Adriance Memorial Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adriance Memorial Library |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Building in 2013, after renovations and expansions | |
| Country | USA |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1897 |
| Location | Poughkeepsie, NY |
| Coordinates | 41°42′2″N 73°55′49″W / 41.70056°N 73.93028°W |
| Branches | 1 (Arlington) |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | Books, periodicals, electronic media |
| Access and use | |
| Access requirements | Resident of city or town of Poughkeepsie |
| Circulation | 415,000 (2010) |
| Population served | 73,000 |
| Other information | |
| Director | Tom Lawrence |
| Website | Poughkeepsie Public Library District |
| Phone number | (845) 485-3445 |
| References: | |
|
Adriance Memorial Library
|
|
| Built | 1896 |
| Built by | Titus & Round (of Poughkeepsie) |
| Architect | Charles F. Rose |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Poughkeepsie MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001118 |
| Added to NRHP | November 26, 1982 |
The Adriance Memorial Library is a public library located on Market Street in Poughkeepsie, New York. It's a beautiful stone building built in the late 1800s in the Classical Revival style. In 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as an important historic site.
This library is very old! It's the oldest library in New York State that gets money from taxes, and the third oldest in the entire United States. Its history goes all the way back to 1839, even before the current building was constructed. Today, it serves as the main public library for the city and town of Poughkeepsie, and it even has a branch in Arlington. It's also part of the Mid-Hudson Library System, which has its main office right next door.
The library building has been updated and expanded twice. A large section was added to the back in the 1920s. Later, in the early 2000s, this old addition was removed to make way for an even bigger new section. The main building was also closed for a while for renovations. It reopened in 2009, looking great and ready for more visitors!
Exploring the Library Building
The Adriance Memorial Library is on the east side of Market Street in Poughkeepsie. It's in an urban area, not far from the Hudson River.
Many other historic buildings are nearby. For example, the Harlow Row and the Market Street Row (which includes the city's oldest house) are close by. You can also see the Hasbrouck House, which is now the headquarters for the Dutchess County United Way.
The library building itself is made of Tennessee marble. It has a flat roof with decorative trim. The front of the building has a grand entrance with four tall, round columns. Steps lead up to the main door.
Inside, you'll find special brass plaques made by Tiffany, a famous design company. There's also beautiful oak woodwork. While some people once called it a Renaissance Revival building, today it's usually described as Classical Revival.
A Look Back at the Library's History
The Adriance Memorial Library was a gift to the city of Poughkeepsie from the Adriance family. This family owned a very successful company that made farm equipment. John and Mary Adriance's six children donated $100,000 to build the library and buy its first books. They did this to honor their parents. The library officially opened with a big celebration on October 18, 1897.
By the early 1920s, the library needed more room for its growing collection. So, a brick addition was built at the back of the building in 1923. This addition served the library for many years.
Big Changes: 2007-2009 Renovation
On September 30, 2007, the Adriance Memorial Library closed its main building for a major renovation. The goal was to more than double the space inside the library! The 1923 addition was taken down to make room for a brand new, much larger addition at the back. The original historic part of the building at the front was kept safe and sound.
While the main library was being renovated, it temporarily moved to a former YWCA building. The library was originally planned to reopen in October 2009.
On October 18, 2009, exactly 112 years after its first opening, the library celebrated its Grand Re-Opening! It was a big day for the community.
In April 2012, the Adriance Memorial Library was even featured as a special building in a mod-pack for the popular strategy game Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword. It represented the Hudson Valley civilization in the game!
