From a small beginning as an "emergency" library unit in 1935, the Monessen Public Library continues as, not only a community institution, but a regional one as well. On Feb. 3, 1934, the library opened to the public in the Monessen High School Library with 650 volumes donated by organizations and individuals. Miss Martha Jane Bloom, a secondary school teacher, with no library training, was the first librarian.

On Jan. 8, 1936, a group of interested citizens and representatives of organizations presented a formal petition to City Council that sufficient funds for the installation and maintenance of a free public library be included in the municipal budget. Council voted an appropriation of $1,000.

This volunteer committee then acted through a town meeting to form a permanent library association. A charter was applied for and the Monessen Civic Library Association was incorporated. Through a public subscription campaign, the Library Association obtained the remaining money to found a library.

The Monessen Public Library was formally opened May 1, 1936, in three small rooms in the Barker building on Sixth Street. Its book stock inventoried at 1,900 volumes. Mrs. Frank Whitsett, the librarian, offered a service schedule of 23 hours a week.

Since that time the expansion of the library has been continuous. In May, 1944, the library purchased a permanent home at 112 Fifth Street in the Barben Building. The main floor of the library housed the general collection of books, reference materials, periodicals and facilities for reading and reference work. The public collection soon expanded to the second floor which also housed storage, newspaper and magazine files as well as a bindery department. At that time the book collection totaled 10,575 volumes.

In the years from 1944 to 1957, the library grew in many ways: the book collection increased to 15,808 volumes and circulation increased to 56,444 in 1956-57.

In 1956, the Monessen Civic Library Association purchased lots on Donner Avenue and Joseph E. Wheeler, former director of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Md., was hired to survey the library situation and make recommendations. He concluded that a storefront style building would emphasize the service nature of the library because it more closely resembled a business.

J. Russell Bailey, an architect famous for excellence in library design, was also retained.
The Library Association adopted a resolution to be presented to City Council which stated that they would transfer all of the assets of their association to the city for use either in the construction, operation or maintenance of a new library. Furthermore, the authority of operating the library would rest with a Board of Directors appointed by the city.

On Sept. 11, 1956, Monessen City Council voted unanimously to submit a $200,000 bond issue for a new library to voters, which they overwhelmingly approved by a 5-to-1 margin.

On Oct. 2, 1958, ground was broken for the new Monessen Library with the Haury Construction Company of Monessen as contractor. The building was completed by late summer at a cost of $275,000.

The children of Monessen schools again became involved in the library when 2,000 students from public and parochial schools walked a block and a half, transporting the 16,000 books from the old library to the new one while the library staff placed the books in their proper order for "Operation Book Move" beginning Nov. 25 and ending Nov. 27, 1959. The dedication ceremony of the library, conducted by Governor David L. Lawrence was held Nov. 29 with library service beginning Nov. 30.

The goal of the new library had been reached, but its budget was far below what was needed to supply the demand for more books. This situation led to the creation of the "Friends of the Monessen Library" organization which began with interested people and former members of the Monessen Civic Library Association. The mandate of the new organization was to assist the library in every possible way to acquire books in excess of the library's regular budget.

In August 1962, Ralph Blasingame, state librarian of Pennsylvania, notified the Monessen Public Library that they would serve as a district library center on a provisional basis through June 10, 1963. As a district center the number of people who could be served by the library would be greatly increased and, consequently, there would be a great increase in state funds.

With the increase in state funds, the Board of Directors appointed a development committee to investigate the possibility of expansion to meet the new needs. In February, 1965, a plan for an addition to the building was sent with an application for funds under the Federal Library Services and Construction Act which would provide for 49 percent of the cost of the addition. In November, 1965, the citizens again approved a bond issue for the remainder of the funds needed for the expansion. The addition officially opened in October, 1968.

Today the library continues to grow under the leadership of Acting Director Peggy Tseng and her staff. The library now has holdings which total approximately over 120,000 volumes.