Business of the Week: The Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity

Most people think of a library as just a place to check out books. , however, has a lot more going on behind its historic doors.

At its heart, the library is a circulation of 67,000 books, magazines, movies and audiobooks, with access to 20 online databases and 10 public-use computers. The library boasts an 18,000-strong membership in the four communities it serves: Nazareth, Upper Nazareth Township, Lower Nazareth Township and Bushkill Township.

The library’s director, Lynn Snodgrass-Pilla, estimates around 70,000 patrons per year.

The library was founded in 1946 as a memorial to World War II veterans. Originally housed further down Center Street, the collection was relocated in the 1970s to the former Trumbower home, graciously donated to the borough by their relatives, the Fraunfelders, in 1966.

The library is owned by the Borough of Nazareth, but is used as a shared resource between the four municipalities (hence the addendum “and vicinity” to its namesake).

Funding comes from the four communities, with help from private donations, fundraisers and grants.

The library’s heavy events calendar is put together by an organization called Friends of the Library, which sponsors all of its programs and projects. Seasonal book sales, bake sales, speakers and contests are organized by the non-profit Friends, which boasts nearly 100 members.

“They’re a wonderful organization,” said Snodgrass-Pilla. “Anyone in the communities we serve can become a member.”

This month, the Memorial Library is hosting its Annual Young Writers Contest, which invites students from any local school to submit their own writing for a chance to have it professionally bound and added to the library’s catalogue. In April, the library will celebrate National Library Week.

Snodgrass-Pilla explained how measures are continuously taken to keep up with growing technology. This year, the Worldbook encyclopedia system will become exclusively digitized. E-books will soon become a part of the library’s catalogue. Already, children have access to Tumblebooks, which are animated picture books that are read over the computer.

In addition to its vast collection, the library also serves as a hub for digital projects. The director shows off two projects that stand out in particular: one is the archive of the Nazareth Item, the area’s first newspaper. Another is a work-in-progress, a scrapbook of World War II veterans from the area, complete with photographs, letters and news articles. Both are accessible through the website.

Sixteen employees keep the library functioning, along with various volunteers at different times of the year. In the summer, students offer their time for community service hours.

The library is open Monday through Saturday year-round. Check out their website, www.nazarethlibrary.org, for a complete events calendar and other online resources.