{Library Photo}

A. Herr Smith Library ca. 1949

On May 21, 1952 the Lancaster New Era announced that over half a million dollars was available to start construction of the new Lancaster Public Free Library. First the old library and the buildings on either side had to be demolished to make way for the new and current Lancaster Public Library. The old library was located in the former A. Herr Smith house on Duke Street and had been library headquarters since 1903. The cornerstone of the new library was laid on May 17, 1953. 

Library service in Lancaster Public has been in effect since 1759 when Juliana Penn, Daughter-in-Law of William Penn donated money and books to the Borough of Lancaster for the establishment of a library. Mrs. Penn was well acquainted with Benjamin Franklin's philosophy and actions regarding the necessity of establishing libraries for public access to information as a public good.  The fledgling community of Lancaster was a direct beneficiary to this ideal and Juliana's Penn's two volume Bible is still in our collection.

Over the next 150 years library service evolved in Lancaster Public. From the Juliana Library came the Mechanics Society Library whose focus was providing primarily technical information to area tradesmen. The library found a permanent residence after local lawyer and civic leader A. Herr Smith bequeathed his home at 125 North Duke Street to the Library in 1903. The A. Herr Smith Library served until 1953 when the new Lancaster Public Free Public Library was opened on the same site with private funds.  Realizing the value that strong public libraries have in communities public funding helped the library grow over the years and establish reading rooms and branches throughout Lancaster Public. 

Today Lancaster Public Library consists of the Duke Street (main) library with branches in Leola and Mountville. These sites provide direct library service to over half of Lancaster Public's population in fourteen municipalities. It also serves as the District Center providing Interlibrary loan and reference service to the other fourteen now independent libraries Public-wide.  Our commitment is to providing everyone free and equal access to information, a cornerstone of democracy, and to providing children and youths access to literacy and reading opportunities. 

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