The Dimmick Memorial Library is welcoming a new director and selling the building it used for book sale fundraisers.

The library's board of trustees recently hired Rachel Hoff to become the library's director.Hoff most recently worked as a librarian at a school in Bucks County. Her first day is May 9."She's excited about coming to Dimmick. We're looking forward to having her," said Bob Stevenson, president of the board.Hoff fills the vacancy left by Mariann Kmetz, who held the job for two years.Stevenson said that the library's staff has done a commendable job filling in while the group conducted its search for a new director.The Jim Thorpe library's board of trustees also recently finalized the sale of the its Friends' House, located at 58 Broadway in Jim Thorpe, where they held book sales for many years.Stevenson said the sale will provide revenue for the library, while reducing its expenses.Residents will have one more chance to buy books at a sale this weekend.The sale of the building will be finalized in the next month, library officials said.The Friends' House was officially the headquarters of the nonprofit Friends of the Dimmick Memorial Library, the organization's fundraising arm.Residents know it as the home of the Friends' regular book sales. But the book sales were not generating enough revenue to cover the utility costs necessary to use the building, Stevenson said.The sale of the building won't impact the Friends' other means of fundraising, Stevenson said."The friends can carry on their other duties, other fundraising activities, other than the sale of books," he said.The library is trying to balance its budget so it can remain open for years to come. This year, the organization had to use some of the principal of its trust fund - which ideally would be used to generate interest only - to balance its budget.Unlike smaller, private libraries, public libraries like Dimmick are subject to requirements from the state - such as employing a certified librarian, using 12 percent of its budget on new materials each year, and maintaining certain hours.Officials have turned to the municipalities it officially serves - Jim Thorpe, Nesquehoning, Penn Forest Township and Kidder Township, to cover those expenses and keep the library operating for years to come. This year, they got about $16,000 from local government sources, a number they hope will increase next year.Jim Thorpe borough has agreed to increase its contribution to $10,000, and the school district is weighing giving an even larger amount when board members officially vote on their budget next month.Stevenson said they are still among the lowest-funded libraries in the greater Lehigh Valley."Most of the others are either well funded from their districts, municipalities, and in some case both. We were not funded well until most recently," he said.