Annual Report
25-2026
We’re pleased to share that the 2025-2026 Annual Report is now available. Thank you, patrons, for your continued support and for participating in the library’s programs. Your involvement helps create a vibrant, enriching community.
The Parkland School District population is growing, and so is the library! The library aims to stay relevant and grow by looking for lasting relationships. It isn’t just a book depository; it is a hub for all ages. We also seek to close the digital divide and provide literacy education through print and electronic materials, while making learning fun. To us, literacy includes basic, informational/technology, civic/social, financial, and health materials and events that support lifelong learning.
As a nonprofit organization, the library relies on generous contributions from individuals like you to sustain its operations and advance its mission. Every donation helps us provide valuable resources and services to the area.
Your support makes it possible to offer programs, events, and services that educate, inspire, and connect people of all ages. We’re grateful to serve you and remain committed to making the library experience even better for everyone. Explore the Annual Report to see the meaningful impact of your contributions and how they’re helping people thrive.
A Note from our Director
I can’t believe a whole year has gone by since my last letter. Time flies when you are having fun!
The most exciting news is that the local libraries now have an app! I’ve been looking forward to this for years. You can download “SPARK Library Discovery” for free from the Apple Store or Play Store. Sign in to the library’s website first so your login works in the app. Hint: your PIN is likely the last four digits of your phone number.
In the fall, the library joined Discover Dairy to adopt a virtual cow and learn about farming. The library had a scare when the long-time major book vendor suddenly went out of business, but we embraced new vendors to get books into our many readers’ hands!
New staff brought fun, educational events to the library this winter, including 4-H, Minecraft, a Diary of a Wimpy Kid Party, and Krampus storytime. We also celebrated the season with Winter Reading Club and a Toys for Tots collection.
In the New Year, we updated collections, including a World Language Collection and Playaway audiobooks for children.
We celebrated National Library Week in April, and then summer was busy as always with the Summer Reading Club: Unearth A Story!
Moreover, the library is not just a building; instead, library staff go beyond the library walls and into the community. You can easily sign up for a free library card anywhere there is internet, and we will mail the card directly to your home. With your card, you can access e-books, e-audiobooks, streaming video, and music for free through popular apps such as Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy. In addition, your library card also allows you to learn a new language through the Mango app, track summer reading through the Beanstack app, and explore even more resources!
Furthermore, the library continued to meet its mission, strategic plan goals, Family Place Library initiatives, and PA Forward Gold Star standards. Ultimately, with your help, we can keep providing this valuable space for everyone. Therefore, please continue supporting the library so we can serve the whole community effectively.
Maryellen, Executive Director
2025-2026 Annual Report
Improving
The latest updates on items and services are highlighted.
New online library card renewal through Quipu eRENEW.
Marketing worked to get the library’s website ADA-compliant.
Library of Things:
Additionally
12+Launchpads.
2 more hotspots.
Additional STEAM kits.
Playaways (audiobooks) for children.
Numerous jigsaw puzzles and board games, thanks to donations!
Museum Passes: Mercer Museum, Eastern State Penitentiary, and Michener Museum.
World Language Collection: This collection, comprising approximately 115 items, represents about 32 different languages. Most of the collection consists of nonfiction books focused on learning to read, write, and speak another language. It also includes a small number of fiction books, primarily in Spanish.
Our floor plan changed to feature juvenile graphic novels, at patrons’ request.
Added Airtame cordless screen-sharing browser/app solution to the library’s plasma screens.
3D printer now has a permanent home in the Tech Center; the public can use it by appointment.
eResources
As most library cardholders know, a library card grants access to many digital resource databases, streaming apps, and reliable research tools. This past year, we expanded our offerings.
NYTimes Online
This past winter, Parkland Community Library provided complimentary access to the New York Times and its associated apps for 24 hours.
LOTE4Kids
At the end of summer, PCL added LOTE4Kids, an online library featuring thousands of digital picture books in more than 100 Languages Other Than English (LOTE). It lets children enjoy stories in their native language or learn new languages. Available on the web and via a mobile app, the library offers audio, English translations, and sign language.
Ompractice
Ompractice is an online fitness and mindfulness company specializing in live, camera-on classes. Its library features more than 100 classes each week, designed to help users improve their fitness, reduce stress, alleviate pain, enhance mindfulness, and more. The platform is inclusive and accessible, offering options for all fitness levels. By partnering with us, patrons receive free, unlimited access to these benefits.
Programs, Partnerships,
and Acknowledgment
PA Forward Gold Star library since 2018. This program encourages libraries to plan workshops and events to develop partnerships with organizations around Basic, Information, Civic and Social, Health, and Financial Literacy.
Library of Things
PA Fish Commission provided fishing poles and tackle to lend out.
PA Forest provides trekking poles.
Parkland Press features the library director’s monthly opinion column.
The library is an annual Toys for Tots donation drop-off site.
We continued the partnership with Parkland Art League to display local artists’ work.
The library teamed up with Aunt Flow to combat period poverty by offering free hygiene products.
CLIU school-to-work program volunteers at the library weekly.
Careerlink LV partnered with the library for temporary intern work experiences.
Keystone Human Services for KASVI Vocational Initiatives.
Continued partnerships with Parkland CARES food pantry.
Little Free Pantry
Plant A Row Lehigh Valley
Lehigh County 4H hosted programs at PCL on a variety of themes—from science and robotics to agriculture—that help youth build skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership through engaging activities.
Neighborhood Forest provided 63 free trees for kids through a partnership.
Adopt a Cow
with Discovery Dairy
Parkland Community Library partnered with Discover Dairy’s Adopt a Dairy Cow for a Year program. This educational program aimed to inform the public about agriculture. Participants were engaged and delighted to meet our dairy calf, Fluff, who was born at Kurtland Farms.
Marketing shared updates through our blog, e-newsletter, and social media channels, while Youth Services hosted themed programs that attracted international attention. BAnQ, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, featured our partnership in its magazine and online collection, *A Look at Public Libraries in Quebec and Beyond: A Collection of Inspiring Initiatives and Achievements*.
The Friends of PCL
With the Friends’ support, we added STEAM kits to our collection.
We sincerely appreciate the Friends of the Library for their continued support of our programs. We also thank the Tamerler Family for sponsoring our larger events.
2026, the Friends Book Shop marked its fifth anniversary.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten program fosters a love of reading and aims to build a solid foundation for your child’s education.
PA MEDI makes our ongoing Medicare Counseling appointments possible.
Spice of the Month was introduced to explore international cuisines and regional cooking styles, promote cultural learning, and encourage recipe experimentation. Each month, we feature a new spice and invite patrons to explore the AtoZ World Foods database.
New Library Social Annual Event for National Library Card Sign-Up Month- learn about all the materials and services available to you from the library and win Book Bucks toward the Friends’ Book Shop.
Parkland School District
Last September, we started strong with library tours and visits to Parkland School District 1st-grade classrooms to support their new curriculum. The children enjoyed the scavenger hunt and the behind-the-scenes tour, including the book drop!
Collaborated with PSD Reading Specialists to promote the library’s Summer Reading Club program and Beanstack.
Hosted the annual ESL Family Night at the library.
Plant-A-Row
Parkland Community Library collected produce, including herbs, for Plant-A-Row from June through October, benefiting Everlasting Life Ministries in Allentown.
We collected 17,203.73 pounds of produce this season.
2026 Seed Library Partners
Sow Right Seeds
The Friends of PCL
True Leaf Market
Plant-A-Row
This year, we renewed our partnership with Plant-A-Row and integrated our Seed Library into the initiative. We invited gardeners who took seeds to bring any surplus crops to the library. The Seed Library opened the season on Saturday, March 28, with a presentation by Dedko’s Bees, a raffle, and giveaways. Throughout the growing season, generous donations replenished the seed inventory.
Plant-A-Row collected donations from June through October to benefit Everlasting Life Ministries in Allentown.
The library performed well this season, collecting 394.09 pounds for Plant-A-Row, up from 334.46 pounds last year.
The raised beds were less successful due to problems with voles and squash beetles. We have collected 341.6 pounds so far, and still have peppers, green beans, eggplant, squash, and tomatoes to harvest. We estimate that we may collect an additional 30 pounds. Last year, we collected 706.41 pounds.
Project leader Gail is overhauling the planters this year. Beds will be emptied, fitted with vole-preventative mesh, and refilled.
To date, we have collected 17,203.73, compared with last year’s season total of 16,559.29. We still expect additional donations.
Out Reach
The library staff represented at many local community events with South Whitehall, North Whitehall, and Upper Macungie townships. Our Halloween-loving staff joined Trunk or Treats at all three townships, held a costume contest, and enjoyed trick-or-treating in the library.
Youth Services hosted craft events at three annual summer playground programs.
New UMT Community Lifestyle Center is hosting three monthly library events.
Charity and Volunteering
The year-round teen volunteer program provides hands-on experience in shelving and event assistance. Our newest offering, VolunTEEN, also supports library staff with various projects. One Friday each month, teen volunteers continue our partnership with Sending Sunshine by creating greeting cards for seniors.
AARP Tax volunteer program helped over 300 people with their taxes for free at the library.
Grant
In 2026, the EITC program (Rebel Girls) netted $10,000 from Neffs Bank and $2500 from Embassy Bank.
Special thanks to:
Embassy Bank
Friends of the Library
Jeras Corporation
Neffs National Bank
American Bank for sponsoring Rebel Girls through the EITC program
Nuestro Valle’ for spotlighting Rebel Girls
Be An Angel campaign that helped the library get more donations
Thank you to everyone who donated to the library.
Parkland Community Library would like to express our gratitude to all the library volunteers and to the Library Board for their support and dedication.
25-2026 Annual Report, Statistics
Library Usage
As of December 31, 2025, the library had 15,662 registered library card holders. The library circulated 295,885 physical and electronic items.
Interlibrary loan activity lets patrons access materials their home library does not own. The library sent 6,003 physical items to other libraries and received 17,290 physical items for our own patrons.
The library has 12 computers available for public Internet access. Patrons used these computers for 3,223 sessions in 2025.
General Services
The library had 101,387 visits to the physical facility, with 11,006 reference transactions occurring to assist patrons in finding information.
Library Collection
As of December 31, 2025, the library had 67,498 items within its catalog for patrons to borrow. Depending on the library’s cataloging system, this figure may include both physical and electronic materials.
Programming
The library held 622 programs with 10,444 attendees. Of those programs, 596 were held at the library, 26 were held offsite. Programs by targeted age group:
| Program | Number of Programs | Number of Attendees |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Children (ages birth–5) | 163 | 3,701 |
| Children (ages 6–11) | 91 | 2,108 |
| Young Adults (ages 12–18) | 91 | 619 |
| Adults (ages 19+) | 268 | 2,592 |
| All Inclusive/ Intergenerational | 9 | 1,424 |
We seek feedback and suggestions as part of our continuous efforts to improve our collection and services. Your valuable insights will significantly contribute to our ongoing commitment to providing a top-notch library experience.
At PCL, patron feedback is an invaluable resource that fuels our innovation and growth. Sharing your thoughts will help us better tailor our offerings to your needs.
I love coming here. The staff is amazing! Everything is so organized, and there are so many cool resources!
Jayleen Chaperoopen
Google ReviewI attended the knitting group and left with a Caron Cupcake of yarn from the cart. Just wanted to say thanks for providing such a great space and opportunity to meet fellow crafters and create alongside one another!
Melissa H.
Social Media MessageGreat place, kids’ area, computers and printers available for use, quiet study area, bookshop, and lots of non-book things to borrow!
Tropi Cal
Google ReviewYour charitable donations support literacy growth. Directly contributing to Parkland Community Library is a great way to strengthen the library and support our advocacy and educational mission. Your contribution is tax-deductible.
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PARKLAND COMMUNITY LIBRARY
2025-2026 Annual Report