Month: October 2018

Public Libraries encourage giving with their Annual Mitten Tree Project!

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Mitten Tree 19th Annual Campaign

Public Libraries throughout Lancaster County will hold their 19th annual Mitten Tree Campaign beginning on Monday, November 19. Librarians from the county’s public libraries, in the spirit of holiday giving, will be collecting new mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, earmuffs and umbrellas that will benefit children & families in need living in Lancaster County. Several of the public libraries in Lancaster County will participate in this year’s project. Items will also be collected on the Bookmobile.

Donations may be made from Monday, November 19 – Friday, December 14, 2018.

The Mitten Tree project has been hugely successful during the past eighteen years. Each year the project has netted between 4000-5000 donations, many of which are hand-knitted items!  Distribution of the donations will benefit children and families in churches and service agencies located in local library communities.

Amy M. Campbell, Children & Youth Director of Quality Assurance, said of the project, “Lancaster County Children and Youth is blessed to be in a community that cares about others. The Mitten Tree project reaches many of the families we serve, meeting a need that some may take for granted–warmth. Families come into our office for assistance and are able to leave with hats, gloves and scarfs to fend off the harsh temperatures of winter. All thanks to the generosity of the Mitten Tree Project.”

Individuals interested in participating should bring new, unwrapped mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, umbrellas and earmuffs to any of the public library locations during their hours of operation. Call your local public library at the following locations [see list below].

Mitten Tree Snowman

Lancaster County’s Public Libraries
Participating in the Mitten Tree Project 2018

  • Adamstown Area Library-  3000 North Reading Road Adamstown
  • Columbia Public Library – 24 South 6th Street, Columbia
  • Eastern Lancaster County Library -11 Chestnut Derive, New Holland
  • Elizabethtown Public Library – 10 South Market Street, Elizabethtown
  • Ephrata Public Library – 550 South Reading Road, Ephrata
  • Lancaster Public Library – 125 South Duke Street, Lancaster
  • LPL East – Leola Branch – 46 Hillcrest Road, Leola
  • LPL West – Mountville Branch – 120 College Avenue, Mountville
  • Lititz Public Library – 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz
  • Manheim Community Library – 15 East high Street, Manheim
  • Manheim Township Public Library – 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster
  • Milanof-Schock Library – 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy
  • Moores Memorial Library – 9 West Slokum Avenue, Christiana
  • Pequea Valley Public Library  – 13 Center Street, Intercourse
  • Quarryville Library – 357 Buck Hill Road, Quarryville
  • Salisbury Township Branch Library – 855 Houston Run Drive, Suite 220, Gap

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Richard Scarry’s Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm to visit public libraries!

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Richard Scarry's Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm Costume charactersHuckle Cat and Lowly Worm costume characters, the loveable storybook characters created by popular author/illustrator, Richard Scarry, will visit local public libraries this fall! Children audiences will enjoy hearing and looking at Scarry’s engaging art and stories during the scheduled programs. The visits will take place from November 3 – 17. (See schedule below.)

Parents and adults accompanying the children are encouraged to join in the fun and to bring their cameras to capture a picture with these two loveable characters!

Richard Scarry's Word Book

Richard Scarry, the popular and much-loved American author and illustrator of over 300 children’s books, is known for such classics as Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever released in 1963, Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World (1965), Richard Scarry’s Storybook Dictionary (1966), and What Do People Do All Day (1968). Selling millions of copies during his lifetime, many Scarry books, though regularly updated and re-issued, have never been out of print. Several have been translated into over 20 languages. Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm appear in many of his books — especially his Word Books and Busytown selections. Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm were first introduced to readers in 1963.

Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm

Huckle Cat & Lowly Worm Story Book Costume Character Visits
November 3 – November 17

Saturday, Nov. 3 at 10:30 am
Lancaster Public Library (Duke Street)

Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 10:30 am
Eastern Lancaster County Library (New Holland)

Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 10:30 am
Moores Memorial Library (Christiana)

Thursday, Nov. 8 at 10:15 am
Lancaster Public Library – Mountville Branch

Thursday, Nov. 8 at 6:00 pm
Elizabethtown Public Library

Saturday, Nov. 10 at 10:30 am
Manheim Township Public Library

Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 10:00 am
Adamstown Area Library

Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 11:15 am
Pequea Valley Public Library (Intercourse)

Friday, Nov. 16 at 10:00 am
Manheim Community Library

Friday, Nov. 16 – afternoon/evening
Milanof-Schock Library (Mount Joy)

Saturday, Nov. 17 at 10:30 am
Columbia Public Library

Please contact library listed to register for program.

Find Your Local Library

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Bookmobile receives funding to add STEM resources for Head Start and preschool youth!

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Design located on the New Bookmobile

The Library System is pleased to announce that the Bookmobile will be promoting STEM throughout Lancaster County in the coming years.   Currently, the Bookmobile sees as many as 41 Head Start class rooms around the county each month, plus an additional 11 pre-school and childcare classes at other locations such as the Wonder Club and San Juan Bautista Learning Center.  They also see several after-school clubs and 4 Amish Schools each month.

Children with STEM activity

The newly-acquired STEM resources are made possible through our partnership with the Lancaster County STEM Alliance and the High Foundation.

Ed Miller, Special Services Manager and Bookmobile driver, sees real value in reaching youth with these resources and he is planning to expand the program to add CAP Head Start. They are currently in the planning process to develop a 5-year plan for the Bookmobile to promote STEM in their classrooms.  This new STEM education program has four essential components:

  1. Preschool STEM collection: The Bookmobile will create a STEM collection suitable for preschoolers. The collection will consist of books, tech toys (like little robots for coding, blocks and construction sets) and kits for exploration (such as magnifying glasses to explore the natural world and other kits) covering a wide range of STEM related themes.  The collection will be kept on special STEM themed carts that teachers or centers can request.
  2. Professional STEM collection: The Bookmobile and LSLC will be investing in professional resources for teachers and librarians to use to promote STEM.
  3. Training: CAP Head Start, the Bookmobile and LSLC will plan co-training events focused on STEM education for preschoolers. The trainings will be for Head Start staff and for youth librarians throughout Lancaster County.
  4. STEM programing: The Bookmobile will be making STEM education one of its primary focus areas for storytimes.  Storytimes are book based, but also designed to introduce materials to teachers and children in a way that promotes growth of literacy and learning.

STEM learning activity with Legos

Sandy Strunk, Executive Director of the Lancaster County STEM Alliance, shares her enthusiasm for the Library System’s vision to bring STEM resources to the youth of Lancaster County, “The STEM Alliance is excited to partner with the Library System of Lancaster County in bringing these high-quality STEM resources to all parts of our county. The new Bookmobile is a wonderful vehicle for introducing young people to the magic of STEM learning.”

Robin Stauffer, Director of the High Foundation, has high praise for how their support will benefit children who are served by the Bookmobile. “The early years of a child’s life are the foundation upon which they can build future success, and Head Start and preschool programs across the County are an important component of Kindergarten readiness.  The High Foundation Board felt it was important to see this service continue and expand. Funding for the new bookmobile ensures that books and programs are made available to children in need of these services throughout Lancaster County.”

The new bookmobile will facilitate these efforts by giving the Bookmobile staff the flexibility to carefully curate the collection of materials of items we take to each location visit.  Taking these resources and programs into the classrooms will allow the staff to engage the children in an environment more suitable for learning and also allow for effective use of time and resources.

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Library Telephone Renewal service will discontinue

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Telephone Renewal DiscontinuedThe Library System is discontinuing the Telephone Renewal Service that allows library users to renew their books and other library items by a designated telephone number. The service will discontinue on December 31, 2018. The decision to terminate the service was made due to outdated software and decline in usage.

Despite the discontinuation of this service, library borrowers still have three ways to renew their items:

  1. Renew items through their Online Library Account (See below)
  2. Ask at any of the libraries’ circulation desks
  3. Call any local public library in Lancaster County https://lancasterlibraries.org/find-a-library/

 Setting up an Online Account

  1. Go to search.lancasterlibraries.org
  2. Click on “My Account”
  3. Follow the directions on the screen
  • Type your last name and then
  • Your library card barcode number
  1. Scroll down and click “submit”
  2. Then, create a PIN you’ll remember
  3. Manage your account (Renew Items here)
  4. When finished, Click “Log Out” for privacy

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Royer’s Bouquets for Books Drive Returns to Benefit Public Libraries!

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Bouquets for Books 2018 Campaign sponsored by Royer's Flowers

Customers receive free bouquet for donating!

Royer’s Flowers and Gifts’ annual children’s book drive returns Oct. 28-Nov. 10 to benefit area public libraries!  This exciting initiative is now in its 12th year.  For each new book, donors will receive a free bouquet, up to three per family per visit, while supplies last. Used books will not be accepted.

How to participate?  Bring a new children’s book to any Royer’s Flowers & Gift store and receive a free bouquet of flowers.  Collected books will then be donated to your local Public Library in Lancaster County.

Here is the 2018 Wish List based on the needs from Local Library staff members in Lancaster County.

Participating Royer’s Store locations in Lancaster County

  • Columbia – 902 Lancaster Ave., Columbia
  • Ephrata – 165 South Reading Rd., Ephrata
  • Lancaster West – 201 Rohrerstown Rd, Lancaster
  • Lancaster North – 873 N. Queen St., Lancaster city.

In its 12-year history, Bouquets for Books has collected over 17,000 books. Based in Lebanon, Royer’s (royers.com) has 15 stores in Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. Sister company Stephenson’s Flowers & Gifts has one store in Harrisburg.

Royer's Flowers & Gifts Logo

For more information, including library wish lists, visit www.royers.com/bouquetsforbooks

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Adamstown Area Library announces new design for the final stage of their “Room to Grow” Capital Campaign!

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ADM New logoAdamstown Library New Design - Front view

New Design ~ Front View

The Adamstown Area Library Board of Directors are pleased to announce that they approved a redesign for their new library plan. A rendering of the new design has been completed as library officials are embarking on the final leg of their “Room to Grow” capital campaign.

Over $960,000 has been raised during the capital campaign—the goal is $1,500,000. The Library Board is optimistic that the Adamstown Area Library’s community will help them get close to their goal so that construction can begin soon.  The AAL serves over 30,000 residents in five municipalities: Adamstown Borough, Brecknock Township, Denver Borough, East Cocalico Township and West Cocalico Township.

A Town Meeting has been scheduled for Monday, November 12th from
6:30 – 7:30 pm at the library. Coffee and dessert will be served.

 

Adamstown Library New Design - Parking Lot view

New Design ~ Parking Lot View

The new design represents a collaboration between Heck Construction and Olsen Design Architects who evaluated the existing VFW multi-story building that was purchased by the library in 2016.   Upon assessing the building code, they discovered that the upper three floors of the building were deemed ‘unusable’—even for storage—without the installation of fire prevention measures, a costly stairwell and substantial structural steel. Despite this discouraging news, the ‘footprint’ of the older structure will be used while the library’s new front design will fit into the neighborhood. The new design of the building will better accommodate the circulation desk, offices and the children’s area.

According to Marjorie Hyrb, Library Board President, “Our work with the construction firm and the architect was extremely valuable in making this determination. The goal for the new library has always been to provide more space, better access and meetings rooms that will best serve the public at the most reasonable cost. We believe that these new plans will achieve these goals!”

 Adamstown Area Library ~ Brief History

First Adamstown Library Location was a tool shed.
First Adamstown Library was housed in a chicken coop. (1945)

The Adamstown Area Library was founded in the mid-1940s by the Adamstown Woman’s Club. The initial collection was approximately 100 books. In 1954, the library moved into 400 square feet of space in the basement of the Adamstown YMCA. In 1988, it became evident to the Woman’s Club that growth in the area and increased library usage warranted hiring their first library staff person. In February 1990, the Adamstown Woman’s Club founded the Friends of the Adamstown Library in an effort to raise funds for the library. Also in the early 1990s, the Lancaster County Library System established geographical areas to be served by specific library locations.

This became the basis for the allocation of state, county and municipal funds for the library. A further change occurred in 1995 as Adamstown became a member library of the Library System of Lancaster County. It was at that time the library established a Board of Trustees to act in a fiduciary capacity and to ensure ownership of the library was in the hands of the Board of Trustees and the local boroughs and municipalities it served. In 1997, the library applied and was granted 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit organization. In 1998, the library moved from the YMCA location to its present location at 3000 North Reading Road. The Adamstown Borough leases the space to the library for one dollar

Complete History of the Adamstown Area Library

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