Public Library

When the Snyder County Public Library was founded in 1937 the borough of Selinsgrove rejoiced.  From the start, the Selinsgrove Library was loved by all.  It brought new knowledge and resources to the sleepy town of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.  The library catered to both adults and youth in the area.  The library was prosperous and broke its own user records repeatedly.  The library was beloved by the town so even when the library was denied federal funding in 1964 the town rallied to keep the pillar of the community open.  Since its resurrection in 1937, the library provided resources in the community spreading across all ages and demographics.  The library provided everything the town needed from books, to newspapers to activities for all ages.  

Taken circa 1915, The building was erected by the I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) Lodge in 1870 it eventually became the Selinsgrove Public library

 

 

Selinsgrove Community center circa 1940. Its original purpose was to provide a meeting place, with activities, for Selinsgrove’s youth, but a public library (Selinsgrove first) was soon added.
Circa 1952, Partial view of inside the Selinsgrove Library

 

The original library was placed on South Market Street in downtown Selinsgrove.  The building was originally the I.O.O.F. (independent order of odd fellows) lodge.  It eventually became the Selinsgrove Public Library, also in the building was the Selinsgrove community center which was used by all members of the community as a meeting spot for events as meetings.  It particular it was popular with Selinsgrove’s youth as a place for them to be away from their families and be able to do different activities.  The library was also a popular place for the youth of Selinsgrove.  Many youth cardholders used it as a resource to find reference books.

 

 

 

 

 

Newspaper headline from 1965 about Library funding from the state

The Public Library hit a road bump when in 1964-1965 the library was denied state funding.  The library was denied funding due to failure to reach a higher per capita payment in the county.  Snyder County wasn’t alone in this struggle, the surrounding counties of Columbia, Perry Juanita, and Fulton were also denied their state funding.  Luckily this momentary lapse in financials didn’t lead to the libraries closure.  The library was able to stay open with local funding and support rather than state funds. 

 

 

Pictured above is the building that housed the library in 1940 compared to the building in 2002 when it was converted into Ramona Shadle’s Serendipity Shop after the library moved to a new building in the town square and was renamed “The Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library”

 

Circa 1951, . Signs for Colonial Tea Room and Selinsgrove Community Center and Public Library.

The Selinsgrove Public Library was a beloved institution that the community of Selinsgrove needed.  The resources provided by the library was invaluable and loved by everyone in the community.  Even when times got tough the library perservered and continued to serve the community of Selinsgrove PA.