By 1808Delaware
A milestone moment is about to unfold for the Delaware County District Library (DCDL). On Monday, September 15, all five branches will officially extend their hours—marking the first major promise fulfilled following the successful passage of the Library’s levy earlier this year.
“With the passage of the Library’s levy, our first promise fulfilled to the community is to extend our operating hours,” said DCDL Director Bryan Howard. “The community overwhelmingly let us know they wanted more hours across the board at all Library locations. We are extraordinarily pleased to deliver on that promise in just four months.”
New Hours Across the County
For the first time in DCDL’s history, hours will be uniform across all five branches—Delaware, Liberty, Orange, Ostrander, and Powell—and will include both Mondays and Sundays.
The new hours are:
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
The expansion represents a 51% increase in open hours—117 additional operational hours across the system. For Ostrander, it’s particularly historic. “This will be the first time in DCDL’s history that our Ostrander Branch will be open on Sundays and Mondays,” said Branch Manager Mandy Henning. “We are thrilled to open our doors to our growing community for an extra two days!”
Celebrating the Grand Re-Opening
The excitement will kick off at 8:50 AM on September 15, with simultaneous celebrations at each branch. Dignitaries, library staff, and community leaders will offer remarks before ribbon-cutting ceremonies at 9:00 AM. Patrons can join in the festivities, enjoy giveaways, and take part in special activities—like meeting Percy Unicorn at the Delaware Branch from 9:00 to 9:30 AM or shopping the Friends book sale at the Liberty Branch from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Library Trustees will be on hand at each location, joined by leaders from local business and civic organizations to help cut the ceremonial ribbons.
More Than Just Longer Hours
With doors staying open later, family storytimes at the Delaware Branch on Mondays and the Orange Branch on Wednesdays will shift to 6:30 PM, offering more flexibility for busy families.
Study rooms and community rooms will now be available during all open hours, and the Library has boosted its digital offerings. Hoopla’s budget has increased, thanks in part to a grant from SourcePoint, giving patrons more on-demand e-books, audiobooks, and videos.
Two new platforms are also arriving: Mango Languages, offering interactive lessons in over 70 world languages (plus English courses for non-native speakers), and Scholastic Teachables, which provides printable learning resources for educators, tutors, and homeschoolers.
Looking Ahead
Maker Studio services at the Delaware and Liberty branches will expand in late 2025, further enhancing creative opportunities for the community.
“The first three words of our library’s mission statement are ‘We open doors,’” Howard said. “That day will be the product of years of preparation… We’re thrilled to welcome the public back to the Delaware County District Library with the access they deserve.”
For more on the Library’s levy promises, visit www.delawarelibrary.org/levy.
