Olive Free Library

About Us

About the Library

The Olive Free Library has become the community center for the Town of Olive. Our wide range of programming, events and resources provides residents of Olive and surrounding towns with everything from conventional loaning of books and media to educational programs, healthy living classes, kids and young adult resources, and more.

The idea for establishing a library in the Town of Olive was started by Claire and Joseph Friedberg. In early 1951, the Friedbergs felt the Town of Olive needed a library, just as it needed a governing body, a school, and a church. After months of informal discussion, a large group of residents met at the Friedberg’s home for an organizational meeting. They contacted the State Education Department to become accredited, formed a Library Association, and elected officers and trustees. The District No. 8 West Shokan Schoolhouse was turned over to the Library Association in 1952, and in 1959 the Olive Free Library became a member of the Mid-Hudson Library System.

In August of 1967, the family of Helen Kelsey Chase made a substantial memorial contribution to the Library’s Expansion Fund. Afterwards, Donald and Edna Bishop of West Shokan established the Olive Free Library Trust and substantial contributions were made to the trust from Mr. and Mrs. Donald F. Bishop, Mrs. Olive B. O’Connor, Mrs. Olive Bishop Price, Mr. Bishop’s aunt and sister respectively. They also enlisted very generous financial support from the O’Connor Foundation of Hobart, NY. This funding led to the construction of the current library building which was dedicated on June 3, 1972.

Our Mission

Olive Free Library is closed on the following days in 2024:

Mon. Jan. 1, (New Year’s Day)
Mon. Jan. 15 (MLK Day)
Mon. May 27, (Memorial Day)
Wed. June 19 (Juneteenth)
Thur. July 4 (Independence Day)
Mon. Sept. 2 (Labor Day)
Mon. Oct. 14 (Indigenous People’s Day)
Mon. Nov. 11 (Veterans Day)
Thurs. Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day)
Fri. Nov. 29 (Day after Thanksgiving)
Tues. Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve)
Wed. Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)
Tues. Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve)

The mission of the Olive Free Library is to provide our community and its surrounding neighbors with materials and services that meet educational, informational, cultural and recreational needs. It also provides a local history museum, a space for community activities, a continuous book sale room, updated computers for patrons, and a ‘library of things’.

The library strives to maintain a core collection of materials that are useful and current for general education, basic skill development, entertainment, recreational needs, and historical information relevant to the community.

Downloads

Board Approved Budget: 2023

Board Approved Budget: 2024

Long-Range Plan: 2024 – 2026

Library Annual Report to the Community:
2022 Community Report

By-Laws (revised 2019)

Local Links
Town of Olive
Onteora Central School District
Voter Registration

Contact Us
Olive Free Library Association
4033 Route 28-A
(PO Box 59 Mailing Address)
West Shokan, New York 12494
Phone 845.657.2482
Fax 845.657.2664
helpdesk@olivefreelibrary.org

Location
The Olive Free Library Association is located on Route 28A, in West Shokan about 1/4 mile from the Post Office. Parking is available.
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