Welcome to the Helen Kate Furness Free Library!

Since 1902, we have brought lifelong learning, discovery, and joy to our community.

We’re a place where neighbors gather for storytimes and study spaces, learning new hobbies, and building community. In 2025, we welcomed over 40,000 visitors, hosted 328 free programs, and circulated 134,420 items, connecting our community with books, media, museum passes, and more. 

Nearly half of our annual operating budget is community supported. 48% comes from donations, fundraising, endowment income, and modest earned revenue from fines, fees, and printing. The remaining 52% comes from government funding through state, county, and local municipal aid.

Your gift does more than keep our doors open—it sustains the people, programs, and spaces that make the Helen Kate Furness Free Library a place that people return to again and again. Donations to our general operating fund support our professional staff, free programs for all ages, and the books and eBooks our community loves. Your generosity also helps us care for our historic building so it can continue to be a welcoming place for everyone

Every storytime that sparks a love of reading, every quiet moment of focus, every new idea discovered on our shelves—these happen because of you.

With your support, we will continue to grow, inspire, and serve today and for generations to come.