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Your Library began in 1911, when a committee of citizens solicited donations of books and cash to provide a library in a room of the new Neighborhood House, which the New Jersey Zinc Company completed that year.
In 1928, the Palmerton Library Association was formed with a board of nine trustees, and governance of the Library passed from NJZ to private citizens of the community. Although the bulk of financial support still came from the Company, its employees still staffed the library.
In 1952, the Neighborhood House became the borough hall, and the Borough Council became the Library's new "godfather".
In 1973, the Library declared its independence from both Company and Borough by accepting the gift of the directors of the First National Bank: their building at Fourth and Delaware Avenue.
In 1992, contributions from private citizens, local businesses and the "new" Zinc Company (HRD) were matched by a Federal Grant, enabling the Library to build a two-story annex, which now houses a children's center (first floor) and a gallery and conference room (second floor).
Your Library raises about 60% of its
yearly operating budget (currently $180,000) from private
sources, but its future in an increasingly technological world
will depend upon substantially more public tax-based
support.
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