Children need a safe and dedicated space to learn and grow in downtown Harrisburg. That’s our vision. 75% of Harrisburg’s children lack access to pre-K activities. Responding to this and other needs identified by our neighbors, we will collaborate with community-based organizations to improve access and provide learning support that emphasizes science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math (STREAM). The new space will offer a multi-purpose space for classroom and club visits, performances and other group activities.

Harrisburg has a storied history, and the T. Morris Chester Welcome Center will bring it to life! Honoring the legacy of  T. Morris Chester—a groundbreaking African American Civil War correspondent, lawyer, and soldier—the new entrance and lobby will create a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible portal to the library. The city’s history is diverse, inspiring, and often overlooks figures who have made significant contributions. The center will serve as a collection point for historical writings, maps, tours, and events that more fully reflect our collective history.

Relocating office space and meeting rooms to the Haldeman Haly House will allow significantly more space for other valued library functions: computer usage, reading, business services, and studying. The reconfiguration will also benefit the empathy driven services provided by the library through community partnerships with Dauphin County Human Services, Downtown Daily Bread, and others.

With significantly expanded facility space, we will now be able to embrace virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies and programs for users of all ages, complementing the high-tech learning hub forming downtown. VR allows library users to travel to completely simulated environments. AR allows users to view space in layers—using digital information from the real world to deepen exploration and overall learning experience.