Parkland Community Library recently had a celebration behind the Parkland School District bus garage near its proposed new library site at 4240 Orefield Road, Orefield.

The new 8-acre plot was donated by David Jaindl, owner of Jaindl Farms, and his wife, Jackie.

David Jaindl said there were many good reasons to donate the land but there were two main reasons.

“The Parkland Community has always been good to our family and certainly our family business is here and so we have a lot of respect for not only the Parkland community but for the three municipalities, North Whitehall Township, South Whitehall and Upper Macungie Township,” David Jaindl said. “They have always been great to our family and certainly our business.”

He said the second reason for donating the land was because the Jaindl family has a long history with the Parkland School District.

“My father graduated from South Whitehall Township, which then worked into Parkland School District,” he said. “Jackie and I both went to Parkland. Jackie went to St. Catherine first, then ended up at Parkland.

“All our siblings went to Parkland on both sides of the aisle and all of our children went to Parkland.

“It was a great school, great education and we appreciate that, so those are the reasons that came first to mind relative to our donation.”

Jackie Jaindl spoke on a more personal note about the donation.

“I’ve taken all five of our children to story time with Karen (Maurer) and it truly was one of their fondest childhood memories,” she said. “And we have a grandson now and another on the way and I am sure they will be using the library.”

Library Executive Director Debbie Jack discussed the land donation and new building in an email to The Press.

“The Parkland Community Library intends to bring a referendum question to the voters in the Parkland School District this November to increase the library’s millage rate from .0001 to .00028 based on assessed real estate value,” Jack said. “This will be the library’s first increase since the millage inception in 1998.

“This will allow the Parkland Community Library to move forward and build a new building on land generously donated by Mr. and Mrs. David Jaindl.”

Jack said the annual library tax on a home assessed at $150,000 would be $42 and a home assessed at $400,000 would be $112. She said the library’s recent renovation was an investment in the new building.

“With the exception of paint and carpet, everything purchased, including seating, tables, public desks and bookshelves will have a place in the new building,” Jack said. “It’s also near Orefield Middle School and less than two miles from both Parkland High School and Kernsville Elementary School, which creates an educational corridor.”

Jack said Parkland Community Library has saved $2.8 million toward the project.

The new 30,000 square feet library will have room for more than 10,000 books that are now in storage.

There will also be space for children, teens, computer lab, a community room and craft/story room, mother’s room, cafe, administrative offices and provide ample space for parking.

Congressman Charlie Dent, R-15th, also spoke at the celebration.

“I have always had a special place in my heart for the Parkland School District,” Dent said. “My late aunt Ruth Brossman Dent was an active volunteer until her death in the late 1980s.”

Dent said as a Parkland parent, he and his family have used the library on numerous occasions.

“Thanks to the Jaindl donation of land, Parkland families will have many more educational opportunities with the new library,” Dent said.