A public library not only reflects the character of its community; it reveals it. If indeed a community is as strong as its library, then Palmyra is in pretty good shape.

The Palmyra Public Library (PPL) serves its residents as a safe space offering varying resources and programs and as a community hub. Over the 70 years of its existence, the local library has changed and evolved to meet Palmyra's growing needs.

"Our broad mission is to bring people together to enrich lives and build community," said Chelsea Weibley, who's been PPL's executive director for eight years. "The library's not just for literacy or reading. Public libraries provide this free place for all. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from. You can come here, and we can provide education resources and entertainment resources. We want to see ourselves as a community center."

Located at 50 Landings Drive, Suite B, Annville, PPL is so much more than stacks of books. The library also offers free Wi-Fi, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, themed preschool kits and access to newspaper archives.

In addition, PPL is home to children's, family and adult programs and activities like Smart Start Story Time, themed preschool classes, summer programs for school-age kids, a genealogy club, craft groups, a Finding Independence Through Technology learning program and even a strength and stretching course.

"We try to offer a whole variety of programs to connect with all the community's needs," said Weibley. "It's fun to see people connecting through the programs. Most of the people who are coming to the library are from Palmyra Borough, North Londonderry Township and South Londonderry Township. Because of where we're situated, we also get a number of families from surrounding areas. It's a really neat place to see a cross-section of the community."

In 2023, PPL hosted 110,071 total visits and lent 132,016 items.

"The favorite part of my job is helping people," said Weibley. "I didn't intend to work in a library, but I had a heart for helping people. I realized a public library was the place to do that. I like the variety of my job. I like helping people with anything and everything. I enjoy giving them a smile and giving them a feeling that something good happened to them today."

Overseen by a board of directors, PPL is one of six libraries in the Lebanon County Library System. By partnering with the Lebanon Community Library, the Annville Free Library, the Matthews Public Library in Fredericksburg, the Myerstown Community Library and the Richland Community Library, PPL can provide more extensive resources to its residents and keep costs down.

"The library was started in 1954 by the Junior Women's Club of Palmyra, and back then it was a couple of small racks of books," said Weibley. "As the library moved into different spaces, the collection grew. Then, the library wanted to provide technology resources to the community. Ultimately, the needs that exist now, the Palmyra Public Library is best fit to meet them. We have to keep looking at what the community needs and decide if we can fill those needs."

PPL moved to its current location at Flightpath Sports Park in 2014. In the 60 years prior, the library had occupied three different places in downtown Palmrya.

For additional information about the Palmyra Public Library, go to https://palmyra.lclibs.org.