Newtown Public Library

The Newtown Public Library opened on July 15, 1974 at 3129 West Chester Pike. It was the culmination of two referendums, ten years apart, and the efforts of two study committees. The first study committee was initiated by the Women's Club of Newtown Square in the early sixties. It resulted in a referendum which proposed building a library on the Grim School grounds. It was defeated by approximately two hundred votes. In the late sixties when the RCN overturned the old guard Republicans, the RCN made a campaign promise to study the feasibility of establishing library services in Newtown. They appointed a library study committee in June, 1970, and in November, 1971 another referendum was held. This time the voters were asked to approve up to a three mill tax to provide library services for the township. This too was defeated by the same margin as the earlier vote.After the election, the study committee was asked to regroup and continue searching for ways to establish a library. Despite the negative vote, the supervisors felt strongly that Newtown needed a library and that the voters had turned down the tax not a library. They promised to cover the cost of rent and utilities when a suitable building could be found. In August of 1973 the study committee was dissolved and the first Library Board of Directors was appointed by the supervisors. The board consisted of: Madaleen Ellis, Chairman; Doris Hoppmann, Vice-Chairman; Richard Suplee, Treasurer; Grace Smith, Secretary; Charlotte Roede; Frank Altrichter; and Joan Barnhart. Six of the seven had been on the original study committee appointed in 1970. Dorothy Sidlowe, the first office manager, and Nancy Smith, the first director of volunteers, worked very closely with the board.

On opening day there were 3,000 books on the shelves, including a basic reference collection made possible by a $2,400 gift from the Woman's Club. The Rotary Club gave the library $1,000 which was used to buy shelving. Other groups and many individuals contributed in the funding for the new library.The library consisted of 500 square feet of space, contained in three small rooms. Within six months more space was needed, and with the support of the supervisors, the library was able to double its space. By January of 1976 more space was again desperately needed, and the building housing the library was sold. Still the supervisors supported the library, and on March 1, 1976 the library opened its doors at 3544 West Chester Pike, with over 3,000 square feet of space. Twice more the library expanded until there was 4,400 square feet of space. After work by many, in March 2003, the library opened its doors at its present location adjacent to the township building. At the end of 2006 Newtown Public Library holds 55,770 items in our collection.