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Lancaster Public Library asks East Lampeter for steady municipal support as ARPA funding ends
Summary
Lancaster Public Library officials reported growing program use and described funding that is increasingly self-generated; they warned American Rescue Plan funding will end next year and encouraged East Lampeter to consider increasing municipal per-capita support and revising allocation formulas.
Representatives from Lancaster Public Library presented usage statistics and a funding overview at the Sept. 15 East Lampeter Board of Supervisors meeting, asking municipal partners to consider sustained financial support as pandemic-era American Rescue Plan funding ends.
John Hinley, identified as a director with Lancaster Public Library, and Lisa Holland, the library’s executive director, told the board that in 2024 approximately 21% of East Lampeter residents were library card holders and that more than 10,000 items were borrowed by township residents. The library reported an increase in program attendance (an 18% uptick) and said the summer reading program served roughly 4,000 patrons with over 200 programs offered countywide.
Hinley and Holland outlined the library’s revenue mix: about 64% of the library’s budget is generated through library operations and fundraising (fines, passport processing, fundraisers and donations), while roughly 36% comes from government sources, including municipal contributions. Hinley noted that the library’s American Rescue Plan Act funding will end next year and urged municipalities that rely on the library’s services to consider increasing per‑capita support; Pennsylvania’s recommended municipal contribution is $5 per resident, while East Lampeter’s current formula allocates roughly $2.50 per resident under the township’s existing distribution method.
The presentation highlighted new services and outreach funded through recent grants and donations, including an outreach van and an outreach specialist (first two years paid by the library) who has partnered with more than 42 community organizations and reached more than 5,000 community members. Library staff also described specialized resources such as an autism resource center, business and reference databases, multilingual children’s materials and an on-the-go service van. Board members asked about circulation breakdowns by age and about how the township’s budget formula might be adjusted to reflect increased local use and outreach.
Why it matters: The library’s plea is practical and fiscal — without ARPA support the library will need more stable municipal contributions or other ongoing revenue to sustain expanded programs and outreach services. Board members suggested considering a revised funding formula during the upcoming budget process and requested more detailed circulation data for East Lampeter residents.
What’s next: Library staff offered to provide circulation-age breakdowns and the board discussed reviewing its 2026 budget allocations with the option of adjusting the township’s library allocation method.
