All it took was a few signatures, and the rest is history for a pair of Jim Thorpe area libraries.

Penn-Kidder Library trustees signed a contract Thursday to become a branch of the Dimmick Memorial Library.

On hand at the Dimmick Memorial Library to mark the special occasion were Dimmick Trustees, President John McGuire; and Vice President Ben Walbert; Dimmick Director Kara Edmonds; Penn-Kidder President Mary Farnschlader; Penn-Kidder secretary Michael Principe; Dimmick Board Member/Carbon County Commissioner Chris Lukasevich, and Carbon County commissioners Wayne Nothstein and Rocky Arner.

As a branch of the Dimmick, the Penn-Kidder Library will be eligible to receive state funding, and Penn-Kidder patrons can now access books and online resources from the Jim Thorpe library and 11 other libraries across Carbon and Lehigh counties.

“This is a great upgrade for the Penn-Kidder Library,” McGuire said.

McGuire said the Dimmick Memorial Library is a Pennsylvania State Library, and that becoming a branch of it will give the Penn-Kidder Library all the resources that the state has to offer to all Pennsylvania library card holders.

He said technology upgrades were necessary to make the library a state-of-the-art facility to provide information in any format to the Penn-Kidder residents, including Jim Thorpe Area School District students.

McGuire said the branching will also build on programs designed for students of all ages, and that the upgrades will enhance the Penn-Kidder Library, while keeping it the community center Penn-Kidder residents know and love.

Nothstein said it’s amazing how much further things advance and can be achieved anytime there’s coordination, cooperation and communication when entities work together.

“We wish you all the success in the world, and want to thank everyone who sits on library boards,” Nothstein said. “Thank you, and I congratulate both libraries for working on this together and making it happen.”

Farnschlader, who is also a member of the Dimmick board, said that when she joined about 20 years ago, she had an ulterior motive.

“We’re realizing my dream, actually,” Farnschlader said. “I always wanted to be a branch of Dimmick.”

Farnschlader touted more access, along with having professional library services, among the advantages that will be allotted to the Penn-Kidder Library.

“We want to serve the (Jim Thorpe) school district much better,” she said.

Edmonds said the branching of the two libraries will greatly benefit the Penn-Kidder Library.

“Small libraries are often undervalued and overlooked,” Edmonds said. “This will make things much more accessible and available (for the Penn-Kidder Library).

The Penn-Kidder Library center is now located in the Route 903 Medical Center, after having previously been located in the Pine Point Plaza in Albrightsville.

McGuire said there will be a grand opening at the Penn-Kidder Library Center in the future.