Collins Public Library - Part 3

     From humble beginnings in that single room in a cheese storage building to the magnificent new structure pictured above, the Collins Public Library has had a distinguished if sometimes controversial and uncertain existence. As the library approaches its centennial, Collins can be justifiably proud of the progress and changes that have occurred during the past hundred years.

     However, it is wise to remember that no matter how grand the bricks and mortar are, it is the librarian and the library staff who make a library truly great. Collins Public Library from its very beginnings to the present day has had the good fortune to have truly dedicated and knowledgeable people at its helm.

     Library Director Karen Koch oversees a staff of six: Kathryn Schultz, senior library clerk; Lois Metzger and Sharon Rebmann, clerk-typists; Barbara Sporer and Sara Schultz, pages; and Margaret Blackmon, cleaner. With the exception of Koch, all are part-time.

     At the end of the library's first six months in existence there were 197 books in circulation, with an additional 160 volumes on loan from the Woodside Library in Morton's Corners. At the end of 2001, total circulation was 41,334 books, videos, tapes, music and magazines.

     Technology has changed the way the world operates and library systems have had to keep up with these advances. The special computer areas for both children and adults perhaps best exemplifies the great change in library services during the past 100 years. All library patrons have free access to the computers with Internet availability. Adult classes on basic computer and Internet skills are in the planning stages.

     The library offers a variety of services and the Out-of-County Card program is proving to be a success. In this program, regardless of county of residence, library patrons have open access to all the volume and materials in its collection. Also, all patrons have access to "Request Plus," a service that enables the staff, upon request, to bring materials to the Collins Library from any of the 52 libraries in the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System.

     From time to time, the Collins Library offers special musical programs either free or with a free-will donation. The latest of these was a two-hour program last Friday evening featuring Dan Berggren, folk singer, songwriter and recording artist.

     The first library was open two afternoons each week. Today the library is open six days per week for a total of 35 weekly hours. Library hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

     Despite some stormy and uncertain years when it appeared that Collins Library might not survive, a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Town of Collins Public Library was held Aug. 12, 2000 with many dignitaries from the Buffalo and Erie County Library system, officials of Erie County, local officials, and dedicated workers and town residents were present to mark the beginning of a new era for the local library. Officials gathered once again on Oct. 27, 2001 for the dedication and grand opening of the new structure.

     In contrast to the ground breaking and dedication, the hundred years celebration will be low key and allow the community to fmd out for itself what a gem it has in the library. The Friends of the Library members will be present to show patrons around the building and to answer questions regarding the group's goals. Recently, The Friends conducted a "Book Bag Sale" and membership drive. The organization's officers are: Dolores Gugino, president; Betty Dicembre, vice president; Mary Stelley, secretary; and Jean Vogtli, treasurer.

     Information for this and previous articles was obtained through the assistance of Collins Town Historian Irvine Gaffney, Librarian Karen Koch and from Levinus K. Painter's "The Collins Story, a history of the Town of Collins," and compiled by Joan R. Byrne.