BUSTI – The Hazeltine Public Library in Busti is asking for court approval to modify a more than 100-year-old trust fund.

The $4,000 trust fund was created by Harriet S. Hazeltine in 1923 – 11 years before the current library building was built – with the money to be used to purchase books. Library officials say it can’t use interest from the trust fund to buy books because books are now too expensive. In a state Supreme Court filing recently, library officials say the trust fund hasn’t earned more than $100 in interest since 2010.

“That $100 annually in interest does not support the fund’s mission of purchasing new books for the Hazeltine Public Library due to the high cost of purchasing literature in 2024, and that said amount would be much better utilized if monies other than interest could be applied to the support of the library. The benefit to the Hazeltine Public Library is not cost-effective, as the fee charged by the New York State Department of Education to manage said fund is more than the interest earned each year on the monies held,” the library’s court filing states.

Library officials are asking to transfer money from Harriet Hazeltine’s trust to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, which has agreed to accept the money and manage the money in acceptance with best practices for such gifts. Library board members say they have received approval from the state Attorney General’s office to release the money from the state Education Department as well.

The Hazeltine Public Library began with a $5,000 gift from Charles Benjamin Reed Hazeltine in memory of his father, Pardon. The elder Hazeltine served as town supervisor and clerk during the 1830s. His will directed a library to be built as near as possible to the five corners in Busti and he directed the town of Busti to provide suitable quarters for the books. Money from the estate of Fanny Jones were also used to establish the library.

On Dec. 22, 1922, according to the library’s website, the library was granted a certificate to establish and in 1924 a new library opened in the Busti Town Hall. Trustees were elected to the library board, the original ones being Earl D. Andrews, Axel Levin, Fannie Jones, Stella Simmons and L. Joy Stoddard. Busti Town Clerk LJ Bradway certified the meeting and recorded the election. In 1934 a dedicated building was constructed on the site the library occupies now.

According to Harriet Hazeltine’s will, she gave the library $5,000, with $1,000 to be used immediately to purchase books and the remaining $4,000 to be placed in an endowment for future purchases.

“The Hazeltine Public Library, under the direction of its board of directors, hereby promises to hold such trust funds and utilize the money gifted to them by Ms. Hazeltine in accordance with the donor’s wishes and for the exclusive needs of the library,” the state Supreme Court filing states.