The Lititz Public Library serves the communities of Elizabeth Township, Lititz Borough and Warwick Township. The collection includes 77,231 books, eBooks, audio books, films and music CDs. The library is open 60 hours per week and has a paid staff equivalent of 11 full-time employees. On average, more than 4,000 people visited the library each week last year. They borrowed 493,031 items, an average of 16 per capita. (The state average is six per capita.) Here are some highlights from 2013:
• During 2013, the library presented 209 programs for adults and children reaching 7,263 attendees. Additionally, children’s librarians presented 299 storytime sessions for 5,611 preschool-aged children.
• The Special Services Coordinator made 215 deliveries to homebound patrons and the Youth Services Director presented 89 literature-based outreach programs for children throughout the community.
• From book repair to gardening, 135 volunteers provided more than 6,000 hours of essential services.
• The Friends of the Library netted $27,956 from used book sales. Proceeds purchased new carpet for the storytime room and provided $20,000 to support programs and book purchases.
• In May, the Jane Austen Society hosted a benefit high tea for 78 guests. They raised over $1,700 to support library services.
• A new partnership with the Lititz Historical Foundation offered fascinating lectures including an overview of Brickerville area furnace properties, how to trace family roots and the fascinating treasures found through privy digging.
• Our library was first in the county to promote 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. 214 preschoolers and their families set a goal of reading 1,000 books – and building literacy skills – by the time a child enters kindergarten.
• 2,012 youths took part in the Summer Reading Program Dig into Reading. Events included Hedgie Digs Reading, hands on activities with fossils and the theatrical production, Finding King Tut.
• The library’s eBooks collection is growing. 7,235 eBooks were borrowed in 2013, an increase of 103% over 2012.
• 5,309 books, audio books, DVDs and music CDs were added to the collection in 2013. 1,229 were gently-used items donated to the library by the public.
• Brickerville Fire Company, Lititz Fire Company and Lancaster Regional Police dazzled story time attendees, demonstrating equipment and providing safety orientations for children, parents and caregivers.
• Library patrons donated a record 1,175 hats, gloves and scarves to decorate the annual Mitten Tree. Items were distributed through local child care services.
• In 2013 the library received 1,015 contributions from families, businesses, service clubs and organizations. The average contribution was $74.94.
• Ten local businesses sponsored fundraising bookmarks. The bookmarks, which promoted the sponsors and their businesses, were distributed to patrons who visited the library.
• The year’s most popular novel was The Forgotten by David Baldacci. The Forgotten is the story of an Army Special Agent who discoveries a conspiracy after he receives a posthumous note from his aunt.
Originally published on January 24, 2014 in the Lititz Record Express.