BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The South Side Branch of Bethlehem Area Public Library will reopen to its faithful and patiently waiting patrons in less than a week.
The branch, 400 Webster St., has been closed since Aug. 28 due to a staffing shortage. It will reopen at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 28.
“We just had a bunch of openings, including the manager’s position, and the search took a little longer than we thought,” said library Executive Director Josh Berk on Tuesday.
It may be the first time in the library’s 100-plus years in operation that it’s had to close its doors temporarily, Berk said.
“I’m not going to lie, we’ve missed it being open.”Southside branch patron Jane Herlacher
According to its website, the branch opened on Jan. 2, 1930, and loaned over 1,100 books on its first day alone. Today, about 2,000 patrons walk through the library’s front door each month for books, classes and to see familiar faces.
“I’m not going to lie, we’ve missed it being open,” said regular patron Jane Herlacher, who usually goes on Saturdays with her granddaughter to return books and get new ones.
But even more so, her granddaughter went there for homework help after school three to four times a week, she said.
“We missed it being part of my granddaughter’s routine,” Herlacher said in a telephone interview.
“She ended up getting it done at home, but normally she would go right there from school. She gets off the bus right there and would go right in for help. The girls there were very helpful with finding books and different things, and we knew one girl that worked there and is now at the main branch.
“It’s going to be a whole new world. We’ll be glad to have it open.”
A literary career stepping stone
Berk said an unexpected amount of staff turnover caused the need for hiring and training new employees. Many, he said, were “really just one after another of people just moving on in their careers.”
In library board minutes from Oct. 9, 2023, it was announced that Alison Madden had been hired to replace longtime branch manager and Harry Potter enthusiast Brenda Grow, who was retiring after what Berk described as a decades-long tenure.
In the position for two years, Madden had recently accepted a position at a school.
“Many people were there for a very long time,” said Berk.
“Some retired, some new librarians starting their career, and just overall, from what I’m hearing from colleagues, the job market is kind of volatile in that regard. A lot of people are making moves.”
In addition to books being out of reach for patrons, programs offered during the closure had to be canceled or rescheduled. Two CPR classes will occur as scheduled this Saturday, Oct. 26. Berk said. A morning class is from 10 to 11:15 a.m. The afternoon class is on for noon to 1:15 p.m.
“The neighborhood is definitely changing but the library is still there for everyone to use.”Library Executive Director Josh Berk
School groups, especially from nearby Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, use the library often.
“It used to be a lot of Boys and Girls Club and Holy Infancy School, but they’re gone,” said Berk. Both groups have either consolidated or changed locations.
“The neighborhood is definitely changing but the library is still there for everyone to use.”
The book drop remained open throughout the closure, and folks could patronize and drop books at the main library at 11 W. Church St., but if for some reason someone was unable to return a book on time, the late fee will be waived.
Volunteers typically help with special projects like book sales and organizing the shelves, but desk and other duties are performed by paid professionals.
With a norm of 60 employees across locations, Berk said, there are typically at least three working at any given time at the South Side Branch, “with many more obviously at the main library. We currently do have one opening at the branch, but we'll be able to open with that position unfilled and go from there” he said.
Berk said the decision is yet to be made whether the library will stay open until 6 or 7 p.m., if the normal hours end up being limited at all.
“Hopefully once we get our new crew in there, we’ll be back to full speed,” said Berk.
