It’s been an educational pillar smack dab in the hub of the Lehighton community for three-quarters of a century.

The Lehighton Area Memorial Library will hold a 75th anniversary celebration from 1-4 p.m. Sunday in the Lower Park across from the library.

There will be a StoryWalk Ribbon Cutting at 2 p.m., free games in the park; free hot dogs and a beverage for the first 75 people; and a food truck.

Also, kids ages 1 to 11 years old are asked to dress as their favorite storybook character and receive a prize.

The celebration is being held in honor of the significant milestone, according to library Director Melissa Hawk.

“The library has adapted to changes in location, technology, and other circumstances during the last 75 years, and will see many more changes in the years to come,” Hawk said. “But what remains the same is that we are here to welcome and serve the community in so many vital ways.”

Beginnings

On Aug. 14, 1948, (the anniversary of V-J Day), the library officially opened, and it has been in continuous operation ever since, serving the people of the area as a memorial to the men who died for their country.

The original library was located at 188 South Third St., the old Seaboldt homestead, which was purchased by the Lehighton Lions Club for the library.

The Library Association was formed, support was garnered from the school board, and the first funds (used to purchase books) were raised by collections in local theaters.

Within 15 years, the original site was literally “bursting at the seams,” and plans were made to build a new library on donated land.

The new library was completed and opened in June 1966 during the town’s Centennial Celebration. Books were moved by a human chain stretching from the old library site to its present location at 124 North St.

Located in the heart of the downtown, the library now serves an area of over 17,000 people.

Computer use, program attendance, and the number of daily visits have grown steadily. Storytime, Baby & Toddler Time, STEAM programs, summer reading events, crafting programs, and book clubs are popular. They also provide free Wi-Fi, one-on-one help with job applications, ancestry searches, retrieving online documents, and many other technological needs. Until 2020 all of this was achieved in a 2,300 square foot building with one public room.

The new addition

In 2018 the library was awarded a matching grant from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries for construction of an addition to the library building. Matching funds were obtained through grants, donations from community groups, bequests, and gifts from local individuals and families.

Ground was broken on the addition in January 2020 and construction was completed in November 2020.

The 1,400-square-foot addition houses a Youth Services Area, a Community Room, and two ADA compliant restrooms.

The front entrance was redesigned and is ADA compliant as well.

New programs

The library’s staff, board of directors, and volunteers continue to add to and adapt our services and programs to meet the community’s needs.

This year they began loaning museum passes and hot spots to the community and added several new programs for children and adults.

This summer, with the help of the Lehighton Borough Parks and Recreation Board and the Lehighton Department of Public Works, they installed a StoryWalk in the park. Each month a new picture book with corresponding activities will be displayed in posts around the paths for the community to enjoy.

The project was funded Federal Library Services and Technology Act grant made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries

This fall, they are launching new programs including, with assistance from the Penny Allison Early Childhood Fund, a story time for children with sensory processing issues.

They have also been selected as a 21st Century Learning Hub location. In order to increase computer science and STEM resources for children in the area, this designation comes with a substantial donation of equipment and materials.

“We are working hard to ensure that we will be here to serve you and future generations for the next 75 years and beyond,” Hawk said.

For more information, visit lehightonlibray.com, follow them on Facebook and Instagram for announcements, or email liblehtn@ptd.net or call 610-377-2750 for assistance.