Tour

Built in 1908, Patterson Library was designed by E.E. Jarolemon in the Adademic Revival style, modeled after the Erechtheum in Athens.

 

Built on a radial plan, the original circulation desk greets visitors under a breathtaking central dome surrounded by eight magnificent Corinthian columns. Tiffany chandeliers once illuminated the rotunda, an example of which can be found outside the Octagon Gallery.

 

An elegant Reading Room featuring green-brown oak and marble offers a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere to read a book or newspaper. Occasional concerts featuring our Steinway Model B Grand Piano fill the room with a quality of sound to match the inctricate beauty of the carved wood and moldings.

 

Each book carved in matching fireplaces is a unique gem. Notice that some have turned down pages.

 

Old and new meet in the Reference Room, now also known as the Computer Room. Ten heavily used public computers serve the technology needs of the community, and make possible our twice monthly computer workshops.

 

A golden eagle overlooks the rotunda, while golden Corinthian columns support the grand dome. Patterson Library has always maintained an excellent natural history collection, featuring birds, mammals, and shells.

 

Our bird specimens, numbering over 100, are older than the Library itself. Try to find the rare Passenger Pigeon specimens amongst these brilliantly colorful birds from around the world.

 

An incredible collection of shells came from two donors. Over 300 varieties are featured, many of which were collected by Rev. Reuben Tinker while a missionary on the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii).

 

One of the country's best collection of original WWI posters is displayed on the walls of Patterson Library.

 

Patterson Park, the Library's children's area, is a fun and colorful place. An excellent collection of books for children of all ages await their next budding reader. Weekly story times, arts and crafts programs, and after school programs encourage a love of reading and learning that will last a lifetime.

 

Four computers for children give access to educational software, games, and preselected websites. In Patterson Park, children learn basic technology skills alongside traditional creativity and literacy skills.

 

Patterson Library has a long tradition of supporting the arts and equal opportunity to artistic enrichment. The Octagon Art Gallery hosts 8 to 12 exhibits every year, featuring historical exibitions and the work of many professional artists in the region.

The Pergola Garden is maintained by the Westfield Garden Club. It is a wonderful place to enjoy a book on a sunny day.