Designed and built as a community meeting place in 1899, the Tudor Revival building housing the Aurora Free Library was a gift to the Village of Aurora from Louise Morgan Zabriskie. Some of its splendid interior features include ornately carved woodwork, leaded glass windows, and a Victorian theater, the Morgan Opera House, on the second story. The property was donated in 1941 to the Aurora Free Library Board of Trustees. In 1960, the Aurora Free Library joined the Finger Lakes Library System, two years after its inception. In February 1981 it received its first provisional charter from the State Education Department. In December 1996 it received its absolute charter.

The building currently houses the library, a basement jail cell that now houses an archives room, and the Opera House, which was dormant for nearly fifty years. In 1989, under the auspices of the Aurora Free Library and with the encouragement of the Aurora community, the restoration of the Opera House was begun. Over the following five years, the Opera House was restored to its original condition while utilized as the setting for a variety of cultural events each summer. The restoration and renovation efforts include the completion of the following: repair of the Opera House floor, ceiling and walls, installation of a fire alarm system, installation of safety features including hand rails, electrical rewiring, exit lights, emergency lights, a fire door and a newly installed handicap access bathroom on the first floor. Wheelchair access to the Library is via a ramp on the north side of the building along Cherry Avenue.

The Aurora Free Library is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, employs two part-time librarians, and traditionally has had the support of many dedicated volunteers.

The vision of the Aurora Free Library is to enhance the quality of life in this rural community by promoting cultural literacy, providing access to the electronic doorway and providing educational and informational resources necessary to help our citizens continue learning throughout their lives.

The Aurora Free Library's Mission is to provide library materials which meet the informational, recreational, and cultural needs of community members. In addition, it will restore and maintain a facility which includes a community meeting and arts center. Special emphasis will be placed on stimulating young children's interest in and appreciation for reading and learning. The library will feature current high demand, high interest materials in a variety of formats for patrons of all ages.

• Sandra Groth, Librarian
• Susan MacCormick, Assistant Librarian
• Linda Kabelac, Library Assistant