Libraries have been a part of life in Bucks County for over three hundred years. In fact, the county is home to several of our nation’s oldest libraries. These days, the seven Bucks County Free Library branches in Bensalem, Doylestown, Langhorne, Levittown, Perkasie, Quakertown, and Yardley will loan up to a quarter million items, respond to thousands information requests, and receive over 125,000 visits in a single month. Bucks County citizens use our libraries to find best-selling novels, homework help, auto repair advice, classic comics, travel guides, internet access, personal reference service, a wide range of speakers and programs, puppets, audio books, and much more!

In addition to providing direct services through the seven BCFL branches, the Bucks County Free Library is a designated County Library System and also a District Library Center in Pennsylvania. As a result, the BCFL supports eleven community public libraries in Bristol, Fallsington, Feasterville, Morrisville, New Hope, Northampton, Pipersville, Riegelsville, Southampton, Warminster and Wrightstown, with various levels of administrative and funding support, interlibrary loan, cataloging, purchasing services, program support, reference resources and professional training.

Through the Bucks County Free Library Card, the BCFL provides users with free access to a huge variety of resources and collections from local libraries as well as from libraries around Pennsylvania. In addition, BCFL provides free access to Pennsylvania’s POWER Library, which allows access to thousands of full text periodical articles, newspapers, a major encyclopedia, photographs, pictures, charts, maps, reference materials for young people and more. BCFL Library cards are free to all citizens of Bucks County as well as to guests from other Pennsylvania libraries. Over 350,000 adults and children hold Bucks County library cards.

The Bucks County Free Library is a private, non-profit corporation with 501 (c)(3) status. It is governed by a 7-member Board of Directors who are appointed by the Bucks County Commissioners. All contributions to the Bucks County Free Library are tax-deductible.

Bucks County Library History Timeline

1691 — Library in Langhorne established by the Middletown Friends Meeting Original collection includes 23 books.

1720’s — William Tennent establishes the "Log College, " a precursor to Princeton University, in Warminster Township making Bucks County an important cultural and educational center for the colonies. Log College students and teachers go on to lead and establish more than 64 colleges and universities schools across America . Many Log College graduates stay in Bucks County and the surrounding region where they breed a love and respect for learning, books and libraries.

1731 — Ben Franklin gains support from the William Penn family  for a “Library Company of Philadelphia.” Penn’s secretary, James Logan, is charged with purchasing library’s first books in the following year.

1755 — Warminster citizens join Montgomery County neighbors to create the “Union Library of Hatborough.” First collection housed in Hatboro’s Country Billet Inn.

1800— Founding of the Library of Congress.

1802 — In response to a petition from the Quaker Village of Attleborough (Langhorne), Gov. Thomas McKean issues a charter to the Attleborough Library which becomes the Langhorne Library when the village changes names in 1876.

1878 — Yardley Library opens in a specially-constructed Gothic Revival-style building on land donated by the heirs of Yardley’s first settler, William Yardley.

1886 — Pittsburgh industrialist & philanthropist Andrew Carnegie provides funding for the first of 1,679 “Carnegie libraries” built across America . Carnegie never requires that his name be placed upon the libraries he builds. Instead, he asks that the phrases “Free to the people” and “Let there be light” be etched over the doors as reminders of what books can provide and what libraries should be.

1888 — Langhorne Library receives $12,000 through a bequest from Miss Anna Mary Williamson. In her will Miss Williamson states that the entirety of the gift must be spent on site purchase and construction, which necessitates extravagant spending for the era. As a result the library is electrically lit, making it the first public building in Bucks County to be illuminated by electricity.

1916 — Melinda Cox Free Library opens in Doylestown

1952 — Alfred & William Levitt take orders to build 3,500 homes in new development they call Levittown. The planned community will include parks, schools, churches, shopping centers and a library.

1955 — Perkasie businessman and community leader Samuel Pierce purchases a one-room schoolhouse, hires a librarian, and stocks building with books to create a public library for Perkasie.

1956 — The Bucks County Free Library is created by a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners as a result of action on the part of three sponsoring organizations: the Bucks County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, the Bucks County Federation of Women’s Clubs, and the Bucks County Federation of Trade and Industrial Councils of PA/AFL-CIO.

1957 — BCFL Headquarters opens in Rosenberger Hardware Store, Doylestown, PA.

1960 — Langhorne Library becomes Langhorne-Middletown Library when boroughs of Langhorne, Langhorne Manor, Penndel, Hulmeville & Middletown Township join together to support regional free public library.

1962 — BCFL Headquarters, now located in new County Administrative Building, appointed by the state to serve as county’s District Library Center.

1966 — Regional Library of Levittown merges with BCFL.

1971 — Langhorne-Middletown Library and Sam Pierce’s Perkasie Library merge with BCFL.

1973 — James Michener speaks at the dedication of a new BCFL Upper County Branch near Quakertown. The branch becomes the James A. Michener Branch of the Bucks County Free Library.

1977 — Newly constructed Pennwood Branch of the Bucks County Free Library opens to serve Langhorne, Middletown, Langhorne Manor, Penndel, Hulmeville and surrounding communities.

1978 — Yardley-Makefield Library, recently relocated from its original 1878 home to a new township building, joins BCFL.

1981 — Bensalem’s first public library opens as part of the BCFL.

1988 — The Pierce Library Association leads an effort to raise over a half-million dollars from local citizens and Perkasie’s new Samuel Pierce Branch opens to the public.

1988 — Newly constructed Bucks County Library Center opens to the public on the site of the former County Prison. The Library Center brings Doylestown’s Melinda Cox Branch, Center County Branch, along with all BCFL administrative and technical services under one roof.

1990 — Newly constructed Yardley-Makefield branch opens to public.

1995 — Newly constructed Levittown Regional Library opens to public.

1997 — Bucks County Free Library receives a $1 million dollar bequest from Bucks County native and writer, James Michener.

2004 — Newly constructed James A. Michener Branch opens in Quakertown.