In 1894, The Woman’s Club of Media started as a literary society with 13 women. The women felt they had a moral duty and responsibility to transform public policy through outreach in the community. The chapter quickly outgrew meeting at the home of the first President, Rebecca L. Smith, growing to 175 members.
The women sponsored classes in Literature and American History. During Clara B. Miller’s tenure as President (1897-1900), Club topics included commitment to open a Media Library.
In 1901, during President Susanna M. Gaskill’s tenure, the Club opened The Media Free Library, in a room of the combined Borough Hall and Firehouse building, with 700 books. The Library quickly became overcrowded spreading into the Council Chambers. The Club set about the task of building a library.
In 1907, under President Alice H. Janeway, the Club held fundraising events, community soliciting campaigns, and land was provided by the Media Borough. In 1908, they raised enough money to open The Media Free Library Association on the corner of Jackson and Jasper Streets (adjacent to what was the old Post Office and previous Borough Hall, now Spasso Italian Grill).
In 1954, it went to the former home of the Sprogell School on the corner of Jackson and Front with an addition in 1966
Marking the library’s 115 anniversary, a brand new library was opened to the public in 2016.
Started by a small group of dedicated local women with a sense of civic responsibility, and spanning a period of over 120 years, the Media-Upper Providence Free Library continues to serve our community.
mediauplibrary.org