Our Story
Learn about Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library and our 200+ year history.
The Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library, a gateway to lifelong learning, provides convenient access to resources that inform, educate, entertain, and enrich people’s lives.
Connected to the World | Committed to the Community | Inclusive of All
We serve our community by providing education, employment, entrepreneurship, empowerment, and engagement resources, activities, and support for Norristown and greater Montgomery County residents.
We are the District Library Center for Montgomery County, coordinating programs and services for more than 865,000 residents of Montgomery County, PA through our system of 34 unique library sites, six delivery vehicles, three bookmobiles, an integrated online system, MCLINC, and an extensive network of partnerships throughout the County.
We strive to promote, enhance, empower, encourage, and foster a more educated and skilled workforce, a thriving local economy with active entrepreneurs, empowered individuals who are engaged in their community, and a cohesive community with strong social connections and civic participation.
A new location
We’ve re-opened at 1700 Markley Street as of Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
Our library that you know and love at 1001 Powell Street will be undergoing major renovations. Our new location will be at 1700 Markley St, Ste 116, Norristown, PA 19401 and this will be our home until the renovations are complete.
The Library’s roots go back to 1794 and the founding of the Norristown Library Company by 90 families residing in Lower Merion, Norriton, Plymouth, Providence, Whitemarsh, Whitpain and Worcester Townships. The Library was formally incorporated in 1796, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Thomas McKean, signed the charter issued in March 1796, establishing the corporation.
2025 Annual Report
Our 2025 Annual Report gives an overview of our achievements, challenges, and community partnerships.
Click the booklet to view the 2025 Annual Report
Strategic Plan
Our Strategic Plan outlines the vision, goals, objectives, and actions that will guide the library’s growth and development for the period 2022-2025.
Our History
The Library’s roots go back to 1794 and the founding of the Norristown Library Company by 90 families residing in Lower Merion, Norriton, Plymouth, Providence, Whitemarsh, Whitpain and Worcester Townships. The Library was formally incorporated in 1796, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Thomas McKean, signed the charter issued in March 1796, establishing the corporation.
Library Timeline
DO NOT USE
1700s
| 1794 | Founded by 90 Montgomery County families as a private, subscription library |
| 1796 | Incorporated as a private corporation on April 30, the Norristown Library Company, with its charter signed by Thomas McKean, a signer of the Declaration of Independence |
1800s
| 1824 | First building on 100 block of West Main St., Norristown, costing $153.43 and built on land given by the Pawling family members, who were among the library’s founders |
| 1853 | Same building removed to DeKalb and Penn Sts. |
| 1859 | New building at 516 DeKalb St. |
| 1898 | Royersford Free Public Library founded. Became a branch of Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library in 1995 |
1900s
| 1907 | Conshohocken Free Library founded. Became a branch of Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library in 1973 |
| 1934 | Schwenksville Library established. Perkiomen Valley Library at Schwenksville became a branch in 1996 |
| 1937 | McCann Library, only public library in Norristown which was operated by the Norristown School District, closed and Norristown citizens began to prevail on the Norristown Library Company to become public |
| 1942 | Changed name to the “Norristown Public Library” with financial backing of the Norristown Borough Council |
| 1947 | Montgomery County Bookmobiles founded by Mrs. Harry Rossiter at the Abington Library Society (now the Jenkintown Library) and supported by the Montgomery County Commissioners from November 7, 1947 |
| 1954 | Moved to 542 DeKalb St., in a library building dedicated as a War Memorial |
| 1955 | West End Children’s Branch opened at 621 Haws Ave. |
| 1962 | Designated by the State as a District Center after the passage of the Pa. Library Code, for which Norristown Library Director Pearl Frankenfield was the Pennsylvania Library Association lobbyist in Harrisburg for the code’s passage. |
| 1966 | Purchased adjacent building at 540 DeKalb St. |
| 1968 | Merged with the Montgomery County Free Library, which ran the Montgomery County Bookmobiles from Markley St. offices, and renamed “Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library”. Closed West End Children’s Branch Purchased additional building at 526-528 DeKalb St. |
| 1969 | Purchased adjacent building at 550 DeKalb St. |
| 1970 | Opened branch: Upper Perkiomen Valley Library at Red Hill, under the direction of the late Patricia A. Dobbin, then Head of Extension Services and later Executive Director of the library |
| 1973 | Opened branch: Conshohocken Free Library, under the direction of Carol E. Straub, the library’s Assistant Director Library Board purchased property at Swede and Elm Sts. as site for new library |
| 1974 | Established Books By Mail program to serve homebound residents of Montgomery County |
| 1975 | Established Backyard Library van program Friends of Montgomery District Library Center incorporated in Harrisburg |
| 1977 | Moved to new building at Swede and Elm Sts., built by the Montgomery County Commissioners |
| 1979 | Launched “Mini-Bookmobile” for senior citizens |
| 1992 | Launched “Books-Go-Round” bookmobile for children in day care |
| 1994 | Library automation system, called “Catalyst,” became operational |
| 1995 | Established branch: Royersford Free Public Library, under the direction of Laurie Tynan, the library’s Executive Director MCLINC (Montgomery County Library and Information Network Consortium) founded |
| 1996 | Established branch: Perkiomen Valley Library at Schwenksville, under the direction of Laurie Tynan, the library’s Executive Director |
2000s
| 2001 | “Books and Me” begun under grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
| 2002 | Computer Lab, funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Lillian Smith Marx, opened. |
| 2003 | Library website launched |
| 2004 | Library celebrated its 210th Anniversary. Library launched revitalized Books by Mail program serving homebound residents of Montgomery County. |
| 2006 | Joined the Ask Here, PA service, which allows live chat and reference librarians 24/7! Library began offering digital book collections. |
| 2007 | Installed public wireless internet access service at MC-NPL and its four branches. |
| 2021 | Karen DeAngelo named Executive Director and District Administrator |
| 2024 | Books Go Round relaunches. The bookmobile visits Head Start, PreK Counts, and childcare centers throughout Montgomery County and offers story times, programs, books, and resources to children and their caregivers. |
| 2025 | Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library begins major renovation of 1001 Powell Street Library in partnership with Montgomery County |