Due to Barbara Ireland’s persistent dedication to have a public library in the town of Chili, Chili Town Supervisor George Lusk appointed her Chairman of the Chili Library Committee. Under her direction the 10 member committee worked toward establishing a library for the town. Over the years Mrs. Ireland served as both library board chairman and secretary. She was instrumental in advocating for a new library extension to the former Town Hall in 1968. In later years she remained an active supporter of the library and was a member of the Friends of the Chili Public Library.
Provisional charter is granted on October 27, 1961 by the New York State Board of Regents. The Chili Public Library became a member of the Monroe County Library System.
On October 15, 1962, the library began in a 900 square foot room in what was then the Town Hall. Marcia Chapman is hired as the first Librarian of the Chili Public Library.
Mrs. Hetler is hired as Library Director.
In 1966, a 6,300 square foot addition was added to the Town Hall which served as the town’s library for more than 30 years.
Absolute charter is granted December 14, 1973, by the New York State Board of Regents.
The Friends of the Chili Public Library was formed in the fall of 1995 to create public support for the library, intensify community awareness and library use, and to sponsor programs designed to add to the cultural life of the community.
In June 1997, the residents approved a bond resolution to construct a new one-story Library and Town Hall facility on 24 acres of land donated by Wegmans.
On November 23, 1998, the 16,600 square foot library building opened its doors to the public. It had almost three times the space of the former library, and included a separate Children’s Room, Storytime Room, and Multipurpose Room.
Dorothy (Dottie) Pompa retires after being Library Director for more than 25 years.
Bernadette Foster is hired as the library’s new Director.
Bernadette Foster leaves as Director. Jennifer Ries-Taggart is hired as the library’s new Director.
Jeff Baker is hired as the library’s new Director.
The Chili Public Library is awarded Rochester Regional Library Council (RRLC) Library of the Year.
The library completes a Children's Area renovation Project relocating an existing office to make room for increased shelving, programming space, and a computer zone.
The Chili Public Library is awarded its second Rochester Regional Library Council (RRLC) Library of the Year.
September 2016, the library’s Teen Area are renovated.
The Storytime Room and fireplace areas were renovated adding new furniture including lounge chairs, a DVD shelving unit, storage cabinets, and children’s tables and chairs.
June 19, 2018, the residents of Chili voted to bond a $20 million new Chili Community Center. The Chili Public Library Foundation is established October 31, 2018. The Foundation is a catalyst for the expansion of library services by raising funds through vital partnerships and advocacy efforts, supporting the education and growth of the Chili community.
The Chili Community Center opens its doors on May 15, 2021. It brings the town’s library, Senior Center, and Recreation departments under one roof, off Old Scottsville Chili Road. The town court moves to the Town Hall, filling the space left by the library. The new library is 27,059 square feet, and has three study rooms, a quiet reading room, a Spark Lab Makerspace/Craft Room, and additional space for the Children’s and Teen areas.