Prior to the organization of the Rose Free Library, a group of Rose citizens shared books on a rotating basis.  These books were read and every two weeks, on Saturdays, were promptly passed on to the next person on the list in the front of each book beginning Dec.31, 1910.

The origins of our wonderful library date back to the early 1900s when a group of civic minded Rose ladies, active in the Town Improvement Society, joined the Ladies Magazine Club where they exchanged magazines and discussed the issues of the day.  It wasn’t long before they set their sights on establishing a library in our area so that their fellow townspeople could enjoy the same type of facilities as the larger neighboring towns.

The state law outlined the steps necessary to establishing a town library.  

To establish a free library, a library that is not owned by the public but maintained for its welfare and free use:

The association was required to raise the sum of $100 before it could apply for its initial charter, due to inflation that would be approximately $2,500 today.  The organization followed these guidelines and eventually made petition to the New York State Education Department.  

On August 29, 1912, Rose Free Library was granted its original charter.  The original charter bears the following names: Rose Stubley Town, Charles L. Osborn, Edward R. Hay, Frank H. Closs, Jr., Lorena Valentine.  The library was housed in a rented room at the Rose Inn, formerly Pimm’s Hotel.  Holdings were 68 books which were purchased with the $100 it had been required to raise by the state, and an additional 170 books were donated by Alfred S. Roe (former Massachusetts State Senator, educator, author, and Rose native).  Mabel Osgood managed the library and was succeeded by Mary West Niles. The first years were financially trying as there was a constant struggle to meet the annual state demand of $100 local operating expense.  By 1916, the library closed for approximately 2 years due to lack of funds, resulting in the inability to meet state mandate of $100 operating expenses.

In 1918 the first annual receipt of $100 from the School District was received by the library.  The Rose Inn was becoming run down and was no longer an acceptable location for a library.  The library then moved to the second floor of the Rose Chemical Company, which the Village Improvement Society helped renovate the year prior with the agreement that the library would be housed on the second floor when it was completed and the Rose Chemical Company would have use of the ground floor.  The Rose Free Library was once again opened for public use on April 23, 1918.  Miss Marian Winchell (who was later known as Mrs. Fred Thomas) became the librarian at this location.  In 1921 Miss Faythe Fredendall became librarian until Mrs. Flora Bishop took over as librarian in 1929.  Her responsibilities were not only the care of the books, but also to feed the wood stove which, according to Marianne Hunt, was the only source of heat in that lonely upper room.

In 1939 the library moved to an extra room in the newly rebuilt Rose Union School.  (The Rose Union School was completely destroyed in a disastrous fire in January 1937.)  Flora Bishop continued as librarian until 1942 with a salary of $1.00 per week.  For the next several years there was a succession of librarians including Hugh Jewell, Eulalie Gowers, Mary Letson and Edith Chatterson at the salary of $2.00 per week.  During this time the library was used primarily by the children attending that school.  Catherine Colburn became librarian in the early 1950s.  In 1955 the Rose Free Library became a member of the Wayne County Library System, by this time the schoolroom that the library was located in was being used for music classes and for office equipment.  With no room for expansion or space for tables and chairs which would be needed, the decision was made to move to a new location.  

The library had their sights set on the old town hall which had been empty for a number of years, but repairs and renovations would be necessary.  In 1961 a serious campaign was launched to raise the funds necessary to renovate and repair the old town hall in order to house the library.  This campaign was immensely successful and renovations began in the fall of 1961.  By June of 1962 the Rose Free Library moved into the former Town Hall, its current location.  In 1983 the Closs Memorial Room was dedicated in memory of Alice and Frank Closs, Jr.  Renovations were made in the study/reference room and the check-out area was redone.  In 1984 a photocopier was purchased for library and public use.  In 1985 the access ramp was built.  In 1988 North Rose-Wolcott School District provided a computer for library and public use and video cassettes were made available for loan.  In 1989 Saturday hours began at the library.  In 1991 a new furnace was purchased for the library by the Town of Rose.  The Highway Superintendent’s former office was made available to the library for work space in 1994.  In 1995 a computer was purchased in order to network with the Pioneer Library System.  1996 saw some major section rearrangements; the children’s area became a raised section of the main level, making adult sections more easily available, a FAX machine was also purchased.  New siding, windows and front doors were installed and funded by the Town of Rose.  In 1997 a display case was dedicated in memory of Edward M. Teska, Library Trustee from 1990-1995.  Rose Community Days celebrated the Library’s 85th Anniversary, the theme was “85 and Still Growing”.  1998 saw the refurbishment of the check-out area, in memory of former librarian, Marian (Winchell) Thomas.  New carpet was installed in the Closs Memorial Room and a new computer was purchased with a donation from Thomas Closs.  Also in 1998 a computer lab was established with funds from a grant obtained from Senator Michael Nozzolio.  In 2002 the Rose Free Library joined the Pioneer Library System, a consortium of local libraries in Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties whose purpose is the expansion and improvement of library services through the distribution of funds, materials, electronic services and information to libraries in Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming and Livingston Counties.  On August 11, 2012 the library hosted a 100th Anniversary Party and Open House.  In 2017 the access ramp was updated.  The succession of librarians in this location is as follows: 1962 Marianne Hunt, 1970 Eudora Jewell, 1973 Carol Sehm, 1983 Donna Norris, 2020 Deanna Wiltsie.

*Based in part on research conducted by Marianne Hunt