PHOTO PROVIDED A historic photo of the James V. Brown Library from the early 1900s on the library’s website.

The story of the James V. Brown Library, 19 East Fourth St., began when the will of James VanDuzee Brown, a local lumber baron and philanthropist, included a bequest of $400,000 to the city of Williamsport, with the stipulation that $150,000 be used to build a public library for area residents.

According to historical accounts, the idea for the library came from his late wife, Carile Brown.

The library officially opened in June 1907.

Since that time, the library’s services have grown to include several branches in surrounding communities..

The footprint of the building also has grown through the years, including the addition of the David A. Howe Reference Room in 1939 which provided 35,000 volumes to be added to the library’s collection.

Then, in 2008, a ground breaking was held for the Kathryn Siegel Welch Children’s Wing of the library, a 26,400-square-foot building cost $6.5 million, with $2 million coming from a state grant, according to historical information.

“In the past year alone, the James V. Brown Library reached more than 110,000 individuals and facilitated over 320,000 checkouts, delivering an estimated $5 million in direct value back to the community,” said Savannah Lorson, Development, Marketing & Public Relations Director. “Compared to just 10 years ago, the Library services’ have expanded significantly. Today we offer far more programs and community experiences for all ages, expanded our summer learning program, and have a wide range of digital resources accessible from anywhere, such as Libby and Hoopla. We now have a more robust, diverse collection of resources that go well beyond traditional print,” Lorson said.

Programs at the library are offered year-round and encompass all age groups.

“The James V. Brown Library offers programs for all ages, beginning with our youngest learners. “For babies and toddlers, we host Baby Playdates and Toddler Social, which support early learning and social development through play. For young children and families, we’ve recently rebranded our Museum Room into a Dramatic Play space, giving kids hands-on, imaginative learning experiences. Older children and teens enjoy STEAM programs, crafts, and family events, while adults participate in book clubs, technology classes, and lifelong learning programs,” said Sheila Howarth, Program Coordinator.

“Looking ahead to next year, we plan to expand early childhood programming, introduce new family-friendly and hands-on learning opportunities, and grow our adult technology and education offerings, continuing to meet the needs of our entire community,” she added.

Funding is always an issue for non-profits and the library is no different.

“The Library works hard to stretch every dollar, but without sustainable funding, difficult decisions would have to be made. This could include reduced hours of operation, fewer staff available, as well as programs and services that many in our community rely on every day” said Amy Resh, CEO and director.

“The Library is a vital public resource, and its future depends on community support. We encourage residents, local leaders, and partners to advocate for library funding, use library services, and support the Library in any way they can because continued investment ensures these essential services remain available to everyone,” Resh added.

Programs for kids and adults that began this fall with library partners will continue into the new year. They include a partnership with Weis dietitians on Jan. 21 for “Healthy Meal Planning” and on March 18 for “Adult Nutrition Essentials.” On April 7, Weis and M & T Bank will partner for the “Supermarket Challenge and then on June 26, M & T and the Pennsylvania State Police will partner for a program on fraud prevention.