A silent basket auction exceeded its goals for helping support the Whitehall Township Public Library.

A tisket, a tasket, people donated to the library in the form of a basket. The Whitehall Township Public Library hosted its first silent basket auction from Sept. 20-27. The goal was to raise $500 but the library reported Oct. 14 it raised $1,307.

Funds will support programs at the library.

Library Director Patty Vahey said the funds will help the library offer programs which are not currently in the budget. The hope is the library can offer more adult and family programs.

"It's nice," Vahey said, "that people still value what the library is doing. We need the additional funding for the extra programs. And the people who come in the library are worth it."

Patrons who wished to participate came to the library and registered for a number which they used to bid on the baskets. The person who made the highest bid walked away with the prize.

Baskets with names such as "Lotsa Pasta" and "Let's Jam" along with 39 other baskets filled with candies, gift cards and books were on display at the library.

Patrons from all over the Lehigh Valley donated materials to make the basket auction come to life at the library.

Vahey said the fundraiser came together almost effortlessly due to the great staff and friends of the library.

"Lots of people wanted to donate and help," she said.

Letters to businesses such as Josh Early and authors such as Debbie Macomber were sent out about six weeks before the auction to ask for support.

Then, the library team spent a day sorting the materials and packaging the baskets.

The library staff hoped this fundraising format would bring people into the library to donate in a different way. The library plans to utilize a similar format in April to celebrate their 150th anniversary during National Library Week.