Donate today to support ELANCO Library!
There are three easy and secure ways to give:
Online: Click here to donate through PayPal.
At the library: Stop by the circulation desk and speak with a staff member to make your donation. We gladly accept cash or checks.
By mail: Send your check, payable to ELANCO Library, to: Eastern Lancaster County Library, 11 Chestnut Drive, New Holland, PA 17557
Why Donate?
Thanks to supporters like you, the ELANCO Library continues to be a vibrant hub of learning, connection, and opportunity for families across our five-municipality service area.
This past year, we celebrated the grand reopening of our newly renovated Children’s Library and Lower Level—transforming our space into areas where children and families can learn, grow, and gather. Even during construction, your library remained an essential lifeline to thousands of residents.
Your Library by the Numbers – 2024 Highlights
- 📚 113,844 items checked out
- 👥 56,646 library visits
- ☀️ 1,374 children participated in our Summer Reading Program:
- ☀️📖 14,968 books read aloud to young children (ages 0–4)
- ☀️⏱️ 17,425 hours read by children and teens—equal to 726 day
- 💻 3,689 people used public computers for 2,197 hours
- 🌐 6,516 devices connected to our free public Wi-Fi
- 💵 $3,074,660 in estimated cost savings for local residents
Your generous giving makes all this possible!
Other ways to give
Amazon Wishlist
You can make an immediate difference at the ELANCO Library by purchasing an item from our Amazon Charity Wishlist! From children’s books and craft supplies to everyday office essentials, every item you buy goes straight to work supporting our programs and community. Your gift helps us stretch our dollars further, keep our shelves full, and continue offering the programs, books, and resources our community depends on.
Buy a Brick
Celebrate your love of reading and community by purchasing a personalized engraved brick for just $250. Your custom brick will become a lasting part of the library’s walkway, honoring a loved one, commemorating a special occasion, or showcasing your family or business name. Your gift helps support the library’s programs and services—building a stronger foundation for generations to come. Purchase your brick today and leave a legacy that will inspire for years to come! Click here and select “Entranceway Brick Engravement Program” or talk to a staff member for a form.
Donations
The Friends of the Library host book sales throughout the year, and your donations make them possible! Proceeds help fund library programs and new materials.
We gladly accept:
- New or gently used books (hardcover or paperback)
- Children’s books in very good condition
- Audiobooks on CD (unabridged preferred)
- Music CDs – popular or classical
- Movies on DVD or Blu-ray
We cannot accept textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, Reader’s Digest Condensed Books, VHS/cassette tapes, yearbooks, computer software, or any items with smoke, water, or storage damage.
All donated materials become the property of the ELANCO Library and may be added to our collection, shared with other libraries, sold to support library services, or given away to the community.
Legacy
Including the library in your estate plans helps ensure that our vital programs and services continue for generations to come. Gifts to the ELANCO Library Endowment Fund provide lasting support for free access to information, education, technology, and enrichment in our community. As a private, nonprofit organization that relies on local support, the endowment is essential to our long-term stability.
Managed through the Lancaster County Community Foundation’s Organizational Endowment Fund, your contribution becomes a secure, perpetual investment in the library’s future—helping knowledge, opportunity, and community thrive for years to come.
We invite you to explore additional ways to make a lasting impact through planned giving. These meaningful gifts can offer valuable tax advantages while helping to sustain the library’s programs and services for generations to come.
Types of Planned Gifts:
- Bequests through Wills or Trusts
- Charitable Gift Annuities
- Charitable Remainder Trusts
- IRA Distributions (Qualified Charitable Distributions or QCDs)
- Retirement Plan Assets
Your planned gift ensures that the Eastern Lancaster County Library continues to inspire learning, connection, and discovery for years to come. To learn more or share your giving intentions, please contact Susan D. Burke, President, ELANCO Library Board of Trustees, at sburke309@comcast.net or 717-354-0525.
Contribute Your Time and Talent: Get Involved
Join ELANCO Library’s Board of Trustees
Would you like to make a difference in your community and help shape the future of your local library? The Eastern Lancaster County Library Board of Trustees is seeking dedicated, community-minded individuals to serve and support the library’s mission. Board members play a vital role in guiding the library’s vision, ensuring strong community connections, and helping the library continue to provide exceptional resources and programs for all ages. To serve, you must live within the library’s service area — New Holland, Terre Hill, Earl Township, East Earl Township, Caernarvon Township, or Upper Leacock Township. If you’re passionate about lifelong learning, community engagement, and helping the library thrive, we’d love to hear from you! Email a short letter, outlining your skills, experience, and interests to Jen Watson, Library Director, at jwatson@elancolibrary.org or drop one off at or mail one to the library at 11 Chestnut Drive, New Holland, PA 17557. A resume may be included if you like. Click here for more information and a Trustee Recruitment Packet.
Join Friends of ELANCO Library
Looking for a fun and meaningful way to support your library? The Friends of ELANCO Library is always welcoming new members! This friendly, informal group helps raise funds and awareness for the library — and you can give as much or as little time as you’d like. Friends organize and staff our popular book sales, sorting and pricing donated materials to help fund programs, books, and community events. They also brainstorm fresh, creative ideas for new fundraisers and ways to strengthen the library’s impact. If you love books, community, and teamwork, join the Friends and make a difference right here at your local library! Contact Andi Taylor, President, Friends of ELANCO Library, at andigtaylor@comcast.net.
Assistance with Occasional Projects
We gratefully welcome volunteers to help with light building maintenance and occasional small projects that keep the library safe, clean, and inviting for everyone. If you would be interested in helping, please contact Jen Watson, Library Director at 717-354-0525 or jwatson@elancolibrary.org.