English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Home > Support Us > Friends of the Parkland Community Library
Friends of the Parkland Community Library
Meet the Friends
The Friends of the Parkland Community Library (FPCL) is a service organization committed to providing additional support to the library. The Friends are a dedicated group of individuals who are passionate that the library is an essential part of the community.
Their efforts provide financial support for supplies and equipment beyond funding provided by local, regional, and state government agencies.
Their Contributions
The FPCL work actively to make the library a better place by promoting community outreach, fundraising, staff development opportunities, and enhancing the library experience for all patrons. Their ongoing yearly support enables the library to continue its wide range of programming.
Efforts by the FPCL allow the library to offer affordable printing in our Tech Center, complimentary copies of BookPage, charging stations, outdoor seating, and more.
Stay in Touch
Find all the latest news about events, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising efforts in the Friends of the Parkland Community Library quarterly newsletter!
Join the FPCL on Facebook
Read our Newsletter:
Get Involved
Become a Friend of the Library
Businesses, families, and individuals can support your community by becoming a Friend of PCL.
Become a Member
Bring your completed membership form to the library or mail your form to:
Attn: Membership Chair, Friends of the Parkland Community Library
4422 Walbert Avenue
Allentown, PA 18104
Dues are made payable to The Friends of the Parkland Community Library.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Friends welcome new volunteers! FPCL volunteers have the opportunity to help with several functions, including:
- Staffing the Book Shop
- Events and programs
- Publicity
- Fundraising
- Serving as a committee chair
For more information, contact Lisa Nyce, Vice President Membership, at NyceFriends@gmail.com
Attend a Meeting
Members and non-members are invited to our meetings.
Upcoming Meetings
- 9/5/24
- 11/7/24
All meetings are held at 1pm in the Carol and Perry Zirkel Meeting Rooms. Dates and times are subject to change.
Events
The Book Shop
The Book Shop is located on the expansion side of the library.
Please visit the library’s home page for Hours of Operation.
The library and the Book Shop have Saturday Summer Hours.
The Book and Porch Sales
All Porch and Book Sales will be listed on the library’s events calendar and The Friends Facebook page.
The Annual Luncheon
2025 TBA
Fundraising
Thank you for stopping by The Friends of PCL Annual Used Book Sale
August 2024!
Shop at the Friends of Parkland Community Library yearly fundraiser!
Stock up on great reading material, games, puzzles, and more! The Annual Book Sale fundraiser supports Parkland Community Library; all proceeds go to events & improvements. Cash or Check only.
FPCL in the Community
Scholarship in Honor of Alice Madden and Norman Dietrich
Available in the spring each year.
The Friends of the Parkland Community offers the annual Alice Madden and Norman Dietrich Memorial Scholarship each spring. This scholarship honors the memory of Alice Madden and Norman Dietrich, two individuals whose dedication to community service has left a lasting impression on those around them.
To be considered for this award, individuals seeking to further their education must have volunteered with the Friends or at Parkland Community Library and be committed to making a difference. The scholarship committee will carefully evaluate each application to select recipients who exemplify the values and spirit of Alice Madden and Norman Dietrich and demonstrate a passion for serving others.
If you are a graduating high school senior who has dedicated time to volunteer work and community service, we encourage you to apply for this scholarship. This is your chance to be recognized for your contributions and receive support to further your education. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to showcase your commitment to serving others and making a difference in the community. Apply now and make a lasting impact through your dedication to volunteerism.
2023 Winners
Mary S. will attend Appalachian State University, majoring in Criminal Justice, and Library employee Karissa B. will attend Pennsylvania Western University at Clarion for her master’s degree in library science.
The scholarships were awarded on August 1, presented by President Ila Dietrich and committee members Lorna Rabe and Pat Elliott.
We wish all our winners good luck in their future endeavors!
Donations
Due to space limitations, donations are not accepted year-round. They are only accepted through the Friends’ group. **Please do not leave items at the front desk or in the book drops. For more information, please contact the Friends at 610-398-1361 ext. 111.
Donation Guidelines
Accepted: lightly used items, Adult/YA/Children’s Fiction, Recent Nonfiction, Any Genre Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobooks, DVDs/Blu-Rays, Puzzles
Not Accepted: Bibles, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Hymnals, Magazines, Reader’s Digest, Textbooks, VHS tapes, or damaged items.
Find the Friends on Facebook
Book Shop
Located in the library’s new wing to the left of the Carol & Perry Zirkel Meeting Rooms.
Shop Hours are listed on the library’s homepage.
HoursShop
Top 5 Challenged Books of 2023
These are the top 5 challenged books in the U.S. in 2023. The complete list is below. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship by focusing on efforts to…
Food Collection Site
The Parkland Community Library is a dropbox location assisting Parkland CARES Food Pantry as a food collection site! We will collect the four items below to support our Parkland Snack Pack program. The program currently serves over 450 monthly students, aiming to reach 900. Please consider donating to this worthy cause! 2024 Mac and CheeseChicken…
September News
2024 National Library Card Sign-Up Month Autobots, roll out…to the library! Whether upgrading your skills, scouting for knowledge and information, or connecting with other heroic readers, a library card is your key to an arsenal of resources. Spark your creativity as a builder or programmer by tinkering in our crafting and builder programs; mine the…