The Grove City Community Library, originally named “The Little Library” was started
by members of the Grove City Junior Woman’s Club in March of 1958. The first site
for the library was the Karfes Building on Majestic Alley (site of the parking lot
in front of Steigerwald’s Kitchens and Baths) The 187 members of the Grove City
Junior Woman’s Club contributed $800 to start the library and also met with representatives
of the State Department of Libraries. Almost all the clubs in town, and many businesses
and individuals, donated labor, materials, books, or money to start the library.
In the first week the library was open, 500 people joined the library and 100 books
were being circulated each day. By the next year, the library was able to expand
to an adjoining room and hire a librarian.
In 1966 the library moved to a larger building at 243 South Broad Street and in 1978
the library became a part of the Pennsylvania State Public Library, qualifying the
library for Pennsylvania State funding. In the following years, surrounding townships
began to contribute to the library allowing their residents access to all the library
services. In 1981, the library moved again to 131 South Broad Street where inter-library
loan service was first introduced, and reference service, children’s programs and
summer reading were all expanded.
In 1986, after a major fund drive, the library was able to move into its current
5.500 square feet location in the Borough Council Building Complex at 125 West Main
street. With the increased space, the library provided expanded children’s programming,
more staff, and more material for circulation.
In the early nineties, the library was the first public library in Mercer County
to automate. By 1997, the library provided Internet access to patrons and access
to CD-ROM software for entertainment and educational purposes.
Today the library provides multiple computer stations for Internet access as well
as Wi-Fi Internet access. The library also provides programing for children, teens,
and adults and has the largest summer reading program in Mercer County. The library
is a member of Access PA, which allows patrons access to a wealth of informational
databases and extensive an inter-library loan program.
The library has come a long way thanks to a loving and caring community of people
dedicated to the purpose of our library.
