But the idea that libraries are worthless is hurting those who rely on their services, said Lonberger, now director of the Lackawanna Public Library.

“As a librarian, I’m in direct contact with members of the public that no one else is willing to help. We have the homeless population. We have people who are recent immigrants. We have unemployed people trying to get through bureaucracy,” she added.

As the Lackawanna Public Library celebrates 100 years of operation, fellow centennial committee members echo Lonberger’s sentiment that the library’s best days are not over. They seek to honor the last century while planning for the next.

While the committee has been holding events since February to commemorate the library’s 100th anniversary, the official celebratory event took place on Sunday and featured speakers, activities and refreshments.

James Schichtel recalls an incident in which a store clerk nearly overcharged a customer. Schichtel corrected the clerk because he noticed the customer was not fluent in English, urging him to help people learn the language so they wouldn’t be taken advantage of.

Through his involvement with the library, he is able to do this as a tutor with Literacy Buffalo Niagara.

Holding such weekly English conversation group meetings is another method for the library to continue to deliver on its commitment to serve marginalized communities, one of the main reasons for its establishment.

In the early 1900s, Clara Whealen and the other women in her Pioneer Study Club were very keen on creating a focal point for the Lackawanna community, especially young people and its diverse ethnic groups, said Sal Bordonaro, elder director of the library and member of the Centenary Committee.

As she faced challenges like waiting three days in New York before she could speak to someone from the Carnegie Corp., Whealen finally achieved her goal, with $30,000 from a Carnegie grant and funding. additional from the city to start the library.

Although Lynn Dziak has felt connected to the Lackawanna Library since childhood, learning about Whealen’s story has provided her with another layer of interest in the space and someone to look up to.

“The strength it took to do that and probably go up against people who weren’t on his side, I bet that’s something else entirely,” said Dziak, a member of the library’s board of trustees.

For people who may not have internet access at home, the library is a source to connect them to technology, said Charles Clark, Lackawanna’s public information officer.

“It’s kind of the beautiful dichotomy of this building. It’s old, it’s rustic, it’s beautiful and it’s legendary, but it’s still modern,” he added.

Although the library is not underused, it still needs additional funding and renovation to ensure it can last another 100 years.

Some renovations, such as the replacement of the roof and two-thirds of the windows, are underway, but other issues, such as the boiler system, still require attention. Due to needs, board members are looking for alternative funding.

“Even the little we get from the city in the annual budget, in my opinion, is meager. But it’s a sad reality that that’s what they can afford to give to the library,” Bordonaro said.

Still, renovations must maintain historical accuracy for library board members to achieve their other goal, to be added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Respecting the historical integrity of the library is essential during renovations.

While the building continues to adapt to modern needs, it retains its welcoming and comfortable nature, unlike newer libraries, Bordonaro said.

“You won’t find that kind of atmosphere or feeling anywhere, not in a contemporary building,” he added.