Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association

Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association was established in 1907 and located at Monument Square in Montrose, PA. Through the years we have grown and expanded our museum collection as well as our library circulation.  What has not changed is our mission :

"to support the appreciation and preservation of local history, and to nourish the joy of reading, the discovery of ideas, and the power of information".

Our Historical Society continues to operate at our Monument Square location and our Library has expanded to include a county system with branches in Montrose, Susquehanna, Hallstead-Great Bend, and Forest City.  We also maintain an Outreach Department that was established in 1907 which started out as a traveling library.  The traveling library, an early library service, provided books housed in World War I ammunition crates throughout the county for those residents who could not access the building.  This service was recognized by the State Library of PA as "the first county library extension system in the state." This service continues to this day meeting the needs of our county residents through our Books on Wheels program and our Books by Mail services.

Like many rural institutions, we are facing growing financial challenges.
Our current funding levels have not increased in recent years, yet the cost of
maintaining our services continues to rise. Despite this, we remain committed
to providing access to knowledge, fostering community engagement, and
preserving the rich history of our area. To do this, we need your help.

Why Your
Support Matters:

      Modern
Technology:  Many of our branches and historical archives are in urgent
need of updated computers, internet infrastructure, and digital resources.
Technology is a critical gateway for rural residents—especially students, job
seekers, and older adults—to access information and opportunity.    

      Programs
for All Ages:  We offer educational and cultural programming for both
children and adults, including summer reading programs, literacy initiatives,
local history talks, and hands-on workshops. These programs are often a
lifeline in rural communities, where access to enrichment can be limited.   

       Historic
Building Maintenance:  Many of our library buildings and historical
society facilities are decades—if not centuries—old. They require ongoing  maintenance to remain safe, accessible, and welcoming for the public.

Your
donation—no matter the size—will make a meaningful difference.

Whether
it's $25, $50, $75, $100 or more, every dollar helps us provide essential services
and protect our shared history for generations to come.

Thank you for considering a gift to support the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association. With your help we can continue our mission to preserve our history, nourish the joy of reading, the discovery of ideas, and the power of information.

Who We Are

The mission of the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association is to support the appreciation and preservation of local history, and to nourish the joy of reading, the discovery of ideas, and the power of information.