Examples of the services and resources we provide to the 19 branches include:
- Polaris Online Catalog (ILS)
- Staff development and training
- Web management and design
- Materials purchasing and deposit collections
- WHILBR: Western Maryland’s Historical Library
- Interlibrary Loan Delivery
- Premium online subscription services
- Data management
History of Western Maryland Regional Library
Established May 13, 1967 as the “Western Maryland Area Library Service,” the regional library was created to “improve library service to all residents of Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties by providing a central collection of materials to augment and supplement the materials available in local library outlets and by providing staff for consultant, advisory, training, planning and coordinating functions in various fields, both general and specific.” The role of the regional library as the Regional Resource Center is formalized in Maryland Law, Education § 23-202 to § 23-205. The law established regional libraries and shaped their role in providing, through mutual cooperation and coordination, materials and services that individual libraries cannot adequately provide alone. Operating as “Western Maryland Public Libraries” for many years, the name of the regional library was formally changed in 2008 to “Western Maryland Regional Library.”
Who We Are
Vision: Enriching Libraries Transforming Communities.
Mission: WMRL enhances its member libraries’ ability to serve their communities.
Annual Report: 2024 Annual Report
Strategic Plan: FY2022 - FY2026 Plan
- Goal 1: Enhance support for shared current services
- Goal 2: Work to ensure strength relevancy of each system's collection through data analysis
- Goal 3: Provide training and information to help ensure that all library staff is engaged, skilled, and equipped to serve their communities
- Goal 4: Maintain, to the best of WMRL's ability, and as budget allows, current services at the same or increased level
We can be contacted by mail at:
Western Maryland Regional Library
100 South Potomac Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740.
