The Cortland Free Library's roots extend back to 1886 when a South Cortland Farmer, Franklin Hatch, realized his dream of endowing a public library. Hatch's library, located on Court Street opposite the fire station, served Cortland residents nearly 40 years. During the early 1920's, Hatch library board president John Suggett joined citizens to reorganize the Hatch Library as Cortland Free Library
. The Library was chartered in 1926. The library first served just the city of Cortland and now includes the towns of Cortlandville, Truxton and Virgil. Major facility expansions have occurred since the library opened in 1927: shelving for the glass mezzanine was purchased in the 1930's, the separate Children's Room was opened in 1961, additional mezzanines were constructed in 1975 and 1989, and handicap accessibility was also added in 1975. A new roof was installed in 2008 and an elevator addition was completed in June 2011. Purchases of new books are paid by non-tax dollars: fines, memorial donations and other contributions including library-benefit used book sales. The Cortland Free Library, a member of the Finger Lakes Library System, houses over 70,000 volumes comprised of children's books, as well as adult fiction and non-fiction books, nearly 300 periodicals, over 8,000 reference volumes, twelve computer terminals with Internet access, and approximately 1,300 audio books. In microfilm format we have the Cortland Standard since its inception in 1867 and several 19th century local papers. Since the library is a member of the Finger Lakes Library System, there is access to more than 400,000 items and dozens of databases for health information, college choices, national newspapers, periodicals, references, encyclopedias, authors and other resources. The Adult Department offers two microfilm reader/printer machines, large print books, career resources, a local history collection, and Heritage Quest software, a genealogy program of the U.S. Census records. Adult Department books are loaned for 21 days, while magazines, audio books, and new fiction may be borrowed for 14 days. Overdue fines accumulate at the rate of ten cents per day to a maximum of four dollars per item in both Adult and Youth Services. Youth Services offers a weekly pre-school storytime on Thursdays, a separate young adult section, a playhouse, and a sofa for cozy reading.
