Mission
The David A. Howe Public Library is to serve as the center of cultural life for the Wellsville area by creating a high level of patron engagement through a balanced program of collecting and preserving books and materials, developing educational and cultural programming, and supporting the social and economic fabric of the community by providing a space for people to come together.
Collection
The David A. Howe Public Library is the largest public library in Allegany County. The collection has over 110,300 items which are available through STARCat, the Southern Tier Automated Regional Catalog. Our patrons also have access to the shared collection of over 1,000,000 items held by the Southern Tier Library System and its over forty member libraries, as well as the digital collections of Finger Lakes Library System and the OWWL (Pioneer) Library System. DAHPL is a New York State Document depository.
Highlights of the collection include:
- Allegany County local history materials,
- an extensive DVD collection,
- hundreds of Large Print books,
- thousands of music CDs,
- electronic and print magazine subscriptions,
- current local and regional newspapers, and
- some unexpected items like ukuleles, fishing rods, passes to local attractions, and knitting and birdwatching kits!
Programs
The library offers a wide array of cultural and educational programs for people of all ages.
Adult Programs
- Book Discussions
- How-to Workshops
- Craft and Hobby Classes
Youth Programs
- Preschool story hours
- Summer reading activities
- Teen programs
Auditorium Programs
- Instrumental and vocal concerts
- Academic lectures
- Theater and dance
Tech Programs
- Computer Classes
- One-on-one help
Services
Book recommendations, reference assistance, public access computer workstations including Internet access, online resources, print, copy, scanner and fax services.
Accessibility
The David A. Howe Public Library is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers via a ramp and electric door opener at the main entrance. A separate ramp serves the auditorium and there is also an electric door opener at that entrance. There is an accessible restroom on the main level. Computers and catalog access configured for the visually or hearing impaired are available. Library staff will gladly assist all patrons in retrieving books from any location in the building.
Policies and Budget
On the 2025 school board election ballot, the Trustees of the Library requested a budget increase of $222,400 for the 2026 fiscal year. We are grateful to the voters in our community who overwhelmingly approved this measure. These additional funds will allow us to stabilize operations, invest in community priorities, preserve endowment principal, and address rising costs.
The approved budget will result in an annual increase of approximately $39 per household. (For example: the increase for a $100,000 home would be the equivalent of 75¢ per week. This small amount of money will ensure robust funding for the library without placing undue burden on taxpayers.)