On April 20, Lancaster Public Library closed to the public and began the move to its new location on Queen Street, which is expected to open in late May.

The old Duke Street building has several structural issues, such as flooding and mold, that made the move necessary. It was bought by a group of investors for the use of Saint James Episcopal Church, located next door. In the meantime, the library’s digital resources give interested readers a way to stay involved.

The new building will offer a completely improved experience. It is located in the heart of the city, and is gaining an additional 3,000 square feet. The entire building is ADA accessible and stroller friendly. Transportation has also become easier, with it being closer to bus stops, and having a seven-story parking garage above its structure.

The move is being funded by the community for the community. The Fabulas Campaign has been raising money to go towards the ten million dollar cost. Derived from Latin and Spanish, the word “fabulas” translates to stories. The project itself emphasizes the 260-year story of the library and those who use it.

In order to fully understand the message of the move, I interviewed two McCaskey sophomores on their stories with the public library. 

“I first started going to Lancaster Public Library when I was a young child. I stopped going for a while, but sometime last year I started going again,” said Ada Kessler.

“I remember this very specific Pokémon VHS that my dad got for me from there,” she continued, reminiscing on childhood memories. “It was one of my favorite movies at the time and one of the first things I was truly immersed in.”

“Recently I’ve been going with a lot of my friends, usually on half days, then getting food afterwards,” she added. “On the past half day in March, my friend, Marci, and I did this and we talked about the books we’d been reading over pizza.”

“The community aspect of libraries is the most important part. It creates a friendly and safe environment for kids and parents alike to gather together. There are always activities and books for everyone, regardless of age,” said Marci Cabrol.

“I have gone to Lancaster Public library ever since I can remember. My favorite memories of the library all happened in the children’s area,” continued Marci. “I remember picking out comic books and sitting down on the circular bench in the play area and reading for so long.”

“Books don’t just provide general knowledge of topics like history or science. They allow people to glance into others’ worlds and hear of different cultures,” noted Ada. “Without public libraries many stories would go unheard and there wouldn’t be a place people could always look to for peace and quiet.”