The Mount Vernon Public Library Foundation

 

The Mount Vernon Public Library Foundation, Inc. is the philanthropic arm of the Mount Vernon Public Library. The Foundation was incorporated in 2004 when a group of motivated and concerned community leaders joined to focus their energy and attention on providing private support to build an outstanding library system in Mount Vernon.

 

OUR MISSION

The Library Foundation is committed to strengthening the community by supporting excellence in the Mount Vernon Public Library system through philanthropy, advocacy and outreach.

 

OUR VISION

Our vision is to create a community where all people are engaged, literate and empowered to fully participate in society. We accomplish this vision by partnering with the Mount Vernon Public Library to develop one of Westchester’s best library system.

 

 

BOARD MEMBERS

 

Tanesia Walters - President

Raquel Bennett - Vice President

Shanna Wallace - Director of Public Relations

John Madeo - Treasurer

Tyree Floyd - Deputy Treasurer

David Ockene - Director

Ralph Tedesco - Director

Carolyn Karwoski - Advisor

Brian G. Johnson, Esq. - Advisor, Board of Trustees Liaison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUR LIBRARY

 

The Mount Vernon Public Library was chartered by the State of New York in March, 1896. Andrew Carnegie, the retired steel tycoon and benefactor of libraries, donated $50,000 in 1904 that allowed for the building to be constructed on its present site. The library is a Neoclassical Revival style building.

 

In 1958, the library became the Central Library of the newly formed Westchester Library System. It is the largest Library in Westchester County and the sixth largest in New York State. Starting with about 5,000 books in 1896, the Library's collection houses over 500,000 volumes and subscribes to approximately 800 current magazines, journals and newspapers.

 

The Children's Room houses over 80,000 volumes. Contemporary literature as well as retrospective titles are available. The collection features growing multi-cultural, parenting and foreign books sections. The Anne Izard Storytelling Collection is housed here.

 

The newly formed Computer Center provides access to the Kid's Catalog and the Internet. Educational computer games can be played on the Mac. Videos, cassettes, and recorded books form the audio visual collection. Parenting videos are the latest addition to the non-print arena. Family friendly programs and special events are held throughout the week:

 

• Mount Vernon Public Library Book Club

The Mount Vernon Public Library Book Club cordially invites you to join a gathering of your friends and neighbors to explore and discuss books of interest to our community.

 

• Cyber Corner & Computer Training

The Gates Computer Training Lab is open for scheduled workshops and lab practice sessions only. Workshop schedules and registration forms are available at the Library's Circulation desk.

 

• The Literacy Center at Mount Vernon Public Library

The Mount Vernon Public Library has since 1972 provided free, confidential, one-to-one tutoring in Basic Literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) to the Mount Vernon community as well as surrounding communities. It is the first public library, in the United States, to house and support a literacy program.

 

Their mission is to provide quality library service to the nearly 70,000 residents representing 98 nationalities in the City of Mount Vernon. We offer a comprehensive and active program of library services, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Computer Training Lab; a recently renovated Early Childhood Matters! Learn & Play Corner through a partnership with Westchester Jewish Community Services; a newly installed Art Gallery in the Library's Rotunda, programmed by the Westchester Arts Council; literacy programs for youth and adults; and a technology center for job searching and research.