HERKIMER – The Frank J. Basloe Library in Herkimer is marking its 130th anniversary this year and the public is invited to celebrate this milestone at an open house set for 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the library.
The date of the event is significant; it was on Nov. 21, 1895, that the library was first chartered by the New York State Board of Regents.
The celebration will include a few words from several people who have been invited to speak and will feature music from the 1890s to the 21st century, with Geoff Clough and local musician Paul Whitney performing.
There will be activities for children and light refreshments will be offered.
“We want to celebrate with the community that we’ve been a part of for a very long time,” said Library Director Christine Fleischer.
“We’re more than just books,” she added, pointing to services ranging from public programs, Wi-Fi access, technology assistance, public computers, meeting space and more, all available at the library.
The library sold T-shirts marking the anniversary and still has a few left to sell. Special commemorative library cards are being offered for a donation during October and November. The cards, which must be ordered, feature the library’s logo and can be used at any library in the Mid-York Library System.
A new children’s room is in the final design phase and the library is working to raise matching funds for the grant it was awarded by the New York State Division of Library Development.
The library, originally called the Herkimer Free Library, was organized when Judge Robert Earl donated his house at 215 North Main St. to serve as a library for the village. He and local businessmen spearheaded a drive to raise the necessary funds to transform the building into a library. Prior to this time, there had only been a paid subscription library to serve village residents.
Originally chartered as an association library, the library was re-chartered in 1969 as a village municipal library. In 1974, the library, in cooperation with the village, purchased the former Acme Supermarket building at 245 N. Main St. The new facility was named for Frank J. Basloe, whose children were major contributors to the project. The Washburn Room was dedicated in honor of the Washburn Memorial Corporation, another major donor.
In 2013, the library was re-chartered as a school district library serving the same geographic area as the Herkimer School District after voters approved the proposal. Funding for the library now comes from a tax collected by the Herkimer Central School District.