About

Mechanicville District Library History

 

Lymann Blakeman, the first principal of Mechanicville District School, established the first library in the school basement, open tow afternoons a week to students and public.  Mr. Blakeman was assisted by Jessie Walker, who attended library school in Albany where Melvil Dewey himself, “kept careful watch over her.”  Mr. Dewey came up from Albany to Mechanicville and lectured on, “How to form a public library.”  In succeeding years, Blakeman Library had a duel role, serving public and students, but no clear cut lines of responsibility were established. 

Plans for a new high school in 1965 made no provisions for public service.  The Public Library Development committee met for the first time in June 1965.  After much work and deliberation of what kind of library to have, on May 5, 1966 by a vote of 574-130, The Mechanicville District Public Library was established.  Her Provisional Charter was granted by the Board of Regents on June 24, 1966 and an agreement for inclusion in the South Adirondack Library System was made on June 28, 1966.  The Library opened to the public in an old brick house at 15 South Main Street in February 1967, with Elizabeth Morse as its first Director.

The Library moved into a brand new building at 190 North Main Street in February 1997.  Today the library is more of a multimedia center, striving to accomplish the goals set out in our mission, to be a window to the world for the town.  Through various materials we have and programs we offer, the Library works to be a center of the Mechanicville community.