Officials at the North Pocono Public Library hope to eliminate debt accrued from the construction of the library building with a fundraising campaign.
The library launched its Our Next Chapter capital campaign earlier this month, with the goal of raising $1.2 million by the time the campaign ends in late May.
The current 8,400-square foot building, which sits on nine acres on Church Street in Moscow, was opened in 2013 at a cost of $3 million. A fundraising campaign at that time for its construction raised more than $1 million, leaving the library with around $2.1 million remaining to cover the cost of the building, Development Director Christopher Kelly said this week.
Over the years, the library was able to pay off some of the remaining $2.1 million, but there is still $1.8 million in debt the library has left on the building. The county’s library tax does not cover the cost of the building.
The campaign began receiving donations from larger donors over the summer, with a little more than $800,000 raised as of this week. Kelly said many of those who donated also contributed to the initial campaign.
The campaign’s committee set the fundraising goal at $1.2 million, as opposed to the $1.8 million the library owes as it is more reasonable to reach, although Kelly hopes it will raise $1.8 million.
Kelly envisioned the campaign when he started at the library in early 2020, but its implementation was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and to allow the Scranton Public Library to execute its campaign to renovate the Nancy Kay Holmes Branch Library. That library reopened earlier this year.
Kelly said he was in touch with the Scranton Public Library about their campaign and took some ideas from it that he applied to the current campaign.
Library officials plan to get the word out about the campaign in the coming months, mailing information to North Pocono residents about it March.
Our Next Chapter Honorary Campaign Chairs Al and Dottie Magnotta show off the $1.2 million goal thermometer. (Submitted)
Our Next Chapter campaign co-chairs Ed Steinmetz, back row, left, and Alysia Clancy stand with honorary campaign chairs Al and Dottie Magnotta. (Submitted)
North Pocono Public Library Director Joy Monroe updates the amount raised on the goal thermometer at the library Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
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Our Next Chapter Honorary Campaign Chairs Al and Dottie Magnotta show off the $1.2 million goal thermometer. (Submitted)
Kelly said any amount is accepted, but they also accept gifts of stock and planned giving. In addition, those who donate larger amounts can get their names on plaques on the library’s wall or on pavers on the front entrance, or a quote from an author like Mark Twain or Agatha Christie listed at the library. People can also spread out the amount given over the course of up to five years.
Kelly said the library’s staff, board and the campaign’s committee have contributed to it since it launched. He’s excited with how it has done so far and hopes to hear from more people.
“I think it’s wonderful that the community has responded so well so far, but we’d love to hear from more donors that would want to participate in this small way, a medium way, a large way,” Kelly said. “We’ll do any way they would like.”
Ed Steinmetz, the library’s board treasurer and the campaign’s co-chair, said the money raised to eliminate the debt will help the library grow as a community hub. He’s hopeful the campaign will be successful.
“We’re hopeful and optimistic that as we tell the story about the library and this campaign and how important it is to our future, that, you know, we’ll continue to reach out to more members of the community and that hopefully we can continue to grow the number of commitments we have,” he said.
Kelly is also pleased with the response to the campaign.
“People love this place and I think that’s what inspires me every day because I grew up here and I love that I came back to work in my hometown,” he said.
Library Director Joy Monroe said the campaign will allow the library to pay off its debt and use money in the budget for other library operations.
“We want our library to last years and years and years and years and so we need to make sure that we are set up for that,” she said.