Bethlehem Public Library hosted its fourth annual miniature golf fundraiser Oct. 6, Spooky Golf, to raise funds for its "Room to Grow" program. Local residents played through 18 creepy holes, nine on the main floor and nine upstairs in the future Children's Room.

The library teamed with Lehigh University, whose student engineers worked to build the course. Edana Hoy, head of Youth Services, expressed gratitude for the hours spent preparing for the event.

"I'd like to send a big thank you to our volunteers, staff and board who spent so much time planning," said Hoy, who created much of the haunted atmosphere over several days.

Many groups worked to build the family-friendly course. Area artists were responsible for the artwork, said Diane Davis, assistant director, and the teen advisory board (TAB) planned a lot, and various student groups from Liberty HS. "Our goal today is to raise about $8,000 towards the $1 million we need to complete phases three and four," said Room to Grow consultant Carol Ritter. "We've already raised about $2.3 million since we started the program."

A scary fact: When Bethlehem Public Library's executive director Janet Fricker first took inventory of the library's services, she discovered that the children who utilized 37 percent of programs and books used a mere 7 percent of the available space. Just one small room holds the books and materials for these budding readers.

The library formed its committee in 2009, calling it "Room to Grow," to evaluate space, needs and the resources required to renovate the main library's space and revitalize the Southside branch.

So far, phases one and two are complete. Diane Davis, assistant director, said, "Phase one was cleaning out the space upstairs, relocating the offices, to create an area where we'll move the Children's Library. Phase two was to improve the layout and update the Southside branch. We added and upgraded computers, and that phase is complete. It's really beautiful now," she said.

The recent fundraiser, complete with dismembered hands, mummies, ghosts, bats and ghouls aplenty, moves the library closer to its goal of relocating the children's room from its current location to a much larger space upstairs - phase three.

"We have an opportunity, we believe, this winter to apply for a Keystone grant," Davis said. "We know that the state is behind us, and that they love this project and library."

If the library can raise matching funds of $500,000, the grant will fund the final phases three and four, she said. The last phase will be to convert the current children's library into a young adult section, Davis said.

Area businesses sponsored holes for the course including Philadelphia Trust, Deiter Bros, Johnny's Bagels & Deli, Maher Dussel CPAs, PenTeleData, RCN, and Young Plumbing & Heating.