Chapters of Discovery at Erwin Library & Institute

Located in Boonville, the Erwin Library and Institute seeks to meet the educational, cultural, recreational, and informational needs of Northern Oneida and Southern Lewis County residents.

As a public library, they provide an abundance of resources to patrons while promoting literacy, engaging the community through different events and creating a safe space to connect people to information, ideas, and each other.

The library offers many services, including free book loans, internet access, computer use, printing services, and children’s programs. The library is also a popular location
for homeschooling groups to collaborate.

The Community Foundation understands the important role libraries play in the community—which is why it has granted over $62,400 to the Erwin Library and Institute to support its mission. A portion of those funds directly supported the library’s 2024 Summer Reading Adventure for Kids.

The Summer Reading Adventure for Kids was designed to encourage students to read and improve their literacy skills during summer break from school. Due to the library’s rural location, there are limited opportunities for children to engage in meaningful, quality programs during the summer months. The library has made it a priority to combat that and provide services for not just the children, but for the entire family.

“We strongly value families in our community,” said Jessica Ford, program director at Erwin Library and Institute. “I think strong families produce strong communities.” Founded in 1885 by Cornelius B. Erwin, the library was built per his request on his $1.1M estate after his passing. Erwin split his estate among several institutions, including the Village of Boonville, to create a public library for the community.

The building that still exists today as the Erwin Library and Institute was built in 1890 of rock-faced local limestone with a square tower at the entrance. The library joined the Mid-York Library System in 1959 and was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

To learn more about the Erwin Library and Institute, visit ErwinLibrary.org.