:Lower Merion Library System
{{Short description|Public library system}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox library
| name = Lower Merion Library System
| logo =
| image = File:Ludington Library.jpg
| caption = Ludington Library in Bryn Mawr.
| scope =
| established = {{Start date|1899}}
| ref_legal_mandate =
| location = Lower Merion Township, PA
| coordinates =
| branch_of =
| num_branches = 6
| items_collected =
| collection_size = 547,656 items
| criteria =
| legal_deposit =
| req_to_access =
| annual_circulation = 1,076,000 items
| pop_served = 63,000
| members = 35,425
| budget = $ 6,200,000
| director =
| num_employees =
| website = {{URL|www.lmls.org}}
| references =
}}
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.{{cite web| url=http://www.statelibrary.pa.gov/_layouts/download.aspx?SourceUrl=http://www.statelibrary.pa.gov/Documents/For%20Libraries/Library%20Statistics/2013%20State%20Aided%202013.xlsx| title=2013 Public Library Statistics| publisher=State Library of Pennsylvania}}
History
There are six neighborhood branches throughout the township. The first branch to open was the Ardmore Free Library in 1899,{{cite web |title=2015 LMLS Annual Report - Final |url=https://lmls.org/2015-lmls-annual-report-final/ |access-date=July 10, 2022 |website=Lower Merion Library System}} and Belmont Hills is the newest, having opened in 1935. The largest branch is the Ludington Library and the smallest branch is Belmont Hills Library.
Lower Merion Library System's governing board is the Board of Directors, which consists of 11 members, some of whom serve ex-officio as commissioners on the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners.
The Lower Merion Library System is one of the independent public library systems in Montgomery County. All cardholders can borrow materials from other libraries in MCLINC (Montgomery County Library and Information Network Consortium). In addition, cardholders can use Access Pennsylvania which allows for borrowing 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, Kanopy, and Hoopla for e-books, magazines and video-recordings.{{cite web |url=http://www.lmls.org|title=OneClick Digital|year=2008|publisher=Lower Merion Library System}} Approximately 85% of LMLS' funding comes from Lower Merion Township, with the remainder coming from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and individual branch libraries' fundraising efforts.
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||||
| scope="col" | No.
! scope="col" | Name ! scope="col" | Address ! scope="col" | Zip Code ! scope="col" | Website ! scope="col" | Established | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ardmore | 108 Ardmore Ave | 19003 | [https://lmls.org/ardmore https://lmls.org/ardmore.] | 1899 |
| 2 | Bala Cynwyd | 131 Old Lancaster Road | 19004 | https://lmls.org/balacynwyd | 1915 |
| 3 | Belmont Hills | 120 Mary Watersford Road | 19004 | https://lmls.org/belmonthills | 1935 |
| 4 | Gladwyne | 362 Righters Mill Road | 19035 | https://lmls.org/gladwyne | 1931 |
| 5 | Ludington | 5. S. Bryn Mawr Avenue | 19010 | https://lmls.org/ludington | 1916 |
| 6 | Penn Wynne | 130 Overbrook Parkway | 19096 | | https://lmls.org/pennwynne | 1929 |
Gallery
File:Ardmore library.jpg|A
File:Bala Cynwyd Library.jpg|Bala Cynwyd Library
File:Belmont Hills, Pennsylvania Library.jpg|Belmont Hills Library
File:Gladwyne Library.jpg|Gladwyne Library
File:Penn Wynne Library.jpg|Penn Wynne Library
{{Portal|Pennsylvania}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.lmls.org/}}
{{coord|40.001728|-75.239069|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-PA|display=title}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Education in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania