LANCASTER, Pa. — Tomorrow marks National Book Lovers Day, and those in central Pennsylvania looking to celebrate the holiday don't have to look much further than their backyard.
A study has identified Lancaster as the best city in the United States for bibliophiles, according to Explore.
Harrisburg and Pittsburgh also rounded out the top 10, coming in at numbers three and seven on the list, respectively.
Lancaster clinched its top spot thanks to its plethora of libraries and bookstores--many independently owned--and events such as the annual Lititz Kid-Lit Festival and Books Books Books that draw literary enthusiasts from across the country. The city offers 4.20 bookstores and 3.67 libraries per 10,000 residents, according to Explore.
Harrisburg landed in the top three for its robust public library system -- the Dauphin County Library System has eight locations and hosts a wide array of programs -- and its connection to literary history. The Midtown Scholar Bookstore is housed in a beautifully renovated 1920s cinema and boasts over 200,000 used, rare, signed and new books. Harrisburg's connections to the Civil War era also offer keen insights into the period's influence on American literature and art, Explore said.
Pittsburgh also has a wide-reaching library system, with over 100 in the city. Explore also recommends visiting Beyond Bedtime Books, a great destination for both young and adult readers; White Whale Bookstore, which hosts events, workshops, and even sells beer on tap; and City of Asylum Bookstore, which bills itself as the "world's largest sanctuary for writers in exile".
Three other Pennsylvania cities made it to the top 100: Philadelphia, ranked at No. 42, is recognized for its historic literary contributions. Scranton (No. 44) and Allentown (No. 92) also add to the Commonwealth’s diverse and vibrant book culture.
Researchers evaluated key factors such as the number of bookstores, independent bookstores and libraries per 10,000 people, as well as the availability of literary, art and music tours, and notable literary landmarks to determine the top destinations for book enthusiasts.
The top 10 cities are as follows:
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- New York, New York
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Pensacola, Florida
- Poughkeepsie, New York
- Portland, Oregon
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- St. Louis, Missouri
