About

Our Story

The Windber Public Library began with 150 donated books, as a project of the Parent Teacher Association in 1916. It occupied various rooms in what was then the High School. The hours for it were just 4 to 5 p.m. In the twenties the P.T.A. disbanded, and a group of interested women formed a Library Board with Mrs. C.A. Davis as President for 16 years. In 1931, after a public meeting to decide the future of the Library, it was agreed that the Library was definitely needed, especially for the children.

The basement of the West End cement building, over the swimming pool, was the home of the library until 1967. During these years the Library was incorporated(1954), the Constitution and By-Laws revised, and all books were cataloged with the Dewey Decimal System. In 1967 the school asked the Library to move as they needed the space. It was arranged with Conrail to lease the Railroad Station in the center of town. In 1980 Conrail planned to sell the property. Whalley Trust purchased the building and grounds for the Library. The Glosser Foundation gave a sizable contribution to renovate and repair the interior of the building. In 2000 we were moved to the current location, the previous East End Elementary School.

Who We Are

We serve the communities of Benson Borough, Central City, Ogle Township, Paint Borough, Paint Township, Shade Township, Shanksville, and Windber Borough.

We are committed to serving our community in the areas of technology and literacy, which are so critical in our daily lives. We promote access to information, the ability to use computers, and the right to read and to the readers privacy. We provide a space for the community to come together.

The Library offers many services to adults, not only the latest best sellers and magazines, but also reference and non-fiction books, summer quest programs, genealogy, and access to computers and the internet.  We are especially committed to our children by providing Story Times, Wee Build, Play K Play Kits, various STEM toys, and year round programs. We also provide research databases for children to complete homework, and databases for adults to do research for various aspects of life, get access to various news sources and acquire new skills.

As part of the Somerset County Federated Library System, we are moving forward with many technology-based resources that will benefit individuals, the School Districts, companies, and organizations in the growth of literacy. For this we participate in PA Forward.

We apply for grants to provide a better facility and programs for you. To do this we applied to the Community Foundation For The Alleghenies, for a project called Books For You. This project is to ensure that there will be new books, DVDs, and audiobooks added in the coming months. This project was funded by a grant from the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies exists to improve the quality of life for residents in Bedford, Cambria, Somerset, and Indiana counties by connecting community needs with the passions of families, businesses, and individuals. Through strategic and responsive grantmaking, we support programs and organizations that create long-term solutions to the most pressing needs in our community.

The library is funded by the municipalities in our service area, county aid, state aid, and fundraisers.