getting started a half mile away. Originally part of the Peter Chartier Tract the property went through several owners before coming into the hands of the Shelly Family. Measuring 35 by 45 feet, the original building is a fine example of early 19th Century German craftmanship. The home was deeded to the borough of New Cumberland in 1968 by Mr. and Mrs. Rowland Benjamin to be used as a public library. With the addition added on in 1976, the mansion was dedicated on July 4 as the New Cumberland Public Library. The original house serves as the Library Museum and community rooms. An Art Gallery on the second floor displays the works of a different local artist each month.

moved to the Benjamin Mansion with an addition added as a community bicentennial project in

1976. In 2001-2002, a 6,600 square foot expansion project to both the North and South wings of the 1976 addition was completed. The $1,100,000 project was funded with a state grant, memorials, and local donations. Memorial and Honor bricks are still available for lining the sidewalks of the 2 1/2 acre library park. They may be purchased at the library. New areas added tripled the Children's Room space on the lower level, provide a new Teen area on the main floor, a new audio-visual area, and expanded space for the non-fiction and fiction book collections.

The New Cumberland Library has about 75,000 items in its collection. These include books, videos, DVDs, CD-ROMS, and compact discs. The library also provides free internet access, consumer health information, business and investment resources, newspapers, and computers for word processing and other Office software. There is also an extensive collection of material on local history.

Friends of the Library hold twice monthly book sales on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month in the Foundation House, a building adjacent to the library property on the corner of Ninth and Sharon streets.

The library sponsors many programs for adults such as monthly book reviews, travel programs, medical issues forums, vintage movies, a writing workshop, Sunday board game afternoons, a weekly summer poetry program, and local history talks in Foundation Hall at Ninth and Sharon. Small groups meet in the main library meeting area. Larger groups meet in Foundation Hall.

The library also provides children's programs including toddler times (2 1/2 to 3 years), storytimes (3-6 years), elementary and home-school programs, and a Summer Reading Program for all children through the high school ages.

Call the library at 774-7820 for meeting locations or more information.

Librarian Judy Dillen
(717) 774-7820