Milford Free Library approaches centennial
Nov. 9—For many years, a taxidermied loon sat atop a shelf of books just inside the entrance to the Milford Free Library.
When Karen Zimba took over as librarian last year, she took the loon home as it had become dusty and dirty.
The library loon has since been rehomed with one of the Four County Library System's computer technologists, whose wife is pursing a doctorate in country house studies, researching the changing perceptions and display or taxidermy in British country houses.
In place of the loon are framed animal prints from former librarian Barbara Campbell.
More changes are happening at the library. There is a new banner outside showcasing the library's new logo — designed by a Milford Central School student featuring a crow, key and books — announcing the library's 100th anniversary this year.
The library is celebrating with a centennial open house scheduled for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 at the library, 64 S. Main St. (Route 28) in Milford.
Free raffle tickets are available at the library desk to enter drawings for gift bags, which include handmade items, books and other items.
Concluding the celebrations that day is a centennial gathering scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Greater Milford Historical Association, 77 N. Main St. (Route 28) in Milford, featuring speeches, a historical display, drawings for our raffle baskets and a magic show by magician Ron Cain from Syracuse.
Zimba is searching for memorabilia of the library or its librarians throughout its 100-year history to borrow them for the display. Items can be brought to the library during open hours through Nov. 15.
According to information from Zimba, the library's books were kept in local churches from the library's founding in 1923 until 1929, when they were moved to a storefront on East Main Street.
In 1940, the library moved to the western part of the Wilber block, presently the bank parking lot on the northeast corner.
In November 1949, the library moved to its present location in the village building, sharing a space with the Milford Fire Department and Emergency Squad.
Before 1967, volunteers staffed the library. The first paid librarian was Thelma Winsor, followed by Louise Armstrong in 1972, Peg Dobler in 1980, Barbara Campbell in 1993 — the longest serving librarian at 29 years — and in 2022, Zimba took over.
As part of the library's switch to automation, as of Dec. 12 patrons will need a Four County Library System library card to check out books.
Zimba also is working on putting barcodes into all the library's roughly 10,000 books, replacing the book pockets and paper cards used to track checkouts. She's most of the way through with more than 9,000 books barcoded and just the adult nonfiction books to go.
"We're a small library," Zima said. "I'm sure that like Cooperstown and Oneonta are many more times than that, but it's a local treasure."
