Business of the Week: Palmer Memorial Library

There’s tons of stuff to do this summer at the Palmer Memorial Library. Like book groups for all ages that meet every month or every other month. Or their summer reading program, which signs up around 400 children annually. Or their huge selection of books and movies.

Stephanie Supinski, the Palmer branch manager, estimates that the library’s catalog is around 18,000 books, movies, magazines, audiobooks and reference materials. Supinski, who has been with the Easton library system for 18 years, was transferred to the Palmer Memorial Library in 2004.

She talked about how the building that houses the library was built in 1986; before that, the library was a simple trailer near the Bar-Don Lanes bowling alley. The current building is owned and maintained by Palmer Township, free of charge.

Ever since Supinski has been with the Palmer Library, they have placed an increased emphasis on outreach programs, their target demographic being new families and older citizens of the community.

She explained that they don’t see many high school kids because they don’t yet have enough resources; most school-age kids visit the main Easton library. The Palmer Memorial Library, found in the Palmer Municipal Complex just off of the intersection of Newburg Road and Route 248, is a branch of the Easton Area Public Library. 

The library is supported by the Easton School District, which means that anyone who pays taxes to the Easton School district is eligible for a free library card. They are also part of the Access PA program, which is a network that allows people from other cities and towns, such as Allentown and Bethlehem, access to Palmer’s resources, like their ample selection of audiobooks.

The library’s audiobook, or books on CD, collection was cultured through a generous posthumous donation by Pauline Pierce, a popular Easton announcer from the radio program “Wake Up With Peggy Lynn.” Pierce, after her passing, left $25,000 to the library specifically for the purchase of audiobooks.

The library also offers wireless internet service and six public-use computers, which average about 1,000 users per month.

According to Supinski, a lot people come in to use the public-use computers because of the tough economy; many families are foregoing internet access in their homes and using public computers like the ones at the library, which they use to find jobs.

Danny Costanzo, a regular Palmer library patron, lost his job and his home to the tough economy, but he is grateful for the public-use computers, which helped him find temp agencies and, quite possibly, a permanent job.

“A lot of people come in for business and employment reasons… I’ve been coming in here, and I’ve been able to apply for a job with a company in Forks Township, where I’ve had three interviews,” said Costanzo. “I believe I have a permanent job, thanks to this library.”

The Palmer library is constantly hosting new programs and activities. In 2010, the library held around 200 different programs for all ages.

The summer reading program at the library runs for eight weeks, starting June 13 and ending August 12. This year’s theme is “One World, Many Stories.” During the eight-week period, the library runs 20 unique programs for kids.

On June 23, for one of the summer reading program, singer-songwriter Tom Seiling will be hosting the children’s event “Bugs, Baboons and Story Tunes” starting at 10 a.m.

Every Monday during the summer schedule is story-time for kids, during which they read about the animals of different countries. The Lehigh Valley Canine Association brings in “therapy dogs” that the children can read to during story time.

The adult book group meets monthly, mother-daughter book group is for girls ages eight to 14 and meets every other month, and the young-adult book group meets every other month for sixth- through ninth-graders.

The next young-adult book group is on June 4, and they’ll be reviewing “Maximum Ride” by James Patterson. The young-adult book group meets every other month and is open to sixth- through ninth-graders.

The next adult book group meets on June 28, and they will be discussing “The Invisible Wall” by Harry Bernstein. The adult book groups meets monthly. The library also hosts a mother-daughter book group for girls aged 8 to 14 that meets every other month.

Sew Others May Be Warm is a group of women that meet weekly at the library to sew hats, scarves, and blankets that are then donated to area organizations like the Lehigh Valley and Easton Hospitals.

“The first time we did [Sew Others May Be Warm] we were expecting maybe five women… 25 women showed up,” said Supinski. “They’re always accepting yarn donations… their stock is running low!”

The Palmer branch is staffed by three full-time and two part-time employees, as well as plenty of volunteers that come in to help shelve books or keep the library clean.

“We have wonderful volunteers,” said Supinski. “We get a lot of professional retired people that help us.” 

The Palmer Memorial Library is located in the Palmer Municipal Complex at 1 Weller Place in Palmer Township, at the corner of Newburg Road and Route 248. The library is open Monday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. Visit them online to see all of their scheduled events at www.palmertwp.com/Library.

Ashley Supinski, one of the libraries employees, is also a blogger for Patch, and will be updating us on all of the library’s happenings and events. Keep up with the Palmer library by following her blog on Palmer-Forks Patch!