Architect's Rendering

Several years ago we got a grant to cover a state sponsored study to determine what our county required of a library for the years ahead. The survey called for a building of at least 20,000 square feet on at least 3 acres of land. Diligent searching failed to turn up a suitable building to renovate or an appropriate site for construction.

Fortunately, the Montrose Area Board of Education, recognizing the advantages of having the library near the High School, offered to donate a 3.3 acre site on the High School Road. After exploring various architectural styles and visiting numerous libraries of similar scale that had been built in recent years, the board commissioned architect Thomas Horlacher to design the new headquarters for the Susquehanna County Library.

The new building will blend in with its surroundings, it will be efficient to operate and maintain, and will have 65 to 70 parking spaces. "Green" building techniques including efficient heating and cooling systems will be implemented wherever possible. Most important, we will replace the failing infrastructure of the existing Library with a truly useful, fully equipped space for all the residents of Susquehanna County to use free of charge.

The new location

Here is where the new library will be located. This map shows the town of Montrose growing beyond its capacity to accommodate additional construction in the mature town center. The ongoing revitalization of the downtown (including the establishment of a fine small museum on the Green) coupled with the addition of new facilities including the new Library along the Route 706 corridor will make Montrose a destination for residents of the entire county and surrounding area.