About Us

You may hear librarians talk a lot these days about how much libraries have changed. Evolving through the years, adding new technology, new programs and services to what we provide for our communities. While it is true, libraries have become ever-changing and adapting community centers, there is one way I feel that libraries are very much the same as they ever have been.

The first library in America was founded not far from here, in Philadelphia. A young Benjamin Franklin and a group of his friends and neighbors decided to pool their resources and create a lending library. Anyone could use it. Books were expensive back then, and there was no google to give you a quick, free answer to your questions. But Ben and his neighbors knew that they would all benefit from sharing resources and information. That same spirit of neighborly sharing is still at the heart of every library. Whether it’s sharing books, our WiFi, seeds from our garden, or a story, sharing with our neighbors to help build up our community is what we do.

This neighborly spirit drives us in everything we do at Coatesville Area Public Library, and it has since our founding in 1877 by Mrs. Isabella Lukens Huston and a group of her neighbors. When you walk through our doors, you become one of our neighbors. No matter your nationality, gender, skin color, housing status, or age, all neighbors are welcome in our library. Our purpose continues to be to provide access to resources for our neighbors. So, whether you’d like to learn to meditate, research your family tree, start a business, grow a garden, build a science experiment, or escape to a fantasy world, we are here to help.

So step on in through our doors and become part of the Coatesville Area Public Library Neighborhood!

-Amber Timlin, Executive Director

CAPL is excited to be celebrating our 50th anniversary in our current building! Coatesville Library has been a fixture of Coatesville since its founding in 1876 by Isabella Lukens Huston. For the first 98 years of our existence, we moved many times. From our humble beginnings in what was affectionately referred to as "a shack" in what is now Globe Park, to sharing spaces with the YMCA, the Benner School, and multiple other buildings and homes in the city, we were fortunate to have the land for our current building donated to us in 1974 by Dr. Michael Margolies. With that one generous act, our library found its permanent home.

This year we will be celebrating Dr. Margolies and his kindness with some special programs, fundraising, and events. So keep yourselves up to date by following us on social media and by checking out our online calendar. And from all of us at Coatesville Area Public Library, Happy New Year!

Our Mission: The Coatesville Area Public Library provides information, programming and technology to the residents of the Coatesville area that promote literacy, build community and enrich lives.

Our Vision: Coatesville Area Public Library seeks to build an informed and engaged community by connecting people with information, ideas and each other.

Current Board Members

• Shavon Lewis – President
• Regina Hove – Vice President
• Krystle Brown – Secretary
• Shaina Bethala, Esq – Treasurer
• Peter DiMaio – Municipalities Outreach Coordinator
• Fred Sharpe – Board Member
• Javonna Wylie – Board Member

The Board of Trustees Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month. Everyone is welcome. If you wish to attend, drop us a line at coatesvillelibrarytrustees@gmail.com.

There are no open positions at this time. Contact us if you would like to volunteer, would like to be considered for the next available position, or have any questions.