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History,
Publications, Policies
Once there were no public libraries in America.
Until the mid-nineteenth century, subscription libraries, financially supported
by members, provided library services. One of the first free public libraries in
the country was the Geneseo Athenaeum in Geneseo, NY.
In 1842 local landholder James Wadsworth
(1768-1844) established the Athenaeum collection for students at the Livingston
County High School (later Temple Hill Academy). Wadsworth, who had been
advocating for state legislation to establish tax supported public libraries,
opened the Athenaeum collection free of charge to the residents of Livingston
County.
By Civil War times, the collection had outgrown
its space and a new library was constructed at the present location in 1867. In
1869 the New York State legislature established the Wadsworth Library as a
public library in the Village of Geneseo to serve the residents and schools of
Livingston County. Originally endowed by the Wadsworth family, the Library is
also funded by the Village and Town of Geneseo and the Geneseo Central School
District.
During the early decades of the twentieth century
several attempts were made to expand the library but all were abandoned. In the
1980s another expansion program was undertaken and completed. A new addition to
the Wadsworth Library was dedicated March 17, 1996. The Library is included in
the Geneseo Historic District, a National Landmark Village listed by the
National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Copies of materials
published by the Wadsworth Library are available at the main desk. All are free
except as noted. Some publications are available on-line.
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The
Wadsworth Library: A Guide to the Art and Architecture (1997,
rev. 2001)
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The
Wadsworth Library: A History
(1996) - $4.00
- 2007 -- Annual Report
- Searching for Your Ancestors, Part 1 and
Part 2
For More Information Contact:
Wadsworth Library
24 Center Street, Geneseo, NY 14454
Tel: 585-243-0440
FAX: 585-243-0429
Internet:
wadsworth@pls-net.org
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