Parkland Community Library Gets More Land for New Site

has outgrown its location in and the library board is working toward building a new $11.5 million, 30,000-square-foot facility in Upper Macungie.

The township had agreed to provide eight acres in , but Karl Siebert, president of the library board, asked for four more acres last week.

said, “yes.”

Siebert said the new library – now on 12 acres – will blend in with park and the larger plot will include rain gardens and other gardens with benches and places to read. The plan is to incorporate the park setting into the plans.

“The larger site will allow for growth and flexibility,” said Dean Haas, Upper Macungie Township engineer.

The project has actually been underway since about 2009, and the capital campaign started last year with going out to residents in South Whitehall, Upper Macungie and North Whitehall.

When asked when the library will break ground, Siebert said, “when we have the money.”

In the contract with , the library must raise half of the $11.5 million price tag before start of construction.

“We have four pillars in our fundraising efforts,” Siebert said. “The first is the public … then philanthropists … businesses … and finally grant monies.”

The library now has about $3.5 million toward its goal.