About Us

The Mansfield Free Public Library is a small but very busy library located in Mansfield, PA. Nestled in the Tioga River Valley, at the cross roads of Route 15 and scenic Route 6, Mansfield is home to a wonderful community and Mansfield University. This original Carnegie Library has been serving the Mansfield area for over 100 years, and provides library services to approximately 6,000 people.

The Mansfield Free Public Library is one of 480+ Public Libraries in the State of Pennsylvania, and a member  of the Potter-Tioga Library System, and the North Central Library District.

Library Services

Our Mission Statement

” The Mission of the Mansfield Free Public Library is to provide a modern library education and reference system to area residents through printed materials, films, educational programs and computer and internet access.”

Case statement

It is important that a library should count as its collection not only the books on its shelves, but also the people it serves. This point of view is central in the philosophy of Mansfield Free Public Library. A library is great, not because of the volumes it has, but because it is used by people who will derive benefit from its resources and who produce something as a result of its use that will benefit the community as a whole.

History

In 1901, a small group of Mansfield citizens became interested in establishing a public library, and the present library is the outgrowth of their efforts and vision. They met with the Mansfield Board of Education at its organizational meeting on June 3, 1901. It was this school board and a few citizens that took action to start the founding of the library. They decided that if the citizens could raise $400.00, the board would appropriate $200.00 and elect 9 trustees, for the establishing and maintaining a Public Library.

The requirements had been met by December 1901 and the first books were purchased from a second hand bookstore in Philadelphia. Many other books were given by loyal friends. When in 1910, the need for a larger and better facilities was noted, an appeal was made to Andrew Carnegie for a gift to erect a library building. The Borough had to agree to maintain a free library at a cost of $500.00 a year and to furnish a prepared site.

The citizens again responded and pledged $1,022.75 to purchase and prepare the site. The Carnegie Grant of $5,000. was received in April 1911. Mr. Carnegie made this remark.

I do not think that the Community which is not willing to maintain a library had better possess it. It is not only the feeling that the library belongs to every citizen, richest and poorest alike, that gives it a soul, as it were. The library buildings that I am giving are the property of all the members of the community which maintain them.

Friends of the Library Group

The Friends of the Mansfield Free Public Library was founded on November 17, 1970. The Friends are responsible for the book sale and help with other fund raising activities. They sponsor Library activities, programs and guest speakers for adults and children. They donate books, news papers/magazines, new equipment, funds and their time to the library. They also pay to have the landscaping done around the library each year. In the past the Friends have assisted with special projects such as the renovations to the entire children’s area, the purchase of a new fax machine, and sponsoring “The Little Sprouts” which was a very successful junior gardening program for 2 to 5 year olds.

The Friends meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 5pm in the Library.

Membership dues are quite reasonable in order to encourage patrons of the library and other members of the community to become members of the Friends.

If you are looking to donate items to the book sale, you can drop off your gently used Books (Fiction, non-fiction, children or teen titles), DVD’s, Puzzles/Board Games, ect. Donations are accepted year round at the library, during library hours.

We can not accept or sell:

  • Encyclopedias
  • Textbooks
  • VHS Tapes
  • Cassette Tapes
  • Magazines
  • Readers Digest Condensed Books
  • Damaged or Moldy Books
  • Puzzles/Board Games with missing or broken pieces

1901 Society

The 1901 Society was organized in 1999-2000 for the purpose of encouraging individuals to recognize the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the Mansfield Free Public Library and to offer increased financial support for the library. Individuals, families, or groups who contribute one hundred dollars a year are members of the 1901 Society.
The 1901 Society also encourages the giving of larger bequests to help ensure that the Library can continue to meet its needs in future years.

Book Club

Join our libraries group of book club members to meet and discuss books by expressing your opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. in a relaxed group setting.

The Mansfield Free Public Library participates in the Potter Tioga Library Systems Book Club Program; this means that each month we receive a new selected title for our book club members to borrow, read and discuss. Once a year our book club members select a title to read and share with the other book clubs our system. For 2017 the book club selected The Dinner by Herman Koch.