to the Friends of the Scarsdale Library. Kicking off its second year, the Museum Pass Program at the Scarsdale Public Library has added additional museums to its already impressive roster. Scarsdale cardholders can now reserve free passes to the Storm King Art Center and the Museum of the City of New York. Due to popular demand, the library is also adding a second pass to the Intrepid and to The Frick Collection. Passes to the Aldrich Contemporary Museum, Bruce Museum, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, The Guggenheim Museum, Katonah Museum of Art, the Neuberger Museum of Art, and Stepping Stones Museum for Children are also available.
Sadly, the American Museum of Natural History no longer offers a family membership for libraries. However, passes to the New York Historical Society will soon be available.
Passes for a specific museum and date may be reserved up to one month in advance either online, on the Scarsdale Public Library website, or by calling the Reference Desk. The cardholder prints out a confirmation sheet to bring to the library when picking up the pass. The pass is available at the Reference Desk on the day before the visit, and must be returned by the end of the day after the visit. A fine of $10 will be charged for each day the pass is late, or for passes returned in the book drop. The cardholder will be charged the full membership cost for a lost pass.
Cardholders must be 18 or older and have no outstanding fines or overdue items. Please check museum websites for latest information before the visit. For more information, contact the Reference Dept at 722-1300 x2.
Enjoy your visit!
Enjoy the Great Outdoors at the Scarsdale Public Library
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It’s the last few weeks of summer and the weather in beautiful. Why not enjoy it outside at the Scarsdale Public Library? Thanks to the Friends of the Scarsdale Library, the outdoor plaza has been newly furnished with tables and chairs. Now people can read, catch up with friends, have a snack or get some work done away from the cubicle walls.
Think of it as a peaceful refuge from all the turmoil in the world, complete with free WiFi.
The outdoor seating will be available to library-goers through fall. Come, check it out and enjoy.
Free Screening of Patriocracy
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The Scarsdale Forum (formerly the TVCCEF) cordially invites the community to view the documentary film “Patriocracy” on Tuesday evening, July 26th in the Scott Room of the Scarsdale Library at 7:30 p.m.
“Patriocracy” produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker, Brian Malone and executive producer Stephen Nemeth explores the extreme polarization in America that cripples the country’s ability to tackle its most serious problems. Whether it is the national debt, healthcare reform, the war on terror or illegal immigration, Americans are shouting at each other instead of listening to each other. An all star cast of senators, congressmen, journalists and academics offer their insights into the factors contributing to this current uncivil discourse in American politics. “Patriocracy” takes a non-partisan stance, urging viewers to educate themselves on the issues and the facts rather than falling prey to the rhetoric. To learn more, visit: www.patriocracymovie.com
Neil Bicknell, a former resident of Scarsdale for 32 years during which time he served as a village trustee and president of the TVCC, returns from Boulder, Colorado to moderate a discussion of the film. Bicknell is a volunteer advisor with respect to the film’s distribution which has not yet been released. Refreshments will be provided by the Forum’s Hospitality Committee.
This summer program is offered free of charge to the public and underwritten in part by a generous grant from the Irving J. Sloan Education Fund, made possible by the Liz Claiborne-Arthur Ortenberg Foundation. For more information, visit ( www.ScarsdaleForum.com ) or call (914-472-4053).
Volunteers Needed:
In other news from the library, the Friends of the Scarsdale Library is looking for volunteers to help sort the mountains of donated books they are receiving for the Annual Friends of the Library Book Sale coming this fall. Sorting takes place during the summer months to prepare for the big sale in September. They work in the lower level of the Library in July and in the Library’s Scott Room in August. There is no heavy lifting involved and you can spend as much or as little time as you wish. Kathy Steves will be available to instruct those of you have not done this before.
For more information contact Kathy at Steves10583@gmail.com.
