After years of planning and construction, Lancaster Public Library is entering the final stage of its building project. On Thursday, April 20, the Library will officially begin its move to the new location in Ewell Plaza! The Library is expected to be closed four to six weeks as its collections and equipment are moved into and installed in the new facility.
As staff prepares to shift the collection to the new library, the current building located at 125 N. Duke Street will be closed to the public beginning Thursday, April 20. This closure will remain in effect until the new building opens in late spring 2023.
The Juliana Bookstore will follow the same closing period and open on the first floor of the new facility.
On the Move: FAQs
Your last day to visit the library in our current location is Wednesday, April 19. The library will be open normal business hours from 9AM-7PM.
The new library building, located at 151 North Queen Street will open near the end of May 2023.
Our digital resources will be available while the building is closed. Access eBooks, eAudiobooks, music, movies, and more with your Lancaster Public Library card.
- If you don’t have a library card, you can register for one at any of our public service desks or you can begin the registration process online.
If you prefer to visit a physical location, the Mountville Branch will remain open during our move.
You can also use your library card at other Lancaster County libraries.
Library materials borrowed after April 5, will not be due while we are closed. Due dates will be extended to Monday, June 12.
However, you are welcome to return items while we are closed. Bring them to the current building at 125 North Duke Street and drop them in the outside return bins.
The outside book return bins will remain in place at 125 North Duke Street. You will find them at the front and back entrances of the building.
Once we are up and running in the new building, one return bin will be located on the northeast corner of Marion Street, by the back side of the Verizon Building. A built-in book return bin will be located in the front west windows close to the Parking Garage entrance in Ewell Plaza.
Though you won’t be able to contact us by phone, you can still reach out to us with questions:
– Use the “CHAT” feature on the library website.
– Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and ask your questions there.
– Email your question to askus@lancasterpubliclibrary.org—we’ll be checking email daily.
Summer Reading at Lancaster Public Library is a community tradition that promotes reading for fun and lifelong enrichment, and it WILL take place this year! This year’s theme is All Together Now, and we are busy making plans for an exciting Summer Reading Program for all ages.
Save the date—our Summer Reading Kickoff will take place on Saturday, June 3 in the NEW LIBRARY BUILDING 🎉
While the Juliana Bookstore is closed, you can shop for new-to-you books at the Marshall Street Bookstore. Located at 225 N. Marshall Street, you will find #BingeWorthy books and free parking!
If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, you will definitely find it at the BIG Book Sale, taking place May 22-24 in the former Bon Ton building at Park City Center.
The building is under agreement to a group of investors with strong ties to the community and who are purchasing the property for its ultimate use by Saint James Episcopal Church, located next door at 119 North Duke Street.
The new location anchors the Christian Street Parking Garage. Patrons can park in this garage and take the elevator to the Library’s first floor. During operating hours, the elevator doors will open into the Library’s lobby.
As a tenant of the Lancaster Parking Authority, the Library does not control parking decisions; regular parking fees will be charged.
– Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
– Bookmark this page—we will update it with our progress throughout the moving process.
– Subscribe to our email list, and stay connected with the latest happenings at the Library—including updates about our brand new, state-of-the-art building on Queen Street at Ewell Plaza!
Thank you for wanting to help! We have created a moving plan using library staff and contractors. We will stay organized and on track by following that plan!
Once we’re open, you can help by visiting the new library! While it may seem obvious, visiting Lancaster Public Library is one of the best ways to show your support 💙
We are now in the home stretch of both construction and the Fabulas Campaign. Our new library will be opening in less than two months! That leaves us just a short time to reach our $10,000,000 goal. A public library is really the ultimate gift for the community from the community, and we need your help to create Lancaster’s place for lifelong learning. Together, we can write a fabulous next chapter for Lancaster Public Library! Keep reading.
We are pressing pause on several library services prior to our closure on April 20.
Wednesday, March 29 is the last day to request a Teacher Book Bundle or Grab Bag for pickup at the Lancaster City Branch.
Beginning Monday, April 3, the collection will be for browsing and checkouts only. That means, you can visit the library and browse the shelves for books and materials you’d like to check out, but you cannot place holds on items via the online catalog or by calling the Branch directly.