Mission Statement

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) provide equitable access to information, ideas, and experiences that spark imagination and expand possibilities for all. The department's libraries are an essential component of a just and equitable community, where all can thrive and grow.

MCPL'S VALUES

Discovery - MCPL is a champion of curiosity, exploration, and growth. MCPL supports members of the community to expand their knowledge, learn new skills, spark ideas, and make connections.

Intellectual Freedom - MCPL believes in free, open, and confidential access to ideas and information for all as a cornerstone of a thriving democratic society.

Equity - MCPL believes all residents of Montgomery County deserve equal and inclusive access to all the library's resources, regardless of race, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, education, language, disability, and/or immigration status.

Respect - MCPL strives to treat everyone with kindness, provide a safe and welcoming environment for all, and honor the knowledge and lived experience of all members of the community.

Service - MCPL connects members of the community with the information they want and need, as efficiently as possible. MCPL anticipates and adapts to the changing needs, desires, and expectations of community members.

Community - MCPL is the backbone of the community, a place to connect with each other. MCPL forges strong, reciprocal relationships with residents, community organizations, and other County departments in service of our shared goals.

Budget Overview

The total approved FY25 Operating Budget for the Department of Public Libraries is $52,847,301, an increase of $3,162,972 or 6.37 percent from the FY24 Approved Budget of $49,684,329. Personnel Costs comprise 80.69 percent of the budget for 247 full-time position(s) and 187 part-time position(s), and a total of 384.61 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 19.31 percent of the FY25 budget.

In addition, this department's Capital Improvements Program (CIP) requires Current Revenue funding.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

• Thriving Youth and Families
• A Growing Economy
• A Greener County
• Effective, Sustainable Government

Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY24 estimates reflect funding based on the FY24 approved budget. The FY25 and FY26 figures are performance targets based on the FY25 approved budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY26.

Initiatives

• Adds $315,240 in MCPL's FY25 collection acquisitions budget to meet demand for digital materials through the Hoopla platform for ebooks, eaudiobooks, emagazines, emusic, and evideo.
• Complete and deploy a branded outreach van to create an outdoor pop-up library experience in any safe location, provide wireless internet access, and visit housing communities, childcare centers, recreation centers, senior centers, and group homes. In 2024, the Outreach Team will continue expanding its mission of public service beyond the library's physical walls with the launch of the first all-electric mobile library outreach info vehicle in Maryland. The need for the Outreach Team to bring the library to the people was not just about a new delivery model for library resources and services but also the agility and efficiency to target specific zip codes, housing communities, age groups, and ethnic backgrounds that were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
• Participate in the Maryland pilot cohort of the "Building Equity-Based Summers" project in partnership with the Maryland State Library Agency (MSLA) and Insitute for Museum and Library Services.
• Renovate and create Makerspaces/Digital Media Labs at multiple MCPL locations in support of digital equity and digital literacy. The Teen Studio at Rockville is a part of a connected library approach MCPL is taking toward teen services.
• Implement the MCPL Teen Gaming Initiative (MCPL TGI). This initiative encourages teens to learn more about potential workforce opportunities in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), focusing explicitly on the hard scientific, technological, engineering, or mathematical skills to drive progress, create new concepts, and solve complex problems.
• Develop partnerships with selected county non-profits in support of the 2024 Summer Reading Challenge. Past non-profits who have worked with MCPL include Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center, Friends of Montgomery County Animals, Manna Food Center, Montgomery Parks Foundation, and others.

Innovations and Productivity Improvements

• Expanded LaunchPad tablet collection to encourage early digital literacy and kindergarten readiness.
• Established Teen Advisory Boards at 17 branch libraries and one virtual board.
• Grew the Summer Reading Challenge! program to highest participation level in eight years.
• Created a Facilities Master Plan in partnership with the Department of General Services and an architect and engineering firm which will guide decision making for maintenance, upgrades, renovation, and new construction of MCPL facilities throughout the County for the next three years.
• Refreshed and re-opened the Potomac Library on April 15, 2023.
• Installed security cameras and badge access readers at 21 locations to make MCPL a safer space for staff and the public.
• Automated Branch Newsletters: MCPL worked with our newsletter vendor to develop custom code that populates events from our calendar into individual branch newsletters on a rolling monthly cycle. This automation then sends a custom branch-specific newsletter highlighting MCPL programs and services to all MCPL cardholders based on their selected home branch location. This automation has increased MCPL's marketing reach by 21-fold, without adding any additional work to the Digital Strategies Unit.
• Implementation of CollectionHQ with a new tool to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in MCPL's Library Collections.

Program Descriptions

  Administration

The Office of the Director has the responsibility for the overall management and leadership of the department. The Director's Office also oversees strategic planning and evaluation of services, public relations with the community, marketing the department's services, partnerships, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and the Library Board. The Director's Office directly...

  Library Services to the Public

MCPL consists of 23 library sites including the Noyes Library for Young Children, the Montgomery County Correctional Facility Library, and the Collection Management Center.Library services are available to all County residents, Maryland residents, and those working or attending school in Montgomery County, free of charge. Library customers use MCPL services...

  Workforce and Business Development

Montgomery County Public Libraries has a special emphasis on developing and supporting workforce and business development in the County. The area of the Department's service falls under the Assistant Director for Programs and Outreach and is headed by a full-time Program Specialist for Workforce and Business Development.Within this program, MCPL:...