Library History

The establishment of Crandall Free Library, as it was known then, was marked by a dedication program in the Opera House in Glens Falls on November 10, 1892. Three months later, on February 9, 1893, a public library charter was a granted by the State of New York. The charter was amended in 1966 to include the Towns of Queensbury and Moreau in Crandall Public Library's service area.

That there was a need and a desire for a library in Glens Falls for many years before 1893 is evidenced by the fact that several earlier attempts, the first in 1835, had been made to establish small collections of books for circulation.

The history of Crandall Public Library itself dates back to a day in 1892 when Henry Crandall called at the office of Glens Falls superintendent of schools, Sherman Williams. Williams reported that to his surprise, Crandall said that he was willing to provide some funds for books and a place to keep them. Williams was even more surprised since Crandall was not a reader himself. Crandall proposed paying $2,500 for books, and providing the necessary furniture and a room to house the library. The library was located on the second floor of the business building next door to Crandall's No. 1 Bay Street residence.

Born into a family of meager means on the East side of Lake George in 1821, Henry Crandall received little formal education. As a young man, he went to work cutting trees near Indian Lake. Under the guidance of John Harris, a successful lumberman of Harrisena, Henry Crandall learned to save and to invest money. At age 29, with $1,000 in savings, he came to Glens Falls to live. Here he successfully invested in real estate and lumbering.

In 1858, Henry Crandall married Betsy Waters, a teacher from Horicon, New York. Soon he built a residence at No. 1 Bay Street on land which he later gave to Glens Falls as a city park. Next door to his residence he owned a business building, the second floor of which, in 1892, he offered to Dr. Williams for use as a library. Henry Crandall also had very definite ideas about how "his" library would operate. He said, " If I give money for a library, I want the books to be absolutely free to anybody who has interest enough in reading... I would be willing, to have the books go as far away as any person cared to come, even if it was as far as Quebec." And so, the library was established as Crandall wished, with free books and services, which continue to this day.

Later, Henry Crandall formed the Crandall Trust to which he conveyed, by his will, another business property at the corner of Glen and South Streets. The income from this property was to be used to support the library and two parks which he provided for the public. Henry Crandall died in 1913, and his wife, a year later. They are buried in Crandall Park, where the grave is marked by a tall granite shaft surmounted by a five-pointed star, his log mark.

From 1919 to 1931, while homes and business structures were being razed to make way for a new library building and for a city park, the library book collection was housed in the former Jerome Lapham residence, then on Ridge Street, north of the City Hall. The original section of the present library building was completed and opened in 1931. The architect was Charles Platt of New York City who also designed the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress, and the Glens Falls Presbyterian Church.

The Holden Collection of Americana, consisting of about 2,500 pieces was acquired by Crandall Public Library in 1919. The collection was gathered by Dr. Austin W. Holden, author of A History of the Town of Queensbury, and by his son, James A. Holden, who has been State Historian. Another donation to the collection of works of history was that of A. B. Colvin and more recently, A. W. Miller. This collection of works of history relating to Northern New York and Vermont was regarded as one of the most complete of its kind in New York State.

In 1958, Crandall Public Library became a charter member of the Southern Adirondack Library System (SALS) and was designated as the central reference library of the system that serves Warren, Washington, Saratoga and Hamilton counties. With its designation as the Central Reference Library of SALS, Crandall Public Library has grown to a collection of more than 170,000 volumes of adult, nonfiction, fiction and juvenile collections, records, audio cassettes, CD's and video cassettes. Other library materials include subscriptions to over 700 magazines and newspapers, most of which are indexed by means of high speed microfilm readers. Fragile historic newspapers and other periodicals are stored on microfilm. Microfilm readers and printers are available. All books and materials, which circulate, are available to library cardholders in the four counties, either directly or by interlibrary loan. Crandall Public Library has a fully automated circulation system. In addition, the library has on line terminals that access the catalog, the Internet and many databases many of which provide full text access to periodical articles. The library also has PCs that have a graphic interface with the Internet.

As part of a ten-year plan to expand Crandall Public Library, it became necessary, in 1969, to provide more shelf and floor space. An addition was begun April 1, 1969 and completed in March 1970.

The addition was built by the Duplex Construction Company of Glens Falls, according to plans drawn by the office of William and Geoffrey Platt of New York City, whose father had designed the original building. In the original and new sections, together, shelf space is provided for approximately 180,000 volumes. Seating is provided for 180 readers. Elevator service is available for the physically handicapped. A ground-level elevator at the rear of the building provides access for the handicapped to all floors. The original auditorium, seating 125 persons, has been refurbished with the help of the Friends of Crandall Public Library to serve community groups for meeting purposes.

Friends of Crandall Public Library are volunteers who promote the welfare of the library by sponsoring a number of programs including book reviews, children's theater and film programs and monthly art shows in the gallery. The Friends purchase equipment and other items for the library that are not provided for in its budget. Funds are raised by three annual book sales and a membership drive. Membership is open to all persons in the community who have an interest in the library.