Lancaster Public Library

Did you have a favorite read of the summer? ☀️📖

The public libraries in Lancaster County are working together to achieve STABLE, SUFFICIENT, and SECURE funding in the form of a dedicated Library tax, but we can’t do it without your help!

A petition is being circulated to put a proposed library funding measure on the November ballot. You can visit either Lancaster Public Library location to learn more, ask questions, and sign the petition ✍️

Or let us come to you! We will dedicate meaningful time to Vote Yes 4 Libraries when we present at these upcoming municipality meetings:

• Thursday, August 20, 6:30pm - Upper Leacock Township
• Thursday, August 27, 6pm - East Petersburg Borough
• Monday, September 1, 7pm - Conestoga Township
• Wednesday, September 2, 7pm - East Hempfield Township

✍️ Signing the petition does not mean voting yes on the measure—it just gives voters the opportunity to decide on November 3.

What are you reading to celebrate National Book Lover’s Day today? 📖❤️

We had a beautiful night to visit with SoWe neighbors at the National Night Out event!

There’s (almost!) nothing better than connecting with our patrons on their terms and in their neighborhoods. We made library cards, checked out books, and talked with residents about the need for stable, sufficient, and secure funding for our libraries.

It was a great event for a great cause with a GREAT bunch of Library Lovers.

What are you reading this first weekend in August? 📚

At Lancaster Public Library, we strive to serve every family by providing programming, community, and materials in languages other than English. Miss Shannon, our Early Literacy Librarian is a passionate advocate for World Language programming in public libraries, and she is using her expert knowledge and connections in the community to build our children’s World Language Programming from the ground up.

We began with American Sign Language Storytime in 2024. It turns out that there is very little programming for families who live with Deafness. As a result, families come from all over Lancaster County – and York! – to attend our ASL Storytime! In 2026, we started offering consistent programming for our Spanish speaking community - Canticuentos, which is Spanish Storytime and a Spanish Language Family Meet-up and Playgroup (that meets next on Saturday, August 15). In the spring, we offered the library’s first Arabic Language Storytime, which is presented by a father who has attended Pajama Storytime with his family for almost a year. Our very first session had 21 attendees who were immigrants from multiple countries, including Palestine, Iraq, and Egypt. This past weekend’s وقت حكايات بالعربي Arabic Language Storytime (pictured here) was a bit smaller, but we are already looking forward to the next storytime on Saturday, August 22.

Patrons who speak languages other than ASL, Spanish, and Arabic asked for programming in their languages, but it’s not currently possible for us to provide programs for every language represented in Lancaster! What we decided to do was offer a space where any family who speaks a language other than English can come to find other families who may speak their language, share tips for raising a multilingual child (this is a hot topic!), and bask in a multicultural setting. Our World Language Meet-up & Playgroup meets again on Saturday, August 8.

These programs are currently offered, but we are not done - we are actively looking for a Swahili speaker willing to provide Swahili Storytime. If we can find a presenter, we will be providing language programming for the three biggest language groups in Lancaster!

What are you reading this weekend? 📖

We could not have asked for better weather at today’s Toddler Time ☀️📖🌳

In collaboration with STEAM Sneakerheadz, our patrons experienced a one-of-a-kind summer reading program that proved science isn’t just in textbooks — it’s everywhere around us!

With expert help from Ky the Chemist, we created custom tie-dye shoelaces while exploring the science of color through both natural and synthetic dyes. We experimented with plant-based materials alongside traditional dyeing techniques to compare how different substances interact with fabric. We saw, firsthand, how chemistry is fun, fresh, and totally hands-on!

But the fun doesn’t end here. Ky will be back tomorrow (7/22) for a 2nd sneaker lab that explores the chemistry behind keeping our kicks fresh 👟 Registration is encouraged, but not required. Walk-ins are welcome as long as space is available.

We had a blast (from the past!) during Unearth Old Technology - our interactive Summer Reading program highlighting some memorable technologies from the 20th century!

What once-loved retro technologies do you miss?