Luzerne County Library System

Last updated
Luzerne County Library System
Scope Luzerne County
Established1986
Location Osterhout Free Library
71 S. Franklin Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
Access and use
Population served320,000
Other information
DirectorRichard C. Miller
Website http://luzernelibraries.org
Map
Luzerne County Library System
References: [1] [2] [3]
Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre Osterhout Free Library Wilkes Barre PA.jpg
Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre

The Luzerne County Library System (LCLS) is an organization that administers ten libraries in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. [1] Founded in 1984, it is headquartered at the Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. [1] [4] Along with hosting various permanent and temporary collections of books and media, the member libraries provide various services and activities.

Contents

Description

Isaac Smith Osterhout willed a substantial portion of his estate for the establishment of a free public library. [5] In 1887, the board of directors hired Melvil Dewey, creator of the Dewey decimal system, to act as an adviser. Dewey recommended that the board buy the First Presbyterian Church, an edifice built in 1849, and use it for approximately 10 years until permanent arrangements could be made. As it happened, this became the permanent arrangement. The Gothic architecture of the church proved quite suitable for a library. The library trustees hired Hannah Packard James to be the first head librarian and assigned her the task of organizing and preparing the library for its grand opening. The original library collection (approximately 10,000 volumes) consisted of books from Osterhout’s personal collection, part of the Atheneum (a local subscription library), and 9,500 volumes purchased from Charles Scribner and Sons. The Osterhout Free Library finally opened its doors to the public on January 29, 1889 and was one of the first libraries in Northeastern Pennsylvania. [6]

Founded in 1984, the Luzerne County Library System (LCLS) is an organization that administers ten libraries in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. [1] It is headquartered at the Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. [1] [4] A library card from any member library allows patrons to borrow books and media from one library and return it to another. [7]

Libraries

The library system comprises [8]

Collections

Along with permanent collections that include microfilm of old newspapers, [11] the libraries host various temporary collections of art or memorabilia. [12] [13] [14]

Services

The system has hosted lecture series about the history of the region it serves. [15] [16] It has activities for children, [17] [12] [18] [19] [20] an annual Summer reading program, [21] [22] [23] and an annual book sale at the Osterhout Free Library. [24] The Osterhout has an immigration resource center, partially funded by grants. [25] Some activities aimed at adults have included adult coloring books. [26] [27] [28]

Related Research Articles

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania City and county seat in Pennsylvania, United States

Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Luzerne County. Located at the center of the Wyoming Valley, it had a population of 44,328 in the 2020 census. It is the second-largest city of the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census and is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding Wyoming Valley are framed by the Pocono Mountains to the east, the Endless Mountains to the north and west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. The Susquehanna River flows through the center of the valley and defines the northwestern border of the city.

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania County in Pennsylvania, United States

Luzerne County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 906 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 890 square miles (2,300 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) is water. It is Northeastern Pennsylvania's second-largest county by total area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 325,594, making it the most populous county in the northeastern part of the state. The county seat and largest city is Wilkes-Barre. Other populous communities include Hazleton, Kingston, Nanticoke, and Pittston. Luzerne County is included in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a total population of 555,426.

Back Mountain Region in Pennsylvania, United States

The Back Mountain is a region and former census-designated place (CDP) in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is near the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. The population was 33,551 as of 2016. The region has a total area of 117.59 square miles (304.6 km2). The area was not delineated as a CDP for the 2010 census. The name "Back Mountain" refers to the area's location behind the mountain ridge forming the northwest side of the Wyoming Valley. The area includes the townships of Dallas, Franklin, Jackson, Kingston, Lake, and Lehman. The region also includes the boroughs of Dallas and Harveys Lake. Each township and borough is independently governed.

Nanticoke, Pennsylvania City in Pennsylvania, United States

Nanticoke is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,465, making it the third largest city in Luzerne County. It occupies 3.5 square miles of land. The city can be divided into several sections: Honey Pot, , and Hanover Section. It was once an active coal mining community. Today, the 167-acre main campus of Luzerne County Community College is located within the city.

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Suscon is an unincorporated community in Pittston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, northeast of Wilkes-Barre and south of Scranton. It is named for its position at the former junction of the Susquehanna Connecting Railroad and the Wilkes-Barre and Eastern Railroad. It uses the Pittston zip code of 18640.

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Wyoming Valley Metropolitan statistical area in Pennsylvania, United States

The Wyoming Valley is a historic industrialized region of Northeastern Pennsylvania, historically notable for fueling the American Industrial Revolution in the United States with its many anthracite coal-mines. As a metropolitan area, it is known as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, after its principal cities, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. With a population of 567,559 as of the 2020 United States census, it is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania, after the Delaware Valley, Greater Pittsburgh, the Lehigh Valley, and the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical areas.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Place in Pennsylvania, United States

Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) is a geographic region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that includes the Pocono Mountains, the Endless Mountains, and the industrial cities of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Hazleton, Nanticoke, and Carbondale. A portion of this region constitutes a part of the New York City metropolitan area.

Area codes 570 and 272 Northeast Pennsylvania area codes

Area codes 570 and 272 are telephone area codes serving the northeast quadrant of Pennsylvania, including the cities/towns of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, Pittston, Carbondale, Hazleton, Clarks Summit, Towanda, Bloomsburg, Sayre, Tunkhannock, Berwick, Milford, Montrose, Honesdale, Pocono Pines, Nanticoke, Tamaqua, Shavertown, Dallas, Mahanoy City, Sunbury, Jim Thorpe, as far south as Pottsville and as far west as Lock Haven. 570 is the main area code, while 272 is an overlay covering the same territory as 570.

Thomas M. Tigue was a United States Marine Corps Officer and combat veteran, an American politician, a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

The Luzerne County Historical Society is one of the oldest continually operating local historical societies in America. It was founded on February 11, 1858, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the first successful burning of anthracite coal by Jesse Fell, and was originally named the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. The organization operates the historic Swetland Homestead in Wyoming, Pennsylvania and the Luzerne County Museum which also features a separate research library in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It also administers the Nathan Denison house.

Greater Pittston Region in Pennsylvania, United States

Greater Pittston is a 65.35 sq mi (169.25 km²) region in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in reference to the area in and around Pittston. As of 2010, the total population of Greater Pittston is 48,020. This region includes Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Exeter Boro, Exeter Township, Hughestown, Jenkins Township, Laflin, Pittston Township, West Pittston, West Wyoming, Wyoming, and Yatesville.

Gregory Andrew Skrepenak is an American former county commissioner in Pennsylvania and retired professional football player. He was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders and the Carolina Panthers. Skrepenak's professional football career spanned the final three years the Raiders played in Los Angeles, California from 1992-1994 and the first year they returned to Oakland, California in 1995. Then, it continued with consecutive seasons with the Carolina Panthers in which he did not miss a start.

Pennsylvania Route 315 is an 8.2-mile-long (13.2 km) state highway located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at an interchange with the PA 309 freeway in Wilkes-Barre. The northern terminus is at the entrance of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Pittston Township just past an interchange with Interstate 81 (I-81). PA 315 heads northeast from PA 309 as a multilane road through suburban development in the Wyoming Valley parallel to I-81. The route comes to an interchange with I-81 and I-476 before passing through Dupont along a one-way pair. Past here, PA 315 follows a divided highway to I-81 and the airport.

Lackawanna and Bloomsburg Railroad

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John T. Yudichak is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently serving as an Independent member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for 14th District since 2011. The district includes parts of Carbon, Luzerne, and Monroe Counties. He previously served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 119th district from 1999 to 2010.

Luzerne County Transportation Authority

The Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA) is the operator of mass transportation in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and portions of surrounding Luzerne County. Services provided by the LCTA replaced previously offered services of the White Transit Company and Wilkes-Barre Transit Corporation, under a purchase-of-service agreement in 1972.

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Luzerne County Council County council in Pennsylvania, United States

The Luzerne County Council is the governing body of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The council meets at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. There are eleven members on the assembly. The chair is both the highest-ranking officer on the council and the head of county government for ceremonial purposes. When the group is not in session, the officer's duties often include acting as its representative to the outside world and its spokesperson. The current chair is Kendra Radle.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "About the Luzerne County Library System". www.luzernelibraries.org. Archived from the original on 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  2. ↑ "Luzerne County Library System announces Board of Directors". Times Leader. 2015-06-19. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  3. ↑ "Luzerne County Library System". Pa211.communityos.org. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  4. 1 2 "Luzerne County : Library Locations". www.luzernecounty.org. Archived from the original on 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  5. ↑ "Isaac and Elizabeth Osterhout - Arts & Living - Citizens' Voice". Citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  6. ↑ "A Brief History of the Osterhout Library". Osterhout Free Library. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Library Services | Luzerne County Library System". www.luzernelibraries.org. Archived from the original on 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  8. ↑ "Member Libraries | Luzerne County Library System". www.luzernelibraries.org. Archived from the original on 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  9. ↑ "Back Mountain Memorial Library offers more than just books – Dallas Post | Dallas Post". Mydallaspost.com. 2018-01-31. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  10. ↑ "Navient Foundation contributes $10,000 to Osterhout Free Library to support literacy skills for Luzerne County families Nasdaq:NAVI". Globenewswire.com. 2017-07-26. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  11. ↑ "Out on a limb: Thanksgiving football tradition preserved at local libraries". Times Leader. 2017-11-13. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  12. 1 2 "Back Mountain Memorial Library announce Winter/Spring story times – Dallas Post | Dallas Post". Mydallaspost.com. 2018-01-10. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  13. ↑ "Harveys Lake memorabilia collection displayed at Back Mountain Memorial Library – Dallas Post | Dallas Post". Mydallaspost.com. 2017-10-31. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  14. ↑ "Brooke Lamberti displays drawings at Back Mountain Memorial Library – Dallas Post | Dallas Post". Mydallaspost.com. 2017-12-26. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  15. ↑ Bilbow, Leonarda (March 26, 2016). "Local history: the next generation". The Citizens' Voice. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Luzerne County Library System kicking off Civil War lectures". Times Leader. 2015-05-05. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  17. ↑ "Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre hosts pumpkin decorating event". Times Leader. 2016-10-26. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  18. ↑ "Back Mountain Memorial Library hosts Circuits, Sinterklaas and Dreidels event – Dallas Post | Dallas Post". Mydallaspost.com. 2017-12-20. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  19. ↑ "Luzerne County hometowns, Kingston: The book on this borough? Libraries, home rule". Times Leader. 2017-09-03. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  20. ↑ "Stamp club scares up a good time at Hoyt Library". Times Leader. 2016-10-15. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  21. ↑ "Senator John Yudichak and Family Donate to Luzerne County Library System – The Luzerne Foundation". Luzfdn.org. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  22. ↑ "Event at Pittston Memorial Library allows youngsters to read to animals". Times Leader. 2017-03-19. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  23. ↑ "Pittston Memorial Library starts new Fangirls Fan Club where teens can channel their 'inner nerd'". Times Leader. 2016-01-03. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  24. ↑ "Tome raiders welcome: Osterhout Free Library running annual used book sale". Times Leader. 2017-06-19. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  25. ↑ Mocarsky, Steve (January 21, 2018). "Osterhout Free Library provides resources for immigrant community". The Citizens' Voice. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Adult coloring books are a hit, and Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre, Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock and Pittston Memorial Library are making the activity a social experience". Times Leader. 2016-01-18. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  27. ↑ "Pittston Memorial Library holds 1980s-themed coloring event Monday – The Sunday Dispatch | The Sunday Dispatch". Psdispatch.com. 2016-04-12. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  28. ↑ "Pittston Memorial Library celebrates National Coloring Book Day for children, adults – The Sunday Dispatch | The Sunday Dispatch". Psdispatch.com. 2016-08-05. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.

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