About the Library
Brief History of the Library
The Schoharie Free Library was founded in 1916 by a group of women from the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It obtained its absolute charter from the State of New York in 1927 and became an Association Library in 1959. Also in that year, the Library joined the Mohawk Valley Library Association (MVLA).
In 1963, the weight of the books was damaging the DAR Hall and a fund drive to buy a new home for the Library was begun by the Schoharie Kiwanis Club, the Schoharie Rotary Club and others. Mr. James Cushing donated the money to buy the Miers house and the Library was called the Mary Beatrice Cushing Memorial Library in honor of his deceased wife.
In 1989, Schoharie was hit by a rare tornado. In 1994, the Library was hit by a different kind of storm as our first computer was installed. Also that year, the Carriage House in the back yard was destroyed by a fire caused by an overheated light fixture, and in January of 1995 a Flood of the Century deposited five feet of water in the basement. Of course, 2011’s Hurricane Irene did major damage as the 7 feet of water in the parking lot meant the entire cellar and 27” on the first floor were inundated.
Through it all, the Library has kept growing and has kept pace with the new technologies common to libraries today. We fully participate in the automated circulation system common to both MVLS (Mohawk Valley Library System) and SALS (Southern Adirondack Library System). The Addition/Renovation Project has yielded a beautiful new Children’s Area and an elegantly redecorated interior. Stop in and visit us!
Brief History of the Miers House
The house was built around 1866 by Jacob Miers, who ran a Dry Goods store on Main Street in Schoharie. It has two fireplaces said to be made of Italian marble inlaid with gold. During the post-Irene rebuilding, it was decided that they are actually faux-painted stone, not marble. The front newel post is not original to the building; it came from an unknown structure on the grounds of the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. The property was inherited by Jacob’s only child, Hattie Miers, and passed through several more owners before being acquired by the Library.
Photo of the Miers House with owner Jacob Miers sitting on the front lawn
(the Carriage House in the back burned in 1994)
(photo courtesy of descendants Bruce and Barb Miers)
The Schoharie Free Library was founded in 1916 by a group of women from the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It obtained its absolute charter from the State of New York in 1927 and became an Association Library in 1959. Also in that year, the Library joined the Mohawk Valley Library Association (MVLA).
In 1963, the weight of the books was damaging the DAR Hall and a fund drive to buy a new home for the Library was begun by the Schoharie Kiwanis Club, the Schoharie Rotary Club and others. Mr. James Cushing donated the money to buy the Miers house and the Library was called the Mary Beatrice Cushing Memorial Library in honor of his deceased wife.
In 1989, Schoharie was hit by a rare tornado. In 1994, the Library was hit by a different kind of storm as our first computer was installed. Also that year, the Carriage House in the back yard was destroyed by a fire caused by an overheated light fixture, and in January of 1995 a Flood of the Century deposited five feet of water in the basement. Of course, 2011’s Hurricane Irene did major damage as the 7 feet of water in the parking lot meant the entire cellar and 27” on the first floor were inundated.
Through it all, the Library has kept growing and has kept pace with the new technologies common to libraries today. We fully participate in the automated circulation system common to both MVLS (Mohawk Valley Library System) and SALS (Southern Adirondack Library System). The Addition/Renovation Project has yielded a beautiful new Children’s Area and an elegantly redecorated interior. Stop in and visit us!
Brief History of the Miers House
The house was built around 1866 by Jacob Miers, who ran a Dry Goods store on Main Street in Schoharie. It has two fireplaces said to be made of Italian marble inlaid with gold. During the post-Irene rebuilding, it was decided that they are actually faux-painted stone, not marble. The front newel post is not original to the building; it came from an unknown structure on the grounds of the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. The property was inherited by Jacob’s only child, Hattie Miers, and passed through several more owners before being acquired by the Library.
Photo of the Miers House with owner Jacob Miers sitting on the front lawn
(the Carriage House in the back burned in 1994)
(photo courtesy of descendants Bruce and Barb Miers)
Jacob Miers sitting in a chair
on the front lawn of his house. |
Jacob Miers’ Business Card
|
Reopening Plan for the Schoharie Free Library Association
Last Updated: May 14, 2021
Based on:
Library items may now be returned inside the library and will no longer be quarantined before being reshelved.
The library will continue to provide access to hand sanitizer and encourage hand washing.
Restrooms are reopened to the public, both in response to the CDC’s statements regarding surface contact and to accommodate handwashing.
The library will no longer offer curbside pick-up as it has been open to visitors since August 24, 2020.
“Outdoor Social Gathering Limit Increases to 500 on May 10 in New York; Indoor Social Gathering Limit Increases to 250 on May 19 in New York.” (https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-governor-murphy-and-governor-lamont-announce-significant-easing-covid-19)
Beginning May 19, indoor capacity “will only be limited by the space available for patrons or parties of patrons to maintain the required social distance of six feet.” https://forward.ny.gov/reopening-reference-guide (For the first floor of the library, this is approximately 50 people.)
The front door will re-open, decreasing the likelihood that patrons will be forced to encounter each other in spaces allowing less than six feet of proximity.
Signage will be posted at the entry points reminding people of the masking and social distancing policies and requesting that they not enter if they are experience COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone who is COVID positive.
“Asymptomatic travelers entering New York from another country, U.S. state, or territory are no longer required to test or quarantine as of April 10, 2021.” (https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory)
Patrons will be given the opportunity to sign a “voluntary log,” in the form of individual index cards, reflecting their Library visit. Patrons will be advised that by leaving their name and contact information, date and time of their library visit, they are consenting to this information being given to appropriate contact tracers or health department officials in the event that a Library employee, patron or other person who is known to have been at the Library tests positive for COVID 19. Such patron information will not be kept for more than one month.
Computer use –patron computers will be made available and repositioned to ensure six feet of social distance between users.
Patrons will not be allowed to use of printer and the copier; the Library Director or Clerk will assist patrons needing copies, scanning, or printing.
The Library will continue to offer touchless payment options.
Acrylic breath guards will remain in place at the Circulation Desk and the large public use computer tables until masks are no longer required or in response to updated guidance from state or federal health officials.
Hand sanitizer will remain available for everyone’s use and will continue to be strategically placed around the building, inside both doors and at each computer station.
Library Programs will continue to be offered remotely. We will be beginning to schedule indoor programs over the next few months – due to the size of our building, mask requirements may be event specific – please refer to event announcements and signage. Similarly, outdoor programs may be scheduled on the porch or grounds provided attendance remains below current Schoharie DOH guidelines. Guidelines will be event specific.
Approved by Schoharie Free Library Board of Trustees, June 9, 2021
Last Updated: May 14, 2021
Based on:
- MVLS Reopening Outline of 5/7/20,
- Schoharie Library Reopening plan dated 10/14/20,
- Governor Cuomo’s May 3, 2021 Press Release (https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-governor-murphy-and-governor-lamont-announce-significant-easing-covid-19),
- NYS Reopening Reference Guide (https://forward.ny.gov/reopening-reference-guide)
Library items may now be returned inside the library and will no longer be quarantined before being reshelved.
The library will continue to provide access to hand sanitizer and encourage hand washing.
Restrooms are reopened to the public, both in response to the CDC’s statements regarding surface contact and to accommodate handwashing.
The library will no longer offer curbside pick-up as it has been open to visitors since August 24, 2020.
“Outdoor Social Gathering Limit Increases to 500 on May 10 in New York; Indoor Social Gathering Limit Increases to 250 on May 19 in New York.” (https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-governor-murphy-and-governor-lamont-announce-significant-easing-covid-19)
Beginning May 19, indoor capacity “will only be limited by the space available for patrons or parties of patrons to maintain the required social distance of six feet.” https://forward.ny.gov/reopening-reference-guide (For the first floor of the library, this is approximately 50 people.)
The front door will re-open, decreasing the likelihood that patrons will be forced to encounter each other in spaces allowing less than six feet of proximity.
Signage will be posted at the entry points reminding people of the masking and social distancing policies and requesting that they not enter if they are experience COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone who is COVID positive.
“Asymptomatic travelers entering New York from another country, U.S. state, or territory are no longer required to test or quarantine as of April 10, 2021.” (https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory)
Patrons will be given the opportunity to sign a “voluntary log,” in the form of individual index cards, reflecting their Library visit. Patrons will be advised that by leaving their name and contact information, date and time of their library visit, they are consenting to this information being given to appropriate contact tracers or health department officials in the event that a Library employee, patron or other person who is known to have been at the Library tests positive for COVID 19. Such patron information will not be kept for more than one month.
Computer use –patron computers will be made available and repositioned to ensure six feet of social distance between users.
Patrons will not be allowed to use of printer and the copier; the Library Director or Clerk will assist patrons needing copies, scanning, or printing.
The Library will continue to offer touchless payment options.
Acrylic breath guards will remain in place at the Circulation Desk and the large public use computer tables until masks are no longer required or in response to updated guidance from state or federal health officials.
Hand sanitizer will remain available for everyone’s use and will continue to be strategically placed around the building, inside both doors and at each computer station.
Library Programs will continue to be offered remotely. We will be beginning to schedule indoor programs over the next few months – due to the size of our building, mask requirements may be event specific – please refer to event announcements and signage. Similarly, outdoor programs may be scheduled on the porch or grounds provided attendance remains below current Schoharie DOH guidelines. Guidelines will be event specific.
Approved by Schoharie Free Library Board of Trustees, June 9, 2021
Covid Resources
Free Resources During COVID19This page is a compilation of many of the links that have been posted in many locations for education and entertainment during the COVID19 pandemic. Parents: be aware that some of these are live pages with clickable ads, etc.!
WHO Corona Virus page
CDC Corona Virus page
NYS Dept. of Health Corona Virus page
HUGE LIST OF ONLINE RESOURCES VIA MVLS! (added 3/25)
Schoharie County’s Human Services During COVID (added 3/27)
All children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals will receive Pandemic-EBT benefits (added 5/20/20)
WHO Corona Virus page
CDC Corona Virus page
NYS Dept. of Health Corona Virus page
HUGE LIST OF ONLINE RESOURCES VIA MVLS! (added 3/25)
Schoharie County’s Human Services During COVID (added 3/27)
All children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals will receive Pandemic-EBT benefits (added 5/20/20)
For more information, please visit our Policies Page