Centre County Library
🏢 Centre County Library & Historical Museum · Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Centre County Library
Opened in 1939 in an 1814 historic mansion donated by Ann Elmira Humes, Centre County Library in Bellefonte occupies a former A&P building on North Allegheny Street while its Pennsylvania Room for genealogy research remains in the original Greek Revival home next door.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10 AM – 7 PM |
| Tuesday | 12 PM – 7 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM – 7 PM |
| Thursday | 12 PM – 7 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM – 4 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM – 4 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 200 NORTH ALLEGHENY STREET, BELLEFONTE, PA 16823
Phone: +1 814-355-1516
Website: centrecountylibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G4W67C+CJ (BELLEFONTE, PA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Centre County Library
Centre County Library owes its existence to a 1935 bequest: Ann Elmira Humes left her historic Miles-Potter-Humes residence — built 1814–1815 on North Allegheny Street — to the community, contingent on local fundraising. Led by the Bellefonte Woman's Club, the community raised the necessary funds, and on October 25, 1939, the Library & Historical Corporation of Bellefonte opened with 10,000 volumes. Renamed Centre County Library & Historical Museum in 1956, the institution expanded its reach with a bookmobile launched December 24, 1941 (now in its sixth generation), and eventually outgrew the historic home. In 1977 the main circulating collection moved to a renovated former A&P building at 200 North Allegheny Street, while the original 1814 mansion became the home of the Pennsylvania Room — a dedicated space for genealogical and historical research — and the Historical Museum. Today the library system includes branches in Philipsburg (integrated 1963) and Centre Hall (opened 1997), and its catalog is searchable at search.centrecountylibrary.org.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded October 25, 1939 — born from Ann Elmira Humes's bequest of her 1814 historic mansion on North Allegheny Street
- Pennsylvania Room: dedicated genealogy & local-history research space housed in the original 1814 Miles-Potter-Humes residence
- Memory Lab for digitizing family photos, slides, and home videos
- Bookmobile service since December 24, 1941 — now in its sixth generation serving Centre County neighborhoods
- Part of the Centre County Library & Historical Museum complex — library and regional museum under one stewardship
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Centre County cardholders can borrow, stream, and research free through Pennsylvania's statewide digital resources:
📚 Services
- Pennsylvania Room — genealogy & local-history research collection (in original 1814 historic building)
- Memory Lab — digitize family photos, slides, and home videos
- Public computers, printing, and free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room reservations for community groups
- Interlibrary loan through the Pennsylvania library network
- Book bundle service — curated reading selections by request
- Bookmobile stops throughout Centre County (check centrecountylibrary.org for schedule)
🎸 Programs
- Rhyme Time and Storytime for babies and toddlers
- LEGO Hour and Chess Club for children
- Hooks & Needles — knitting and crochet group
- Silent Book Club for adults
- Film discussion series
- Summer reading program for all ages
- Adult book discussion groups and virtual coffee hours
📍 Nearby Libraries in Central Pennsylvania
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in BELLEFONTE · Browse all Pennsylvania libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pennsylvania Room and how can I use it for genealogy research?
The Pennsylvania Room is housed in the original 1814 Miles-Potter-Humes mansion next to the main library building on North Allegheny Street. It holds genealogical records, county histories, newspapers, local family files, and other historical materials focused on Centre County and Pennsylvania. Researchers can visit during library hours; call (814) 355-1516 in advance if you need a staff member to pull specific collections.
What is the Memory Lab, and what can I digitize there?
The Memory Lab is a self-serve digitization station where patrons can convert family photographs, slides, negatives, and home videos into digital files to preserve and share. Equipment is provided free of charge; bring your materials during open hours. Check centrecountylibrary.org for current equipment availability and scheduling.
Does Centre County Library still run a bookmobile?
Yes. The bookmobile has been running continuously since December 24, 1941 — now in its sixth generation of vehicles — making scheduled stops at neighborhoods, senior centers, and locations across Centre County. Neighborhood stops were suspended in Fall 2023 for review; check the library's website for the current schedule and any resumed stops.
How does Centre County Library relate to the Historical Museum?
The library and the Historical Museum operate under the same nonprofit corporation — the Centre County Library & Historical Museum — which was formally named in 1956. The circulating library is at 200 North Allegheny Street (the renovated 1977 A&P building), while the original 1814–1815 Humes mansion adjacent to it houses the Pennsylvania Room research collection and the Historical Museum's exhibits on local history.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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