History of the Bovina Public Library
Bovina has had a library in one form or another since at least 1835 when the Bovina Subscription Library was incorporated. That library had 44 subscribers and 227 volumes when it was incorporated, with a treasury of $20.12.
The first public library in Bovina was created in 1879 when the Bovina United Presbyterian Church pastor organized a small library in the church basement, run by the church trustees. For years, Commodore Elbridge T. Gerry made regular donations of funds and books to the library. Gerry was later noted for donating the books that created the core of the U.S. Supreme Court Law Library.
Around 1910, J.W. Coulter offered the wing of his building, which had once been a tin shop and hardware store, to be used as a library. When he died in 1917, he bequeathed the entire building for use as a library, along with $1,200 for suitable renovations.
The Bovina Library operated from the building donated by J.W. Coulter until 1970, when the library was moved to its current location.
The current library building was built in 1893 as the new Bovina District 4 school building. At the time of its construction, it was considered state of the art, using a plan from the NY State Education Department. The building cost, including furnishings, was $2800.
The school operated until the end of the 1960/61 school year. The building was transferred to the Bovina Public Library in 1970. Generous funding from the O’Connor Foundation allowed for major renovations in 1973.
The library received a major bequest from the Charles Lichtenberg estate in 2000 in memory of his late wife, Jane Archibald Lichtenberg, a Bovina native.
In 2018 the library underwent the first phase of a major renovation which included pouring a new cement foundation, wheelchair ramp with accessible basement entrance and a lift for main floor access. The first floor was completely updated – walls, electricity, and an accessible restroom. In January 2024 phase two, renovation of the lower level, was completed. Similar to the main floor, everything was upgraded and replaced, and a new powder room was added. The lower level now provides usable space for meetings, activities and programs. Funding for the renovation came from NYS Construction Aid 75% and The A. Lindsay & Olive B. O’Connor Foundation 25%
One of the first librarians when the library was chartered was Ida McNair McCune. Other librarians over the years have included Aggie Draffen, Celia Coulter, Therese Aitken, Dorothy Russell, Avis Adams, Marjorie Miller, Mary Pelletier and our current librarian, Annette Corvello.