Schools & Education

by Barbara Buckley Each year, Earth Day invites us to think about the beauty and expansiveness of nature. It seems fitting that this call to action to protect our beautiful planet, observed every April 22nd since 1970, arrives in spring–a time of new beginnings and hope. The evidence of rebirth is visible everywhere in Adams

By Miranda Wisor According to 2024 NAEP data, 69% of Pennsylvania 8th graders were not proficient in reading. That’s a harrowing number. Imagine moving through a world where words are everywhere, but none of them make sense. You wake up and check your phone. Messages are there, but they might as well be written in

by Jess Shelleman The Library offers books, of course, along with movies, music, magazines, audiobooks, puzzles, games, and tools – those last three are from our Library of Things. We also help people with printing and faxing, and help them troubleshoot and navigate computers and smartphones. We provide high-speed internet access, both through our public

By Miranda Wisor Communities across the country are facing a growing epidemic of loneliness, and Adams County is no exception. I was recently reminded of this while attending a library program, where one participant shared that the only time she speaks to another person all week is when she visits the library. Experiences like this

by Tiffany Ritter During after-school hours, the Harbaugh-Thomas Library in Biglerville opens its doors to a space made entirely for teenagers in 7th-12th grade, giving teens a place of their own. The Teen Center is lined with plenty of books to read, including manga and graphic novels. Every month there is a new craft available

by Cat Vasko “Wait, what? You have a bookstore here?” is one of the most common things we hear from patrons visiting our little library here in East Berlin. Run by the Friends of the Trone Memorial Library, a group of volunteers dedicated to supporting our branch through fundraising, advocacy, and promoting library services, our

by Robyn Woods Things are just more fun with a snack.  When 3 o’clock rolls around, I am open to a snack of the salty, crunchy, sweet, or chocolatey variety.  Food and snacks are great partners with activities.  Movies and popcorn, baseball games and a hot dog, going hiking with trail mix.  The next time

The Canner Educational Foundation, which supports programs and opportunities for students in the Upper Adams School District, began with a simple idea: pool money, invest it for the long term, and use the earnings to enhance education for generations. That idea took shape on March 10, 2010, when district administrators agreed to contribute their annual

by Robert Brown Did you know that First Fridays have been a tradition in Gettysburg since around 2002, thanks to the Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association (GARMA)? Events on First Fridays feature family-friendly activities throughout the downtown area. Participating locations are easily identified by special First Friday flags. The Gettysburg Library is proud to be

Last night’s Littlestown Area School District board meeting opened with a presentation from Jon Lehigh, marking National Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Week. Lehigh told the board how FBLA reshaped his high school experience, from a “freshman with no work ethic” to a state officer who spoke before thousands at the Giant Center. Lehigh

by Sherrie DeMartino Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) recognizes the top books, digital media, video, and audiobooks for children and young adults. Among these awards are the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards. This year, the awards were given out on Monday, January 26th, in Chicago. The John Newbery

by Gabriel Wenger I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to work at the Adams County Library System as their newly appointed Financial Coordinator. It is truly a privilege to be part of an organization that plays such a vital role in supporting the community and fostering education, engagement, and lifelong

by Annette DeFuso In the Technical Services Department at the library our focus is mainly on the materials that have been selected for our library’s collections –books, videos, audiobooks, and the Library of Things. Our department catalogs and processes all of the new items to make them shelf-ready for circulation throughout our six branches. I

by Victoria Freeny Libraries are full of systems designed to help readers find the perfect book – genres, reader’s advisory tools, and staff recommendations – but sometimes it’s fun to look to the stars. Astrology has long offered a playful framework for understanding personality traits, and when paired with reading habits, it becomes a charming

by Sharon Lentzner We celebrated our 14th year at our present location at 232 North Queen Street in Littlestown. This is a library that was built by the dedicated hard work and sacrifice of the members of the community. We are busy making plans for fundraising events to help support our library. Funds raised will

by Ryan Huffman Oftentimes at the end of the year, I’m asked to write an Adams County Library System “technology wishlist” for the coming year, which generally means narrating a portion of my 2026 list of projects and maybe a few “if only…” items so readers know the library still dreams big. However, given more

by Erica Duffy As this season of light and reflection unfolds, I find myself thinking about the many ways our library brings people together; quietly, consistently, and with great care. No matter how you mark this time of year, or if you simply see it as a pause before the calendar turns, I hope these

by Robyn Woods Is that Renaissance music coming from that book? If you were reading the Read Along version of Knight Owl by Christopher Densie, the answer would be “yes.” What is a Read Along? A Read Along is a physical book that has an audio player attached to the book.  Just press “play,” and

by Victoria Freeny Even the most devoted readers hit a reading slump now and then. Life gets busy, distractions pile up, or maybe nothing seems interesting enough to turn the page. If reading feels more like a chore than a pleasure, don’t worry – you’re not alone. With a few small changes, you can rediscover

The Adams County Library System is proud to announce that it has been awarded Gold Star status as part of the PA Forward® initiative, a statewide literacy program of the Pennsylvania Library Association. This honor recognizes the library’s exceptional commitment to advancing literacy and lifelong learning opportunities throughout the community. Gold Star status is the

As the Upper Adams School District prepares to welcome three new directors, returning board member Kay Hollabaugh says she is entering the year with a mix of realism, gratitude, and cautious optimism. Hollabaugh was the top vote-getter in the November election. After nearly three years on the board—years marked by political tension, lengthy policy debates,

by Kat Clements The death of the Third Space (a place besides home and work) to socialize has fragmented communities and isolated individuals. Most places one can go to meet new people or hang out with existing friends have restrictions attached. Restaurants and coffee shops either require or expect you to spend money to be

Appointed just a few weeks ago, Littlestown Area School District’s (LASD) acting superintendent, Al Moyer, is already making a difference. In a recent interview, Moyer—who also serves as executive director of the Gettysburg Area Recreation Authority (GARA)—described a demanding but rewarding dual role and offered insight into the district’s operations, construction projects, and governance issues.

by Jess Shelleman It’s that time of year to start thinking of winter. At Adams County Library System, we’ve been busy planning our programs for the cold winter months, something hard to do when October has been so warm and sunny. Sometimes, it’s hard to come up with new and exciting ideas, coming up with

by Barbara Buckley Fall and reading fit together naturally. Sitting with a book in a warm and comfy spot in my house, perhaps with a blanket and a cup of tea, is a reliable pleasure in my life. If the weather is crisp and cool outside, or maybe even windy and rainy, this only accentuates

by Jeff Cann At the onset of the COVID pandemic, I stopped reading. I rarely watched TV, never played video games, and with Facebook as my only social media distraction, I hardly ever doom-scrolled. Yet my screentime quadrupled. Instead of reading nightly, I bounced back and forth between the Johns Hopkins Covid Map and a

by Victoria Freeny When you think of the library, “lifesaving” might not be the first word that comes to mind. But at the Gettysburg Library, you can check your blood pressure, pick up Narcan, get connected with agencies such as Vision Corp or the Office of Aging, and even learn how Medicare works – all

by Miranda Wisor It’s National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and so I want to share about something small enough to fit in your wallet and powerful enough to open doors for a lifetime. I’m talking, of course, about your Adams County library card. At first glance, a library card may appear simple. It looks like

by Sherrie DeMartino Ahhh, Fall.  This time of the year brings fall colors, cooler weather, and apples.  For sports fans, this is the most wonderful time of the year!  College football started on Saturday, August 23rd, the NFL starts its season on Thursday, September 4th, the MLB postseason starts on Tuesday, September 30th, and the

by Barbara Buckley Summer activities are winding down at the six Adams County Libraries. I’ve taken a moment to reflect on the past 11 weeks. Along with libraries across the country, we participate in the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s theme every summer. This year, the theme was “Color Our World,” which provided inspiration and a

by Jess Shelleman Are you a fan of murder mysteries? Have you ever wanted to participate in one with others to see if you can decipher evidence to figure out the guilty party? Here at ACLS, there is no shortage of ways to enjoy a good mystery. We have books; so many mystery books! Doing

by Victoria Freeny When you hear the word library, what do you picture? A quiet room, maybe. Rows of dusty books. A stern librarian whispering “shhh” at the smallest noise. At the Adams County Library System, we’re proud to turn those old assumptions and stereotypes on their head. Yes, we still offer books – thousands

by Cassie Romero You may have heard the phrase “third space” used regarding libraries. The idea was first introduced by Ray Oldenburg, a sociologist who wrote the book The Great Good Place in 1989. The idea of a third space is to be a location where people of all ages can interact or spend time

bt Ryan Huffman I have a confession to make: I am an environmentalist. I don’t know when the last time I actually hugged a tree was because I find hugs to be less appealing when whatever I’m hugging remains rigid and refuses to return the embrace. With people, that’s usually a sign that the hug

by Jess Shelleman Having worked in libraries for over 16 years, it should come as no surprise that one of my go-to gifts for children, or Moms-to-be at baby showers, is books. I can only speak for myself, but I find so much joy in gifting a book to a child and hoping they’ll enjoy

by Annette DeFuso Several of our patrons have been sharing their “library stories” on our website about why they love libraries and what libraries mean to them, so I thought I would share my story, too. One of my earliest memories from elementary school is of visiting the school’s library and asking the librarian to

I can still remember the feeling of being a little girl walking into the public library in Frederick, Maryland, during the summer. The building felt enormous to me, with rows upon rows of shelves that stretched so far beyond my line of sight. I remember the scent of the library too, which was not musty,

Working at the library has changed the way I think about libraries as community pillar institutions. I never thought libraries were useless or unnecessary, but I often failed to consider the idea that they could be useful to me. Being at a library five days a week and aiding in the library’s mission has certainly

Students at Vida Charter School recently completed a bicycle safety and health unit, culminating in the annual bicycle tour around town. Health and Physical Education teacher Kirk Mummert coordinates a bike ride every May for 2nd graders. The biking field trip is the capstone of the bicycle unit that Mr. Mummert teaches to 2nd graders

This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a weekly newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown. By Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

On April 16, in recognition of its long-standing efforts to enhance digital access and internet services for area residents, the Adams County Library System received the President’s Community Service Award from the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania (BCAP) at its annual Broadband Summit in Gettysburg. “Public libraries play a significant role in providing digital access

At the request of Nancy Lilley, I agreed to be a “book” for this year’s Adams County Library “Living Library” program, and I want to recommend the experience. Thinking through what life lessons and experiences are best worth sharing in my twenty minutes has been uplifting for me. And whichever “book” you might be interested

by Jess Shelleman I’ve worked in libraries for about 16 years, and like many who work in this field, I was first attracted to the profession because of my voracious love of reading, even though you don’t actually get to read too much on the job. I love my job, and I love that I

by Miranda Wisor Last week, I read a delightful news article about a high school in Australia that was surprised to learn that a boulder that had sat next to their building for 20 years was a treasure trove of dinosaur footprints. It made the dino-loving child inside me giddy. After all these years, I

Adams County Library System has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in round three of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that provides community engagement and accessibility resources to small and rural libraries to help them better serve people with disabilities. The competitive award

by Robyn Woods “Mama, play?”  My toddler can now verbally ask for me to play with him.  It warms my heart in every way possible. I do my best work when it’s animals. I can muster up a decent peacock squawk, and my back is still strong enough when he wants to play horse. Where

by Catherine Vasko Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA), Read Across America is the largest celebration of reading in the country. The initiative focuses on motivating youth to not just read annually but of the importance, value, and fun of it. You may see countless events, partnerships, and reading resources soon being

The annual National Safe Tractor and Machinery program is suggested for youth planning to be employed to drive tractors or operate farm machinery. To successfully complete the course, youth are required to be 14 years of age by April 15, 2025, attend 24 hours of training, demonstrate the ability to safely drive a tractor, and

by Robert Brown Finding a good book is always an ongoing process and when you find a book that really resonates with you it is an amazing experience.  When that happens, so often you want to discuss and share your ideas about the book with someone else.  At the Adams County Library System, we make

by Erica Duffy As we welcome the month of March, we celebrate National Read Aloud Month—a time to embrace the joy of storytelling and the power of shared reading experiences. At the Adams County Library System, we see every day how reading aloud strengthens connections, sparks curiosity, and fosters a love of learning for all

by Sherrie DeMartino February 14th is Valentine’s Day (Don’t forget! It’ll be here before you know it!)  February 14th is also: Library Lover’s Day – a day started by lovers of Australia’s libraries that has spread across the world.   Read to Your Child Day – introducing your child to books from an early age

Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) has named James Bivens as the new safety and security director. The GASD Board of School Directors approved Bivens in the role at its school board meeting in December. Bivens previously joined the district as a school police officer in November 2022. “I am looking forward to continuing to maintain

by Annette DeFuso Part of my daily work in the Technical Services department at the library is making sure that all of our books and other materials can be found by searching our online catalog. My department enters on-order records for new items so our patrons can see what will soon be hitting the shelves

by Sara Edmiston Have you ever wanted to try out a new hobby but didn’t want to make the monetary investment in case you didn’t enjoy it?  How about starting a garden – how far apart should you plant various seeds?  Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn to play the ukulele or the drums.  With

Gettysburg, PA — This January, Vida Charter School proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary, marking a decade and a half of empowering students through bilingual education and a commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and holistic development. Since opening its doors in January 2010 with just 11 students and a small team of staff, Vida has grown into

by Sharon Lentzer The year 2024 was a very busy time for the Friends of the Littlestown Library. Now that the Christmas rush is over and we can relax, January is the month we had our belated Christmas party to thank all our members, spouses and friends who have helped to make our Friends group

by Ryan Huffman Though many of the season’s traditional gift givers in your life may have come and gone with Christmas on the 25th, Kwanzaa wrapping up on the 1st, and Hanukkah closing out the holidays on the 2nd, we here at the library don’t like to limit our giving to just a few select

by Brandt A. Ensor For the fourth year in a row, we take a look back at what was read most by each Adams County Library Branch in 2024. This year, in an added twist, we will also add the most circulated Young Adult items at each branch. This list added together equals hundreds of

by Jeff Cann Losman and I are identical. I often felt like I was reading about myself. So much so that by page seventy-five, I was so agitated I almost stopped reading altogether. This is an excerpt from an email I sent to Kyle Semmel the other day. He’s the author of the book I