parkland community library - today (updated)
TRANSCRIPT
PA’s 630 library outlets, serving 12 million citizens, provide a return on
investment of $5.50 in benefits
for every $1 of tax support.This study was commissioned by the PA Department of Education’s
Office of Commonwealth Libraries, in collaboration with the PA Library Association, to determine the economic benefit of public libraries in Pennsylvania.
Of 9.1 million adults in PA,
51.6% visited a public library in person
during a year's time; 13.2% connected with one online.
Libraries can save the average resident
hundreds of dollars every year as a place where resources are shared.
The Parkland region has the 2nd largest school
district in Lehigh County with the smallest library (9 of 9) in both space and materials per capita.
SMALLEST
PCL COMPARISON OVER TIME
YearLibrary Square Footage
Population Growth
1981 5,400 sq. ft. 32,000
2013 5,400 sq. ft. 56,000
2040 TBD 89,000* (est.)
*Source - Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
> Senior citizens> Teenagers> Mothers & children > College students> Unemployed residents> Disadvantaged residents > English as a Second
Language residents
WHO USES LIBRARIES?
EVERYONE!
Current Size
The Walbert Avenue
library is 1/5 the size for aptly serving the Parkland population today.
PCL TODAY
> The library cannot accommodate wheelchairs.
> Bathrooms are not ADA compliant.
> Narrow aisles are difficult to navigate.
> No community meeting space.
> Not enough computers.
LIMITED ACCESS
> More than 7,000 items in storage.
> More space for shelving offers patrons greater choice.
LACK OF STORAGE & SHELVING
UNDER-RESOURCED
Library Population Total Items Items per capita
Emmaus 21,777 99,375 4.6
Whitehall 26,768 103,933 3.88
Parkland 54,946 82,508 1.50
NO space for:
> Networking> Training > Tech research > Unemployed groups> Small businesses> Specialized information
programs
RESTRICTED COMMUNITY SERVICES