06/06/2026
The Chester Library:
In the age of Amazon, Ai, and smartphones, do we still need a town library? The answer is a resounding - yes!
Sure, libraries save us money, cause we can borrow books instead of buy them. But they're so much more:
At the Chester Library, you can borrow DVDs, video games, CDs, and e-books. You can access newspapers, magazines, and online resources for free. You can notarize a document, use a computer, fax, print, apply for a passport, or even get an E-ZPass.
They also offer some free museum passes, including to Storm King, Bethel Woods and the FDR Library. Adult programs, and children's programs that cost alot of money elsewhere are offered for free. But what really makes our library special isn't just its services—it's the staff!
Library Director Maureen Jagos recognized that some local kids struggled with food insecurity during the summer, when school was closed. So she created a food pantry right in her office! She and the other staff are dedicated, smart, patient - and community minded.
There's a new buzz word called "third place"—which is a place outside home and work, where people can connect and build community. The Chester Library is a perfect "third place" -where children can meet, discover a love of reading, seniors learn new technologies - where community happens every day.
If our world seems increasingly disconnected, places like the Chester Library are now more important than ever.
Below is a short video. I hope you'll agree- the Chester Library is one of our community's greatest treasures.