Lewes Public Library Inc

The mission of the Lewes Public Library (LPL) is to provide access to a wide variety of educational, informational and recreational materials to members of the community through traditional and emerging technologies.  The LPL will be responsive to the needs of the community and will support programs, for all ages, to encourage a lifelong love of reading and learning.

The LPL has its roots in the late 1700's when local private collections were gathered at a central location for general circulation.  After a series of moves from the Odd Fellows Hall, to the Zwaanendael Museum, to the Town Hall, the LPL moved to its present location in 1988.  In 2000 the Children's and Research Wings and Delaware Room were opened, doubling the library's size.

The library serves a great number of people from outside the service area who live in surrounding communities, temporarily reside here, or visit the Library while on vacation, especially during the summer months.  In collaboration with the Delaware Library Consortium, consisting of public libraries in Sussex, Kent and New Castle counties as well as academic libraries, the LPL provides access to a wide range of materials including books, audiobooks, and DVDs to adults, young adults and children.  In 2010 almost 150,000 people visited the LPL and over 166,000 items were circulated. The LPL also has a robust young children's program, with almost 6,500 children attending the 198 programs the library offered in 2010.