August 21, 2026

Dear Library Company Shareholders and Members,

I’d like to bring you up to date with recent developments on Locust Street.

First, as you know, we are moving forward with plans to merge into Temple University as a new division of Temple Libraries. Both boards and Library Company shareholders approved the plan last year, and in January, we submitted our petition to the office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth requesting a letter of no objection, which was received in July.

The Attorney General did ask Temple to agree—which they promptly did—to seek court approval in the event it ever seeks to sell our main building (Ridgway); Temple of course has no such plans, but this provision and Temple’s prompt agreement to it underscores our vision of the Library Company’s ongoing distinct identity and mission within Temple University.

Now we have moved to the next step—submission of the petition to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Orphans’ Court Division, for its approval, which would make the merger official. We hope that we will be able to share news of that approval soon, but we do not have control over the court’s timeline.

As you also know, I returned from retirement to serve as Director in February 2024. Since January of this year, Dr. Jessica Choppin Roney has joined me in administering the Library Company as Director Designate. In fact, Dr. Roney has for some months been functioning as the Director. She is doing a fine job and is already making her mark on our venerable institution. Dr. Roney will be communicating with you herself next week.

We hope that in the near future, with Orphans’ Court approval of the merger, the Library Company will be embarking on an exciting future filled with new opportunities and possibilities while remaining true to all of the values that have made it such an essential institution for almost three hundred years. In the meantime, our Board has determined that it is essential for Dr. Roney to have full authority as Director and for me to be able to return to retirement. Therefore, her appointment as Director was approved at a special meeting of the Library Company’s Board on August 19.

At the same meeting the Board voted to elect two new members. Janine N. Black is a long-time Library Company shareholder and supporter. Steve Charles, for whom Charles Library at Temple is named in recognition of his significant support, is a new and enthusiastic shareholder.

We thank you sincerely for your patience with this process and for your support, which means everything and which, during this indeterminate period of waiting for the court to respond to our petition, is more crucial than ever.

Sincerely,

John C. Van Horne

Director Emeritus (again)