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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, Whitemarch, Whitpain and Worcester Townships. The Library was formally incorporated in 1796. One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Thomas Mckean, signed the charter issued in March 1796 establishing the corporation |
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1794 |
Founded by 90 Montgomery County families as a private, subscription library |
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1796 |
Incorporated as a private corporation, the Norristown Library Company, with its charter signed by Thomas McKean, a signer of the Declaration of Independence |
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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 |
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1853 |
Same building removed to DeKalb and Penn Sts |
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1859 |
New building at 516 DeKalb St. |
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1898 |
1898 Royersford Free Public Library founded. Became a branch of Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library in 1995 |
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1907 |
Conshohocken Free Library founded. Became a branch of Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library in 1973 |
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1934 |
Schwenksville Library established. Perkiomen Valley Library at Schwenksville became a branch in 1996 |
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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 |
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1942 |
Changed name to the “Norristown Public Library” with financial backing of the Norristown Borough Council |
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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 |
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1954 |
Moved to 542 DeKalb St., in a library building dedicated as a War Memorial |
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1955 |
West End Children’s Branch opened at 621 Haws Ave. |
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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. |
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1966 |
Purchased adjacent building at 540 DeKalb St. |
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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”.
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1969 |
Purchased adjacent building at 550 DeKalb St. |
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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 |
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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 |
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1975 |
Established Backyard Library van program Friends of Montgomery District Library Center incorporated in Harrisburg |
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1977 |
Moved to new building at Swede and Elm Sts., built by the Montgomery County Commissioners |
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1979 |
Launched “Mini-Bookmobile” for senior citizens |
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1992 |
Launched “Books-Go-Round” bookmobile for children in day care |
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1994 |
Library automation system, called “Catalyst,” became operational |
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1995 |
Established branch: Royersford Free Public Library, under the direction of Laurie Tynan,
the library’s Executive Director |
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1996 |
Established branch: Perkiomen Valley Library at Schwenksville, under the direction of Laurie Tynan, the library’s Executive Director of Laurie Tynan, the library’s Executive Director |
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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 |
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