Mission Statement
The Foundation for the Mt. Kisco Public Library, Inc. was established in 2005 to help defray the cost of building and furnishing the new Mount Kisco Public Library. As the needs of the library and the Village have evolved, so has mission of the Foundation. We are here as a community resource to assist with furnishing and programming, with the goal of establishing the Mt. Kisco Public Library as one of the finest in Westchester County. In order to realize both our short-term and long-term goals, we rely on the financial support of private individuals, local companies, Westchester-based corporations and national foundations that support literacy, education, community development and public libraries, in general. The Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
|
 |
| Library patrons and staff couldn't wait for the Official Grand Opening, September 12, 2009. So they flocked to the unofficial "soft opening" on August 8th checking out books seemingly as quickly as the staff and moving crew moved them out of storage and back to the new shelving. For one of our youngest readers, the excitement of the new library building seemed to make him a bit weary. |
|
|
| Blending the Old and the New |
 |
| Visitors to the new library can enjoy a relaxing rest on benches surrounding the fountain donated to the village by the Kiwanis Club in 1952. |
|
|
The new facility also includes expanded collection rooms for readers of all ages. A 1,300 sq. ft. community room opens up to a large sun-drenched balcony. It is the setting for concerts, lectures, movies, art exhibits, classes and other special events sponsored by the library, the Foundation and Friends of the Mt. Kisco Public Library. A $12,000 Westchester County Board of Legislators service contract, secured by Westchester County Legislator Peter Harckham (D-Katonah), paid for a sophisticated audio/visual system.
For all of the innovations of the new Mt. Kisco Public Library, long-time residents and patrons will recognize with fondness the return of two whimsical and "priceless" oil paintings hung in a place of honor for generations of daydreaming children to come. And Mt. Kisco's claim to Hollywood fame, the "Ragtime House," serves as the inspiration of the facade to the entrance of a separate new Children's Activity Room overlooking Branch Brook as it casually swaths through the heart of the Village.
Multiple comfort facilities, handicapped-accessible and designed with even the youngest members of our community in mind, make a long day or quick visit to the library as pleasant and as comfortable as possible.
|
The new Mount Kisco Public Library is nearly double in size of the 44-year-old, outdated and outgrown building that was in such disrepair it was demolished to make way for this new contemporary, environmentally-friendly and ADA-accessible focal point of the community.
The addition of a common "quiet" room and two smaller individual study rooms are acknowledgements of the traditional image of the public library as a tranquil setting for reading, research, studying and writing.
But technology trumps tradition! Multiple public access terminals are located on both floors for finding just the right book, periodical, CD, DVD, audio recording, and reference tool comprising the 150,000-item collection. The Children's and Young Adult rooms, both new features in the 18,000 sq.-ft. building, have their own dedicated public access terminals.
|
|