Hours of Operation

Monday - Thursday
10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Friday
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday - Sunday
Noon - 5:00 pm

 

 

 

 

Oswego S.D. Public Library & GErrit Smith

In 1853 Gerrit Smith, abolitionist, prohibitionist, temperance advocate, and businessman, donated funds to establish the Oswego City Library. On April 15, 1854 by act of the New York State Legislature, the library was incorporated. In 1855, the library was constructed.

The library building, erected by the architectural firm of Hewes and Rose of Syracuse, is built in the "Norman" style, with towers, corbels, and crenellated battlements reflecting those of a medieval castle. Now on the National Register of Historical Places, the building is one of the oldest libraries built in New York State to serve continuously as a library.

After many years of financial difficulties, the Oswego City Library was compelled to reorganize. Since 1856, the Board of Education had made use of the library facilities. In 1923, an agreement was reached, between the Board of Education and the library, in which the Board of Education agreed to provide funding for staff, utilities and books. This agreement remained in effect with the Oswego City School District providing 90% of the library's operating budget until June 30, 1999.

July 1, 1999 a new chapter opened for the Library. Re-chartered as the Oswego School District Public Library.

A RARE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

This library building is a rare example of the Norman Revival style, a style popular for only a short period that used design elements copied from classic Roman buildings. It was built at a time when public library buildings were just beginning to be celebrated as statements of civic pride and not just utilitarian structures.

FROM THE ASHES

It was the great fire of 1853 that prompted Smith to found the library. The fire leveled most of the east side of Oswego and cleared the way for a new round of construction that would reflect the new prosperity of the growing city.

THE FREE LIBRARY MOVEMENT

This library is one of the few surviving structures built at the start of the free library movement. Libraries were mostly private collections before education reformers like Gerrit Smith started a movement to allow everyone  access to books, free of charge.

FOUNDER GERRIT SMITH 1797-1874

Gerrit Smith’s personal commitment to education reform and the abolition movement resulted in his most generous act, founding the Oswego Public Library, and donating a large sum of money for construction of this building. Smith required, as conditions for his gift, that the library be free and open to all regardless of race, gender, or status.

This building is a Designated Historic Landmark by the Heritage Foundation of Oswego, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places


Oswego S.D. Public Library & Gerrit Smith
140 East 2nd Street, Oswego, NY 13126
Phone: (315) 341-5867
Website: Click Here