LaTrobe Barnitz may have only been the executive director of the Manheim Community Library for a little over a month, but he knows one thing for sure: He will never get tired of looking out the windows of the library's new location at 547 N. Penryn Road, Manheim.

"My favorite part of the library is the view back here," he said, referring to the windows that run the length of the children's area in the back of the library space and overlook acres of farmland. "It looks like a postcard."

Manheim Community Library moved into its new space, which is part of the Kreider Farms Cultural Center on the Pleasant View Communities campus, in late April.

The library had outgrown its space in downtown Manheim, Barnitz said, and the building that houses the borough offices was also not ideal for a community space.

"We moved out of the old building because it was becoming untenable to be there," Barnitz said, noting that the building had some significant sewer line issues and was not especially ADA-friendly, with the library located on the third floor of an old building.

The new location is a perfect fit in many ways, he said.

"We have plenty of parking here. You don't have to cross a busy street to get to the library, like you used to have to do," he shared. "We are a mile further out of town, but the location here is great."

As Barnitz explained, the library rents the space from Pleasant View Communities, which is developing other parts of the building into an events center and more, complete with an outdoor patio that the library can use for programming.

"There's a walking path that goes around the library, and it goes around Pleasant View as well," Barnitz said of the rural location. "We have a great relationship with Pleasant View, and they have been a big supporter. Their residents have been some of the first patrons here."

Located all on one level on the ground floor, the new library features book drops both inside and outside, making it easy to return books after hours.

Computers provide opportunities for self-checkout or can be used by members of the community for internet access and printing. New desks also provide space for people to set up and plug in their own laptops as well. A small conference room and a study room may be reserved for groups or individuals to use.

Like the old location, the new library features newspapers and magazines, adult fiction and nonfiction, a young adult collection, a large-print selection and a bookstore on-site, with sale proceeds benefiting the library.

"These are the cream-of-the-crop books," Barnitz said of the bookstore inventory. "These are the new ones and ones that are in really great condition. We also sell puzzles and games."

A large children's area features movable bins of books which can be rolled out of the way for story time and other programming in "Nana's Nook," a window seat overlooking the farmland.

Esther Martin, youth services coordinator for the library, noted that the Summer Reading Program kicked off on June 7, with a theme of "Color Our World."

"We have an adult Summer Reading Program this year," she said. "Summer Reading is for all ages, and there are prizes for all ages."

To participate in the Summer Reading Program, people may stop by the circulation desk to pick up a reading log.

Martin is excited to offer expanded programming in the new library space.

"We'll be able to do outdoor programming this year," she said. "We couldn't do that before because we didn't have any outdoor space."

Barnitz encourages people to come check out the library's new home and explore the large, open space that features lots of natural light.

"It's just a great community space," he said. "It reminds people that the library is not just a storage area for books. We're a place that's alive. Things are happening here."

For more information on the Manheim Community Library, visit https://manheimlibrary.org.