Montgomery City-County Public Library

Montgomery City-County Public Library
LocationMontgomery, Alabama, United States of America
Established1889
Branches11[1]
Access and use
Circulation435,500 (2012) [2]
Population served224,000 (2012) [3]
Other information
DirectorZella'Ques Holmes
Websitehttp://www.mccpl.lib.al.us/

The Montgomery City-County Public Library is a library system of eleven branches serving the citizens of Montgomery County, Alabama. The system is composed of the Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library and ten other branches.[4]

The Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library

History

Montgomery Library Association

Library service began on June 19, 1899, when a collection was started above McBryde's Drugstore on Dexter Avenue. Funds were gathered largely from a promotion by the Montgomery Advertiser. The Montgomery Library Association was by subscription membership of $1.00 Miss Laura M. Elmore was the city's first librarian.[5]

Future Vision

the founders of said institution have ever had in mind not a subscription or private library, but an institution that might become a free means of culture and inspiration to all the classes and factions of our people.

from the first constitution of the Montgomery Library Association, 1898.[6]

Carnegie Library

First free public library in Montgomery. Laying of the cornerstone took place in 1902. Holdings included about 2,000 books in 1904. By December 25, 1910, the library's holdings had increased to 10,000 with 5,000 registered borrowers.[7]

City of Montgomery Library

On April 5, 1949 the library became managed by the City of Montgomery with the transferral of its deeds and property from the Montgomery Library Association.

Montgomery City-County Public Library System

In 1974 the City and County Public library systems merged to become the Montgomery City-County Public Library System. The city retained full management responsibility over the system.

Governance

The Montgomery City-County Public Library is governed by the Library Board of Trustees.

Services

Collections

  • Alabamiana & Rare Book Collection
  • Arms & Military Collection
  • Descriptive Video Collection

eBook & eMagazine Services

The Montgomery City-County Public Library offers the following audiobook, e-book, and eMagazine services:[8]

Branches

  • E L Lowder Regional Library
  • Rufus A. Lewis Regional Library
  • Coliseum Boulevard Branch Library
  • Governors Square Branch Library
  • Bertha Pleasant Williams Library — Rosa L. Parks Avenue Branch (named after Bertha Pleasant Williams (1923–2008), the first black professional librarian in Montgomery)
  • Pintlala Branch Library
  • Extension Service & Outreach Department
  • Hampstead Library
  • Pike Road Branch Library
  • Pine Level Branch Library - Closed in 2015[9]
  • Ramer Branch Library

Further reading

  • Greenhaw, Wayne. Montgomery the River City, Montgomery, Alabama: River City Publishing, 2002.

References

  1. ^ "Contact Us". Montgomery City-County Public Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  2. ^ American Library Directory 2013-2014 Vol. 1. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 2013. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-57387-465-6.
  3. ^ American Library Directory 2013-2014 Vol. 1. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 2013. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-57387-465-6.
  4. ^ "Library Branches". Montgomery-City County Public Library System. Archived from the original on 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  5. ^ MCCPL. "Brief History of the Montgomery City-County Public Library". Montgomery City-County Public Library Website. Montgomery City-County Public Library. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  6. ^ MCCPL. "Brief History of the Montgomery City-County Public Library". Montgomery City-County Public Library Website. Montgomery City-County Public Library. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  7. ^ Neeley, Mary Ann (2007). Montgomery & The River Region: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow. China: Beers & Associates. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-9796601-08.
  8. ^ "Search and borrow from OverDrive's huge catalogue of eBooks, audiobooks and videos". OverDrive. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  9. ^ "Montgomery County Library System Could See Cutbacks". 15 September 2014.