The James V. Brown Library

Who We Are

The James V. Brown Library is the public library serving Williamsport and Lycoming County. It was founded in 1907 as the result of a bequest from lumber baron and philanthropist James Vanduzee Brown. 

The James V. Brown Library provides access to information, educational programming, cultural and social enrichment, community gathering spaces, and technology access. We are a dynamic institution that promotes literacy, learning, creativity, and social cohesion.

The Library serves more than 300 people each day and loans over 320,000 physical items annually. In 2025, the Library offered 777 programs that were attended by more than 11,000 children, teens and adults. In 2025, Library patrons saved $4,823,914 by using the Library, or $50 per person.

Here's how your gift can help: 

$25 - one book to give to a child to build their home library

$50 - add a new Wonderbook read-along book to the collection (children, tween, teen and adult)

$75 - add a new e-book or e-audiobook to Libby

$100 - one month of art supplies for weekly after-school teen programs

$150 - add three new games to our video game collection (Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, and Wii)

$250 - new games for the board and card game collection

$500 - 14 new large-type books for the collection

$750 - provides a performer for the Summer Reading Program kickoff

$1,000 - rents out the Community Theatre League so library patrons can enjoy a theatre experience at no cost