PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The principal library in Rochester is Rochester's Central Library, sometimes called the Bausch & Lomb, after the contributor most responsible for the building of the new structure. Sometimes it's also called the Rundel, the nickname for the older building.
The Central Library sits beside the Genessee River in the heart of downtown Rochester. The older building has a classical Washingtonian feel and houses the fiction, literature, religion and history divisions. The newer structure is a tall, brightly windowed, four-story, modernistic structure housing books and resources on business, visual arts, sciences, history, and more.
The Central also features an elegant cafe, a book store, computer classes, and an open rather Japanese-style outdoor reading garden out back. Internet access is everywhere, but requires a library card to access.
The Central Library shares its resources both with the other city libraries and with the town libraries. Each town library has something of its own individual character, owing to differences in funding and in the choices of what books and other resources to offer.
Of the town libraries, Brighton Library is one of the best funded and most attractive, and has perhaps the fullest children's section.
The recently remodeled Pittsford library is by far the most elegant, and one of the most pleasant places to visit, situated next to a Bruegger's and beside the Canal. (Its actual selection of books, however, is not particularly rich.)
Gates is somewhat quirky, with policies all its own -- videos and DVDs borrowed from Gates can be returned only to Gates.
The Lincoln Branch of the Central Library system (La Biblioteca Lincoln, 851 Avenida Joseph) has the largest collection of Spanish-language books, magazines and outer resources. It also has a Toy Resource Center where donations of toys for children can be arranged.
If there is a downside to Rochester's library system, it's that not long ago the fee for interlibrary loan requests jumped from twenty-five cents per book request to five dollars per each request. The policy discourages reading and retards independent scholarship, and, frankly, is rather a disgrace to an otherwise superb public resource.
Another minus is that the Rochester Library system is really the Monroe County library system only. Towns in other counties like Victor, Macedon, Canandaigua, Palmyra, and so on are not part of it, nor can patrons from one county use library cards in another. And the same high interlibrary loans apply even if the library is barely blocks away.
The full public library catalog can be searched online at its new (and beautifully redesigned) web site at www2.libraryweb.org/. Patron information, sign-ups for email notification of coming due dates, news and events and more, are all available there.
(Note: if you see an asterisk (*) after library hours listed below, it's because most libraries are closed on weekends in summer months from June to September. Consider the times below as guidelines: call individual libraries beforehand to be sure that they're open before you go.)
Rochester Public Library
Central Library
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/central/
115 South Avenue . 14604
428-7300
Arnett Branch
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/arnett/
310 Arnett Boulevard . 14619
428-8214
Charlotte Branch
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/charlotte/
3615 Lake Avenue . 14612
428-8216
Highland Branch
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/highland/
971 South Avenue . 14620
428-8206
Lincoln Branch / La Biblioteca Lincoln
/www.rochester.lib.ny.us/lincoln/
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/lincoln/lincolnsp.html (en espanol)
851 Joseph Avenue . 851 Avenida Joseph . 14621
428-8210
Lyell Branch
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/lyell/
956 Lyell Avenue . 14606
428-8218
Maplewood Community Library
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/maplewood/
1111 Dewey Avenue . 14613
428-8220
Monroe Branch
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/monroe/
809 Monroe Avenue . 14607
428-8202
Sully Branch
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/sully/
939 Bay Street . 14609
428-8208
Phillis Wheatley Community Library
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/wheatley/
33 Dr. Samuel McCree Way . 14608
428-8212
Winton Branch
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/winton/
611 Winton Road North . 14609
428-8204
BRIGHTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2300 Elmwood Avenue, 14618
784-5300
BROCKPORT-SEYMOUR LIBRARY
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/brockport/
161 East Ave., Brockport, NY 14420
637-1050
Monday-Thursday 10-9pm; Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday 10am-4pm; 9am-12pm (summer); Sunday 1-4pm*
CHILI PUBLIC LIBRARY
3333 Chili Avenue, 14624
889-2200
Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm; Friday 9am-5pm; Saturday 9am-5pm*;
Sunday 1-4pm*
EAST ROCHESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/erochester/
111 West Elm Street, East Rochester 14445
586-8302
Monday-Thursday 9:30am-8pm; Friday 9:30am-5pm; Saturday 12-4pm
FAIRPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY
1 Village Landing, Fairport, 14450
223-9091
Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm; Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 2-5pm*
GATES PUBLIC LIBRARY
1605 Buffalo Road, 14624
247-6446
Monday-Friday 10am-9pm; Saturday 10am-5pm*
GREECE PUBLIC LIBRARY
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/greece/
2 Vince Tofany Drive, 14616
225-8951
Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm; Friday & Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 1-5pm*
Barnard Crossing Branch
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/greece/
2780 Dewey Ave, 14616
663-3357
Monday, Tuesday 1-8pm; Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-5pm
HAMLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/hamlin/
422 Hamlin-Clarkson Townline Road, 14464
964-2320
Monday, Wednesday 10am-6pm; Tuesday, Thursday 2-8pm; Friday 10am-4pm; Saturday* 12-4pm
HENRIETTA PUBLIC LIBRARY
455 Calkins Road, 14623
359-7092
Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm; Friday 12-5pm; Saturday 10am-5pm*; Sunday
1-5pm*
IRONDEQUOIT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Helen McGraw Branch - East
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/irondequoit/
2180 Ridge Road East, 14622
336-6060
Pauline Evans Branch - West
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/irondequoit/
45 Cooper Road, 14617
336-6062
Hours are the same at both branches: Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm; Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday 10am-5pm (Saturday 10am-1pm July/August)
MENDON PUBLIC LIBRARY
15 Monroe Street, Honeoye Falls, 14472
624-6067
Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm; Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday 1-4pm*
OGDEN FARMERS' LIBRARY
www.ogdenny.com/TownGovernment/Departments/Library/
269 Ogden Center Road, Spencerport, NY 14559
352-2141
Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm; Friday 9am-5pm;
Saturday 9am-5pm*
PARMA PUBLIC LIBRARY
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/parma/
7 West Avenue, Hilton, NY 14468
392-8350
Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm; Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday 10am-4pm*
PENFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
1985 Baird Road, Penfield, NY 14526
340-8720
Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm; Friday 10am - 6pm; Saturday 10am-5pm*; Sunday 2-5pm*
PITTSFORD COMMUNITY LIBRARY
www.townofpittsford.com/community/services/Library.asp
24 State Street, Pittsford, NY 14534
248-6275
Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm; Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday 10am-5pm*; Sunday 1-5pm*
NEWMAN RIGA LIBRARY
1 Village Park, Churchville, NY 14428
293-2009
Monday, Friday 11am-5pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11am-9pm; Saturday 1-5pm*
RUSH PUBLIC LIBRARY
5977 E. Henrietta Road, Rush, NY 14543
533-1370
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1-8pm; Tuesday, Thursday 11am-8pm; Saturday 10am-2pm*
SCOTTSVILLE FREE LIBRARY
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/scottsville/
28 Main Street, Scottsville, NY 14546
889-2023
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 1-8:30pm; Tuesday 10am-8:30pm; Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday
10am-1pm*
Mumford Branch
www.rochester.lib.ny.us/scottsville/
883 George Street, Mumford, NY 14511
538-6124
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2-8pm; Saturday 10am-1pm*
WEBSTER PUBLIC LIBRARY
980 Ridge Road, Webster Plaza, Webster, NY 14580
872-7075
Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm; Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday 10am-5pm*; Sunday 1-4pm*