The Brown Library, located at 19 E. Fourth Street, was a bequest to the city from lumber baron and philanthropist James VanDuzee Brown who died on December 8, 1904, at age 78. Already a widower with no children, Brown had dreamt for years of giving Williamsport a free, public library. The idea for the library was suggested by his late wife, Carile Brown.

Over 100 years later, the James V. Brown Library is now a million-dollar plus operation with 60 employees and 80 volunteers providing free services to more than 1,000 customers a day, seven days a week. The library has 50,000+ card holders locally, and as a state-designated district center offers resource sharing and advisory services for over 40 public libraries in an 11-county area of North Central Pennsylvania.

Through the website at www.jvbrown.edu, anyone can search the Brown Library's collection of 200-thousand plus books, videos, audio-cassettes, CD's and other products online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

At the beginning of the 21st century the James V. Brown Library is finding a balance between books and bytes. Patrons value both the traditional services, and flock to the new technology based programs. 350 people a week use the Internet while at the library. The library's website receives over 327,000 hits per month.

Hundreds of babies, toddlers and preschool children enjoy a story time Storymobile. The library now teaches people to read through the Lycoming County Literacy Program. The Business Center offers monthly breakfast meetings and provides services to major industry, non-profit organizations, and small business entrepreneurs. While located in the quiet woods of North Central PA, the Brown Library is the tenth busiest library in the state, and owns several "one of a kind" collections not found in other metropolitan libraries.

The Brown Library is one of Williamsport's most handsome historic buildings. Though the facility has been renovated over the years to increase space, efficiency, and to accommodate ongoing changes in technology - it still remains true to its 1907 Victorian charm. Even more important, the library remains true to its original mission: to enable people to be the best they can be, to grow, to learn, and to enjoy!