Library History

The Lancaster Community Library has been serving the citizens of Lancaster County for fifty years. The highlights of the Library’s development as a center for learning and activity are listed below.

1961    Community Library opens October 22 in the “little white house” on School Street

1962    Story Hour at the Library, conducted by the Lancaster Junior Women’s Club, begins

1964    Summer Reading Program begins

1968    Books and Coffee Program begins

1972    First Library book sale

1975    New Library Building opens on School Street next to original library structure

             Rappahannock Art League (RAL) begins exhibiting at Library

1979    Coast Guard Auxiliary begins meeting in Library

1981    Recorded books added to Library’s collection

1982    Children’s Room at the Library is enlarged

1985    Library qualifies for State support

1986    First certified librarian, Sally Rohlfing, is hired

1991    Library building is expanded

             Storymobile begins service

1992    Susanna Collins becomes Library Director

1994    Library Lottery begins

1995    Library catalog and circulation are computerized

1996    Library adds full-time Children’s Librarian

1997    First public Internet computer made available at the Library

2000    Library goes on-line

2001    Library opens booth at Irvington Market

2006    Wireless Internet becomes available at the Library

             Babygarten program initiated

2007    Lindsy Gardner becomes Library Director

             Original Library building becomes Storymobile office

2008    Playaways introduced at the Library

2010    Downloadable eBooks & audiobooks made available to patrons

2011    Library's 50th birthday / Storymobile's 20th birthday