| |
 |
|
Easton Area Public
Library Directors |
| |
|
|
Henry Forster Marx 1902-1936
James E. Bryan
1936-1938
Richard D. Minnich 1938-1948
Lester L. Stoeffel 1949-1955
Jane S. Moyer 1957-1977
Quentin De Streel 1977-1989
Andrew W. Levas 1990-2002
Barbera Bailey Bauer 2002-2005
Jennifer L. (Stocker) Long 2005- |
|
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 |
|
|
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
