Anonymous Donor Gives $10K to New Parkland Library

Parkland Community Library's quest to build a new and bigger state-of-the-art library at Grange and Ruppsville roads in Upper Macungie got a recent boost with an anonymous $10,000 donation.

“Our thanks to this anonymous donor who believes in us," library Executive Director Debbie Jack said in a prepared release.

She said a library staff member had walked into her office and handed her the check on May 28. "She was told by the individual who gave it to her that it was time to show support for our new library,” Jack said.

The library had officially kicked off its fund-raising campaign two years ago, and has so far secured more than $700,000 in gifts for the construction. Another $3 million was saved from the original 1998 referendum supporting the cause, the release said. The library is aiming for a late fall groundbreaking.

The contract with Upper Macungie, however, states the library must raise half of its projected construction costs, now about $13 million, before groundbreaking can take place. 

Jack said in the prepared release that naming opportunities are still available for rooms, benches, tables and stacks. Those interested in contributing to the new library can contact Jack at 610-398-1361, ext. 22, or through www.parklandlibrary.org.

A finance plan to support the completion of the new library must be approved by the Parkland Community Library Board of Directors late this month. 

Plans hit a snag last month when Parkland School District officials voted to lower the proposed special library tax pegged for the new library from .3 mill to a proposed .1 mill. School officials argued that the library tax is to be used to maintain the library not to fund new construction, while the library, in response, has threatened to take the district to court over the matter.

Library lawyer Samuel Feldman said the board's lowering of the millage rate "is without basis in law," and that a millage change can only be approved by another voter referendum.