The Lower Merion Library System (LMLS) is the public library system of the township of Lower Merion, in Pennsylvania. It is among the largest public library systems in Pennsylvania.[1] While Lower Merion accounts for 7% of the population of Montgomery County, it represents 20% of its library circulation.[2][3] The library is ranked in the top 2% of public libraries for circulation per capita.[2]
| Lower Merion Library System | |
|---|---|
 Ludington Library in Bryn Mawr. | |
 | |
| Location | Lower Merion Township, PA |
| Established | 1899 |
| Branches | 6 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 447,368 items |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 969,559 items |
| Population served | 60,000 |
| Members | 41,392 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $ 4,963,517 |
| Director | David L. Belanger |
| Website | www |
History
editThere are six neighborhood branches throughout the township. The first branch to open was the Ardmore Free Library in 1899,[3] and Belmont Hills is the newest, having opened in 1935. The largest branch is the Ludington Library, with almost 168,000 items in circulation, and the smallest branch is Belmont Hills, with almost 17,000 items available.[3] Lower Merion Library System's governing board is the Board of Directors, which consists of 14 members, some of whom serve ex-officio as commissioners on the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners.[3]
The Lower Merion Library is one of the independent public library systems in Montgomery County. All cardholders can borrow from and utilize library systems at any other library in the Montgomery County library system. In addition, cardholders can request access to Access Pennsylvania which allows for privileges at many other library systems throughout the Commonwealth, including the Free Library of Philadelphia in neighboring Philadelphia. Lower Merion Library System cardholders can also utilize Overdrive, Zinio and Hoopla for e-books, magazines and video-recordings.[4] Approximately 85% of LMLS' funding comes from Lower Merion, with the remainder coming from the State and individual branch libraries funding efforts.[3]
| No. | Name | Address | Zip Code | Website | Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ardmore | 108 Ardmore Ave | 19003 | http://www.lmls.org/locations-hours/ardmore-library/ | 1899 |
| 2 | Bala Cynwyd | 131 Old Lancaster Road | 19004 | http://www.lmls.org/locations-hours/bala-cynwyd-library/ | 1915 |
| 3 | Belmont Hills | 120 Mary Watersford Road | 19004 | http://www.lmls.org/locations-hours/belmont-hills-library/ | 1935 |
| 4 | Gladwyne | 362 Righters Mill Road | 19035 | http://www.lmls.org/locations-hours/gladwyne-library/ | 1931 |
| 5 | Ludington | 5. S. Bryn Mawr Avenue | 19010 | http://www.lmls.org/locations-hours/ludington-library/ | 1916 |
| 6 | Penn Wynne | 130 Overbrook Parkway | 19096 | http://www.lmls.org/locations-hours/penn-wynne-library/ | 1929 |
Gallery
edit-
Ardmore Library
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Bala Cynwyd Library
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Belmont Hills Library
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Gladwyne Library
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Penn Wynne Library
References
edit- ^ "2013 Public Library Statistics". State Library of Pennsylvania.
- ^ a b "Library Statistics – Lower Merion Library System". Lmls.org. 2016-04-07. Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
- ^ a b c d e "2015 LMLS Annual Report - Final". Lower Merion Library System. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "OneClick Digital". Lower Merion Library System. 2008.