The Montour Falls Memorial Library is located in the former Bank of Havana. The Bank was designed by Charles Cook and built by Gillispie and Coreyell in 1864. The building was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1993 by the United States Department of the Interior upon nomination by the National Preservation Act of 1966. The Montour Falls Library was chartered in 1901 but operated for several years in various locations prior, and has operated as a library since. An alcove, Tiffany stained glass windows, and a south-facing entrance were added around 1906. Much of the library’s woodwork, furniture, fireplace, and paintings are original to the building. The clay for the bricks used to build the library, Village Hall, and Village Office Building was harvested locally. The three buildings also boast unique, round, brick pillars.
The Montour Falls Library has been a centerpiece of the community since its foundation in 1872. Over time, support for the library fluctuated, and its location changed several times. Today, the Montour Falls Library is chartered to serve the Village of Montour Falls but continues to serve Schuyler County and surrounding counties with the same community focused spirit. MFL is part of the Southern Tier Library System which consists of 48 libraries within Schuyler, Chemung, Stueben, Yates, and Alleghany counties.
The Montour Falls Library offers its community members a diverse selection of books, film, and more. Our library is an open and inclusive space. It is our goal to create an environment that nurtures intellectual freedom, encourages lifelong learning, offers open access to resources, supports new technologies, and respects cultural diversity while embracing the future and honoring our history. The library provides a variety of programs, services, entertainment, and education to patrons of all ages, visitors, bookworms, reluctant bookworms, movie buffs, cooks, creatives, nerds of all kinds, and history enthusiasts. We encourage our patrons to investigate their interests and the world around them.
Visitors welcome! We are steps away from Shequaga Falls and several other must-see stops in Montour Falls. Staff are happy to share some of their favorite places in the area – just ask! You can ask for a tour of the building or you’re welcome to explore on your own. Visitor Page COMING SOON!