LITITZ PUBLIC LIBRARY INC

THE LITITZ PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS BEEN TRUE TO A STRATEGIC VISION THAT IMAGINES A VIBRANT HUB FOR LEARNING AND RECREATION, OFFERING NOT ONLY A WIDE VARIETY OF LEISURE-READING AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, BUT LOTS OF ENTERTAINING AND ENRICHING PROGRAMS AS WELL. OUR LIBRARY IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND CONNECT WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY. ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON BUILDING LITERACY SKILLS. THIS PRIMARILY MEANS LITERACY IN THE CLASSIC SENSE; WE PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT HELP OUR CHILDREN LEARN TO READ SO THEY CAN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE OUR ROLE IN PROMOTING DIGITAL LITERACY, THE VARIETY OF SKILLS THAT INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM THE ABILITY TO SEARCH A DATABASE AND RETRIEVE INFORMATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING TO THE ABILITY TO COMPLETE AND DISSEMINATE AN ONLINE RESUME IN A JOB SEARCH TO TROUBLESHOOTING THE NEW DIGITAL DEVICE A PATRON RECEIVED AS A GIFT. ACTIVITIES ALSO FOCUS ON LIFELONG ENRICHMENT. OUR AGING POPULATION AND THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF TIME PEOPLE SPEND IN RETIREMENT RESULTS IN A DEMAND FOR ENGAGING LEISURE ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, IN AN ECONOMY WHERE AUTOMATION AND GLOBALIZATION ARE ADAPTING AND EVEN ELIMINATING CERTAIN JOBS, WORKERS WILL SEE THE CONTINUAL NEED FOR INFORMAL LEARNING AS A WAY OF LIFE. WE RECOGNIZE OUR ROLE IN PROVIDING DYNAMIC, ENGAGING PROGRAMS THAT BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN FORMAL EDUCATION AND LEARNING FOR SELF- ENRICHMENT. STATISTICS ILLUSTRATE THE COMMUNITY'S ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR LIBRARY. THE LIBRARY WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 60 HOURS EACH WEEK AND PROVIDED ACCESS TO OVER 94,894 BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, EBOOKS, E-AUDIOBOOKS, FILMS, AND MUSIC CDS FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC AT NO CHARGE. THESE ITEMS WERE BORROWED 405,066 TIMES IN 2024. THREE LIBRARY STAFF MEMBERS HOLD PROFESSIONAL MASTERS-LEVEL DEGREES. LIBRARY STAFF PROVIDED EARLY LITERACY PROGRAMS IN PRESCHOOLS. APPROXIMATELY 50 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED A VARIETY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES. PUBLIC INTERNET COMPUTERS WERE USED 4,726 TIMES AND THERE WERE 13,262 WIRELESS LOGINS; 21,266 ADULTS, TEENS AND CHILDREN ATTENDED 1,007 LIBRARY PROGRAMS,INCLUDING STORYTIMES, STEM ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH, BOOK AND FILM DISCUSSIONS,INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THE LIBRARY PARTNERED WITH OVER 50 SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDED USED BOOK SALES AND FUNDRAISING BUS TRIPS.