About the Library
The library is chartered to serve the residents of the Saratoga Springs Enlarged City School District (pop. 45,663). It is governed by a five-member board elected by district residents. Funds to operate the library come primarily from school district property taxes, and district residents must vote upon increases in local tax support.
The current 58,626 square foot building, which opened in 1995, is located on 1.92 acres in downtown Saratoga Springs one block east of Broadway between Henry and Putnam Streets.
Our Mission to You
The mission of the Saratoga Springs Public Library is to inform, to inspire, and to entertain. It must provide access to the universe of knowledge through a variety of materials, programs, and services. As a publicly supported institution, the library should make primary services available without charge. Special emphasis should be given to areas of local interest.
The mission of the library implies that the Library's primary goal is to provide information resources that foster personal, family and community growth for the residents of the Saratoga Springs City School District. One corollary involves the creation of programs and services specific to the residents and businesses in the community.
Some Library Facts:
- Total Holdings: Approximately 210,000 items. About 190,000 of these are books and over 20,000 are nonprint items.
- Staff: 80 full time equivalents.
- Volunteers: Approximately 60 volunteers help staff our Information Desk, work in our Book Bag Used Book Shop and help in our local history room. Young adult volunteers also help in our Children's Room and Adult Services Department.
- Total Loans: 667,340 items were loaned in 2006.
- Reference Questions: More than 54,000 questions were handled at our reference desks.
- Registered Borrowers: 39,581
- Library Programs: 23,300 people attended over 1,020 library programs.
- Public Meeting Room Use: There were 1,230 meetings of area nonprofit groups in our three library meeting rooms.
- Visits To The Library: There were over 540,000 visits to the library in 2006.
- Public Computing: Public computer signups exceeded 97,000.
About Our Building
Area: 58,626 square feet
Site: 1.92 acres
Parking: 80 spaces |
- Interior Design:
- Richard R. Butler & Associates, Mechanicville, NY
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- Designers:
- Architecture Plus - Troy, NY
- The LA Group - Saratoga Springs, NY
- Phillips Associates - Saratoga Springs, NY
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- Office Furniture:
- Albany Office Interiors - Albany, NY
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- Builders:
- Konover Construction - West Hartford, CT
- Mazone Plumbing & Heating - Delmar, NY
- DiGesare Mechanical - Schenectady, NY
- Schenectady Electric - Schenectady, NY
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- Library Furniture:
- Hodkinson Associates - Briar Hill Court, NJ
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- Funding:
- $7.5 million from School District Bond issue, approved by voters in December of 1991. Remaining funds from a variety of sources. Total project cost - $7.9 million.
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- Shelving:
- Library Interiors, Inc. - Point Pleasant, NJ
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Many custom pieces of furniture were made by local cabinetmaker Hal Bigelow of Quaker Springs, NY.
Timetable
- Groundbreaking: September 1993
- Opening: August 1995
- Dedication: October 1995