Scranton Public Library

In 1893, John J. Albright built the Albright Memorial Library Building on the 500 block of Vine Street as a gift to the city of Scranton. It is the city's first public library. The reason for Mr. Albright's donation is simple and inspiring. The Library will provide "a suitable literary and educational element for the elevation of people of all classes."

Mr. Albright's words remain at the core of everything the Library does to serve our community.

Since then, the Scranton Public Library has grown to include two other branches - the Lackawanna County Children's Library and the Nancy Kay Holmes Library (Green Ridge).

Thanks to you, the Library is an invaluable resource to our community. Whether it is a child attending a puppet show for the first time, a teen finding a place of belonging, a senior citizen getting assistance filling out a Rent Rebate Form, or any of us bringing in a malfunctioning iPad for some tech help, making our own wall decoration, or borrowing a book (or a metal detector or video game) (all for free), the library continues to fulfill its mission by "supporting individual aspirations toward life-long learning, entertainment, and self-fulfillment for all." 

These services are all made possible because of you.

You are helping our librarians and staff members touch the lives of hundreds—parents signing up their little ones for early literacy programs, novice genealogists looking for their ancestors, or avid readers learning how to access library eBooks for the first time.

The Scranton Public Library is your library. We exist to serve you, your loved ones, and your community.

Who We Are

The Albright Memorial Library stands on the site of the Albright Family homestead. John J. Albright built the Library as his gift to the people of Scranton. Construction began in June 1891 and was completed in June 1893 at a cost of $125,000. The building is owned by the Scranton Public Library Authority, and operated by the Board of Trustees of the Scranton Public Library.