Saranac Lake Library, 2009. The old library, below, is just visible behind the new entrance. Dr. Lawrason Brown's residence is at far right. Ernest H. Baldwin Ethel Saltus Ludington Saranac Lake Library George V.W. Duryee The first library in Saranac Lake was formed in Baker's Hotel, when Hillel Baker, brother of Milote Baker made his own collection of books available. This was followed by the building of the one-room, 400-book "Franklin County Library" on Main Street in 1880, an outgrowth of a reading club formed by Dr. Edward L. Trudeau. It was built for $700 on the site of the present Post Office Pharmacy, which was purchased for $25. Robert Louis Stevenson borrowed books there when he spent the winter of 1887/88 in Saranac Lake; in appreciation for their services, he donated an autographed copy of his book Gentlemen Friends, that is still in the library's collection.

Dr. Trudeau held the property in his name and acted as sole trustee of the library, which was supported mainly by members of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and in time, Trudeau gave the property to the church. In 1891 the building was sold for $1600 and the collection, then numbering three thousand volumes, was moved to the new St. Luke's Parish House, and renamed the Adirondack Library.

After fifteen years, it became clear that the library's needs were growing beyond the church's ability to manage them, and in 1907, Saranac Lake Free Library was organized by George V. W. Duryee who raised sufficient funds to have a small brick building erected in its present location on land that he donated for the cause. It had a capacity of ten thousand volumes. The original library trustees were Duryee, William J. Callanan, Maurice Feustmann, E.H. Baldwin, and William H. Haase; all but Callanan had come to the village for their health. Baldwin agreed to serve as librarian, without salary.

GOLD SHOVEL IN HAND,
Thomas B. Cantwell, president of the Saranac Lake Free Library, breaks ground for the long-awaited extension for the public library. William G. Distin of the firm of Distin and Wareham, architects, and Esther Mirrick, president of the Friends of the Library, look on. The new addition will allow the library to fully utilize the many books and photographs which have remained unseen for some due to lack of space.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 12, 1966A building fund was started, and a lot on Main Street was purchased for $2000 from Dr. Lawrason Brown, whose house and office was next door. The first paid librarian was William D. McNeil, hired in 1908, who became head librarian in 1909 when Dr. Baldwin resigned.

The new building was designed by Scopes and Feustmann and built, in 1910, by Branch and Callanan; it was one room, with a basement, and had room for 5,500 books.

By 1925, the collection had grown to 8,000 volumes, and C.H. Ludington funded an addition as a memorial to his wife. In the late 1960s, a further expansion was funded by Edmond Guggenheim. Further additions were made in 1984 and 2002; by 2007, the collection had grown to 70,000 volumes.

The library has developed one of the finest collections of material on the Adirondacks in the nation in the Adirondack Research Room, assisting hundreds of researchers yearly.

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