With Lehigh County’s entry into the green phase of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s reopening plan, Whitehall Township Public Library is busy preparing for a “soft open,” beginning July 6. This means limited patrons, limited staff and limited hours for two weeks until we can safely handle the increase of activities. Patrons will be able to schedule a time to use the library.

We will continue to follow the Office of Commonwealth Libraries and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

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All in-person programs and meetings have been canceled up to Sept. 8.

We will be doing the summer reading program online using the Read Squared program. The program will be for all ages and will continue until Aug. 29.

For more information, check out the library website, whitehallpl.org.

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Curbside pickup is still encouraged. You may call the library at 610-432-4339 or go to the website to place the holds on items. We will call you to schedule a pickup time.

We are limiting the holds to 15 items per person per day, and this includes books, DVDs, books on CD and music CDs.

Curbside pickup is tentatively scheduled for 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday.

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All library items currently checked out are due July 22. The book drops will be unlocked 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

All items in the drop box will be in quarantine for three days and then checked back into the system.

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All LCLC libraries are going fine-free for the summer! There are no fines for items that were due beginning March 12 through the rest of the summer, ending Sept. 8.

If items are returned after the due date, a fine may appear on your account but will be removed once items have been checked in.

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You may also download and read or listen to books on Overdrive and Libby. Visit the website, click on Research & Learn, click on Overdrive, sign in to Carbon Lehigh Downloadable, pick Whitehall TPL, type in the bar code and PIN from your purple card and search for whatever authors and titles you would like to read.

If you never had a purple LCLC library card, you may apply online. On our website, click on My Account, then Request Library Card. Include your email address when you fill in your information, and we will email your library card number so you can start using it immediately.

You can pick up the physical card when the library opens in July.

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Thank you for your support during the coronavirus. We are doing our part to keep the staff and patrons healthy.

If you have questions or need help with a database, email vahey.p@whitehallpl.org, and I can help you.