Jamestown Community Library

The first Jamestown Library was located in the Jamestown High School building with an agreement between the Greene County Library and the Board of Education, whereby Jamestown provided the building, the library Board provided the books, and the school took care of of circulation.

On the 16th of October 1928, the library opened with 150 to 200 books. Each year more books, ten or twelve a month according to the agreement, were added to the collection.

In 1937 the library moved to a room in the town hall (opera house). It was necessary to have a librarian take care of the books and keep open during certain hours per week. John S. Thomas, a former school Superintendent, donated many books from his personal library, as well as bookcases, and a bequest of $1000, the income from which is still used to purchase books. The Advance Club and Rural Improvement Club each gave $10 toward furnishings, the Silvercreek Township contributed new blinds and light fixtures, and the Bank of Jamestown presented a desk and some other furniture. They opened with 1,800 volumes on the shelves.

In 1943 a door was cut into a second room to make more room for the expanding library. In the mid-1960's, the fire department offered a third room, which adjoined the other two, to the library, and was accepted; in 1966 and 1967 repairs were added, and this third room was in use by the end of 1967.

In November and December 1983, the room that had previously occupied by the Silvercreek Township Trustees was converted to a children's section. This was a project made possible by the joint efforts of the Silvercreek Township Trustees, the Jamestown Village Council, and the Greene County District Library Board of Trustees. This remodeling project which also included the circulation area increased the size of the library by 66 percent.