Cheers to thirty years! Please join us on Saturday, October 17 from 1 – 5 pm to commemorate three decades of the Rittenhouse Branch, as we celebrate the past and look to the future with the upcoming renovation and expansion.
Look back at thirty years of memories, provide feedback on the proposed design and features for the upcoming expansion, meet the architects from mcCallumSather, and learn how you can be part of the Next Chapter.
30th Anniversary of the Rittenhouse Branch
Saturday, October 17, 1 – 5 pm
4080 John Charles Boulevard, Vineland
Remarks at 2 pm | Light refreshments served
A Brief History
In 1886, Vineland-born philanthropist Moses F. Rittenhouse provided funds for the first library in Vineland, which was located inside the Rittenhouse School. Following Rittenhouse’s death in 1915, the trustees of the library received $20,000 to further fund the library and Victoria Hall. In 1969, the school and Victoria Hall were expropriated for the Queen Elizabeth Way interchange at Victoria Avenue. Sufficient money remained from the Rittenhouse Trust to build a new library alongside tennis courts on First Avenue.
By the late 1980s, the library board recognized the need for a bigger library to provide library services in east Lincoln. The search began for a site to build a new branch that would replace the existing Vineland location and a smaller branch in Jordan. More than thirty sites were reviewed.
The current site along Victoria Avenue was selected for its central location and proximity to the local public school and Heritage Village. The new branch would be named after Moses F. Rittenhouse, in recognition of his early support of library services in Vineland.
Construction began in November 1995 and was completed in May 1996. A public fundraising campaign, led by the Fundraising Advocates for New Services (FANS), was launched with a goal of raising $100,000 toward the new build. In total, 1,200 individuals, service clubs, and businesses contributed $105,140.
On September 21, 1996, the Moses F. Rittenhouse Branch officially opened at 4080 John Charles Boulevard.
The Next Chapter Begins
Thirty years later, a new chapter is about to begin. A $5 million expansion is set to transform the Rittenhouse Branch into a welcoming, functional, and sustainable space for decades to come.
Planned improvements will:
- More than double the size of the branch, adding a 6,000-square-foot addition
- Make essential repairs to address increasing challenges with leaking and flooding
- Add energy-efficient upgrades, ensuring sustainability and creating Lincoln’s first Net-Zero public building
- Remove accessibility barriers, creating a truly inclusive space for all ages and abilities
- Provide proper work areas to support staff workflow, enhance service delivery, and optimize storage
- Modernize the entire branch to ensure it is welcoming, functional, and sustainable for decades to come
Construction is set to begin in Spring 2027 this spring and be complete by the end of 2028.
Be Part of the Story
Every dollar helps ensure the library remains accessible, vibrant, and ready to meet the needs of everyone—from toddlers to seniors, from newcomers to lifelong learners.
Donations can be made online or in person at any LPPL branch and can be pledged over up to five years. Gifts of $2,500 and up will be recognized on a dedicated donor wall. Donations of $20 or more are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
Naming opportunities start at $25,000.
For more information, please contact:
Cassandra Best, Fund Development Coordinator
905-933-8575 | cbest@lppl.ca