Niagara Falls Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Niagara Falls Public Library
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Niagara Falls Public Library - Main Library
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1425 Main St., Niagara Falls, New York |
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| Built | 1974 |
| Architect | Rudolph, Paul. |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001282 |
| Added to NRHP | June 05, 1974 |
The Niagara Falls Public Library is a special place for learning and reading. It is located at 1425 Main Street in Niagara Falls, New York. This library is the biggest one in the Niagara-Orleans-Genesee Library System. The main building, called the Earl W. Brydges Building, was built in 1974. There is also another branch, the LaSalle Branch, at 8728 Buffalo Avenue.
Contents
History of the Library
Early Beginnings
The Niagara Falls Public Library started a long time ago, in 1814. A man named Parkhurst Whitney and his friends created the "Grand Niagara Library." They began with a small collection of only 40 books. By 1852, the library had grown to 502 books!
As the library got more books, it needed a bigger home. It moved to the Frontier Mart on Falls Street. There, the library operated from two rooms in the Arcade Building. The Niagara Falls Public Library officially opened its doors on February 1, 1895. It was fully opened and signed by Melvin Dewey, a famous librarian.
Growing Collections
The Brydges Building, which is the main library today, opened on March 9, 1974. It was built because the old Carnegie Library building was too small. The library's collection of books and other materials had grown too large for its former home.
By 1995, when the library celebrated its 100th birthday, it had over 400,000 items. These included books, magazines, videos, and many other documents. The third floor of the library has a special Local History Department. This department works to save the rich history of Niagara Falls. It has more than 10,000 books and thousands of old pictures.
The library also has a wonderful Children's Department. This area offers special collections and services just for young people. The Audio Visual Department also grew, providing many video recordings and other media.
The LaSalle Branch and Modern Services
In 1927, the Village of LaSalle became part of Niagara Falls, New York. LaSalle had its own library, which then joined the Niagara Falls library system. The LaSalle library became a community hub. Kids would read picture books there, and adults would meet in the main reading room.
Over the years, other small libraries opened in Niagara Falls. However, by the 1950s and 1960s, many of these smaller branches closed. Only the LaSalle branch survived. During this time, special bookmobiles were also created. These were like libraries on wheels that brought books to different neighborhoods.
The LaSalle branch grew even more when the post office moved out in the 1950s. This allowed the library to expand its space. It also meant more staff and a larger collection of books. By 2008, the LaSalle branch became the only branch of the Niagara Falls Public Library.
Today, the Niagara Falls Public Library offers many modern services. You can find online e-books, audiobooks, magazines, and videos. The library also provides online learning tools. These include tech tips, legal resources, and information about local attractions. Most importantly, the Niagara Falls Public Library holds about 83,000 physical books for everyone to enjoy.
How the Library is Supported
The Niagara Falls Public Library needs money to stay open and provide its services. In 2005, the city of Niagara Falls, New York planned to give the library about 2 million dollars. This money helped the library cover its costs and continue serving the community. In the years that followed, the city continued to provide funding to support the library. This support helps make sure the library can keep offering valuable resources to everyone in Niagara Falls.
