Politics & Government

L. Saucon Library Services Discussion Planned

A discussion of library services for Lower Saucon Township residents will take place at the next township council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 7pm.

Residents of Lower Saucon Township who are concerned about the future of their municipality's library services agreement will want to attend the next township council meeting, where a review of the Saucon Valley Library Task Force report and a discussion of library services for residents is scheduled to occur.

An announcement about the discussion, which will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, Feb. 20, was recently posted on the township's website.

Interested parties are invited to attend the meeting to provide their views on the subject of library services, according to the announcement.

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Lower Saucon Township has maintained an annual library services contract with the Bethlehem Area Public Library (BAPL) for decades. However, recent studies have determined that a significant percentage of township residents utilize the Hellertown Area Library (HAL) for their book-lending, media and informational needs.

The library task force report released last year stated that it would be feasible for Lower Saucon Township to contract with the Hellertown Area Library for library services. The report, however, did not contain any recommendations.

Find out what's happening in Hellertown-Lower Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Township residents have been outspoken on both sides of the issue, with some recommending that BAPL remain the library of choice for Lower Saucon.

BAPL, which is larger than HAL, currently receives more than $180,000 in annual support from Lower Saucon Township.

A split-funding option, whereby some of the township's annual contribution would go to support both library systems, has also been discussed in the past.

Ultimately, it will be council's job to determine the allegiance to either the HAL, the BAPL, or both.


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