Youngstown Free Library celebrates 75th anniversary

Elected officials, community members join in tribute, as library is recognized for years of service to residents

Story and Photos by Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

Northern Niagara paid tribute to a community treasure on Nov. 13, as the Youngstown Free Library celebrated 75 years of service in a special program held at the Red Brick Village Center. There, residents, elected officials and library officials recalled the library’s founding and its decades of serving as a unique community resource for many.

 “The Youngstown Library is proud of the development of the library from one room in 1949 to the facility we are in today here in the Village Center,” said Karran Swazey, member of the library board of trustees.

Recalling its founding, she continued, “At the urging of the Youngstown Civic Guild in 1949, the Village of Youngstown provided space in the village office for the library. A preliminary certification was issued in November of 1949 by the state Department of Education, and the library was open for business three days a week with a volunteer staff. The collection had 1,700 pieces and 400 card-carrying users. Today, the collection numbers over 20,000 and (it) has an additional 10,000 digital items.

“We are open six days a week, we have a full-time library director, and three part-time paid staff. And we count over 3,000 card-carrying users.

“The growth of the 75 years has been absolutely phenomenal.”

Swazey went on to recognize the efforts of many – the past boards of library trustees, the Youngstown Civic Guild, the Friends of the Library and many private interests.

“(All) have enabled the library to grow and meet the changing needs of its patrons,” she said. “We owe them so much for their time, talents and commitment, which they which they have given so generously.

“We are thankful to the Village of Youngstown, for they enable us to share the Village Center with them; the Town of Porter, for their generous financial support; the county of Niagara, for grants enabling us to provide specific programs … and the state of New York, for their support. But, it is the members of the Youngstown and Porter communities who have supported the library of the past and continue to do so today.”

Youngstown Deputy Mayor Rick Stortecky presented a testimonial calling the library, “the sacred place in our society, fostering the love of reading, providing free access to information, and serving as a welcoming space for everyone. In our community, we’re supporting 3,000 (users). We only have 1,850 residents in Youngstown. So that’s wonderful.”

Niagara County Legislator Irene Myers issued a proclamation and said, “The anniversary celebration is a constant reminder for all the need, for all the services provided to the residents” by the library. “(The) Youngstown Free Library, over the many years of operation, has become one of the town’s greatest assets in helping its citizens take advantage of new technical, social and artistic trends, which help shape our region. The Niagara County Legislature appreciates and congratulates the Youngstown Free Library on this special day and wishes them continued success in all your future endeavors.”

Town of Porter Supervisor John “Duffy” Johnston told visitors he is one the library’s oldest users: “I had a library card probably when I was 6 years old; I think I still have it.”

He offered commendations from Town Board members for the library’s 75 years of service “cheerfully serving the communities of Youngstown and Porter with a warm and friendly staff.

“(The library) provides services to everyone with a library card in Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties. … We really appreciate it.”

From left: Karran Swayze, Sonora Miller, Village of Youngstown Trustee Catherine Stella and Deputy Mayor Rick Stortecky.

Miller and Swayze with Porter Supervisor Duffy Johnston.

Library officials with First District Niagara County Legislator Irene Myers.

The Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Award was presented to the library by the Youngstown Lions Club.

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Swazey announced New York State Sen. Rob Ortt, who was unable to attend, issued a proclamation to “herby recognize and extend our most sincere congratulations to the Youngstown Free Library celebrating its 75th anniversary of enhancing the quality of life for residents in the community.”

The program concluded with library Director Sonora Miller announcing student winners who participated in the library’s “Journey of Lifetime Learning” bookmark contest. Students from three age groups were tasked with “the challenge of making a bookmark that would be available to everyone in the community and showcase all libraries,” Miller said.

Their winning entries featured age-specific creative art on the front of a placard and helpful library information on the back. Student winners included Lily Seaman (pre-K-grade 2); Rose and Claire Seaman (grades 3-5); Edith and Daniel Seaman (grades 6-8); and Sarah Ziban Yo and Genevieve Zimmerman (grades 9-12). All were awarded certificates and Amazon gift cards for their work.

“I wholeheartedly invite everybody to pick up your copies of these limited-edition bookmarks,” Miller said. “I’ll be making more and we’ll have them available in the library.”