Dear Library Patrons,

As the year comes to an end, I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very happy holiday season and much joy in the New Year. I hope that we at the Upper Dublin Public Library have met (or exceeded!) your expectations in service this year through the collections, programs and staff expertise we’ve offered.

2018 will certainly be a defining year for the UDPL as we begin planning for a library expansion. (For more information, visit https://www.upperdublin.net/520-virginia-drive-project/). Much thanks to those of you who’ve expressed your support for this project or reached out to us with questions. As you can imagine, I have been asked on more than one occasion, “What is the Future of the Library?” While I have no crystal ball to help me predict exactly what the Library of 10, 20 or 30 years from now will be, here’s our vision for providing exceptional library services now while remaining flexible enough to adapt to the community’s future needs.

Our transformed library will be a state-of-the-art intergenerational facility where all are welcome. It will contain browsable book and media collections; adaptable learning spaces for quiet individual use or group collaboration; a children’s area that inspires a love of reading, imagination and discovery; spaces that support lifelong learning through classes, lectures, and special events; and modern technology to provide the community the tools they need for success.

Here are some library spaces that have inspired us this year:

Library 21c, Colorado Springs, CO (left) | Individual/Group Learning (right)

Toddler Play @ Harford County Public Library, Havre de Grace, MD (left) | Creation @ Harford County Public Library, Bel Air, MD (right)

Quiet Reading @ Harford County Public Library, Havre de Grace, MD (left) | Discovery Center @ Princeton Public Library, Princeton, NJ (right)

Story time @ Rt. 9 Library & Innovation Center, New Castle, DE (left) | Virtual reality @ Rt. 9 Library & Innovation Center, New Castle, DE

Be a part of the library transformation! We are currently developing a community engagement process, the results of which will influence design and programming in our new library facility. The first step in this process will be a community-wide survey to help us evaluate current library use and satisfaction to begin to garner ideas for the future. Look for this survey in January 2018. Please take just 10 minutes to share your thoughts and vision with us. After all, this is your UDPL. As our motto reads, “We’re About You!”

We’re excited to share, for the first time, the following video. We asked UD residents to share their experiences with the Library and hopes for the future of UDPL.  See what your friends and neighbors have to say!

Keep reading and see you in 2018!

Cheri Fiory, UDPL Director