Montgomery County Public Libraries

Montgomery County Public Libraries
Established 1920
Location Montgomery County, Maryland, U.S.
Branches 23
Access and use
Population served 1,016,677
Other information
Budget US$38,300,000[1]
Director Parker Hamilton
Website montgomerycountymd.gov/library

The Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is the public library system for residents of Montgomery County, Maryland The system includes 23 individual libraries.

History

The library was founded in 1920 by an act of Congress. The first library branch was located in Rockville.

Governance

MCPL is an independent agency of Montgomery County. It is managed by a Chief Librarian that is selected and reviewed by a Board of Library Trustees. The Board of Library Trustees are appointed by the Mayor of the Montgomery County, subject to review and approval by the Council of the Montgomery County.

The budget is also determined by the Council of the Montgomery County based on a request submitted by the Mayor as part of the annual budget process for the entire municipal government. In 2015 it is 38,300,000 US $.

The Chief Librarian is often invited to attend the Mayor's Cabinet meetings and works closely with the City Administrator on how to execute the MCPL budget. The District's Chief Financial Officer provides a fiscal officer from that office to ensure that financial practices within MCPL meet with District requirements. MCPL also has independent procurement authority, allowing them to execute contracts for books, electronic resources, furniture, equipment, and construction services.

In addition to the Board of Library Trustees, the Council of the Montgomery County provides oversight for MCPL via a Council.

Branches

Non-Resident library privileges

MCPL is part of the Maryland Consolidated Library System, which provides that any person who is a resident of the State of Maryland may obtain a library card at no charge at any county library or Baltimore City. This privilege is also available to non-residents who work for an employer in Maryland or pay property taxes there. A person may apply for a card from any library system in the state, or choose to authorize a card from any other library system in the state on that system.

Non-residents who do not qualify may obtain a library card for a fee of $50 a year, which is only good in the county (or Baltimore City) of issue. An exception is made for residents of nearby jurisdictions outside of Maryland who will grant free library privileges to county residents, in which case the library will reciprocate. Thus, residents of the District of Columbia as well as the residents of the Virginia cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax, as well as the counties of Arlington and Fairfax may obtain library cards at no charge.

Nearby Public Library Systems

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://budget.data.montgomerycountymd.gov/#/operating/Libraries,+Culture,+and+Recreation//Public+Libraries/
  2. ↑ "Gaithersburg Regional Library". Montgomery County Public Libraries. Montgomery County, Maryland. November 1996. Archived from the original on March 30, 1997. Retrieved March 30, 1997. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. ↑ "Germantown Community Library". Montgomery County Public Libraries. Montgomery County, Maryland. November 1996. Archived from the original on March 30, 1997. Retrieved March 30, 1997. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
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