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| Easton Area Public
Library Directors |
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Our History |
The Easton
Library Company was formed in 1811 when 100
shares of stock were sold to the public.
Shareholders then supported the Library with
yearly subscription fees. Only subscribers could
borrow books. Within four years the Company
could afford to pay a librarian $1.50 each month
and to begin construction of a building on land
donated by Samuel Sitgreaves. That red brick
building still stands at the corner of North
Second and Church Streets. For 90 years it
served as the public library, located across the
street from Easton's secondary school. At the
time of the Civil War, the Company extended
borrowers' status to students enrolled in the
high school. In 1895 the Library Association was
formed for the purpose of creating a library
funded by the school board open to all residents
of the city. The reorganization took place in
1901. The Library's new status allowed Easton's
citizens to apply to Andrew Carnegie for a
library building grant. Carnegie was so
impressed with their plans that he donated
$50,000 for a new building if the residents
would supply the land and get the municipality
to agree to continue to fund the Library's
operating expenses.
The best available piece of property for a
library turned out to be the oldest graveyard in
town, which by that time was no longer in use.
The handsome Carnegie building of blue stone
from New Jersey, local bricks, and granite was
completed in 1903. Patrons entered the building
by climbing a stairway flanked by white marble
walls to a landing of tile inlaid with patterns
in green, red and yellow. Faux green marble
columns supported the high ceilings. The various
rooms were entered through heavy oak and glass
doors topped with arched windows. The first
Director set about installing a "state of the
art" long distance phone. Much thought, time,
and effort was put into landscaping the grounds
which took several years. At one time bird
houses were distributed among the trees to
enhance the park-like atmosphere.
By 1911 it was apparent that more room was
needed for books and a second Carnegie grant
provided for additional stack space on the north
side of the building. 1941 brought the addition
of a "loft" of stacks built on top of the book
stacks in the addition.
The Library was designated one of Pennsylvania's
28 District Library Centers in1963 and in 1968
the building was again expanded. This addition,
on the east side of the building, was designed
by local architect Hugh Moore, Jr. The effort of
the Friends of the Library secured a National
Endowment for Humanities grant in 1985 to
provide for the preservation of the Library's
historic materials which date from the founding
of Northampton County. The collections are named
in honor of the first 20th century librarian,
Henry Marx, through whose efforts they were
greatly expanded and enriched.
Palmer Township completed a handsome building to
house a branch of the Library in 1986.
The Library totally automated its procedures in
1993 and began providing Internet access to the
public in 1996 quickly moving to graphical
interfaces and broad band connections. The need
to upgrade automation services in 2001 led
Easton, along with the Allentown and Bethlehem
Public Libraries and the library of Moravian
College, to create the Lehigh Valley Library
System, an automation consortium.
Barbara Bailey Bauer, District Consultant
November 28, 2001 |
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Our Mission Statement |
The mission of the
Easton Area Public Library is to promote
literacy, to advance lifelong learning, and to
contribute to the development of an active and
informed community of citizens.
In support of this mission:
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The Library educates, entertains
and challenges children.
Appreciation of literature and the
arts is fostered and patrons of all
ages explore the vast body of
collective knowledge and information
as well as experience the creations
of fine artists, composers, writers,
musicians, film makers, and
dramatists.
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The Library offers all citizens
the right to obtain information and
knowledge freely.A strong library is
essential for dynamic community and
a free society.
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The Library strives to maintain
an awareness of new developments in
this age of information and, when
feasible, makes an effort to
implement new technology and
services in ways that make them
equally available and accessible to
all citizens in our service area.
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The Library, as the District
Library Center for Eastern
Northampton County and Monroe
County, promotes and supports local
libraries through the provision of
consultation and adjunct services.
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