Building & Curbside Hours
Monday & Thursday: 10am-7pm
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 10am-4pm
Saturday: 10am-2pm

Pandemic Update:
To mask or not to mask…that is the
Effective July 28, 2021, all persons over the age of 2 years are required to wear a mask in the library building regardless of vaccination status. This decision was made based on available data about the level of community transmission (spread) in Lehigh County and surrounding areas. The health and safety of community residents and library employees is important! As we continue to move through the Covid-19 pandemic, this requirement and other mitigation efforts are subject to change; please check the library’s website or Facebook page for up-to-date information.
LCLC is Permanently FINE FREE!
Life is busy, especially during a pandemic! We get it! Has the thought of accumulating overdue fines prevented you from checking items out at the library? Worry no more! Directors of Lehigh Carbon Libraries Cooperative approved a policy for member libraries that permanently eliminates overdue fines for all library card holders, effective September 1, 2021. This decision also includes eliminating all pre-pandemic overdue fines
*Please note: Fees for lost materials still apply and will not be waived until items are returned; fees for damaged items are still the responsibility of the patron; library card use will be blocked for patrons with fees exceeding $9.99 until fees are paid.  
~Auto-Renewal? What’s That?~
Did you know that your items will now be automatically renewed two times and you don’t have to lift a finger? This feature kicks in at 12:01PM on the day following your most recent due date and patrons are notified via email or text message. 
Please note: Items that are on hold for another patron will not be auto-renewed and you will be notified that renewal did not take place so that you can return the item to the library as soon as possible.
Placing Holds on Library Items
-What You Need to Know-
Being able to place a hold on an item in the library’s collection (aka Reserve a book, DVD, video game, etc.) is a very convenient service and one that many of our community members use regularly. Now that we are part of Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative (LCLC), a group made up of 12 member libraries, when you search the online catalog for a title, you are actually searching the catalog of all 12 libraries with one quick click. When you find the item(s) you’re looking for and place a hold on it, the item may come from any of the 12 libraries in a daily delivery van and generally arrives within 24-48 hours if the item is available. If the item is checked out to another patron and/or has other patrons on its hold list ahead of you, you may have to wait your turn.
 
~Behind the Scenes of Your Hold~
Librarians receive an electronic print-out of items that have been placed on hold by patrons and multiple times each day they pull those items from the shelves. At SLPL, some of those items are sent the next day by delivery van to the library where the patron would like to pick up his/her item. Some of the items remain at SLPL for pick-up by our patrons. Depending on your chosen preference, you will receive a system generated email or text message notifying you that your item is waiting for pick-up (the quickest option!) or you may receive notification via a telephone call (a slower option).  
 
~Life on the Hold Shelf~
Items remain on the hold shelf for patrons for 4 business days before they are removed. If you have placed a large number of items on hold and are waiting to pick them up all at once, this may or may not work in your favor depending on when each item arrived on the hold shelf. We suggest that you pick up items as soon as you are notified to insure that you receive them. Items that have lived on the hold shelf for more than 4 days are sent back to the owning library so that other patrons can have access to them. 
 
~Who can pick up your hold?~
You, of course, along with any other family member or friend that you have specifically asked us to list in your account as having permission. The library’s patron privacy policy prevents us from releasing your hold item to anyone that isn’t named in your account, and that includes spouses, children, and significant others, even if they have your library card, even if you are a frequent library user, and even if our staff knows you and your family personally. Your privacy is very important to us! Would you like to give someone permission to pick up your holds? Call us or stop by anytime and we’ll add them to your account. Library staff will also ask you about this when you renew your library card.
 
~Why can’t I have the newest bestseller delivered by
van service to my pick-up library?~
Titles new to each library do not transit for the first six months so that the library’s home patrons have ”first dibs” on the items new to their library’s collection. Other patrons can place a hold on the new item, but must change their pick-up library and be willing to travel to the owning library to pick up the item.
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Holiday & Closing Information
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Holiday Schedule
The library will be closed in observance of the following holidays:
Labor Day - September 6th
Thanksgiving- November 25th
Christmas Eve- December 24th
Christmas Day - December 25th
New Year's Eve - December 31st
New Year's Day - January 1st
Inclement Weather
In case of inclement or severe weather, closing information can be found at the following locations:
Check Out Our New Online
Reference Databases
We are pleased to announce that that have recently added AtoZ World Food and AtoZ World Culture to our online reference offerings. Anyone can access AtoZ World Food and AtoZ World Culture using the library’s computers, or by using the library’s portal at www.solehipl.org with their library card.
AtoZ World Food: This new library resource contains more than 7,000 traditional recipes from 174 countries, along with thousands of ingredient, food culture, and reference articles, making it the largest food database of its kind.
AtoZ World Food also enables users to forward recipes to friends by email and even create their own personal cookbook of favorite recipes.
AtoZ World Food was designed for culinary institutes, students, world travelers, cooking clubs, adventurous eaters, and anyone who wants to learn about world cuisine without having to purchase individual country cookbooks.
AtoZ World Culture: This new library resource includes 121 topics for 175 countries. Starting with a country snapshot and cultural overview, topics include: climate; food and recipes; history; language; maps; money and much more. AtoZ World Culture includes teaching tools and lesson plans for educators.
AtoZ World Culture was designed for researchers, educators, travelers, global businesses, government agencies and anyone who wants to learn about the world and its diverse cultures.
Has Your Garden Been Bountiful?
Donate Extra Produce to SLPL
October 4th is the LAST day donations will be accepted.
We invite our community’s vegetable gardeners to plant an extra row of vegetables to donate to local food banks and soup kitchens to feed the hungry in the Lehigh Valley. SLPL is a drop-off location and any produce donated will go to New Bethany Ministries. Produce may only be donated on Mondays, 10AM-2:30PM, so that it can be delivered fresh later that day. For other drop-off locations in the Lehigh Valley or for more info please visit: Plant A Row Lehigh Valley 2021
Fundraising Events
Platinum Level
Gold Level

King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC

McPhillips CPA & Company, LLC
Silver Level

Master Supply Line

PrintCom Solutions
Other Donors

Longley Insurance Agency, Inc.
Save Money
& Help the Library!

SLPL is selling SaveAround Lehigh Valley coupon books (formerly known as Kids Stuff coupon books).
The books are available at the library and sell for $25.
 
They include coupons for LV restaurants, entertainment venues, retail stores, and service outlets for children and adults.
 
$5K+ in total savings! Most coupons are good thru mid-late 2022.
 
A portion of the proceeds benefit the library.
2020/2021 Helping Hands Campaign – Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Community residents donated $70,000+ to this past year’s annual campaign and we are so very grateful! The pandemic prevented the library and its Friends group from conducting in-person fundraising events, but you stepped up and helped to continue library services with your generous donations. As the pandemic continues, your continued contributions are even more important! The library’s 2021/2022 Helping Hands Campaign will be launching this fall and local residents will receive the library’s annual appeal letter in the mail. Please consider making a contribution to keep library’s doors open and services available to the entire community!
Art Show Schedule 2021
Calling all local artists and art lovers… You are invited to submit your work and/or stop by to enjoy our Art Show

September 27, 2021 through January 7, 2022

"Anything Goes": This is a non-juried show. Let your imaginations run wild, have fun, do something “out of your comfort zone.” The work may be abstract, impressionistic, or realistic.

Submit art work in-person, Saturday, Sept 25, 11AM-1:30PM 
*All artwork will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.*

 ~Rules of Entry~
  • For all the shows, including the photography show, all pieces must be securely wired and braced for hanging. No clips or “fast frames” will be accepted. The pieces must be able to be hung using the library’s hanging system. No wet, fragile or ill-prepared work will be accepted.
  • Unframed canvases cannot have staples showing. The exhibition committee reserves the right to reject any work not following these standards. 
  • The works must be delivered during the time allocated for their collection. Works delivered before or after the allotted time will not be accepted. 
  • Works must not exceed 34 inches in length, including the frame.
 
The library requests 15% commission on all sales 
Adult Programs
Adult Book Discussion Group
3rd Thursday of Every Month @ 7:00pm
September 16, 2021

Hamnet

-Maggie O'Farrell
October 21, 2021

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
-Junot Diaz
November 18, 2021

Cassandra Speaks

-Elizabeth Lesser
*Note – Group meets via Zoom through September; contact library for updated meeting location for October thru December as it might change to an in-person meeting.
Gentle Yoga with Deanna Nagle
Class will be held outside, weather permitting. In the event of inclement weather or once the autumn chill settles in, classes will be held via Zoom unless otherwise specified.
You must bring your own mat and accessories.

An Unexpected Party

Join the library September 20th - 25th as we celebrate “Tolkien Week”. Since 1978, September 22nd has been known as “Hobbit Day”—this being the birthdays of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
This year in particular is special as it marks the 20th anniversary of the release of the “The Fellowship of the Ring”, the first film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy directed by Peter Jackson.
For Tolkien Week, the library will transform into Middle Earth through decorations and displays highlighting the books & films. Come celebrate the works of Tolkien.
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
-Thorin
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return Journey, The Hobbit
 
Let’s Celebrate! 
Monthly happenings worth noting…
September
Library Card Sign-Up Month

 If you are reading this newsletter, chances are you already have a library card, but does everyone in your family who is 5 years and older have a card? Why is this important and why can’t all family members use the same card? When the library requests annual funding from Upper Saucon Township, Lower Milford Township, Coopersburg Borough and Southern Lehigh School District, we are expected to provide accurate statistics as to the number of library card holders and the number of residents using the library and checking out materials. If multiple family members are using one card, then our data will not reflect a true picture of library use and funding could be jeopardized. No card? Stop by or register here for a card online and the library staff will be most happy to sign you up!
  International Literacy Day

International Literacy Day takes place every year on September 8 to raise awareness and concern for literacy problems and skill gaps that exist within the world, as well as our local communities. Founded in 1966 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), organizations around the world celebrate the importance of literacy, the need for policies that promote education, and the concept of literacy as both a joy and human right. Worldwide, 773 million adults and young people lack basic literacy skills according to UNESCO. International Literacy Day, observed September 8, helps raise awareness about the struggle for world literacy. This year, we reflect on the impact that COVID-19 has had on literacy efforts in developing countries, where learning programs have been sidelined in the name of health and safety. www.un.org
October
Friends of Libraries Week,
Oct 17th-23rd
 Friends of Libraries groups have their very own national week of celebration! The dedication of these volunteers to their local libraries leaves a lasting and positive impact on their libraries and their communities. Our library depends on our Friends to provide resources to serve our community, and we want to take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude for their service. Before the pandemic changed everything…did you know that Friends of SLPL sponsored the Summer Fun Club for children/teens? Did you attend any of the wonderful Evenings With Friends programs for adults that featured an array of guest speakers and performers?

 Friends of SLPL is hoping to resume some of these terrific activities very soon, starting with their first monthly planning meeting on Monday, September 13, 1PM at the library. Come and join the Friends!
National Diversity Day
October 1 - National Diversity Day is celebrated on the first Friday in October, which is Diversity Awareness Month. National Diversity Day is a day to celebrate and embrace who we are, despite our differences, no matter what race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, nationality, or disability; to reflect on and learn about different cultures and ideologies. 
Here are some suggested titles available at the library to celebrate this day:
November
Young Readers Week,
Nov 7th-13th
What difference can reading make? According to the Literacy Project, books for kids help them build their vocabulary by introducing them to new words they might not hear spoken aloud. Beloved children’s author Tomie DePaola said, “Reading is important, because if you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything.” Let’s use this week to share stories with the young people in our lives and build a generation of readers.
Alzheimer’s Disease Month
&
Diabetes Month
November is Alzheimer’s Disease Month www.alz.org and
Diabetes Month www.diabetes.org
Your public library has informational and educational resources available to get you or a loved started in combatting either of these diseases.
Pennsylvania 211: Get Connected. Get Help.™
If you need to connect with resources in your community, but don’t know where to look, PA 211 is a great place to start. From help with a utilities bill, to housing assistance, after-school programs for kids, and more, you can dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 to talk with a resource specialist for free. Our specialists will listen to your needs, and give you information on programs in your community that might be able to help.

For more information visit www.pa211.org

Get Connected. Get Help. PA 211
Book Sale Room
Book Sale Room Donations Welcome!
The library is accepting donations of fiction and nonfiction books (less than 10 yrs old), DVDs, music CDs, video games, and audio books on CD that it will sell in its Book Sale Room with all proceeds benefitting the library’s operating budget. Please limit your donation to 3 boxes or bags at any one time. For a detailed description of what we can accept, please click here and click on the box to expand "Item Donations”. Children’s books are especially needed!
Do you have some items that the library cannot accept? Please click here for a detailed description of what can be placed in the Better World Books bins located in our parking lot closest to the patio. This organization sells items online to benefit literacy efforts in third-world countries and the library also receives a small portion of the proceeds.
Please Note: If the bins are full and barricades are up, please do not leave donations on top of the bins or on the ground because they will be ruined during inclement weather. Library staff report full bins to BWB in a timely manner and we are not responsible for the timing of pick-ups.
Hello and Goodbye
Goodbye to…
Marilla Payne, the librarian responsible for developing our collection of items for children and teens and managing the library’s online Summer Fun Club, will be leaving the library this fall to spend more time with family. Marilla has been with the library for 10+ years and will be greatly missed! We wish you all the best, Marilla, and… don’t be a stranger!
Welcome to…
Colleen Gorsky will be joining our staff in September and taking over Marilla Payne’s responsibilities for the children’s/teen collection and the online Summer Fun Club. Colleen previously partnered with our library as an employee at Barnes & Noble and assisted us with Book Fairs at the Promenade Shops location, so she is quite familiar with SLPL and we look forward to having her on board!
Children and Youth
🌞 A Note from Miss Melissa 🌞
Summer Fun Club 2021: "Tails & Tales"
Wow, what a summer we had! Summer Fun Club 2021 was a record breaking summer for us at Southern Lehigh Public Library. We had 29 programs during our 8 weeks of programming. From outdoor and virtual story-times, to amazing performances by Kit's Interactive Theatre, Mad Science of Lehigh Valley, and Miss Maggie Sings. The Lehigh Valley Zoo and Lehigh County Conservation District brought our "Tails & Tales" theme to life with live animals, animal habitat information, and much more educational & interactive programming. We played BINGO on zoom where many of our friends won Inside Scoop and Book Sale Room gift cards. Miss Melissa's Aardvarks music class had us singing, dancing, and learning about rhythm & beats each week. We learned about new authors and digital media resources at our "Kids Book Watch Parties". We got our bodies moving with DJ Dan at our Fairytale/Storybook Dance Party, as well at Storybook Yoga with Deanna Nagle. All in all, we had a great variety of programming and so much fun this summer!

A big THANK YOU to all our community members that donated on Giving Tuesday to fund our Summer Fun Club programming! It is because of your kindness and generosity that we were able to have such a wonderful and eventful summer. We could not have done this without you!

Thank you to all our friends that came to our programs throughout the summer. Thank you for braving the heat and humidity (we had some really hot days!), and supporting our Summer Fun Club programming. Your support means the world to us! We look forward to seeing you all throughout the school year.
Miss Marilla's Book Reviews for Children/Teens
Easy picture book

Facing Fear: an Immigration Story
- Karen Lynn Williams

Do you listen to or watch the news? Then your kids do too. Maybe not intentionally, but they absorb what they hear out and about, at school, and in the car. Maybe they've asked you questions about immigration you weren't sure how to answer. In this story, Enrique is a young US citizen who loves to play soccer with his team. They're invited to a tournament across the border, and though Enrique knows he has nothing to fear, his family is not so lucky. His father won't give permission and Enrique thinks about forging his signature, but would that place his family in danger? This heartfelt tale looks at the who, why, and what now? of undocumented immigrants. Also includes resources and recommended reading.
Juvenile nonfiction

A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttman Created the Paralympic Games
- Lori Alexander

Unless you were hiding under a rock, you heard about one of the weirdest Olympics ever...the 2021 Olympics that were actually the 2020 Olympics, had no spectators, and were fraught with doping scandals and shocking withdrawals. If it whet your appetite for all things Olympic, here's your chance to learn about the quieter, less media-ized Paralympic Games. Dr. Guttman had a theory that when his "incurable" patients actually moved, sports helped them get better and gave them back passion and fun. It sounded crazy at the time, but today the Paralympics are the 3rd largest sporting event in the world. Especially inspiring this year was seeing track and field Olympian Tara Davis and her boyfriend Paralympian Hunter Woodall qualify together!
Easy picture book

Nana Akua Goes to School
- Tricia Elam Walker

Grandparent's Day is coming up at Zura's school. All her classmates are excited to share their loved ones, and Zura loves her Nana Akua more than anything. So why the frown? Nana Akua grew up in Ghana, and has tribal beauty marks on her face from when she was a child. Zura does not want anyone to laugh at her Nana. But as her gentle Nana helps her show a memory quilt and simply explains her marks, no one laughs. Instead, when Zura and Nana Akua share the meanings behind the symbols, her classmates are inspired and take turns picking out a symbol that represents them to be painted on their cheek. Each one is different and beautiful, just as every person is different and beautiful. Includes a glossary and illustrations of the symbols and meaning.
🍁 Fall Children & Family Programming 🍂
Registration Begins September 1st!
Miss Melissa’s Aardvarks Music Class: Monday mornings at 10:00 am – September 13th – October 11th

Mommy & Me Yoga Class w/ Deanna Nagle Ages 3-6yrs: September 17th at 10:15 am; October 15th time to be determined based on weather

Therapy Dog Agility Run: Come learn about what is involved in training therapy dogs. Watch our dog friends do an agility run and other tricks. Saturday, September 18th at 11:00 am.

Nature Program with Lehigh County Conservation District Ages 3-6 yrs old: Monday October 4th 11:00 am

Mr. Todd’s Music Outdoor Family Concert: Saturday, October 9th at 11:00 am.

Outdoor Storytime: Thursdays at 10:30 am – September 16th - November 4th

Virtual Storytime on Zoom: Wednesdays at 10:00 am – September 15th – November 3rd

Indoor Small Group Storytime Session 1 (Mixed Ages): Tuesdays at 10:00 am, September 14th - November 2nd (Please sign up for only one 8-week session)

Indoor Small Group Storytime Session 2 (Mixed Ages): Tuesdays at 11:15am, September 14th - November 2nd (Please sign up for only one 8-week session)

Indoor Small Group Storytime Ages 4-6yrs old: Wednesdays at 1:15pm, September 15th - November 3rd

Infant Storytime Ages Birth-18 months Session 1: Fridays 10:15 am, September 24th, October 8th & 22nd , November 5th (Please sign up for only one 4-week session)

Infant Storytime Ages Birth-18 months Session 2: Fridays 11:15 am September 24th, October 8th & 22nd , November 5th (Please sign up for only one 4-week session)

Kids Fall BINGO on Zoom: Wednesday, October 6th & November 10th at 6:30 pm
Harry Potter Book Night: Dress up as your favorite character and come out celebrate all things Magical and Muggle! Thursday, October 7th at 6:15 pm.

*All Programs will be held outdoors if weather allows. All indoor programming will require masks to be worn by all participants ages 2 years and older. Social distancing protocols will be followed. Outdoor programming is dependent on weather conditions and may be cancelled.
Southern Lehigh Public Library - 3200 Preston Lane - Center Valley, PA 18034
🍂 610-282-8825 www.solehipl.org 🍂