It\u2019s an unexpected problem to have.<\/p>\n
\u201cI underestimated the generosity,\u201d Emmaus Public Library Adult Services Librarian Christine Wieder said in an interview in early November not far from a space where donations of canned soup, packages of instant oatmeal and macaroni and cheese and personal care items line library shelves.<\/p>\n
The generosity of donations from the library\u2019s community of readers and others has helped stock the Share Shelf, a pantry now available in the library, 11 E. Main St., Emmaus.<\/p>\n
The shelf is open to everyone, no questions asked, Wieder said.<\/p>\n
Inspired by a program offered in the Bethlehem Area Public Library South Side Branch where she worked before coming to the Emmaus library, Wieder had a plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cWherever I went next I wanted to create something similar,\u201d Wieder said.<\/p>\n
The pantry includes shelf stable foods such as jars of peanut butter, boxes of breakfast cereal, packages of crackers, granola bars and mini muffins. Boxes of pasta share shelf space with pancake mixes, applesauce cups, cans of tuna, bags of rice and jars of pasta sauce.<\/p>\n
There is also room for such essentials as diapers, toothbrushes and toothpastes, bottles of shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, packages of baby and body wipes, boxes of tissues and period supplies.<\/p>\n
The Share Shelf does not offer clothing.<\/p>\n
The pantry opened in late October. Inaugural publicity was a brief social media post, Wieder said.<\/p>\n
Audiobooks once filled the shelves where the Share Shelf now stands, Wieder explained.<\/p>\n
A smaller collection of audiobooks remains available to checkout.<\/p>\n
The name for the pantry nods to the purpose and spirit of public libraries. Readers ultimately share library books and books line up on library shelves.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted something catchy that got the point across and that one stuck,\u201d Wieder said of the name for the pantry.<\/p>\n
Coworkers designed and made the signage, Wieder said.<\/p>\n
The Share Shelf is open any time the library is open. Anyone may use the pantry. Wieder keeps an eye on the shelves and restocks as needed.<\/p>\n
No longer serving communities primarily as storehouses of knowledge, many libraries are expanding their roles as community hubs.<\/p>\n
In the article titled \u201cCommunity Building: For Modern Libraries, Bringing People Together Is Fundamental,\u201d published in the trade publication \u201cLibrary Journal\u201d in 2023, Dennis Pierce wrote, \u201cmodern libraries are active, dynamic environments with spaces for community learning, sharing, creating and socializing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a matter now of determining what the community needs and how to serve the community,\u201d Wieder said, with the aim of recognizing what the people you are serving need the most.<\/p>\n
A Share Shelf user recently suggested hand warmers be offered as the months move toward winter.<\/p>\n
One item in particular is on Wieder\u2019s list for the pantry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would love to get laundry detergent,\u201d Wieder said.<\/p>\n
Donations can be made at the library.<\/p>\n
An Amazon wish list also is available to make donations.<\/p>\n
ABOVE: Emmaus Public Library Adult Services Librarian Christine Wieder brings the inspiration for the new Share Shelf from her work at the Bethlehem Area Public Library South Side Branch. \u201cI just wanted something catchy that got the point across and that one stuck,\u201d Wieder said of the Share Shelf name.<\/p>\n
Press Photos by April PetersonShelves once housing audiobooks are repurposed to hold items for the pantry. A smaller audiobook collection remains available for checkout.<\/p>\n
Donations stock the shelves with such necessities as shelf stable foods including soups, instant macaroni and cheese, fruit snacks and instant oatmeal as well as diapers and personal care items.<\/p>\n
The Share Shelf is open whenever the library is open. Regular library hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library is closed Sundays and significant holidays.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s an unexpected problem to have. \u201cI underestimated the generosity,\u201d Emmaus Public Library Adult Services Librarian Christine Wieder…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":52652,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[119,121,120],"class_list":{"0":"post-52651","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-allentown","8":"tag-allentown","9":"tag-allentown-headlines","10":"tag-allentown-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52651"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52651\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}