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Northampton Area Public Library outlines summer programs, fine‑free policy and outreach numbers
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Summary
Library Director Veronica LaRocque told Northampton County council members that the Northampton Area Public Library will go fine‑free on July 1, offered 412 programs in 2024 and described outreach, collections and resources serving a 96‑square‑mile district.
Veronica LaRocque, director of the Northampton Area Public Library, told the Northampton County Council’s Economic Development Committee on Oct. 11 that the library will eliminate late fines starting July 1 and described program, outreach and funding details for the library’s 96‑square‑mile service area.
LaRocque said the library serves about 44,028 residents within the Northampton Area School District, covering the boroughs of Bath, Chapman Quarries and Northampton and the townships of Allen, East Allen and Lehigh. She said the library employed 12 staff members and hosted 412 programs in 2024, with 4,778 program participants and a total circulation of 98,061 items (62,033 physical and 36,028 digital).
The library director emphasized accessible, educational programming tied to the PA Forward five literacies: basic literacy, information/digital literacy, civic/social literacy, health literacy and financial literacy. LaRocque described SummerQuest, the library’s summer reading program, which uses a rewards system called NAPL Bucks and will conclude with a s’mores social at Municipal Park as part of the library’s 60th anniversary celebration. She also listed recurring offerings: book clubs, art nights, technology tutoring, 5 public patron computers, extended Wi‑Fi covering the parking lot and outreach visits to senior centers and special living facilities.
LaRocque listed specialty collections and digital services available to cardholders: Spanish‑language novels, a historical Pennsylvania collection including most local yearbooks (dating back to 1916), ebooks and audiobooks via CloudLibrary, magazines via Flipster, newspapers via NewsBank (including Morning Call archives) and streaming through Canopy. She highlighted Wonder Books and Playaway devices for early readers, four AWE learning computers for children (first two donated by David and Paula Beller; two added by the Jim Taylor Family Foundation) and Universal Class and SkillUp PA for workforce and test‑prep courses.
On funding, LaRocque said the library was created under the Northampton Area School District and is “primarily funded by the school district at 52.3%,” with commonwealth aid providing about 26.5% and donations, fundraising and earned revenue accounting for roughly 14.4% of the budget. She reported 11,605 cardholders, including 1,174 new cardholders in the most recent period, and said outreach included 525 visits totaling about 1,830.8 miles driven.
LaRocque invited council members to contact her for navigation help on the library’s digital newspaper archives and concluded by asking for questions. Committee members thanked the director and encouraged future presentations.
The presentation contained multiple program and service commitments but no formal county action was taken during the committee meeting.
