News from Mount Vernon Public Library.

28 South 1st Avenue Mount Vernon, NY 10550 914-668-1840 We are extremely proud to announce that the Mount Vernon City Council will recognize the achievements of the Mount Vernon Public Library in serving the citizens of our city and the county later this evening. We hope you can join us at the Council's 2019 Spring Honoring Ceremony which will be held during its regular meeting tonight, Wednesday, May 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.  As you already know, we have made great strides over the last few years. Our hard work is evidenced by renewed interest in the library as a popular destination that connects our diverse community. We thank the City Council for recognizing this and the community for supporting us.  A LITTLE ABOUT THE MOUNT VERNON PUBLIC LIBRARY 1854 - First school district library opened with a collection of 200 books. (School district libraries were community libraries, serving everyone, and were housed in schools as a matter of convenience.) 1896 - March 19 - Public library chartered by the University of the State of New York. 1896 - May 9 - Library officially opened in three rented rooms at 9 East Third Street with a collection of 5,000 volumes from the school district library. 1898 - Library moved to new quarters in new high school building on 4th Avenue. 1901 - Andrew Carnegie offered $35,000 for library building. Gift increased to $50,000. Library site - to be contributed by the city - was known as the Jones - Van Arsdale properties and purchased for $16,000. 1903 - Ground broken for building. Architect was Edward L. Tilton. 1904 - November - Formal opening of library which was built in the neo-classical style. 1937 - Louise Brann paints fresco on rotunda walls. Largest project of its kind. 1938 - Mills Law Collection established, the gift of the late Leroy Mills. 1972 - Establishment of Literacy Volunteers of America in the Mount Vernon Public Library, a voluntary tutoring program on a one to one basis to teach adults how to read. 1976 - Institution of the Local History Room with the combined collections of the Mount Vernon Landmark and Historical Association and the Mount Vernon Public Library. Of the five Carnegie libraries built in Westchester County through the generosity of Andrew Carnegie, the Mount Vernon Public Library has the sole distinction of being the only one still operating in the footprint of the original building. The Mount Vernon Public Library is the largest library in Westchester County, the 6th largest in New York State and the 2nd largest in the region, second only to the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue.   Your library is FREE and opens doors to learning, relaxation and adventure.

Mount Vernon Public Library, 28 South First Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550