The Dimmick Memorial Library announced it has received a $2,000 grant from the PPL Foundation to promote use of library resources among current and potential library patrons.

The Dimmick Memorial Library, and the Penn-Kidder Library Branch, want to provide improved information access for the community, reaching out to students and adults to educate them about the free library resources which are always available online and in person.

In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, both Dimmick Memorial Library and the Penn-Kidder Library Branch were visited by almost 8,000 people. Online services also served our patrons by offering free Wi-Fi, with more than 11,000 sessions by users.

Approximately 3 out of 10 Carbon area residents do not have access to the internet except via phones or tablets and an estimated 17% do not have internet access at home in any manner. This can pose significant challenges to people of all ages as a growing number of vital functions of daily life are performed on the internet or on a computer.

With this program, the library wants to increase outreach, giving people access to information and materials they may not currently know exists.

The library wants to increase the number of physical visitors to the library, increase circulation and use of library materials via safe, inside access and via curbside pickup service.

The library also received a $1,500 grant from the Carbon County Community Foundation to support the installation of furniture improvements to expand accessibility for increased patron use. The furniture improvements will directly help the Dimmick’s Penn-Kidder Library Branch to provide patrons with easier access to resources for children.

Upon completion of this project, the Penn-Kidder Library will be able to more easily locate any item requested by the other libraries in the Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative. The Penn-Kidder branch will be able to reshelve our children’s materials to be more easily accessed by our smallest patrons. This will create more space for our books and the ability to display them in a manner more appealing to our youngest readers.