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Annual Report
24-2025
A Note from our Director
Thank you to the community for your incredible support! This library truly has something for everyone. By providing free access to facilities, reading materials, and resources for all community members, the library’s mission passionately promotes literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement.
Serving as a vital hub, this library embraces all types of literacy, offering a welcoming space where you can spend time without the pressure of making a purchase. By ensuring equal access to technology and information, the library boldly takes steps to bridge the digital divide.
Discover a vast array of digital content, including e-books, e-audiobooks, online magazines, and streaming services, accessible through popular apps like Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy.
Utilize public computers, printers, copiers, and complimentary Wi-Fi to meet both personal and professional needs.
Join us for inspiring free events and programs for all ages, including book clubs, crafting classes, and technology workshops.
Libraries truly serve as community centers for learning and engagement, providing a space to study, connect with others, and experience cultural enrichment.
This year is a wonderful opportunity to embrace learning and discover something new! Check us out.
Maryellen, Executive Director
2024-2025 Annual Report
Improving, New to the Library
Your Parkland Community Library provides our community with access to technology and educational resources that expand our horizons and connect us to the world. A single charitable contribution can positively impact more individuals than a supporter might ever realize. Please consider how the library has impacted you and your family, and consider donating today.
Library of Things:
As part of our promise to Connect, Discover, and Grow, the Parkland Community Library has made numerous additions to our collection, expanding our Library of Things offerings to patrons. New Hublet (self-checkout tablets) are available for use by all ages inside the library, as well as 20 HP Laptops for in-library use by adults, located in the Tech Center.
Themed Stay Sharp kits are thoughtfully designed to promote mental clarity and physical activity for seniors. PCL has obtained several cognitive development STEM Kits, aimed at stimulating the mind and enhancing cognitive functions and memory. New STEAM and Memory Kits are also available. These kits were generously donated in memory of Midge and Jim Coker by their family.
STEAM to Go! Kits are hands-on kits that cover a wide range of topics, including magnets, dinosaurs, science, and coding, with a focus on not just science but also these additional key areas of learning. A perfect addition to support education, both inside and outside the school.
The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society graciously donated two bird-watching backpack kits.
We had added more museum passes to our most popular selections. We added more servingware and party decor, Launchpads, gadgets, and electronics.
Idea Lab:
Learn, create, and innovate at the Parkland Community Library’s Idea Lab. The Idea Lab is a maker space and educational resource that enables the community to develop creative skills, connect with technology, and create innovative projects. We offer several machines for our patrons to try out in the library. Patrons can make appointments via the Idea Lab website.
eResources
As most library cardholders are aware, a library card provides access to numerous digital resource databases, streaming applications, and dependable research tools.
ParentTV
Parent TV is available free of charge to Family Place Libraries. Thousands of new on-demand parenting videos and courses, created by health professionals and educators, support caregivers from pregnancy through adolescence. ParentTV collaborates with top psychologists, pediatricians, mental health experts, nutritionists, therapists, and parenting educators from around the world.
Kanopy Streaming App
In 2023, Parkland Community Library has incorporated Kanopy, an advertisement-free streaming service dedicated to independent films. Kanopy has achieved considerable success, prompting us to grant access to the entire Kanopy catalog.
Charity and Volunteering
The Parkland Community Library takes this opportunity to recognize the support of the Friends of the Library for funding all of the library’s events.
Congrats to long-time library volunteer and Friend Ila Dietrich for earning the 2025 Unsung Hero Lehigh County award.
New Book Drop
In January, The Friends funded a new accessible book return by the library’s front door.
Teen Volunteers
Our teen volunteer program at the library is open to volunteers throughout the year. Teens can earn experience and hours by shelving, assisting at events, serving on the Teen Advisory Board, and Sending Sunshine cardmaking.
Community Partners
Thank you for your ongoing support!
AARP, Tax Volunteers
Artist Gallery by Parkland Art League
Asbury Church, Servingware
Audubon Society Lehigh Valley, Birding Kits
Careerlink Lehigh Valley, Provided Interns
Jeras Corporation
PA Medi
Parkland Cares and Little Free Pantry
Plant A Row Lehigh Valley
Toys for Tots, Collection Site
Programs, Partnerships, and Acknowledgement
PA Forward Gold Star 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.
The Parkland Community Library takes this opportunity to recognize the support of the Friends of the Library for all library events.
Programs
Youth Services continued to enhance the developmental aspects of the program, offering 1-2-3 Play with Me workshops, where children engage in free play. In contrast, parents and industry professionals in child welfare can offer resources for various parental concerns.
In Spring 2025, for National Library Week, Parkland Community Library celebrated “Drawn to the Library” with a duck hatching event in partnership with Quiver Farms. Our farmer friend brought a grown duck and the eggs for a visit and set up. Eight eggs were displayed in the Tamerler Room for the two-week hatch period. Patrons and their families were able to stop by to view the fluffy ducklings!
This summer, our youth services team hosted a delightful Bluey Storytime Party, generously brought to life by A Storybook Party. Following the celebration, Bluey made a special visit to the children’s department, where kids of all ages happily enjoyed Bluey’s fun and playful antics.
Our ongoing Medicare Counseling appointments are made possible by PA MEDI.
The Teen Dungeons and Dragons Club is so popular that we added D&D for adults!
Sending Sunshine Chapter
In collaboration with students from Parkland High School (in 2024) and the nonprofit Sending Sunshine, we held meetings for teens ages 12-17 to create cards for seniors. Six to seven teenagers regularly attended each meeting. We provided materials for teens to make cards with positive messages to distribute at local assisted living facilities.
Between November 2024 and May 2025, attendees created over 120 cards in total and dropped them off at the Fellowship Community Living facility in Whitehall, PA. After the high school dissolved its Sending Sunshine chapter in August of 2025, the library took the steps to become the Lehigh Valley’s only recognized chapter of Sending Sunshine by reaching out through its website, creating a chapter-specific social media account, and logging its event statistics to report back to the nonprofit.
Neighborhood Forest
PCL renewed our participation in the 16th Annual Neighborhood Forest Free Trees for Kids program. Patrons who RSVP’d for a tree picked up trees during Earth Week at the end of April. We received a few updates from our patrons regarding their trees, which we shared on social media.
Grants
In November 2024, the library received a **Digital Connectivity Technology Program (DCTP)** COVID-19 ARPA Capital Projects Fund grant for 20 free laptops. The library received 20 new laptops for patron use on Monday, February 24, 2025, each valued at over $2,900.
Also in November 2024, the library was awarded a **PLA ATT Grant Phase III** for adult digital literacy classes, amounting to $5,000 in 2025. Forty-three adults attended seven free computer basics classes. A mobile laptop cart, iPads, and software were purchased with funds.
In December 2024, the library was awarded a 4 Imprint One by One grant for Summer Reading Club swag featuring the PCL logo and received 300 rainbow slinkies with the PCL logo to distribute to patrons.
In the spring of 2025, the library received a total of $7,500 from two banks as part of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) program, of which the library is now a member as an Educational Improvement Organization (EIO). We previously applied for the Parkland Community Library to be designated as an EIO in Pennsylvania. These funds support the Rebel Girls program.
Outreach
Parkland Community Library has consistently expanded its outreach initiatives through collaborations with local jurisdictions, including South Whitehall, North Whitehall, and Upper Macungie townships. Additionally, it has continuously hosted “Stories in the Schools” during the summer in partnership with the Parkland School District.
A language translation device was installed at the public service desk to enhance service delivery to the public.
Acknowledgement
On December 23, 2024, Representative Michael Schlossberg presented a Pennsylvania House Citation to the library for its 50th anniversary. His office helped secure this citation from the House of Representatives to mark the milestone.
2024-2025 Annual Report, Statistics
The Library
Number of Visitors: 104,833
Physical & Electronic Items Borrowed: 289,299
Number of Print & Physical Materials in the Collection: 49,662
Reference Questions Answered: 14,292
Cardholders
Total: 15,179
Volunteers
Number of Volunteers: 27
Logged Hours: 1,508
Tech by Numbers
Public Computer Hours: 2,689
Unique Wifi users: 4,149
Digital Resources
Circulation of digital resources: 189,193
Programs
Number of programs: 646
In-person program attendance: 10,212
Summer Reading Club Participants
Children ⧫ Teens ⧫ Adults
The Summer Reading Club (SRC) kickoff party was held Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 10am to 2pm. There were 649 people in the library that day!
The Summer Reading Club (SRC) closing party was held Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 10am to 2pm. There were 467 people in the library that day!
A total of 745 people signed up for SRC in 2025, both on paper and via the Beanstack app.
Children ages 0-11 years: 467
Teens ages 12-17 years: 70
Adults 18+ years: 208
Grow with your library.
Your 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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2024-2025 Annual Report
December News
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November News
What’s happening this month? November is a busy month at the library, filled with opportunities for learning, creativity, and fun. Whether you’re looking to brush up on your cooking skills for Thanksgiving or dive into some festive crafts with your loved ones, PCL has you covered. Explore our crafting resources for ideas and supplies to…