Upper Merion’s Wolfsohn Library opened in 1962. It was the first library on the East coast to have a toddler story hour which filled up within fifteen minutes on the day of registration. Two years later, Upper Merion was the first library in the country to host Infant Story Hours. Registration also filled immediately. The first year the Summer Reading Program had one hundred and forty- seven children enrolled. Children’s programming flourished with many “firsts” in library services.
Having a library had always been important in the history of Upper Merion, and a library had been in existence in the second story of Stewart Fund Hall for many years. In 1896, it was turned over to the Township School Board. The Library Company no longer existed, after a corporate life of nearly a half-century.
The acceptance by the School Board of the library and its maintenance by that board were in accordance with an act of the PA Legislature. The library had been put in good condition, and a librarian was employed at a salary of $25 per year. Many new books were purchased. Funds for the library also provided for public entertainment, and use of the library was entirely free to all who wished to use it. Then with the construction of schools in the township, the Stewart Fund Hall Library ceased to exist.
When Joane McNamara, head of the library’s children services, moved to King of Prussia in 1958, it was truly farm land. There was no library; but, books were checked out at the Bookmobile sent from the Montgomery County Norristown Public Library.
Many residents were eager to have a library in Upper Merion and worked feverishly to see that come to fruition.
In 1962, when community leaders were trying to start a library in Upper Merion, a $40,000 gift from Nat N. Wolfsohn must have seemed like a small fortune. The money from the estate of Philadelphia millionaire Wolfsohn came with one condition: that township officials name the library after him and they did.
Books were donated and purchased and stored across the small road from the library in a store front that was vacant. Joane McNamara wrote that she would never forget the excitement when it was time to move those books into the new 7,800 square foot library. School children helped form a human chain handing the books one by one until all were located in their new home.
All departments of the library were on the first floor. The downstairs was a concrete shell at the time of construction with plans to finish it in the future. When one would come in the front door and go up one flight of steps the floor plan was as follows: The circulation desk was in the center of the room with the processing office directly behind it in a space that eventually became a staff coat room. The director’s office was a small space behind the desk to the right, the reference department was across from circulation, the adult stacks were to the left, with the children’s department to the right.
Though small, Upper Merion had a library and the residents were delighted. Joane remembered her son going to story hour at age three in the concrete shell on the lower level. Carpet samples were donated and the children each took one to sit on the concrete floor. No one minded one bit.
Upper Merion had a library with a circulating collection, a reference collection, a children’s department and a very dedicated staff. The lower level was later finished and became the Children’s Department and a community room with an entrance on that level. This move opened much more space for the adult department’s expanding collections and was such an improvement for the children of Upper Merion who enjoyed a larger area for its collections and programming which was an extremely popular segment of children’s services.
Eventually, as the preschool book collection and non-fiction collections expanded, the children’s fiction collection was moved into the community room and a portion of it was made into the Director’s office.
Many exciting things happened in the small space on Town Center Road. The children’s librarian was invited to visit the Manager of the King of Prussia Mall and his administration to speak about what the library had to offer people who were shopping at the Mall. They were so impressed with the Children’s department that they provided an empty store to open the Book Nook on Saturday mornings for shoppers to visit this small “branch.” The Mall administration provided funding to furnish it with children’s books. Many families were introduced to the library during that time and registered for library cards. The Mall then decided to fund the medals that were given as incentives to students enrolled in the summer reading program. The Mall administration changed and the Book Nook closed, but it served its purpose for a year. They continued to provide the funds to purchase the medals for all children enrolled in the Summer Reading program.
Many innovative children’s programs continued to be introduced. There was adult programming with guest speakers, book discussion groups, a very active Friends of the Library who planned great events and trips such as a tour of the Library of Congress in Washington D. C., a walking tour of historic Philadelphia with historian, John Marian, community talent shows, art shows, teas, receptions with author speakers. Fund raising efforts included Winter Frost Balls in local hotels and cocktail parties in patron’s homes to solicit funds for the new library. Even the famous Mummers joined them for a parade in 1976.
Eventually, outgrowing its headquarters on Town Center Road, the library moved to a $1.5 million facility in the township building.
