Mission Statement and History

Mission Statement

The Greenwich Free Library creates a welcoming atmosphere, respecting individual rights to privacy and choice. We provide free and open access to literature, information, technology, meeting spaces, and cultural and educational experiences. We engage with people in the Greenwich area to enrich lives and strengthen community.

Adopted by the Board of Directors February 8, 2017, amended and adopted November 16, 2022

Vision Statement

Greenwich Free Library will bring people together to create a collaborative, curious, engaged, and empowered community.

Adopted by the Board of Directors January 23, 2023.

Statement of Core Values

The following values will guide our decision making:

Accessibility: We work to eliminate physical, economic, cultural, technological and social
barriers.
Sustainability: We ensure stewardship of the Library resources through environmentally sound,
socially equitable, and economically responsible practices.
Intellectual Freedom: We facilitate the free exchange of information and ideas in a democratic
society, protecting intellectual freedom and respecting individuals’ rights to privacy and choice.

Adopted by the Board of Directors February 8, 2017, amended and adopted November 16, 2022

History

Early in 1902, at the urging of a small group of local women who saw the need for a public library, a project was launched for the establishment of the Greenwich Free library. Greenwich was not without a library through the earlier years. There was a public, though not free, library in Greenwich as early as 1833. It was a modest venture on a very small scale and has left little record of its history. The Greenwich Academy, a private school founded in the late l830’s slowly accumulated a library which for a small fee was available to the general public. The Turner house on Main street was purchased, a charter was applied for, trustees were elected, an auxiliary was organized, and nearly $2000 of the $3800 purchase price of the building was raised. By 1939 the library had outgrown its quarters. The Thompson house on Main St. was purchased in 1944 for $5000 and the library moved in on September 1 of that year.

An Endowment Fund was established in 1916 with a donation by I.C. Blandy and it grew over the years providing the impetus for the 1944 Thompson house purchase. In 1965 the library became a member of the Southern Adirondack Library System. 1965 saw the addition of the I.V.H. Gill Historical Room and in 1969 the Friends of the Greenwich Free library was organized. It became increasingly apparent that the library was outgrowing its space and in March of 1972 a lot at the corner of Main and Academy streets was purchased. Construction on the present facility began in late September 1973 and the building was completed and opened to the public on March 18, 1974

A need for expansion became apparent and began in February of 2002. At completion of the library expansion from 3,340 to 5,540 square feet we enjoyed the increased space in our adult section as well as the children’s section of the library. Our new reading room provided quiet space for patrons to enjoy magazines, newspapers, and books. The historic Gill Room waslocated in the basement in two rooms; giving our patrons and visitors an enlarged space to do research on local history and geneology. Additional storage space provided the Friends of the Library an area to have book sales. The new Community Room provided the community with a beautiful place for meetings and programs.

Starting in 2016, we embarked on a program of building renovations and improvements that included updates to heating and air conditioning, insulating and waterproofing our basement and the creation of a reading and gathering space on our covered back porch. In 2018, we completely renovated the basement; creating new public meeting spaces, a new Friends book sale room and a new IVH Gill Local History Room. In 2021, we are renovating the main floor of the library and look forward to providing even better service to the community.