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For more information read “A Book Walk, The History of the Altoona Area Public Library” by Erin Powers & Patricia Shirley.
This is the history of the creation of the Altoona Area Public Library from its humble beginnings of a room atop a ticket office to the three-story, fully-equipped structure that stands today. It is a story of the movement of a valued collection and also a story of the people and place that made it so unique.
The first library to be established in Altoona was the Mechanics’ Library and Reading Room Association under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR). The PRR established it as a technical library for its workers and housed it in a ticket office. The library was based on membership and charged a small fee for use. The collection soon grew far too large for its small quarters, and it was moved to the Logan House.
Next, the library moved to a former Presbyterian Church on Eleventh Avenue. The Mechanics’ Library would have enjoyed a prosperous life at the church if the building had not been in such disrepair. By the 1920’s, it was obvious that a new structure had to be found to house the library.
The PRR started to look for an organization to house and maintain the collection of books and to oversee the conversion of the Mechanics’ Library into a free public library. They found that organization in the Altoona Area School District.
The collection of the Mechanics’ Library was moved into the Roosevelt Junior High School building in the late 1920’s. The solution was expected to be temporary, but after 40 years the move appeared to be permanent. The Mechanics’ Library had been converted to a free public library and disassociated from the PRR.
In the 1960’s, several community groups with support from the school board began the first successful movement to obtain an independent structure for the Altoona Area Public Library.
In 1968, the building at 1600 Fifth Avenue was erected. The first building for the sole purpose of housing a public library collection was thus created for the people of Altoona.
For more information read “A Book Walk, The History of the Altoona Area Public Library” by Erin Powers & Patricia Shirley.
Monday: 8:30AM – 8PM
Tuesday: 8:30AM – 8PM
Wednesday: 8:30AM – 5PM
Thursday: 8:30AM – 8PM
Friday: 8:30AM – 5PM
Saturday: 9:00AM – 4PM
Sunday: Closed
**The Family Place toy area in the Youth Room closes 30 minutes before closing time each day.
1600 5th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602
814-946-0417
info@altoonalibrary.org