Summer nights at Williams Park Gazebo are for music! Starting June 1, make the most of your Monday evening by bringing your camp chairs, a blanket, and a picnic dinner to enjoy while listening to a variety of local and regional artists. These concerts are made possible by a variety of local sponsors and the Library.
A public budget vote and trustee election was held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at Dansville Public Library, 200 Main St. Dansville, NY 14437 between the hours of 12:00 pm and 8:00 pm in Study Room #114 at the Library.
Residents of the Dansville Central School District voted to approve a $23,240 increase to the tax levy for a total levy of $632,240 to support the Dansville Public Library in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The Library’s projected 2026-2027 budget is $701,990.
The proposition passed with a final vote tally of 56 yes to 7 no.
The increased support will allow the Library to continue the highest level of service to our community while investing in the building and resources that allow us to do so.
Voters also selected a candidate to fill one trustee seat for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2026. Drew Baker was elected to serve with 23 write-in votes.
The Dansville Public Library Board of Trustees and staff extend their heartfelt appreciation to the community for its ongoing support.
We have plenty happening at the Library during this year’s Dogwood Festival!
“May is the month of expectation, the month of wishes, the month of hope.” – Emily Brontë
Much like the nature blooming around us, many of the projects we’ve been working on at the Library are now out and available to the public! Stop in to see our refreshed fishing and outdoor rack that includes several new materials for checkout as well as the updated NYS fishing regulations handbook.
From the Director
May is an important month for the Dansville Public Library, as it brings our annual Budget Vote and Trustee Election. This vote determines the level of funding the library receives through the community tax levy. This year, we are requesting a total increase of $23,240. For most residents, the estimated impact is minimal—roughly the cost of a single cup of coffee over the course of the year for a home assessed at $100,000. While the library’s levy appears on your school tax bill, it’s important to remember that the library operates as an independent entity, governed by its own Board of Trustees.
We will also see a transition on the Board, as Rhea Walker concludes her term and will not be seeking reelection. One trustee seat will be filled through a write-in vote. All registered voters residing within the Dansville School District are eligible to participate. Voting is open Tuesday, May 12 from 12:00 PM through 8:00 PM.
To learn more, I encourage you to attend our Budget Hearing on Tuesday, May 5 at 5:30 PM, visit the library, or see our Annual Budget Vote & Trustee Election website page for details.
This May is also a time of reflection. Each year, New York State requires libraries to complete a comprehensive annual report, offering a detailed look at our collections, programs, usage, and financial health. Highlights from this report are available in our Annual Report to the Community, providing a snapshot of how your library continues to grow, adapt, and serve.
Youth Services Updates
May’s programming will focus on our regular events with one special highlight at the beginning of the month: a celebration of the Kentucky Derby’s 150th anniversary. Check out our calendar for information.
This time of year is a great chance to stop in and be inspired! Whether you check out our Pollinators poster exhibit from Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Services, or play with our latest dramatic play set in the Enrichment Room, there’s always something new to the lending collection to take home with you to keep the fun and learning going. If you need any help navigating the new stuff in the children’s room, please don’t hesitate to ask our staff!
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
– 1984 by George Orwell
Don’t let April fool you– there is much to do at Dansville Library this month! From spring break to-dos, to earth-inspired affairs, to hauntingly historical happenings, you’ll find a reason to be here almost every day.
From the Director
April is a season of renewal, as signs of spring begin to appear and new things start to bloom. It’s a time of fresh beginnings, and at the Library, we’re embracing that spirit with a full calendar of programs and activities for all ages.
April is also an important time for our Library and our community. In the coming weeks, we will be preparing for our annual budget vote and trustee election—an opportunity for residents to have a direct voice in the future of the Library. Anyone interested in running for a Trustee position can find more information online.
The proposed budget supports the programs, services, and resources our community relies on every day, while also helping us continue to grow and improve. It reflects our ongoing commitment to serving residents of all ages and responding to the needs we hear from you. More information about the budget, candidates, and voting details will be available in the Library and online in the weeks leading up to the budget vote and election, which will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
We hope you’ll join us this month—whether you’re trying something new, getting involved, or discovering a piece of your past.
Youth Services News
DPL will be out and about this month!
April 8 10a-1p See us at Livingston County Department of Health’s FREE Community Wellness Fair at Geneseo Central Schools
April 30 5:30p-7p Stop by our table at DPS Camp Read-A-Lot for a magnetic activity and info about summer reading
Some of our young patrons recently stuck themselves to the task of finishing our sticker mosaic to reveal a classical masterpiece. If you’re looking for low-key letter/color practice with your little one, or just seeking a moment of zen, stop by this corner of the kids’ room.
We want to hear from you! Take a quick minute to complete this survey to let us know what you would like to see this year.
Learn more about each event by visiting bit.ly/DansvilleLibraryCalendar.
As part of our on-going efforts to keep our spaces and collections welcoming, functional, and relevant, we occasionally need to move things. Enter DHS Varsity Baseball. The team helped us consolidate our study zones, improve our reading areas, and move antiques out of rotation. We can barely find the words to express our gratitude, and we have plenty of dictionaries to reference.
We are deeply grateful for our ongoing partnerships with Dansville Central Schools. Whether we’re visiting classrooms and lunch periods, participating in school events, or collaborating on projects here at the library, this relationship is part of our foundation within the community.
In response to an increased demand for study space, we’ve reconfigured some areas to better meet the quiet study needs of our patrons. We moved the study corrals to the front of the nonfiction section, in the area recently dedicated to retired director Terry Dearing.
When newspapers and periodicals were relocated last year, we also planned to add a new seating area for patrons to read and browse. This has now been accomplished, creating a seating area that is both comfortable and spacious for patrons to enjoy.
Our Local History Room has seen a recent revitalization. Library Clerk Amanda organized the collection, we eliminated outdated equipment, and Maintenance Technician Chuck relocated the former research counter to the mezzanine, where it mirrors the popular seating in the YA area.
Another significant project involved moving cabinets from the upstairs Conklin Board Room to join other historical materials in the Local History Room. As you can see from the number of helpers it took to move these cabinets, this was no small task.
Moving these cabinets has also created an opportunity to improve public awareness of and access to some of the library’s unique archival materials, including original editions of newspapers from Dansville’s history.
We are fortunate to care for a beautiful, historic building, and a collection of wonderful antiques. However, many of these items were never intended to withstand the daily use of a public library. In an effort to preserve the collection entrusted to us, some items have been moved out of regular use to other areas of the library. We intend to maintain them for special use going forward.
Says Old Man Winter, “What’s the use?
The March wind’s rarin’, tearin’ loose,
Storming my citadel of snow
And warning me it’s time to go.
The sun is stronger–bolder, too,
Jeering an ancient almost through,
But still tho’ feeble grown, I’ll fling
A punch or two before it’s spring.
– “March” by Dansville poet Raymond Fedder (1964)
From the Director
At the Library, we’re proud of the wide range of programs, events, and services we offer for all ages. But the library doesn’t exist in a vacuum—our programs and services can only make a difference if people know about them.
That’s why the Library is working to strengthen our community engagement and communication efforts. Additional hands on this initiative will ensure more community members are aware of, and able to benefit from what the library offers. It will also give us additional opportunities to listen and learn about our communities wants and needs.
This investment in our future will help us connect more effectively with the people and make sure our programs and services continue to reflect what matters most to our community. We’re looking forward to a bright future of continuing to serve you in new and meaningful ways.
Youth Services News
This spring we’re seeing several projects come to fruition in the children’s area. Our seasonal toy rotation currently features a dramatic play diner, the LEGO table, and a solar system activity station. New to our STEM/Kit collection is a Super Smile Dentist Kit, perfect for teaching littles about brushing habits or acclimating them to visiting the dentist. Stop in today to check out what’s new to borrow and to enjoy our evolving physical space!
We want to hear from you! Take a quick minute to complete this survey to let us know what you would like to see this year.
Learn more about each event by visiting bit.ly/DansvilleLibraryCalendar.
Dansville Public Library welcomed Assemblywoman Andrea Bailey for a visit on Friday, February 20, 2026, to tour the library, meet with staff, and learn more about the programs and services we provide for our community.
Assemblywoman Bailey met with Library Director Margo Prak, staff, and Board Members to discuss the library’s ongoing initiatives and an upcoming project to reinforce the floor structure in the more than 200-year-old portion of our library—the original Shepard Homestead. The project will help protect and preserve this historic space while ensuring it remains safe and accessible for future generations. The library will receive New York State Aid for Library Construction to help fund this important work.
We appreciate Assemblywoman Bailey’s support of libraries and her visit to learn more about how our library serves the residents of Dansville, NY.
February is for lovers!
Stop by to color something delightful for your Valentine. While here, write what you love about our library on a heart for Library Lovers’ Month. Can’t pick just one thing to love about the library? Visit on Saturday, February 7 for Take Your Child to the Library Day to learn about services like borrowable phonics games, new rotating dramatic play sets, and our growing collection of Read-Aloud books that read to you!
What programs would you love to have at the library? Take a quick minute to complete this survey to let us know what you would like to see this year.
Holiday Hours
February 16 – closed all day
Learn more about each event by visiting bit.ly/DansvilleLibraryCalendar.
The Dansville Public Library will be closed on Monday, January 26 due to the winter weather.
It’s a great day to stay inside with a hot beverage and a good book. Our Digital Library is always open: go to owwl.overdrive.com or on the Libby app.
