Delaware
Some libraries in Delaware County would benefit from merging resources, consultant says
Shortly before Delaware County was set to celebrate National Libraries Week, a consultant told officials some libraries need to merge services if they want to survive.
Without naming the libraries but noting they are are in the southeastern portion of the county, Rob Cullen, managing principal of Rethinking Libraries, said three to 10 of the county’s 28 libraries, are in trouble.
“There was a pretty good cohort of libraries that I would say are well below average and in our estimation, are on an unsustainable trajectory,” he said after doing an analysis of each member of the Delaware County Library System. “Some are probably even today already at an almost unviable level.”
This week, Delaware County, and public libraries across the United States, are celebrating National Library Week.
Among various activities, such as viewing the eclipse Monday, is Read at Rose Tree Wednesday night from 5:30 to 7. Residents are encouraged to bring a book and a lawn chair or blanket to read simultaneously as others read by the Rose Tree Park amphitheater.
Regarding the Rethinking Libraries analysis, the firm was hired by Delaware County Council last summer to do an evaluation of library services offered in the county.
The team visited all of the locations, meeting with staff and others, and had the libraries perform a self-assessment based on criteria they offered. They also compared each library location to state and county standards.
Some performed incredibly well.
SUBMITTED PHOTO,
Marple Library was noted for its community engagement. Above, a children’s program. (DAILY TIMES)
“We got what we almost refer to as model libraries … they’re above average usage and funding,” Cullen said. “A few are actually best in class within the region, even some nationally in certain aspects of what they’re doing.”
He noted Marple with their community engagement and Middletown’s Maker Space program.
Cullen said the highest number of libraries per capita were in the southeastern part of the county with only Manhattan having more.
He recommended that the Delaware County Library Board lead a conversation with several of those in the region who are interested, particularly if they are on an unsustainable road.
“Is there a path to merging some of them?” Cullen asked. “Not in terms of trying to merge them into a single location but perhaps turning all of these single individual libraries into branches of a unified group of libraries.”
He does not recommend using force.
“Nothing that would be forced on anyone but an option that would provide a more sustainable path and get better efficiencies for those communities and ultimately better services for those communities,” Cullen said, as he added, “Not all municipalities in this county would be interested.”
However, he said some, without naming them, are struggling and might not make it long-term if some solution isn’t found.
He said perhaps a merger of oversight and management with these individual libraries as branches so that the unique character of each community would be retained.
Cullen explained a problem shared by a few.
“Quite a few of these libraries, by state standard, have to be open 45 hours a week and they’re run by a director that’s part-time,” he said. “That, to us, is not a sustainable model.”
The Rethinking Libraries evaluation analyzed the libraries in a multitude of ways.
Looking at facilities, resources, staffing levels and open hours and community awareness and engagement, the J. Lewis Crozer Library and the Darby Library inadequate/needs improvement ratings in every category.
The Collingdale library received an inadequate/needs improvement rating in all but the facilities category. Folcroft also received three inadequate/needs improvements, except for its resources.
And, the Upper Darby Township libraries, the Glenolden library and the Prospect Park library received two inadequate/needs improvement ratings each.
Aston Township and the Rachel Kohl Library received a needs improvement rating for staffing levels and open hours. Sharon Hill and the Mary M. Campbell libraries received the same rating for their community awareness and engagement.
The entire report can be read at www.delcolibraries.org/News-Systemwide-Evaluation.
In his presentation, Cullen also noted the funding disparity.
“One of the things that kind of stood out to us is the funding level for libraries in Delaware County is low,” he said.
In Delco, libraries are funded with a mix of state, county and local funding at $26 per capita. The Pennsylvania average, Cullen said, is $30 per capita with the Greater Philadelphia average being $39. The national average, he added, is $41.
Plus, even within Delaware County, Cullen said some libraries are funded as high as $70 per person and others as low as $7.
County Councilwoman Christine Reuther said the shortfall to fill that gap would be between $2.3 million and $2.5 million.
“If that difference was to be made up by the county, that would be about a 1.5% tax increase to make that up,” she said, adding that’s not something being considered right now.
County Councilman Kevin Madden highlighted the importance of working together.
“Delaware County has more municipalities per square mile than any county in the United States,” he said. “It’s the most fragmented county in the United States. It’s not a bad thing or good thing, it’s just what it is.”
And while each one has its own unique identity, it creates challenges for these towns in having a smaller ability to gain revenue while having to provide services such as police, fire and libraries.
Madden said it would be advantageous to help some of these smaller municipalities to work together.
“What’s really coming out is we’ve got to find ways to cooperate,” he said.
Delaware State Police have identified the man who was struck and killed by a vehicle while lying on the roadway in Harrington, Delaware.
On Monday, July 13, 2026, Jimmy Burgess, 62, was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado driving westbound near the 1500 block of Whiteleysburg Road.
According to police, the Silverado, which was operated by a 17-year-old boy from Milton, Delaware, was unable to stop once he saw Burgess on the road, striking him. The driver of the Silverado was not injured during the crash.
Burgess was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, said police.
The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collison Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash.
Troopers ask anyone with information about the crash contact Sergeant M. Long at (302) 698-8518.
Information can also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police, or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-(800) 847-3333
Where the music grew
Soon playing the restaurant piano became part of Leonard’s regular routine.
In early 2024, a friend encouraged him to record himself playing the old instrument and post the videos online.
The series, “Putting the Chinese restaurant on to jams,” featured Leonard performing R&B, funk and soul covers in the restaurant and interacting with customers. Before long, the videos found an audience online.
Leonard made one thing clear: It was never about building a following; it was about having peace.
As more videos were posted, he invited his friend to join him. In every live stream, viewers suggested adding more instruments and upgrading the sound system, which he initially thought was ridiculous.
“We started bringing speakers. We started to make music. We started to remix music,” he said. “We pretty much treated it as a public studio at that point.”
Word continued to spread of Leonard’s music and the Chinese restaurant where he played. Drummers, bass players, saxophonists and singers began making their way to the restaurant, transforming an ordinary neighborhood takeout spot into an open jam session where no two performances were ever the same.
“Everything is bliss. So it’s not planned. We just show up,” he said. “I may start a groove — and usually it’s like R&B, gospel, funk, soul, somewhere in that vein — and then it takes off, because the drummer may have a way that he wants to add to the groove. We all just feed off of each other, and then we create something. It’s almost like magic.”
Audiences became part of the performance. Some sang along. Others danced. Many pulled out their phones to capture the moment. Customers who stopped in for dinner often stayed long after their food was ready.
“You’ll have some people come in, maybe to order food, and then they’ll forget that they’re in a restaurant because of everything that is happening,” he said. “They may order food and then stick around for maybe 10 to 15 minutes and then leave.”
For Leonard, the biggest change wasn’t the growing audience or the recognition. It was rediscovering the confidence he thought he had lost.
“When I picked up the … DoorDash at the Chinese restaurant, that piano was my reminder of leaning more towards my creative side and not really pushing it all the way to the side,” he said.
“Me being able to bring things to life in a Chinese restaurant with a piano, able to reach a lot of people from across the globe, it definitely built my spirit back up.”
An imperfect piano; a perfect community
As the jam sessions grew, Leonard realized they were becoming something larger than just music.
“The piano being out of tune and not really in good shape … I actually thought it… would actually push more people away from it,” he said.
Instead, the opposite happened.
Leonard said he believes the piano’s imperfections are what made the phenomenon possible. Because the instrument is out of tune, musicians have to adapt to it and to one another, creating a sense of collaboration and shared purpose.
“We can still make it adhesive if we all agree to be in tune with the piano,” he said.
He hopes people leave the restaurant with more than a memorable performance.
“I hope they feel recharged,” he said. “They leave that restaurant feeling great, and they feel like they can do whatever they want to do. No matter what goes on in the world.”
The jam sessions have also introduced Leonard to opportunities he never imagined, connecting him with other artists and collaborators. He has even produced a couple of songs with British singer-songwriter, rapper and producer KWN.
“Honestly, I just hope it grows in a direction where it needs to,” Leonard said. “I’m just following God at this point, because I mean, to me, a year ago, I didn’t really see this happening. But it just happened.”
Leonard said he hopes to continue creating music similar to his jam sessions, curating spaces where strangers become collaborators and where art feels accessible to anyone.
What to do if you come across a serious car accident
These are the steps you should do if you encounter a serious car accident.
A 62-year-old man was killed late July 13 when a truck ran over him as he lay in the roadway, Delaware State Police said.
The man, from the Harrington area, has not been identified by police.
The incident occurred about 10:45 p.m. July 13 as a teen drove a Chevrolet Silverado west on Whiteleysburg Road near Harrington.
As the teen neared the 1500 block of Whiteleysburg Road, police said a man was lying on the roadway. The teen was unable to stop the Silverado and hit the man, who was taken to an area hospital where he died.
The teen, a 17-year-old Milton boy, was not injured.
Anyone who has information about the crash should contact investigators at (302) 698-8518. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.
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