After years of planning and construction, Lancaster Public Library is entering the final stage of its building project. On Thursday, April 20, the library will officially begin its move to its new location in Ewell Plaza. The library is expected to be closed for four to six weeks as its collections and equipment are moved into and installed in the new facility.

The brand-new, state-of-the-art building at 151 N. Queen St. will place Lancaster Public Library in the center of its community. The library will be fully ADA accessible and has been designed to be welcoming, open, and bright. It will be equipped with 21st-century technology and collections with the goal of bringing a new level of resources to the community. The library's presence in Ewell Plaza will include spaces for outdoor reading and community programs. An elevated outdoor terrace overlooking the plaza will provide a signature space for library events.

The current building, located at 125 N. Duke St., is set to serve its last patrons on April 19; the library will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day. During the move, the library will be closed to the public. This closure will remain in effect until the new building opens in late spring. Library materials borrowed after April 5 will not be due while the library is closed. Due dates will be extended to Monday, June 12. During the closure period, access to e-books, e-audiobooks, movies, and other electronic resources will remain available. For more information, visit http://www.LancasterPublicLibrary.org/on-the-move.

On Saturday, April 22, between 10 a.m. and noon, Lancaster Public Library will host a Parade of Books stretching approximately two blocks from the Duke Street library to Ewell Plaza. Kids and adults who are young at heart are invited to be a part of the library's historic move by carrying one book per person to the new building while cheered on by Library Lovers stationed along East Marion Street. The parade's main goal is not to transport the library's inventory, which will be a done under the guidance of a company that specializes in moving libraries, but instead to provide a fun, symbolic event to kick off the move. Registration is not necessary, and walk-ins are encouraged. For full event details, visit http://www.LancasterPublicLibrary.org/events.

If all goes according to plan, the new building will be unveiled to patrons during a series of open houses and a ribbon-cutting ceremony in June. As more information becomes available, it will be posted at http://www.LancasterPublicLibrary.org.

Lancaster Public Library is one of the oldest public libraries in the country. After more than two and a half centuries, the library continues its efforts to inspire, empower, and strengthen the community by connecting people with information, ideas, and enriching experiences.