Library service to residents of Mount Joy began as a Girl Scout troop community project.
Soon after, a bookmobile stop was established at Mount Joy Memorial Park.
Total annual circulation for this bookmobile stop in 1962 was 455 books.
Within a year, the Mount Joy bookmobile stop was the most used stop in Lancaster county.
Throughout the next decade there were many fund drives to grow the library collection to over 10,000 books by 1975.
The community continuously showed up to support the library. Volunteers worked tirelessly and many community members stepped up willing to serve on the Library Board.
The Mount Joy Library Center was a library not only started by friends but nurtured and grown by an entire community of friends as well.
A Book Sale Committee is formed, and the first Used Book Sale is held.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
The building Committee begins a capital campaign, with the goal of raising $1.1 million.
Two major gifts were pledged, totaling over $800,000. These were from:
COMMUNITY FRIENDS STEPPED UP IN A BIG WAY
The capital campaign was so successful that the library has NO MORTGAGE AND NO DEBT, ensuring that every dollar raised goes directly to library services.
The new 8,000 square-foot building opens with a new name.
Milanof-Schock Library opens its doors to an expanded service area, including Mount Joy Borough, East Donegal Township, Rapho Township, Mount Joy Township, and Marietta Borough.
Annual circulation skyrockets to almost 78,000 items.
Community members, volunteers and members of the Book Sale committee form the Friends of the Milanof-Schock Library.
Friends of the Milanof-Schock Library is a not-for-profit group of persons interested in the growth and development of the library.
Officers were elected and regular meeting times were established.
One of the Friends’ first fundraisers was the sale of a library tote bag.
The Friends begin offering books for sale on eBay, expanding their reach and substantially increasing their donations to the library!
Friends member Donna Little receives the Volunteer of the Year award from the Mount Joy Lions Club…
While Milanof-Schock Library is recognized by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Library Journal as the “Best Small Library in America”.
This award is truly a testament to the amazing dedication of the volunteers and community that have supported this library since it was just an idea among friends.
On November 23, 1964 the Mount Joy Library Center opened its doors at 22 E. Main Street.
By 1965 the library had over 3,500 books within its 1,600 square-foot building.
Around that time Anne Milanof becomes a library volunteer, eventually becoming President of the Library Board.
The library is now circulating almost 35,000 items per year. Expanded services and increased community interest made it clear there was a need for a new facility.
A Building Committee was established, consisting of:
Groundbreaking occurs on the new building…as annual circulation surpasses 45,000 items.
Library service to residents of Mount Joy began as a Girl Scout troop community project.
Soon after, a bookmobile stop was established at Mount Joy Memorial Park.
Total annual circulation for this bookmobile stop in 1962 was 455 books.
Within a year, the Mount Joy bookmobile stop was the most used stop in Lancaster county.
Friends of Milanof-Schock Library opens a portable used book store on a cart in the library lobby.
The group continues to run the annual Used Book Sale, and by the end of 2002 have donated over $20,000 to the Milanof-Schock Library!
Annual circulation has grown to over 148,000 items with almost 72,000 visitors to the library in 2005.
The friends book cart has turned into a book store.
Sales of used books on eBay has increased dramatically.
The annual book sale continues to grow.
Friends of Milanof-Schock Library contribute to the new sign in front of the library, surpassing $50,000 in total contributions to the Milanof-Schock Library!
Friends of the Milanof-Schock Library volunteers dedicate countless hours to the book sale.
The volunteers move books.
And the community shows up…
Year after year.
