The Lititz Public Library is pleased to announce that Ryan McCrory will be taking over the library director position recently vacated by the retiring Susan Tennant. Ryan comes to us from the Boone Area Library in Birdsboro, PA, where he served as library director. Ryan comes to us with almost 20 years of library experience. Most of Ryan’s library career has been with the Seattle Public Library. Ryan has worked in the library field in many different capacities, from circulation desk duties, to program planning, to assistant manager and directorship. Ryan has worked in both public and academic libraries. Before moving into the library field, Ryan taught history at the college level.

Originally from Alabama, Ryan received his BA in History from Athens State College and his MA in History from the University of Alabama. Ryan will receive his Master of Information Science from Drexel University in June of 2020. Ryan currently lives in Pottstown, PA, but is looking to relocate to Lancaster County. He really enjoys the Lititz area and loves that the town is walkable. Ryan enjoys playing online video games with his 13 year old son. He also enjoys various sports, genealogy research and is a reader of non-fiction and James Lee Burke mysteries.

Ryan began his love of libraries back in elementary school when he helped his school librarian to shelve books. He has been a library user and enthusiast his entire life. He believe that libraries offer “free and equal access to information” for everyone. He feels that libraries serve the function of “democratizing information”. Ryan loves libraries because they are “always evolving” and “provide access to new technologies” for the community they serve. Ryan will begin his career with the Lititz Public Library on Monday, April 29^th. Ryan wants to let the community know that he has an open door policy and encourages the community to stop by the library to say hello. Please help us to welcome him to our library and our community.

Lancaster County Public Libraries are celebrating National Library Week!

The Public Libraries of Lancaster County join libraries throughout Pennsylvania and the country in celebrating all that libraries have to offer as part of the National Library Celebration. The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners delivered a proclamation at their April 3^rd meeting announcing that Lancaster County Public Libraries will be celebrating National Library Week from April 7 – 13, 2019.  The annual celebration highlights the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.

This year’s theme, Libraries = Strong Communities, illustrates how today’s libraries are at the heart of our communities, providing critical resources, programs and expertise. Our libraries are more than book repositories! They also provide a public space where the public, regardless of age, culture or income level, can come together to connect and learn. Elected officials, small business owners, students, and the public at large depend upon libraries and the resources they offer to meet the needs of their communities. By providing resources such as eBooks and technology courses, English as a Second Language (ESL) materials, job development programs or safe spaces, libraries and librarians are leading in their communities.

For more information, visit www.lancasterlibraries.org to find out about the exciting events that Lancaster County’s Public Libraries have to offer!

Mark your calendar for these national happenings!

• Monday, April 8: State of America’s Libraries Report released, including Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2018.  Here is the report:  State of America’s Libraries ~ 2018 Report

• Tuesday, April 9: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. #nlwd19

• Wednesday, April 10: National Bookmobile Day, a day to recognize the contributions of our nation’s bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make high-quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities. #BookmobileDay2019 To find out more about the Library System’s Bookmobile services, visit: https://lancasterlibraries.org/bookmobile/

• Thursday, April 11: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to speak up for libraries and share your library story. #MyLibraryMyStory

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                                            www.pcad.edu/designathon2019

The Library System was chosen to participate in Pennsylvania College of Art & Design’s 11^th annual Designathon, that was held on February 22 and 23, 2019.  During the Designathon’s 24 hours, teams of students and faculty and alumni mentors created all-new pieces for ten non-profits.  Learn more at www.pcad.edu/designathon2019

The design project chosen by the Library System was the graphics for the Be READy Rover new van that delivers early literacy services to daycare providers throughout Lancaster County.

Here is the PCAD Design Team:

[Left to Right] Joe Montfort, faculty member; Jerico Tulaya, Sophomore, Graphic Design; Kevin Foss, Junior, Graphic Design;
Shelby Young, Senior, Illustration; Mary Benson, Early Literacy Outreach Specialist;
Mary Ann Heltshe-Steinhauer, LSLC PR/Community Relations Manager

The Be READy Rover is a bookmobile dedicated to the promotion of reading readiness in young children, lending books, educational toys, materials, and activities, as well as providing training in early literacy practices, to HOME CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. The monthly visits are FREE, and include storytime and access to all library resources.

The Be READy Rover is a new service provided by the Library System of Lancaster County, in conjunction with S.A.I.L. (Systems Aligned In Learning), a Collective Impact Partnership powered by United Way of Lancaster County.  SAIL is made up of Luthercare for Kids, the Library System of Lancaster County, COBYS Family Services and Lancaster General Hospital.

About Pennsylvania College of Art & Design

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is central Pennsylvania’s only non-profit professional art college offering BFA degrees, certificates, credentials, and curricula that enable students of all ages to pursue art as their life’s work. PCA&D is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design (AICAD).

PCA&D also offers credit and noncredit classes, studios and workshops for adults and youth, a professional gallery that features works by regionally- and nationally-acclaimed artists, and artist and author talks, receptions, and community-based activities with visiting artists. For more information, contact PCA&D, PO Box 59, 204 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17608. (717) 396-1032, (800) 689-0379. www.pcad.edu

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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].

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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