LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the West
Nyack Free Library

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities of the great State of
New York are reflective of the concerned and devoted efforts of organ-
izations and individuals dedicated to serving the community and its
citizens; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the West Nyack Free Library; and
WHEREAS, On Sunday, October 25, 2009, the library's Board of Trustees
will proudly celebrate this auspicious anniversary, honoring the West
Nyack Free Library and its many wonderful volunteers who have helped and
supported the library throughout the past 50 years; and
WHEREAS, The West Nyack Free Library has its origins in property deed-
ed to School District No. Seven of the Town of Clarkstown on November
20, 1886, through a warrantee deed from Abram A. Demarest and his wife,
Ann S. Demarest, for the sum of seven hundred dollars; originally a
two-room frame structure was built on the site for the purpose of
educating the local children and in 1922, a brick building was added;
and
WHEREAS, The frame structure was razed in 1959 and a group of West
Nyack residents petitioned the school district to use the brick building
as a public library; in 1989, the trustees brought a proposition before
the taxpayers to purchase the building and property in a revenue neutral
manner; on December 13, 1989, it was overwhelmingly passed, and
contracts were signed on November 1, 1990, transferring the building and
property to the West Nyack Free Library; and
WHEREAS, Renovation and expansion of the building to triple its size
was begun; on October 2, 1994, a rededication ceremony was held for this
new building; this addition and alteration received an honor award for
recognition of architectural excellence by the American Institute of
Architects Westchester/Mid-Hudson Chapter; and
WHEREAS, The lower level of the building includes a community room,
periodical room and technical services staff areas; of historical note,
the library has a beautifully restored desk from the original school-
house, and the old school bell, which was also in the original school-
house, was obtained from the school district on October 1, 1995, and now
hangs in the library hall which was dedicated to Odena Kling, an advisor
to the original board; and
WHEREAS, Libraries are centers of learning and the cornerstones of
community life; West Nyack Free Library has continuously been able to
expand its services to meet the needs and challenges of its patrons and
has become an ever more important educational, cultural, and community
institution; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the West Nyack Free Library; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the West Nyack Free Library.