The Board of Trustees of Lancaster Public Library (LPL) recently announced the agreement of sale of the library building located at 125 N. Duke St., Lancaster. The building is under agreement to a group of investors who have strong ties to the community and who are purchasing the property for its ultimate use by Saint James Episcopal Church, located at 119 N. Duke St.

The agreement precedes the eventual move by LPL to a new library location at Barney Ewell Plaza on Queen Street. The new building is intended to improve library services to the Lancaster community with expanded and improved interior and exterior spaces, ADA compliance, and closer proximity to the heart of downtown Lancaster. Until the new facility is ready, the library will retain ownership of and continue to operate in its current location, serving approximately 211,000 Lancaster County residents as a community center for learning,

When the library's move is complete and the sale transaction is closed, which are both expected to occur within two years, the property may be converted to office use until Saint James has finalized its long-term plans for the building. In the meantime, Saint James will begin a discernment process to assess how the property will add to its ongoing commitment to civic and spiritual renewal, sustainability, and community growth.

Both Saint James Episcopal Church and LPL hold deep roots in Lancaster history. The church has maintained its location on the corner of Orange and Duke streets for 275 years and includes a 200-year-old sanctuary. Readers may learn more about Saint James at http://www.saintjameslancaster.org. LPL was founded in 1759 in a private residence on North Queen Street, occupied several sites throughout the years, and expanded into the North Duke Street site in 1954. To learn more about LPL, go to http://www.lancasterpubliclibrary.org.