State of the Library 2015

Our library is very lucky to call Lititz home. Hundreds of people visit the library every day to take advantage of free access to books, audiobooks, eBooks, DVDs, the Internet, programs and more. But, as we know, our library doesn’t exist for free. There’s a cost to providing the services so many people in the community rely upon for learning and enrichment.

It seems hard to believe that just seven years ago an allocation from the state provided 41% of our library’s operating income. That figure has fallen to 18% and it’s still falling. To survive today we must rely on annual contributions from the people who live in our community for the funds needed to keep our doors open. Supporting the Lititz Public Library is an investment in the future of Lititz.

Even though the most popular resources at the Lititz Public Library are our collections of books to borrow, our library offers much more. Take a look at some of the services that make our library the liveliest place in town.

Computers and Wireless Access
Bring your wireless-enabled devices to the library to connect to our Wi-Fi network or logon to one of our public computer workstations to access the Internet.
Wowbrary
Find out what’s new at the library. Sign up for Wowbrary, a free weekly email listing new books, movies and audiobooks available to borrow. Go to www.lititzlibrary.org and click on the Wowbrary icon.
Community Connections
A new series of presentations feature the talents, skills and hobbies of local residents. One hour classes introduce a variety of topics to engage people of all ages. Upcoming programs include Introduction to Basic Greeting Card Making (October 14th) and Time to Put Yourself First: Live a More Balanced Lifestyle (November 18th). Pre-registration required.
Downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks
Visit www.lititzlibrary.org and click on the Overdrive icon. Use your library card to download a book or audio book. Do you know a child who’s just learning to read? Try TumbleBooks, an interactive library of animated books for young children to enjoy online.
Foreign Language Instruction
Planning a trip abroad? Click on the Pronunciator icon on the library’s website to find downloadable audio lessons and phrasebooks for 80 languages.
Genealogy and Local History
Learn more about our community’s history. In addition to books, researchers will find digitized copies of the Lititz Record, Lititz Express and Lititz Record-Express covering the years from 1877 through 2001 in the Genealogy Room. An obituary index is also available.
Copies of the Lititz Record-Express from 1877 through 1942 can also be researched through the State Library’s local newspaper archives. Find a link by going to www.lititzlibrary.org. Click on What We Offer and select Genealogy Room.
Museum Passes
Explore local museums with free museum passes borrowed with your library card. The Lititz Historical Foundation offers an opportunity to visit the Johannes Mueller House. Countywide, participating museums include National Watch and Clock Museum, North Museum of Natural History and Science, Ephrata Cloister, National Toy Train Museum, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, 1719 Hans Herr House, Science Factory, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, LancasterHistory.org’s Wheatland and Rock Ford Plantation. County museum passes are sponsored by the Eiserer-Hickey Fund of the Lancaster County Community Foundation.

September 25, 2015