Our Mission

Adapting quickly and effectively to the dynamics of the information age, the Burlington County Library System as a gateway and guide to ideas, information and entertainment will:

  • Respond to the informational needs of the Burlington County community using the latest technology to link local, national and global resources
  • Ensure access to extensive and relevant print, audio-visual and electronic resources for the community
  • Anticipate and satisfy the educational, cultural, business and recreational interests of the community, including those of individuals with special needs
  • Develop and provide inviting facilities and welcoming environments along with a friendly, knowledgeable staff to create a vital community resource for lifelong learning

Commission

In compliance with the “Open Public Meetings Act” the Burlington County Library Commission wishes to notify the public that the Commission will meet on the third Tuesday of each month at the Burlington County Library HQ at 5 Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, NJ at 8:00 a.m.

Jeanne Ashmore

Commission Chair
Crosswicks, NJ
Term: 2012-2016

Darryl S. Caplan, Esq.

Commissioner
Medford, NJ || Term: 2008-2012

Ethel Brower

Commissioner
Chatsworth, NJ || Term: 2010-2014

Mark Sander, Esq.

Commissioner
Medford, NJ || Term: 2011-2015

Joann Troso

Commission Vice-Chair
Marlton, NJ || Term: 2011-2013

 

To contact the library commissioners send correspondence to: Burlington County Library System 5 Pioneer Boulevard Westampton, NJ 08060

Library Consortium

BLInC

BLInC is a dynamic group of libraries in Burlington County that shares resources. Current BLInC membership includes branches, members and the libraries of Burlington County College in varying degrees of partnership.

BRANCHES

The main branch is located in Westampton, with branches in Bordentown, Cinnaminson, Evesham, Medford, Maple Shade, Pemberton, and Riverton. Our bookmobile provides service to neighborhoods in many parts of the county.  BCLS members are welcome at all locations and circulating items may be freely borrowed within this network. 

MEMBERS

Member libraries, located throughout the county, maintain a close association with the consortium. These community libraries are independently governed, though most adhere to BCLS guidelines. Our member libraries are located in Beverly, Burlington City, Crosswicks,  Delanco, Florence, Mount Holly, Riverside, and Vincentown.

ACADEMIC BRANCH

Burlington County College Library is an academic partner of BLInC. Its materials are in the library catalog with location symbols BCC (Pemberton campus) and MLT (Mount Laurel Campus). Items from BCC and MLT can be requested and picked up at any of the BLInC locations.

How we came about...

Burlington County Library, the first county library in New Jersey, began in a small room of the Mt. Holly YMCA in 1921 after voters adopted a new law providing for the creation of a county library system. The Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders appointed a Library Commission of five members to administer library affairs. This form of government continues into the present.

Library service grew in popularity, and several moves ensued as more space became a necessity. By 1971, a new headquarters facility had been constructed, Cinnaminson and Bordentown had joined the system as branches, and a bookmobile began visiting areas without local facilities. Medford and Evesham had joined the system by 1975. The Pemberton Branch joined the system in 1987. In 1991, the Headquarters Library building was significantly enlarged, and is currently undergoing another expansion.  Maple Shade became a branch in 2001 while Riverton joined us in 2003. Nine community libraries located in Bass River, Beverly, Burlington City, Crosswicks, Delanco, Florence, Mt. Holly, Riverside, and Vincentown maintain an association with the County Library as "member" libraries.

The Burlington County Library System has expanded services to county residents and upgraded technologically. It has the distinction of serving the largest county geographically. Residents located in 818 square miles of both rural and suburban areas have access to over 1,000,000 items within the system, thousands of periodicals in print or electronic format, as well as more than 60 online databases covering education, health, careers, business, history, genealogy and more. Most of our databases are available to customers remotely at their home or office PCs. Other collections include large print books, eBooks, New Jersey and genealogy materials, foreign language titles, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays. In addition, our bookmobile, public use computers, free WiFi access, many great programs for children and adults, and more than 190 dedicated staff members all make up the Burlington County Library System!

Customers of the Burlington County Library System have 24-hour online access to the catalog and a smartphone app that goes where you go!

Through our website we offer ESL and foreign language lessons from Rocket Languages, access to digital versions of the New York Times & Philadelphia Inquirer, streaming video via Films on Demand, access to your favorite music via Freegal, digital versions of your favorite magazines via Zinio, alongside access to thousands of research and homework resources, almanacs, encyclopedias, and more!

And if you prefer to read your books on a device of your choice, our ebook download service, around since 2003, allows you to read books without the book! From bestsellers to biographies and audiobooks to go, we have an ebook collection with over 7,000 titles to choose from.