A Library at the Airport? Yes Please. ✈️📚
If you’ve ever found yourself at the airport with a delayed flight, a restless kid, or that “I should have packed something to read” feeling… this is about to make your day.
The Dauphin County Library System has officially launched something pretty magical at Harrisburg International Airport — a free, take-a-book, enjoy-it-anywhere library experience called Adventures on the Go.
Located on the second floor near arrivals and departures, this mobile airport library offers books for all ages — from board books for little travelers to reads for teens and adults.
And here’s the best part: no library card required… and no need to return the book.
Take it. Read it. Pass it along. Keep it. Let it become part of your travel story.
Bringing Books to Where Life Happens
This initiative is all about meeting people where they are — literally. Airports aren’t exactly known for cozy, meaningful moments… but this changes that.
“At its heart, this project is about meeting people where they are,” said Maria Lagasca, Public Services Director at DCLS. “Life gets busy, and sometimes visiting a library is not possible. This allows us to bring stories directly to travelers and airport staff, creating moments of joy, discovery, and connection.”
The concept is part of a growing trend across the country (sometimes called “Flybraries”) that turns travel spaces into little pockets of comfort and connection.
Designed for Real Life (and Real Travel)
The library is located before TSA screening, which means it’s accessible whether you’re arriving, departing, or just waiting on a pickup. The unit itself is mobile, giving DCLS flexibility to adapt and grow the program over time.
Planning for Adventures on the Go began in November 2025 through a collaboration with Harrisburg International Airport, with support from the Middletown Public Library.
It’s one of those ideas that feels simple… but quietly changes everything.
💛 Macaroni Kid Take: This is exactly the kind of community magic we love — meeting families in real life moments and turning them into something meaningful. Also… a free book at the airport? That’s a parenting win we will absolutely take.
Full Press Release
April 22, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Adventures on the Go: Dauphin County Library System Launches Airport Library at Harrisburg International Airport
Middletown, PA — The Dauphin County Library System (DCLS) is bringing stories to travelers in a whole new way with the launch of Adventures on the Go, a free, mobile library experience at Harrisburg International Airport (HIA).
Located on the second floor near arrivals and departures, the airport library offers a curated selection of books for all ages, from board books for young children to titles for teens and adults. No library card is required, and there is no expectation that books be returned. Travelers are invited to take a book, enjoy it on their journey, and pass it along or keep it as part of their adventure.
This initiative supports DCLS’s mission to strengthen the community by promoting literacy and connecting people to meaningful opportunities. By placing books directly into a high-traffic public space, the library extends its reach beyond traditional walls and into everyday life.
Airports across the country are increasingly embracing similar concepts, often called “Flybraries,” to enhance the travel experience. These small, free book-sharing stations offer a sense of comfort and connection in an environment where complimentary services are becoming less common.
“At its heart, this project is about meeting people where they are,” said Maria Lagasca, Public Services Director at DCLS. “Life gets busy, and sometimes visiting a library is not possible. This allows us to bring stories directly to travelers and airport staff, creating moments of joy, discovery, and connection.”
The library’s location prior to TSA screening allows it to serve both arriving and departing passengers. The unit is intentionally mobile, providing flexibility as the program evolves and ensuring it can adapt to the needs of the airport and its travelers.
Planning for the project began in November 2025 in collaboration with Marie Byers, Business Development Manager at HIA.
“Marie’s love for books and her ability to see what’s possible is something I am profoundly grateful for,” said Lagasca. DCLS also acknowledges the support of the Middletown Public Library in helping bring the concept to life.
Through Adventures on the Go, DCLS continues to reimagine how libraries serve the community, transforming everyday spaces into opportunities for learning, imagination, and connection.
Dauphin County Library System provides residents of the county with free access to virtually any materials imaginable, both current and ageless. Getting a card is free—just bring your driver’s license or other proof of residence to any of the eight DCLS libraries, or register online at dcls.org.
About Dauphin County Library System
Dauphin County Library System provides residents with free access to an incredible range of materials and resources. Getting a library card is free — just bring proof of residence to any of the eight DCLS libraries or register online at dcls.org.
