Friends and Patrons,

I am writing to you with a sense of excitement and anticipation. We are getting ready to return to the library to offer services! One of the most important things I have learned over the past few months during the coronavirus pandemic is that there is no substitute for the relationships the library has developed with our neighborhood communities. Nothing can replace a warm smile, or the feeling of positively impacting someone's day, or an opportunity to teach a skill that will bring a person closer to a goal. As we begin to reopen, these interactions may look different, however they will happen!

I want to share how very proud I am of the work the library staff has accomplished in the past few months - we have adapted quickly and creatively in very difficult times. We offered a wide variety of virtual programming for all ages and kept the communication flowing through our social media outlets and website. Please know, our work is not done.  We continue to plan, strategize, and partner with people and local groups, such as the Nazareth Rotary Club, our supporting municipalities, the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce, local home town heroes, authors, artists, and educators to offer a top-notch summer reading program for all ages.

You can count on us to be here for you and to help you in many ways. Do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you might have. We have many tools in our toolbox and we will help you in any way we can.

We know this year you will miss some of the Nazareth summer traditions that we all love. Please remember that our local townships and the Nazareth Borough are working hard to be diligent in making decisions to keep all of us safe and taking precautions so we can remain healthy and prosperous.

I want to acknowledge that in the middle of dealing with an unprecedented coronavirus public health crisis, the voters of Upper Nazareth Township unofficially voted (as of 6/4/2020) to provide secure sustainable funding to the library. Library services are more important than ever, especially in providing accurate and timely information on just about any topic. On behalf of the Library Board and the Library Staff, I cannot thank the community enough for their support and efforts to make sure the message of the library's importance was spread to the Upper Nazareth Township voters. We hope the news of secured funding from Upper Nazareth Township lifts the community spirits as we enter the summer months. Andrew Carnegie said, "A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert."

The Library Staff and Library Board of Directors are ready and eager to safely welcome you back to the library in modified ways. Details of our service and programming offerings can be found throughout this publication.

As always, I will see you at the library - and I can't wait!

Holly Bennett