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.