Creative Spaces for Lifelong Discovery
The York County Library System has grown substantially since its creation in 1974. Annually, the 13 full-service and two pickup and drop-off locations see more than 330,000 visitors.
The library system contains an impressive 626,364 books, audio, and digital resources in its collection and serves 159,145 registered cardholders and so, it needs every square inch of space it can get.
Thanks in large part to the incredible $1 million gift the library received from the Powder Mill Foundation in 2022 for its capital campaign, the library system was able to make much-needed upgrades to several of its facilities, ultimately benefiting the community using them.
As a keen personal admirer of libraries, this initiative is something Mr. Louis Appell, Jr. would surely have supported wholeheartedly. His support of the library system actually started over 20 years ago. In 2002, the library was thrilled to receive Mr. Appell’s donation of the Brownstone building to help expand its facilities. From the Market Street window of his office, Mr. Appell had a view of the Martin Library which he took in each morning, noting how the library provided an important gathering place for the community.
Now, thanks to the foundation’s recent generosity, the Kreutz Creek Library was relocated from a 1,200-square-foot Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer to a fully renovated 8,800-square-foot facility in former Hellam Township municipal offices.
The new facility has dedicated program space for providing a variety of learning opportunities for children, teens, and adults. The space features circular computer pods with six public-access computers, a community room, and conference and study rooms equipped for tutoring, book discussions, and quiet study.
At the Martin Library, the Powder Mill Foundation’s amazing gift enabled the library system to perform exterior restoration including replacing and fully replicating the library’s iconic arched windows and entrance, improving energy efficiencies, and preserving historic features. The gift helped create additional seating, self-checkout stations, and a centrally located help desk, and a new seating area in the children’s section provides a comfortable place for caregivers and children to read. The reinvented library space now totals 68,000 square feet and allows for expanded member services.
Finally, the foundation’s generosity enabled the organization to fully renovate and modernize the Kaltreider-Benfer Library, as well as create a 3,676-square-foot addition.
We are grateful and humbled by the continued generosity of the Powder Mill Foundation, which is truly working for the good of York County and its many communities. We are blessed that the interests and vision of the foundation align so well with that of York County Libraries. Investing in communities and establishing safe, creative spaces for lifelong learning, imagination, and discovery are shared goals and values for all of us.
Robert F. Lambert, York County Libraries President
With such dedicated, passionate leadership for the library, Mr. Appell would be confident that the future is secure for this critical York County institution.
