The Elting Memorial Library has served New Paltz since 1909 and occupies a handsome brick building on Main Street. It is named for the Elting family, one of the original Huguenot families of New Paltz, whose descendants provided the land and funding for the original building. The library has been expanded and updated over the years while maintaining its central role in village life.
For visitors, the library is a useful resource for local history materials — its local history collection includes documents, photographs, and maps relating to the Huguenot settlement and the broader Ulster County region. It also provides a quiet refuge on a rainy afternoon, with reading room seating and free public wifi. Check the events calendar for occasional lectures and exhibits on local history, which are open to non-residents.