Reading Public Library

The Reading Public Library (RPL) is the main public library of the City of Reading, Pennsylvania and the district library center (DLC) of Berks County. RPL's services and collections serve the City of Reading, its suburbs, greater Berks County, and beyond.

For the library in Reading, Massachusetts, see Reading Public Library (Massachusetts).
Reading Public Library
Reading Public Library, main branch, built 1913
Established1763
LocationReading, Pennsylvania, USA
Branches1 Main Branch, 3 Sub Branches, 1 Bookmobile
Access and use
Circulation500,000
Population served87,812 (City of Reading);[1] 415,000 (Berks County)[2]
Other information
Budget$2.9M[3]
DirectorBronwen Gamble[4]
Staff60
Websitehttp://www.reading.lib.pa.us/
Map

History

Founded as an English subscription library in 1763, Reading Public Library is one of the oldest, though not continuously operating, libraries in the United States. It wasn't until 1913 that the Main Library as it currently stands was built through the generosity of Andrew Carnegie. After a major fundraising campaign in 1989, the Main Library was renovated and modernized through a variety of projects during 1990–1993. It is the sixth oldest public library in the United States.

Recognition by IMLS

In May 2018, Reading Public Library was selected as a recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This award represents institutions that offer "dynamic programming and services that exceed expected levels of service" and that also "bring about change that touches the lives of individuals and helps communities thrive" through outreach to and engagement with the service population.

Branch Libraries

An increase in the number of users and the changing collection needs over the years have prompted the construction of three Branches. Southeast Branch Library (1974), Northeast Branch Library (1974), and Northwest Branch Library (1939). City Bookmobile services were added in 1951. The Main Library, all three Branches, and the Bookmobile readily share books and other materials to further facilitate complete coverage of the community's needs.

Website
Postcard of the library, date unknown

The Reading Public Library website provides access to the library's catalog and to online collections and subscription databases. It also includes information on upcoming events such as free book talks, instruction sessions, and visiting speakers and authors. The online catalog ALIN allows users to search RPL's holdings of books and other materials as well as those of all participating libraries in Berks County.

In conjunction with Access Pennsylvania, RPL gives library cardholders free access via POWER Library to hundreds of current and historical magazines, newspapers, journals, and reference books in subscription databases, including EBSCOhost, Grove Art Online, Grove Music Online, and ERIC.

Other databases available only from within the library include Ancestry Library, Foundation Directory, Reference USA, and Reading Eagle archives.

Resources and services

Resources

RPL offers a wide variety of print resources (Fiction, Nonfiction, Reference, Large Print, Spanish, Magazines, Government Documents) and non-print resources (CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs, Video Cassettes, Microfilm, Databases, Reading Eagle Archives).

Services

Among RPL's many services are a fully staffed Reference Department, Inter-Library Loan capabilities, a Pennsylvania Room dedicated to history and genealogy of the local area, award-winning Children's & Young Adult Departments, regularly scheduled Instruction & Programming, and freely available Public Internet Access via desktop computers and wifi).

See also

References
  1. "Reading, PA City Data". Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  2. "Berks County PA Pop". Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  3. "2016 Budget" (PDF). Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  4. "Get to know the library". Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  • Durham, A. R. (n.d.). History of the Reading Library 1808-1890. Unpublished manuscript, Reading Public Library, Reading, PA.
  • Griesemer, V. L. (1964). Two Hundred Years of Service: A History of the Reading Public Library. (Undergraduate dissertation, Albright College, 1964).
  • Heizmann, L. J. (1971). The library that would not die: the turbulent history of the Reading Public Library. Reading, PA: Reading Eagle Press.
  • Heizmann, L. J., & Hagan, C. (1988). The library that would not die: the turbulent history of the Reading Public Library. Reading, PA : Reading Eagle Press.

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