About Scranton Public Library | Lackawanna County Library System

Mission

The Scranton Public Library enhances our community by fostering and supporting individual aspirations toward life-long learning, entertainment, and self-fulfillment for all. This is accomplished through free access, wherever it is needed, to a broad collection of resources in currently used formats, courteous and knowledgeable staff, and activities designed to satisfy the informational, educational, recreational, and personal needs of everyone in our ever-changing and diverse environment.

Book Donations

We happily accept your gently used books. Donations of small amounts (a bag or two) can be dropped at the circulation desk any time during library hours.

We can accept larger donations during the following hours:

Tuesday: 4:00 PM-7:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Please ring the bell on the side of the building or call the Circulation Desk when you arrive during the above hours. Staff at the desk will notify maintenance that you are waiting outside and will assist you.

We do not accept:

Textbooks
Encyclopedias
Magazines
Readers Digest Abridged Books
Damaged or Moldy Materials

Employment Application

Online Application for the Scranton Public Library

Printable Application for the Scranton Public Library

History

The Albright Memorial Library holds a rich history and architectural significance, standing as a tribute to the Albright family’s legacy and the city’s dedication to education and culture. Constructed in the French Renaissance style reminiscent of the Musee de Cluny in Paris, the exterior showcases Indiana Limestone and brown Medina stone, with intricate carvings of bookmakers’ symbols on the dormer gables. The interior, finished in quarter oak and other stained woods, boasts marble mosaics, imported marble fireplaces, and a high vaulted ceiling supported by Mycenaean marble columns. Bronze tablets unveiled in 1933 honor key figures in the library’s past, including the first director, Henry James Carr, and generous donors Joseph Jacob Albright and Elizabeth Sellers Albright.