In her 41 years working at the Bethel-Tulpehocken Library, Daphne Meyer has seen children barely tall enough to peek over the checkout desk return decades later with their own small kids.
But while her passion for the library’s work has kept her there, she admits that the building itself — which was a shuttered gas station before being converted — has never been great.
That is finally changing, though, as ground was broken last week and a ceremony held to kick off an approximately $2.3 million expansion and renovation that will enlarge the library to 8,000 square feet from 1,500 square feet.
The project has been talked about for 30 years and planned for about 10, officials said.
So having work now underway and expected to wrap up in January is welcome news for the many families that use the library and for the community as a whole, library co-director Betsy Kreider said.
In a township that lacks gathering places such as a community center or playground, the library is the main place where people — and especially youth — come together, she said.
“This is a very important place, and we are so excited (about the expansion),” she said. “We can’t wait.”
The building is located just off the Bethel exit of Intestate 78 and is owned by Bethel Township, which put $1.3 million toward the project. Other funds came from a $500,000 state grant, library savings and private donations, which the library is still seeking.
New footers for the building began being poured last Wednesday, and on Thursday a groundbreaking ceremony included library, township and other local officials along with contractors and patrons.
The renovated building will include a new program room, more library space, a teen nook, seating areas, adult computer stations, children’s literacy stations and a front addition.
Small but busy
The library opened in 1962 and has been at its current location since 1981. Despite its small size, it is third in circulation of the 23 libraries in the Berks County Public Libraries System, officials said.
It serves about 25,000 patrons annually from Berks, Schuylkill and Lebanon counties and hosts hundreds of programs for children and adults ranging from literacy instruction for preschoolers to teen club to paint and sip nights for adults.
In the summer almost 300 children participate in its reading program.
Having more space and a nicer facility to host those people and programs is going to be a great change, Kreider said.
The library employs nine part-time workers, most of whom have been there a decade or more, which speaks to their dedication to serving the community, co-director Kaitlin Lehman said.
“The building has been less than ideal for a long time, but the staff has still made it a place you want to be,” she said. “They’ve made it someplace special.”
There were times in recent years when it seemed like the project wouldn’t happen for a number of reasons, but beginning next year the staff will finally have a building worthy of those efforts, she said.
“This is a big day for the community,” said Bethel Supervisor Robbi Bashore Lane, speaking of the library’s importance to the area.
State Sen. Chris Gebhart, who represents Lebanon and northern Berks counties, helped secure the state grant for the project largely because the library is so needed as a place for children to gather and learn, said Alex Gamble, Gebhart’s communications coordinator.
Among those who attended the groundbreaking were Malori Bender and her daughters Gabriella, 4, and Gracie, 3, who had already taken part in story time that morning with Kreider, or “Miss Betsy” as the children call her during their weekly visits.
The library is very meaningful to both her and her daughters, Bender said.
“It enhances the community so much,” she said.
Also on hand were regulars Lorelle Martin and her three young sons.
“My kids love it here,” Martin said. “I love it here.”
Currently those families have to walk through the library’s restrooms to get to its makeshift program room, but that will soon be much different, Meyer said.
Among the many aspects of the renovation and expansion she’s looking forward to is more space for books that now are crammed so tightly on shelves that their spines often get damaged, requiring her to repair them.
“I’ll be glad when I don’t have to do so much spinal repair,” she said.
Source: Berkshire mont
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