The Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library System (MLS) serves more than seven hundred thousand residents in Oklahoma City. The library maintains more than one million volumes and circulates 6.2 million items per year. As early as 1988, when the wives of the businessmen met at the home of Captain Stiles, forming the first club—the Philomathea Club—which gave avenue to the formation of a public library to improve culture and education. Today, MLS has 19 libraries and is governed by a 28-member board, 13 of which are appointed by the Mayor of Oklahoma City; 11 are appointed by various cities within the library service area; and one is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners of Oklahoma County.