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Four County Library System

Mission statement

Huntington Memorial Library provides current popular materials for all age levels and purchases current reference and circulating materials to answer information needs of citizens.

Huntington Memorial Library is the largest library in Otsego County, New York and is located in the City of Oneonta. Our collection contains more than 75,000 items. During 2010, attendance at  programs totaled 5,945. More than 12,000 area residents have library cards. Other interesting facts include:

Total books and magazines: 53,767
Other materials: 21,282
Magazine subscriptions: 119
Items added to the collection: 4,189
Grand total circulation: 175, 874
 

Public Uses
Reference questions: 3,678
Internet computer users: 12,729
Annual visits to the library website: 60,807
Public meetings by non-library groups: 122
 

Library Programs
Adult: 24, with 214 attending
Children: 476, with 5,731 attending
 

Other
Library card holders: 12,374
Total budget: $672,702

Library Director: Marie Bruni
Librarian: Sarah Livingston
Children's Coordinator: Debra Hansen

Library Board meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month.

History

On February 9, 1893, Huntington Memorial Library was granted a charter from the State of New York.  The Library has come a long way from its humble beginnings more than 100 years ago when it was known as Oneonta Public Library. The first library, in 1837, was located in the school building that once was on Academy Street.  It became so popular it caught the attention of the Regents of the State of New York.  One of the officers visited the library and upon the suggestion of the Regents, the library received its charter of incorporation on February 9, 1893. It wasn't long before the library outgrew the space in the school building and on September 1, 1895, it was moved to three rooms in a building on Main Street. By 1904, the library outgrew its three rooms and moved to the theater block on Chestnut Street where it remained until 1909.  Once again the library was on the move, this time occupying space on Ford Avenue in a building owned by the City of Oneonta.  Many people gave substantial donations to help the library grow. 

In 1909, the library owned 9,000 books and had a circulation of 32,278. At the library board meeting of November 1917, a letter from Henry E. Huntington was received proposing that he donate his old family homestead as a permanent home for the library and endow it with a trust fund for its support. The only thing he asked in return was that the library be renamed "The Huntington Memorial Library" to honor his parents. The offer was accepted, and in January of 1918, the house and grounds were deeded to the City of Oneonta to be used exclusively as a public library and park.  At each of the main entrances to the park, there is a large boulder bearing a plaque in memory of the Huntingtons and their gift of the library. Throughout the years, the library has grown, requiring several additions and renovations to add space.  Oneonta has one of the largest and most beautiful public libraries in the area

Internet Access:

We have four Internet computers available for patron use.  The computers are also connected to color printers.  To use a computer please sign up at the front desk.  You may sign up for two one-hour non-consecutive sessions per day.

Paper for the printers is 25 cents per page.

Getting a Library Card:

If you are a resident of Broome, Chenango, Delaware, or Otsego counties, you may get a library card.  Your first library card is free.  Adults must show proof of name and current address.  Please make sure you bring in a form of identification that shows your local address typed, such as a check book, driver's license, car insurance card, or utility bill.  Children may receive library cards when they are capable of reciting their name and address unaided along with their phone number and birth date.  Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when applying for a card.

Meeting Room:

The meeting room may be reserved for use by educational, civic, cultural, and governmental groups, when no admission charge is made.  Interested parties may fill out an application form (available at the library).  Please stop at the library or call for further information regarding the use of our meeting room.