Gates Public Library Historical Highlights
1958-1960 BEHIND THE SCENES
Mrs. Dorothy Sebaste, Chairperson, Monroe County Library System [MCLS] Board of Trustees wrote Gates Chili Parent Teacher Association urging the P.T. A. to consider need for a library for the Town of Gates, then with a population of 12,000.
A P.T.A. Committee which included Eleanor Freislich, as Chair, Edna Kemp, and Charlotte York ‘indicated enthusiastic support for the library project’ Times Union 6/5/59.
November 11, 1958: Gates Town Board approved establishment of a public library and appointed the 1st Library Board of Trustees: Eleanor Freislich, Ralph Johnston, Edna Kemp, Joseph Morrow and Charlotte York. The 1st library budget was $15,000.
A year of work ensued for the new Library Board and volunteers. The Board was able to rent the Gates Grange quarters at 1408 Buffalo Road and renovated the facility for public library services.
1961 IN THE BEGINNING
January 3, 1961, Gates Public Library opened for the 1st time. 422 books were borrowed the 1st day and 167 library cards were issued. Library hours were Monday through Friday 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
September 1961, 1st Library Director, Lois Klonick, hired.
November 1961, 1st story times for preschoolers started. Service hours were increased to 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Total circulation for 1961 was 61,388. The library owned 7,587 books.
1962
The 1st Friends of Gates Public Library organized
1st adult programs held.
1st summer reading program held.
Library began circulating long playing records.
1963
Town of Gates Sesqui-Centennial. Many activities at new library
1964
Recordak method of filming circulation begins
Library outgrowing rented quarters: 15,754 books owned
1965 BUILDING CAMPAIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
2nd Library Director, Susan Swanton, hired 9/1/65
Joint Town Board – Library Board meeting to discuss possibility of a
joint facility
1966
Town Board approved option to buy present 11 acre site at 1605 Buffalo
Road for a new Town Hall – Library complex
December 7, 1966: 1st bond issue for joint facility defeated 1069 to 866
1967
February 14, 1967: 2nd bond issue for joint facility successful 977 to
941
Library received final approval for 35% Federal aid for new building
December 1967: ground breaking for new facility
1968
1st children’s librarian, Lynn Willard, begins
November 1968: cornerstone for new building laid
1969
Library closed 1/13/69 to 1/18/69 library closed for moving
1/20/69 Library opened in new and 1st permanent library facility.
Circulation for 1969 was 147,200 with a collection of 32,486 items.
1970 NEW DECADE OF SERVICE BEGINS
Library begins circulating framed prints.
1st young adult services librarian hired, Karen Biggs.
1971
1st Friends group disbands.
1972
1st annual book sale held by library.
1st Live ‘n’ Learner programs held [travelogues and outside speakers
for Senior citizens]
1973
1st Ideas ‘n’ Authors book discussion group started
Library holds craft fair and ‘Remember the ‘50’s’ celebration
1974
1st evening story times in any area public library began at Gates Public Library.
1975
Library roof leaks cause public comments.
Library starts a Community Information Table, collecting local information
to help the public.
1976
Town bicentennial activities led to creation of library’s 1st endowment fund, the Horatio Gates Memorial Book Fund.
1977
Pauline Breit becomes Children’s Services librarian.
1978
1st Gates Human Services Directory published.
1st Adult Services librarian, Nancy Lurie Blanda, hired
1979
Founding Board member, Eleanor Freislich, selected by Gates Lions Club
as Citizen of the Year.
Library annual circulation now 279,584 and collection totals 70,856 materials.
1980 TECHNOLOGY BEGINS TO IMPACT LIBRARY
Library hours increased to present 62 hours a week
1981
Gates Chili News and its predecessor, the Gates Chili Press, preserved
on microfilm, thanks to library efforts and grant funding.
1st video collection added to library
1982
Gates Public Library and Chili Public Library cooperate in joint local history taping grant
1983
Storyline service [prerecorded preschool story] began
1st two microcomputers for public use added to library
1984
Library begins to provide computer training for the public
Typewriter for public use added
Literacy services initiated at library
1985
Compact discs added to library collection
Library Trustee, Sam Palma, selected as Citizen of the Year by the Gates Lions
Club
1986
25th anniversary of library held
Friends of Gates Public Library reestablished
Compact disc player added for public use
1987
Nancy Blanda recognized by Gates Town Board for her work with Gates Chili Continuing Education in promoting adult literacy.
1988
1st Junior Friends of Gates Public Library started by then Young Adult
services librarian, Joan Rubin. Library began bar-coding collection in anticipation
of full automation to start following year. Pauline Breit becomes the library’s
1st Assistant Library Director
Town of Gates 175th anniversary: library active participant
1989
Final report of Building Needs Assessment Committee presented to Library
Board. Library has outgrown present space [14,500 sq. ft of useable space]
November 9, 1989: library went ‘live’ on MCLS’ automated
circulation system, GEAC.
Library circulation is 371,277 and total library holdings are 122,462
1990 MOVING TOWARDS THE 21st CENTURY
1st CD-ROM database, Infotrac, added to library collection
Library Board accepts SWBR’s Building Expansion Feasibility report
Library Director starts Library Link column in Gates Chili News
1991
Library celebrates its 30th anniversary
1st five year Long Range Plan for library developed
library repainted for 1st time since 1969
Pauline Breit retires after more than 30 years with Gates Public Library
Gates Public Library crosses the 400, 000 annual circulation line: dividing
line between medium sized libraries and large libraries.
1992
Cooperative ‘Parents as Reading Partners’ program brings over
400 children and parents to Gates Public Library in one night!
Library wins Federal grant for addition of drive up window
1993
June 25th: 1st drive up window in a public library in New York State opened.
September 7th: Gates migrates from GEAC to CARL. Online catalog [CARL product]
replaces card catalog; library starts with 7 computers for public.
October: William Doty gives the library the largest donation from any individual
to the library in memory of his mother.
1994
Drive up window services expanded to include almost all library services
Judy MacKnight becomes Assistant Library Director
1st HOPE [Helping Our Parents Educate] grant received by Gates Public Library
and Neil Armstrong Elementary School
Friends publish cookbook: ‘Literally Delicious’ [now out of print]
1995
Library Director, Susan Swanton, honored by Gates Chili Council as Citizen
of the Year
2nd HOPE grant includes Walt Disney School
September: Library offers text only access to Internet for the public
Library begins its 1st web page on Rochester Free-Net’s Genesee Gateway
service.
1996
Library celebrates its 35th anniversary.
February: 1st reference question via the library’s web page.
Gates Public Library recognized by NYS as an Advanced Electronic Doorway Library.
Library installs security system and eliminates double shelving of video collection
1997
Library begins permanent display at new Tinseltown, providing additional
outreach for library activities
Books to Babies program started
Library begins circulating CD-ROMs for all ages.
2nd five year Long Range Plan adopted by the Library Board.
1st year in upgrade to Local Area Network: installation of server and cabling.
Upgrading library computers for LAN threatens library hours and materials budget.
Friends of Gates Public Library provide major boost to prevent cuts from occurring.
1998
2nd year of LAN upgrade replaces dumb terminals with PCs.
Handicapped unisex bathroom added.
Public finally has access to fully graphical Internet by summer 1998.
Library offers more public training on Internet and use of online catalog.
1999
Law library shelving installed to expand video, young adult and children’s
shelving.
Senior SIG program started as cooperative venture with Rochester Free-Net
Library begins to promote remote access to electronic databases
3rd stage of LAN installation upgrades staff computers and provides access
to shared files and software.
Library staff unionizes with Communications Workers of America, local 1170.
Circulation is 409,541 and library holdings are 134,134
2000 THE 21st CENTURY AND BEYOND
Library tries Book Bistro to use center corridor between library and town
hall. Experiment lasts one month
1st year under new union contract.
Library begins circulating electronic books, thanks to grant
Last two founding Library Trustees, Ralph Johnston and Charlotte York, pass
away
2001
Library celebrates 40 years of service to the community of Gates
