By 1996, Erie had a library on South Park Row that was encased in scaffolding because the weight of the books was pulling the building apart, and chunks of the Beaux Arts structure were literally falling to the sidewalk. The scaffolding created tunnels making it safe for pedestrians to walk. It also had a Bayfront Highway, but no bayfront development, because no one wanted to take that risk. County officials at that time saw the value in libraries and made the courageous decision to move the library to the bayfront, starting the renaissance of development along the shoreline. Today, it is now one of the few spaces on the city bayfront open at no cost to the public aside from Dobbins Landing. In addition to the tax money used to fund the library, Penelec and the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority donated land to be used for a library and museum, and Raymond M. Blasco, M.D. donated a large sum of money for the library and bookmobile. Dr. Blasco passed away before the construction could be completed and the library was named in his memory. In addition to Dr. Blasco’s generous contribution, residents of Erie County gave above and beyond their tax dollars to create this beautiful bayfront library by giving bricks engraved with the name of loved ones. These bricks can be seen in the library lobby and specific bricks can be located by asking for the directory at the circulation desk.
The Evolution of the Blasco Library
All available here as well: History
“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what is right.”
~Peter Marshall
Keep Our Library Public! 