- Noelle Kramer, director of the Hellertown Area Library, is leaving after over three years in the role
- She says it's 'heartbreaking' to go, but her family has opportunities back where she's from
- Her favorite part of the job? Meeting and getting to know people each day
HELLERTOWN, Pa. — Noelle Kramer, outgoing director of the Hellertown Area Library, worked her last day this past week.
While she said it’s “heartbreaking” to have to leave HAL and the community, the Pittsburgh native is heading back to the Steel City, where she said her sisters are eagerly awaiting her return. Her husband has secured another job in that area, and her oldest child is about to start college there as well.
Kramer said that after moving and taking some time to get situated in the new place, she’ll eventually be looking for a similar position.
A look back
Kramer said taking the reins back in March 2020 was obviously a challenging time because of the pandemic. But forming a bond with the community alongside her fellow staff was a key goal for her in the new position, nonetheless.
“We jumped online immediately and started storytimes immediately. We made the storytimes personal so children who were dealing with a very confusing time still had some sort of connection.”Noelle Kramer, outgoing director of the Hellertown Area Library
“We jumped online immediately and started storytimes immediately,” Kramer said. “We made the storytimes personal so children who were dealing with a very confusing time still had some sort of connection.”
Kramer said that as soon as the state government permitted curbside pickup for libraries, she and the staff arranged for a take-a-book-leave-a-book “little free library” outside the building, put together take-home goodie bags, and more.
Those efforts expanded into story walks in the park and scavenger hunts, where families could come and grab the clues outside the library and complete the hunt at the nearby park and around the HAL grounds.
“It gave families something to do that was not staring at those same four walls, but without the scary part of being around other people,” she said.
After her husband secured a job in New Jersey, she said her family made their way to the Saucon Valley and ended up in Lower Saucon. She and her husband had high praise for the school district and were happy to send their four kids there.
Kramer ended up becoming a consistent volunteer with HAL, and her husband eventually picked her brain about going back to school for library work.
“It gave families something to do that was not staring at those same four walls, but without the scary part of being around other people."Noelle Kramer, outgoing director of the Hellertown Area Library
She ended up going to school online for her master’s in library science at Clarion University, all while substitute teaching for the school district and taking care of her family.
While in school, library officials offered her a part-time job. After finishing her master’s and some more time going by, her HAL predecessor left the position and Kramer ended up pursuing an opportunity to take over.
Library love
She said she’s thankful for the library love from residents of Hellertown and neighboring Lower Saucon, saying that people are constantly stopping by to offer words of encouragement, financial support and more. She was excited while sharing that point, motioning to a nearby bouquet full of vibrant, purple flowers.
“We’ve got the support of the community, and that’s what’s important,” she said. “And I envision the library being here, for the people that want it, for years to come.”
“These aren’t nameless, faceless patrons; these are our people.”Noelle Kramer, outgoing director of the Hellertown Area Library
She said one of her favorite parts of the job was getting to know people one-on-one from day to day.
“I know their names, I know them, I know about their families, and just that little update is an amazing thing,” Kramer said, smiling. “‘How was the wedding? How was the baptism? How’s everybody doing? How’s your daughter? Is her foot better?’
“These aren’t nameless, faceless patrons; these are our people.”
A word of advice for those looking to run a library?
“You gotta like reading. You gotta like helping people,” Kramer said.
"You gotta like reading. You gotta like helping people."Noelle Kramer, outgoing director of Hellertown Area Library
She added that the position spans beyond just books. Be prepared to help with the use of technology, look to build wholesome relationships and strive to make an impact on those you come across, Kramer said.
As for Kramer’s favorite book genres, she favors fantasy titles, mysteries, and during the summer, a good beach read.
HAL's new director
Emily Cieslak, a Bethlehem native, is the incoming library director set to take over for Kramer.
“I’d like to say I planned it my whole life, but I kind of just fell into the field. It’s really, really great to be here.”Emily Cieslak, Hellertown Area Library's newest director
A 2020 graduate of Kutztown University, she said she’s excited to be back in the Lehigh Valley, and looking forward to keeping up with developing library trends and offering new ideas for fundraising events.
“I’d like to say I planned it my whole life, but I kind of just fell into the field,” Cieslak said. “It’s really, really great to be here.”
