MASSENA PUBLIC LIBRARY
 

41 Glenn Street 
Massena, New York  13662
PHONE (315)769-9914
  FAX       (315)769-5978 

 BRIEF  HISTORY

A temporary charter was granted to the Massena library in June of 1897.  
The library was situated on the second floor of the Martin Block in the last 
building on the West side of Main Street  before the bridge.  It was then moved
to the Cubley-McDonald block.  

The permanent charter was granted in 1902.  The library was moved to the new 
town hall in 1904 and remained there until 1962.  It was taken over by the town 
in 1934.  

Victor A. Warren, the son of Henry H. Warren, set aside a sum of money in his 
will for the erection of a memorial to his father.   After the death of  Victor
Warren's wife and daughter, Seward  E. Hanmer, an attorney, became 
executor of the will and decided upon a library as a suitable  memorial and gift.

In September 1962 the new building at 41 Glenn Street was dedicated to the
elder Warren and  given to the town.  With the move into this new building, the 
library entered upon a period  of sustained growth.

Nowadays, people point with pride to the impressive, up-to-date building with 
its well-stocked  shelves and modern facilities.   Many individuals have been 
responsible for the steady growth  and progress of the library. Massena has 
been particularly fortunate with the library directors  since 1962:  William 
Slemmer, Barrie Robinson, Alice Bero, Ed Szynaka, David Needham and Paul
Schaffer.  The library board enjoyed twenty-four years of inspiring leadership 
under the  late President Leonard Johnston.  A special debt of gratitude is owed 
to the late Mr. Seward Hanmer who worked single-mindedly for years to translate 
the words of Mr. Victor A. Warren's  will into reality and who afterward   
served on the Board of Trustees for many years.   Mr. Hanmer's family donated 
and dedicated in his memory a marble fountain that graces the library's main  
entrance.

The Massena Town Board has for many years given staunch support to the 
library, realizing that the library has become not only an information and 
educational center, but also the cultural heart of the community.

Special mention must be given to those who have left generous bequests to the 
library, such as Fern Mattis, Marjorie Bowman and Emily Bushnell.  The families 
of Erin Feigin Mueller and Dr. Sidney Aiken have honored their memories with 
generous gifts.  It is our fervent hope, as we prepare for the twenty first 
century, that our list of benefactors will grow and that the community will 
continue to honor the library with a high level of support.




CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES: 
Barbara Deline, President
John Norman, Treasurer
Lorna Burley
Rick Geiser
Judy George
Liason to Town Board: Al Nicola & John MacCauley

LIBRARY DIRECTOR: 
Paul Schaffer

LIBRARIANS:
Paul Schaffer, Director, Librarian 
Elaine Dunne-Thayer, Youth Services Librarian

LIBRARIAN'S ASSISTANT:
Debbie Fuehring 

CLERICAL STAFF: 
Micki Anderson
Gerrilyn Perry
Alicia Steenberg
Mae Niles
Natalie Cope
Mary Hall, Clerk

PAGES:
Cathy Bradish
Patricia Guay

CALL-IN STAFF:
Carol LaDue, Clerk
Juanita McPherson, Clerk
M Joan Woodward, Librarian
 
CUSTODIAN: 
Tom Gabor