Allegany County Library System — Washington Street Library
🏢 Allegany County Library System · Cumberland, Maryland
Allegany County Library System — Washington Street Library
The Washington Street Library is the flagship location of the Allegany County Library System in the heart of historic Cumberland, Maryland. When the system consolidated in 1960, the Washington Street Library inherited more than 35 years of service from its predecessor, directed by Mary Walsh from 1924 until 1963. By 1969 it had made history as the first public library in Maryland to offer Sunday hours — a milestone in community access that reflects the system's long commitment to serving Allegany County's working families in the mountains of Western Maryland.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12pm–7pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–4pm |
| Thursday | 9am–4pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 31 Washington Street, Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone: (301) 777-1200
Website: alleganycountylibrary.info
Plus Code: 87F3M62M+G7 (Cumberland, MD)
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📖 About Allegany County Library System — Washington Street Library
The Allegany County Library System (ACLS) serves Allegany County from six branches scattered across the Allegheny Highlands of Western Maryland, with the Washington Street Library as its administrative anchor in downtown Cumberland. ACLS was officially constituted on July 1, 1960, consolidating Cumberland's public library — which had been led since 1924 by director Mary Walsh — with branches in Frostburg, LaVale, Westernport, and others. Under director Robert Neal starting in 1964, the system constructed new LaVale, South Cumberland, and Westernport branches and introduced bookmobile service across the county. In 1969, the Washington Street Library became the first public library in Maryland to offer Sunday hours. Further milestones followed: Jane Rustin opened new Frostburg and George's Creek branches in the 1990s; John Taube computerized all branches after 2000; and in 2020 ACLS joined the Western Maryland Library Partnership, adding access to more than 225,000 additional items across three counties. A 501(c)3 registered organization, the system is led since November 2025 by Executive Director Lisa McKenney. The Washington Street Library offers Libby, hoopla, Kanopy, Comics Plus, Blackstone Unlimited, and a Library of Things, serving the community from its location in Cumberland's Washington Street Historic District.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Flagship of a six-branch system — Allegany County Library System established July 1, 1960
- Washington Street Library made history in 1969 as the first public library in Maryland to open on Sundays
- Located in Cumberland's Washington Street Historic District in downtown Western Maryland
- 2020: joined Western Maryland Library Partnership, gaining access to 225,000+ additional items across three counties
- Library of Things lending program and free Chromebook borrowing via the 'Get Connected' program
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
An ACLS card unlocks a wide range of free digital resources for home and mobile use:
📚 Services
- Library of Things — specialized equipment lending beyond books and media
- Chromebook borrowing through the 'Get Connected' program
- Public computers with internet access, printing, copying, scanning & fax
- Free Wi-Fi at all branches
- Meeting room and study room reservations
- Interlibrary loan via MARINA (statewide Maryland network) and Western Maryland Library Partnership
- Adult Basic Education and GED preparation resources
- Reference and reader's advisory services
🎸 Programs
- Story time for children and early literacy programs
- Summer reading program system-wide
- Events for adults and community programs
- Educational workshops and learning resources
- Day of Civility community engagement events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Western Maryland
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Cumberland · Browse all Maryland libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Washington Street Library historically significant?
In 1969, the Washington Street Library became the first public library in the entire state of Maryland to offer Sunday hours — a milestone in community access. The Allegany County Library System was also one of the first in the state to consolidate county-wide library service, doing so on July 1, 1960.
What other branches does the Allegany County Library System operate?
ACLS runs six branches across Allegany County: the Washington Street Library and South Cumberland Library in Cumberland, LaVale Library, George's Creek Library in Lonaconing, Frostburg Library, and Westernport Library. Each has its own hours. Note that the Westernport Library sustained flood damage in May 2025 and may have modified services — call (301) 359-0455 for current status.
What is the Western Maryland Library Partnership that ACLS joined?
In 2020, ACLS joined the Western Maryland Library Partnership, a resource-sharing consortium covering Allegany County along with neighboring counties in Western Maryland. Membership gives ACLS cardholders access to more than 225,000 additional items held across all participating systems, greatly expanding what you can borrow with a single library card.
What digital resources are free with an Allegany County library card?
Cardholders get free access to Libby/OverDrive (eBooks, audiobooks, magazines from Maryland's statewide collection), hoopla (movies, music, comics — 4 checkouts per month), Kanopy (streaming films at westmd.kanopy.com), Comics Plus (unlimited graphic novels), and Blackstone Unlimited (unlimited audiobook streaming). The library also offers BookFlix for children and ABCmouse at branch computers.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms 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.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.