By M. Diane McCormick 

The Library is the best place to beat the heat this long, hot summer. With cool, open spaces and an endless array of things to do, see, and read, everyone from caregivers to a spirited group of mahjong players has found that The Library truly is “open for discovery.” 

“Some people say, ‘I haven’t been out of the house for weeks, so I came to The Library,’” said East Shore Area Library Manager Maria Lagasca. “Others say the house has too many people and they just need some quiet. Maybe their office is crowded and they need a big, open space where they can work. These are the ones who bring in their laptop computers and spread out their things on a table.” 

For these diverse residents, the East Shore Area Library’s new teen space is proving to be more versatile than expected. While teens enjoy hanging out in an open area with comfortable seating and rearrangeable tables, others find the spot perfect for their pursuits. 

“The teen space has seen a lot of action,” said Lagasca. “It’s always filled. People are reading newspapers or meeting a friend. Some people come here just to catch up. We came across a father having his visitation. He needed a space to be with his kids.” 

A true cross-section of Dauphin County residents converges at The Library to engage and spark their curiosity without battling the sun, heat, and bugs of the outdoors. Caregivers bring children with disabilities and do crafts and coloring, or play video games on Library computers. Social media influencers edit their videos. College students catch up on summer studies. Summer travelers stop in to learn about the area, find maps, and enjoy a few minutes in the cool air. 

Increasingly, visitors find The Library a secure, comfortable place for conducting business The Library One woman conducted a virtual meeting on her laptop. A lawyer uses a Library meeting room to consult with clients. Dauphin County human services staff help residents find housing.  

“Everybody seems busy and on a mission to accomplish something – even the kids,” said Lagasca. “I don’t have kids who come just to play. I have kids who come to play and check out books. They love the scavenger hunt in our display case. It’s all about our Summer Reading Challenge theme of ‘Adventure Begins at Your Library,’ so they get to look through the scenes for things like campers and people skydiving.” 

The mahjong players constitute a group of friends who are retired and discovered the 19th-century Chinese game as a chance to sharpen their brain power. They learned at the Cumberland County Library System’s Simpson Library and now alternate their weekly games between Wegman’s on the West Shore and East Shore Area Library.  

“Mahjong is not easy,” said Deb Wire, a group member. “This definitely keeps your brain going. You can’t sit and talk. This is something where you do need to focus. Once we learned, we thought if we don’t play once a week, we’re going to lose it.” 

The players bring tablecloths made by a group member to muffle the clack of the mahjong tiles. Often, other Library visitors are intrigued, and the players invite them to watch and learn.  

“We love going to The Library,” said Wire, a retired teacher. “It’s just a relaxing place to do this. You can’t do this everywhere because of the distractions. We probably are more distracting than anything at The Library. I often tell everyone, ‘Shh, they’re going to throw us out,’ but The Library people say they love us being here because it’s so much fun to watch.”  

The Library’s square tables and bright, airy room provide just the right atmosphere. 

“The Library is the community place to go,” said Wire. “We’re there for hours, and it’s free of charge. It is very, very nice. The people who work there could not be nicer. They are just so sweet.”