Ela Area Public Library

Specialties

The Ela Area Public Library provides materials and services to help residents of the Ela Area Public Library District obtain the information needed to achieve their personal, educational, and professional goals. Special emphasis is placed on providing current popular materials and supporting formal education. Emphasis is also placed on providing materials and services that stimulate an interest in reading and learning in young children.

History

Established in 1973.

1973: Residents voted in favor of establishing a tax-​supported library.

1972 – 1982: The basement of St. Francis continued to be the Library’s home. Referenda to build a new building to house the Library failed in 1977 and 1978. Finally, in 1980 a referendum to build a 10,000 square foot building for $ 625,000 passed by 419 votes. Construction of the new building on Buesching Road began in February, 1981.

1989: Voters passed a referendum to expand and renovate the Library. The building project added a second floor which became the Children’s Department and added more space on the first floor for the reference and nonfiction collections, public computers and staff office space.

1999: Referendum to build a new 70,000 sq. ft. building is approved by the Library district voters.

2002: The Library opens its doors at 275 Mohawk Trail.

2009: The Popular Materials Department was reorganized to create a more usable patron-​friendly space, make the department clearer and easier to navigate, i