The Marion Public Library is housed in one of the community’s most historic buildings. Constructed in the 1890s by local builder Albert Smith, the structure originally served as a two-room schoolhouse, replacing a cobblestone building that had housed the Marion Academy for more than fifty years. The east room was used for younger students and the west room for older students, separated by a central partition.
With the formation of the centralized school district in 1904, the building was no longer needed for educational purposes and was sold to Marion Grange No. 214. For many years, the Grange used the building as a meeting hall and community gathering place before eventually disbanding.
The story of Marion’s library began in 1909 when a class of nine boys from the Presbyterian Sabbath School organized the “Chevalier Class” under the leadership of Mrs. Kingsley F. Norris. Their goal was to establish a reading room and library for the community. Mrs. Norris, the wife of the Presbyterian pastor, became the library’s first librarian.
The earliest collection was housed in the Presbyterian Manse, now the Marion Museum. As the collection expanded, it moved in 1910 to rented space in Goossen & Steyaart. In March of that year, the Marion Free Library was officially incorporated under the New York State Education Department. Continued community support, including approval of a small library tax in 1916, helped ensure the library’s future.
In April 1918, the library moved into space provided in the fire department building. As the years passed and the collection continued to grow, the library occupied additional rooms within the building. When the fire department relocated to its new facility in 1958, the library expanded into two rooms in what became the Town Hall building. By 1966, the library occupied the space now used as the Town Court Room. Throughout these years, community donations, local fundraising efforts, and strong public support helped the library continue to develop.
In the fall of 1925, the library was placed under the supervision of the Town Board. A new charter issued by the Regents of the University of the State of New York changed its name from the Marion Free Library to the Marion Public Library. By 1926, the collection had grown to approximately 3,000 cataloged volumes.
Mira Crane
Pamela Wolfanger
Following the disbanding of Marion Grange No. 214 in the early 1990s, the Town of Marion acquired the historic Grange building and began renovations to create a permanent home for the library. On April 8, 1996, the Marion Town Board voted to accept the Grange building. After extensive planning and improvements, the new Marion Public Library was dedicated on May 19, 2002.
The move provided greatly expanded facilities, including additional space for the collection, a community meeting room, office and work areas, and a circulation desk. The building’s transformation allowed it to continue serving the community while preserving an important piece of Marion’s history.
Today, the Marion Public Library remains a vital center for learning, connection, and community life, carrying forward more than a century of educational and civic tradition. What began as a small community library has evolved into a modern resource serving residents of all ages.
The library offers a collection of more than 14,000 items available for borrowing, including books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines, museum passes, and other materials. Patrons also have access to a growing digital collection of eBooks and downloadable audiobooks.
Beyond its collections, the library provides programs and events for children, teens, and adults throughout the year, fostering lifelong learning and community engagement. Public computers, printing services, free faxing and scanning, and 24-hour Wi-Fi access ensure that residents have access to the technology and information they need.
As Marion continues to grow and change, the library remains committed to its mission of providing free access to knowledge, promoting literacy, and serving as a welcoming gathering place for the entire community.
Article by the Marion Historic Association President, Theresa Kuhn (2026, June) For Marion’s Bicentennial Newspaper
Librarians Through the Years
- Mrs. Kingsley F. Norris, Founder and First Librarian
- Miss May Sherman, 1909–1910
- Miss Alice Curtis, 1910–1932
- Mrs. Fred Smith, 1932–1946
- Miss Mira Crane, 1946–1957
- Mrs. Gertrude Elve, 1957–1972
- Mrs. Carol Boerman, 1972–1978
- Muriel DeRue, 1978–1989
- Pamela Wolfanger, 1990–2003
- Katherine Metcalfe, 2003–2008
- Tracy Whitney, 2008–Present
Carol Boerman