Special Edition Newsletter: Celebrating 50 Years!

History of the Library

In 1961, a group of dedicated townspeople realized the need for a public library in Colonie. Knowing there was support from the community, and with the assistance of the Upper Hudson Library Federation and volunteers, the Colonie Library was opened in April, 1963. The first location was in the basement of 492 Albany Shaker Road with a collection of approximately three thousand books. In 1967, as the book collection grew, a branch library was opened in donated space within the Colonie Shopping Center.

As the need for the library grew, the Town of Colonie assumed responsibility in 1969. This transfer of responsibility meant the library would be funded out of the Town budget as a municipal function.

Planning for a new, permanent facility began shortly after the transfer of responsibility. The number of cardholders and the collection had increased over ten-fold since 1963. With pressure from town citizens and the newly formed Friends of the Library, there was energy to move forward. In 1973 the Town purchased property at the intersection of Maxwell Road and Albany Shaker Road for the library. The 30,000 square foot building was dedicated and opened for use on July 6, 1976. At that time, the original library at 492 Albany Shaker Road and the branch library at Colonie Center were closed.

On May 11, 1985 the library was rededicated and renamed to the William K. Sanford Town Library to honor Mr. Sanford’s 28 years of service as the Colonie Supervisor and all his efforts to bring the library to fruition.

Additional renovations of the library have taken place over the intervening years including the addition of a mezzanine in 1989. The most recent and extensive was just completed in 2021. That renovation included re-arranged and improved spaces, added functionality, upgraded equipment, and a bright ambiance conducive for learning and studying.

Over the past 50 years, since the opening of the present building, the number of cardholders has grown from 1,650 to 40,820, and the number of volumes in the collection has grown from 3,000 to 130,000 physical items, which does not include our extensive digital library. But the library is much more than that. It is a centerpiece of the community. It is a hub of activity and meaningful experiences. The borrowing of books, media, and digital content represents only a piece of what the William K. Sanford Town Library is about. It is a center of learning and meaningful activities for all ages, a venue for lectures and presentations, a place of quiet reading, conversation and reflection, and it is a refuge into a space of wellness and growth.