Meyersdale Public Library - The History Behind the Meyersdale Public Library

About This Collection

The Meyersdale Public Library dates back to 1938, when the Meyersdale Woman’s Club, under the direction of Frances Livengood Imler, appointed a committee to plan for the establishment of a free community library. This small library opened on May 16, 1939, above the Meyersdale Republican newspaper office. A total of 139 35mm slides detail the library's history, along with the 1984 construction and May 11, 1985, dedication of its current building. The Meyersdale Public Library has digitized these slides, in addition to the seven pages of script containing the captions and talking points for their presentation, delivered on May 30, 1985, to raise awareness of its long-standing importance to the community. Today the library continues to grow, providing vital services to children, families, seniors and the area's Amish population. Especially well known for its collections focusing on the region's history and family genealogies, its Pennsylvania Room annually attracts visitors from across the nation as they seek to utilize these resources.

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Building construction, Roofs
One man on ladder and one on roof apply siding to gable end of roof
Architectural drawings
Architectural line drawing of one-story building with cupola and covered entrance.
Merchandise displays
Stacks of books with top books displayed on cabinet; book shelves behind
Public libraries, Books
Five black bound books with gold lettering on Bedford and Somerset Counties
Shelving, Public libraries, Boys
Boy in striped shirt looks at record albums in revolving shelved display
Shelving, Public libraries, Boys
Boy in cap and jacket stands on stool looking at books on metal shelving
Public libraries, Card catalogs
Boy in baseball hat opens drawer of card catalog cabinet
Buildings, Building construction, Bricklayers, Bricklaying
Three men on scaffolding lay brick onto gable end wall of one-story building
Scripts (documents)
Seven pages of script with captions and talking points for slides presented on May 30, 1985
Signs (Notices)
Black sign with added white letters "BUILDING THE NEW LIBRARY"
Public libraries, Card catalogs
Open single drawer of library catalog cards opened to "Everyday Problems in Science"
Building construction, Carpenters
Man in red and white hat and gray vest uses corded circular saw
Men, Interiors, Rugs
Man in white t-shirt kneels on floor to trim carpeting next to wall
Men, Interiors, Suspended ceilings
Man in red cap looks at other installing ceiling supports
Men, Interiors, Suspended ceilings
Two men on ladders install ceiling panels; entrance to left
Buildings, Foundations, Reinforced concrete construction, Basements
Concrete block walls and foundation
Entrances, Concrete, Sidewalks
Man bends over fresh concrete with wooden boards on sides at front entrance of brick building
Buildings, Building construction, Interiors
Five men working inside construction of building; stacks of wrapped drywall on floor
Buildings, Building construction, Interiors
Three men in red and white hats work with wood on table inside construction of building
Public libraries, Copying machines
Canon copier sits near interior window