Cheney Library

Hours:

Mon. 1PM - 8PM

Tues. 10AM - 5PM

Wed.         1PM - 8PM

Thurs. 1PM - 8PM

Fri.         11AM - 5PM

Sat.         9AM - 1PM

Sun.         Closed

Library History

The Cheney Library was a gift to the people of Hoosick Falls from Charles Cheney who, in 1912, left $50,000 in his estate for the construction and support of a library and historical rooms. Mr. Cheney was a long-standing student of history with a keen interest in libraries. In his will Mr. Cheney also left the people of Hoosick Falls many books and pictures for the library.

In 1907, Mr. Cheney petitioned the NY State Education Department for a Charter for a library for Hoosick Falls. The Hoosick Falls Free Public Library was opened in February of that year in the municipal building on Main Street. After Mr. Cheney's death in 1912, the funds he left for the library were invested until they had increased enough for a suitable building. On October 22, 1922 the cornerstone of the Cheney Free Public Library building was laid. The library opened on November 23, 1923 with 4,000 books in its collection and 400 patrons.

Today the Cheney Library has over 17,000 books, 50 videos, and approximately 50 different magazines subscriptions and 2,700 patrons. The historical rooms are no longer used as such, but a room is devoted to historical books and patrons can go there to read. All of the historical material from the library is now at the Louis B. Miller Museum. A Grandma Moses painting is on loan to the Bennington Museum. Some items of interest that remain at the library include an original 1860 map of the village, the Hurlburt Chart, handwritten in 1872 and giving a history of the village from 1832 on, and a Jose de Creeft painting.