We’re all friends of the library, people like you, your family members, your neighbors, and others in the community who support the library’s goals and services. But maybe you didn’t know that you can make it official. You can become a Friend of the Baldwinsville Public Library and know that you are joining a group of people who show their love by supporting the “extras” that make our library special.
The Friends of the Baldwinsville Public Library are active advocates who help raise community awareness and appreciation of the library’s many services and resources. Through their fundraising and volunteer efforts, the Friends help bridge the gap between being a GOOD library and being recognized as a truly GREAT library.
In this time, volunteers and contributions to the Friends are vitally important. The Friends of the Baldwinsville Public Library raise funds to support programs, enhance collections, promote resources and sponsor many educational events. Over the years, the Friends have sponsored projects such as book clubs, coffee hour book reviews, membership teas, bake sales and a yearly program of speakers. Proceeds from these events are used to support programming, purchase furnishings, reference books, computers, and other equipment.
Go to their new website at: Friends of the Baldwinsville Public Library.
About the Friends
January 1948: The Baldwinsville Free Library was established. It opened its doors at the site of the Syracuse-Oswego Trolley Station on 10 East Genesee Street with 1000 volumes. The Travelers Club, a study group active in the Baldwinsville area since 1896, pioneered the organization of the new library.
1953: The Friends of the Baldwinsville Public Library was organized. The purpose of Friends is to support the library financially and to focus attention on the services that the library provides the community. Over the years, Friends of the Library has sponsored fund raising projects such as book clubs, coffee hour book reviews, membership teas, concerts, bake sales and a yearly program of speakers. All proceeds from these events are given to the library to purchase furnishings, reference books, computers and other equipment.
1956: The library moved to a renovated house on 17 Charlotte Street.
1974: The residents of the school district approved the establishment of the Baldwinsville Public Library as a tax supported institution.
1976: Voters approved the purchase of the building at 43 Oswego Street. Friends refurbished the staff room and public meeting room as well as provided a wall mural by Jeane Custin, then President of the organization.
1993: Voters approved the construction of Baldwinsville’s first facility designed specifically for library use.
October 1995: The new building at 33 East Genesee Street was inaugurated. The community room kitchen was furnished with funds raised by the Friends.
2004: The Friends of the Baldwinsville Public Library was incorporated with a slight change in name to Friends of Baldwinsville Public Library, Inc.
2005: Friends became a registered not-for-profit organization. Faithful to its original purpose, the organization continues to provide support for the library and its services.
2010: The new library building celebrated its 15th anniversary.
2020: The new library building celebrated its 25th anniversary.
For additional information about the Friends of the Baldwinsville Public Library contact the library at 315-635-5631 or mail to: info@bville.lib.ny.us.