About Bosler Public Library

The Bosler Memorial Library at 158 West High Street has served Carlisle since 1900, when the heirs of J. Herman Bosler established it as a lasting gift to the community. More than a century later, it remains a busy anchor of downtown, and its calendar goes far beyond books.

Architecture and History

The original building was designed by the Baltimore firm Baldwin & Pennington in a Colonial style, with Ionic columns and walls of Avondale marble and brick. Inside, visitors find a mosaic lobby, Georgia pine floors, and stained glass windows, including the Lila Window on the East Wing, a reproduction of Sir Edmund Burne-Jones's painting Hope. A two-story addition arrived in 1987, and a $6.3 million campaign completed in 2013 doubled the library to more than 43,000 square feet.

Programs and Services

Today Bosler is part of the Cumberland County Libraries system and offers a robust slate of free cultural programming for all ages, including concerts, workshops, author events, and children's activities. Its Library of Things lets members borrow items beyond books, and the Marjie and Don Mowery Children's Learning Garden, which opened in 2024, gives families a green space for learning outdoors. The library also houses the Cumberland County Law Library collection.

A Room for Performers

Because the library treats programming as a core part of its mission, it welcomes local musicians, poets, and storytellers. Audiences are attentive and family-friendly, and the setting gives performers a comfortable, respectful space without the noise of a bar.

Visit

Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W High St, Carlisle, PA 17013. Call (717) 243-4642 for hours and current events.