Susquehanna County Historical Society
& Free Library Association

Susquehanna Library history:

In 1974, interest in having a library in Susquehanna was voiced by growing numbers of people. Prior to that time, the county bookmobile arrived monthly during the winter months and semi-monthly during the summer months to provide material for the people living in Susquehanna. The bookmobile normally parked right in front of the former library building at 125 Main Street. In March, 1974, a group representing the Susquehanna Junior Women's Club came to a meeting of the board of the Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association. They appealed to the board to create a branch library in Susquehanna. The SCHS&FLA board discussed the possibility of opening a branch. Concerns were the amount of money it would require to establish and maintain a public library.

By November 1974, the Susquehanna Boro had agreed to pay the rent for a period of one year on the McIntyre Building, formerly Lamb's Ice Cream Shop on Main Street. The first day of operation was February 22, 1975. The Grand Opening was held on Saturday, April 5, 1975.

The Susquehanna Junior Women's Club played a major role in the creation of the new library. once the Boro agreed to support the project, club members solicited shelving, books, and other library materials, and worked to enable the new library to open its doors. Teachers from the Susquehanna Community School District assisted in transporting and assembling the shelving, which came from Saint John's parish, having been used in the Laurel Hill Library.

By late 1975, the first librarian, Joan Gulick, was hired. Prior to that time, volunteers from the Susquehanna Junior Women's Club staffed the library. Assistance from the Susquehanna County Library system staff assured that the library was open to the public for posted hours, normally three days per week. With the hiring of Mrs. Gulick, the library was open on a daily basis, including some Saturday hours.

By May 1983, discussions were underway to find a new home for the library. In March 1984 the existing library structure was purchased by County National Bank (now the Pennstar Bank) to be torn down to make way for a parking lot. The new location chosen at that time was owned by Michael Matis at 125 Main Street. The library was moved by staff members and friends and opened its doors in June 1984.

As the library continued to grow and expand, it became apparent that there was insufficient space in the building for library materials and programs. The Board of Trustees of the Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association began discussing options and solutions to the space program.

Both existing structure and land were considered. Thanks to the Susquehanna Boro Council, a solution was found in 1999 with the construction of a new building to house the library, boro offices, and the police station.

Ground was broken for the new library in August 2001, and an Open House to celebrate the ground breaking was held September 1, 2001 at the existing library. Local residents and friends were invited to view the plans for the new library.

A capital campaign to raise funds for the new furniture was kicked off in the fall. Construction was completed on December 7, 2001. The new furniture arrived and was installed the week of December 12. Plans were made to move books, computers and other items from the old location to their new home the week of December 18th.

The library officially reopened on January 3, 2002, in its new building. An Open House was held on Saturday, February 2, 2002 with a large number of local citizens and dignitaries in attendance.
 

Librarians

Joan Gulick, 1975-1978
Teresa Wagner, 1981-1989

Catherine Grausgruber, 1989-2000
Amelia Paterno, 2000-2012
Laura Nichols, 2013-