By MICHAEL HIRSCH

Special to The Press

The Friends of the Parkland Community Library operate a bookshop inside the library in South Whitehall.

The Friends group was started in November 1976 and the bookshop opened in fall 2021, when library expansion was completed.

The bookshop carries the Parkland High School summer reading books, usually at reduced costs.

In addition to books, the shop sells puzzles, CDs and more and everything is donated.

Income from sales goes for the upkeep of the Parkland Community Library and can be used for the garden, copier, self-checkout, monthly Book Page Magazine and extra support.

The Friends also provide an annual student scholarship fund.

Donations are accepted in the bookshop 10 a.m.-noon Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays.

As hours may change, call 610-398-1361 ext. 111, to be sure.

Ila Dietrich, president of Friends of Parkland Community Library, discussed formation of the bookshop.

“Friends” always wanted to have more space to sell books and interact with the community,” Dietrich said.

“The existing library prior to the renovation didn’t have the space to do any of that.

“When the addition and update on the library was started, Friends requested to have a small area for the bookshop, some small sales, and more contact with the community.

“They worked with library staff and the architect and did some visiting with other local libraries that have rooms for Friends and bookshops.”

Dietrich said her history with the Parkland Community Library goes back 50 years to its beginning.

“I helped get the library ready to open, prepared books by typing the cards, labels and anything that needed to be done to open the library,” she explained.

For the past 10 years, she has been the president of the Friends of the Parkland Community Library.

Before that, she was the secretary.

Initially, she was the Upper Macungie Township representative for the Friends group.

“I was also co-chairwoman of the annual book sale for eight years,” Dietrich said.

“The library has always been very important for me and my family. I think the library is a very valuable asset to the community.”

Nancy Holler is currently co-chairwoman on the Finance Committee of Friends of PCL and also on the Book Sale Committee, along with Lynne Harakal, Pat Elliott, Pat Barlok and LuAnn Epstein.

Holler has also served on the Friends board.

“The Friends of PCL support adult and children’s programs both currently and in past year,” Dietrich said.

“We also paid for the installation of the natural flower garden at the library, the benches on the porch of the library, copy machine and the automatic checkout system.”