Putnam Valley Free Library
| Putnam Valley Free Library | |
|---|---|
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| 41°20′11″N 73°52′27″W / 41.33639°N 73.87417°W | |
| Location | 30 Oscawana Lake Road, Putnam Valley, New York, U.S. |
| Established | 1929 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | US$514,500 (2026)[1] |
| Director | Amina Chaudhry[2] |
| Website | putnamvalleylibrary |
Putnam Valley Free Library is a library in Putnam Valley, New York. It is part of the Mid-Hudson Library System.
The library was founded informally in 1929 by Rhea Kimberly Johnson out of her kitchen. Its charter was granted by the state in 1937, but it did not have its own dedicated building until 1963. The library's permanent location on Oscawana Lake Road was acquired in 1968.[3]
History
[edit]The Putnam Valley Free Library started in 1929 as a community library within the kitchen of resident Rhea Kimberly Johnson.[3]
In 1968, the library moved to its current location on Oscawana Lake Road.[3] The dedication took place on May 26 and was attended by Congressman Richard Ottinger.[4]
The library's participation in National Library Week was stunted in 1981 due to vandalism that destroyed materials, equipment, and fixtures in the building.[5]
The library was added to the Mid-Hudson Library System's online catalogue in 2003, which allowed for online access to its resources.[6]
Since the 2010s, changes in the library's budget have been subject to votes.[7] The 2023 budget increase passed by only 4 votes.[8] The library's 2019,[9] 2025[10] and 2026 budget increases[1] passed by a wider margin.
Services
[edit]Aside from library resources, the Putnam Valley Free Library is a regular location for Putnam County's mobile food pantry supported by St. Mary's Church in Cold Spring[11] in addition to a food pantry on the library's porch.[12]
The library's events have included hosting Drag Queen Story Hour, which drew protests on site and in nearby Rye, New York,[13] though 2020 events took place without incident.[14]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Smith, Erica (May 20, 2026). "LIVE: Putnam County school budget and board election results". Times Union. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Staff". Putnam Valley Library. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
- 1 2 3 "History". Putnam Valley Library. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
- ↑ "Putnam Valley to dedicate library". Brewster Standard. May 16, 1968. p. 1 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ↑ "Vandalism snuffs out NLW plans for Putnam Valley, New York". Library Journal. Vol. 106, no. 12. June 15, 1981. p. 1269 – via Ebscohost.
- ↑ "Library at home". Hudson Valley Business Journal. Vol. 14, no. 20. October 6, 2003. p. 35. ISSN 1050-1096 – via Ebscohost.
- ↑ "Putnam election: Who's on the ballot: list". The Journal News. October 21, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
- ↑ Chrastka, John; Stewart, Ashley (February 2024). "Keeping libraries "right side up"". Library Journal. Vol. 149, no. 2 – via Ebscohost.
- ↑ Chrastka, John (February 2020). "Off-cycle, on track". Library Journal. Vol. 145, no. 2 – via Ebscohost.
- ↑ Stern, Gary; Cutler, Nancy (May 20, 2025). "Did your school district's budget pass? Here's results for Westchester, Rockland, Putnam". The Journal News. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
- ↑ Sparks, Leonard (July 12, 2024). "A lifeline on wheels". The Highlands Current.
- ↑ Taliaferro, Lanning (July 15, 2024). "Putnam Valley Library Programs Combat Food Insecurity". Patch.com – via MSN.
- ↑ Propper, David (January 31, 2020). "Drag queen story hour draws outcry in Putnam Valley; similar event called off in Rye". Rockland/Westchester Journal News – via lohud.com.
- ↑ Welber, Bobby (February 4, 2020). "Many protest Drag Queen Story Hour in Hudson Valley". Husdon Valley Post.