FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2026
Martin Library Cultural Jam Celebrates Community
YORK, PA – Martin Library will host its Eighth Annual Cultural Jam from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 16 at the library. The Teen Department at Martin Library and the YMCA of the Roses partner each year to celebrate Welcoming Week, September 10–19, by offering this multi-age event for the entire community. There is no cost to attend.
“Martin Library’s Cultural Jam is a celebration of community,” says Martin Library Director Mina Edmondson. “Each year, this event continues to grow. Hundreds come to the library to sample food from different cultures and enjoy music, dance, and art. It is a lively event!”
The Cultural Jam is part of the 20th Anniversary of Welcoming Week, which is a national program that focuses on cross-cultural connections, building empathy, creating an inclusive and belonging space for all community members. The Cultural Jam is a free family event featuring a “Taste of York.” Community members are invited to sample food while supplies last from the Global Café, Jen Heasley’s Cooking with the Pros, Compare Fresh, Colonial Coffee Shop, and the Wired Chef. Entertainment for the evening includes live music with Sabrina Duke and Raymond Grote, drumming, dancing, poetry, and art. The local featured teen artist will be Clover Breinholt.
“The library is a welcoming place that provides opportunities for community members to come together,” says York County Libraries President Robert F. Lambert. “The Cultural Jam is that perfect mix of fun, learning, and connecting with others.”
Community members are invited to get a library card or check out books at the Help Desk during the event. Several community organizations will be on site to share information about their services. In addition, area residents can explore the resources and activities in the W. Dale Brougher Foundation Teen Center, located on the second floor. The center’s resources include deejaying, karaoke, ping pong, pool, foosball, and other gaming experiences.
Attendees should enter the Martin Library through door #2, which is close to the corner of Queen and Market Streets. The ramp is wheelchair accessible. To maintain safety, all children eleven years old and younger must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Martin Library, located at 159 E. Market Street in York, PA, has served the community since 1935, and is a branch of York County Libraries. It is recognized as a Gold Star library for its outstanding programs that help community members build the five core literacies championed by the Pennsylvania Library Association PA Forward® program. Literacies such as basic literacy, information literacy, civic and social literacy, health literacy, and financial literacy provide the framework for balanced programs to meet the needs of the community. Martin Library has the esteemed honor of being the first to receive the Library of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Library Association.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Deb Sullivan
Community Relations Director
York County Libraries
dsullivan@yorklibraries.org
Mina Edmondson
Director
Martin Library
medmondson@yorklibraries.org