Residents of North Whitehall, South Whitehall and Upper Macungie townships will vote Nov. 8 on a referendum regarding funding for construction of a new Parkland Community Library.

The ballot question is “Shall funding for the Parkland Community Library be increased by raising the existing library tax from 0.10 to 0.28 mills (increasing $18 per $100,000 of assessed value on taxable real estate) within the Parkland School District?”

For a property assessed at $200,000, the new annual library tax would be $56, a $36 increase over the present rate.

Funds are being sought to build a library large enough to provide adequate space for staff, materials, programs and parking.

The structure is planned for a site at the intersection of Orefield and Coffeetown roads on land donated by Jackie and David Jaindl.

Library Director Debbie Jack reports the present 5,400-square-foot building, erected near the South Whitehall Municipal complex in 1981, was undersized from the day it opened.

“It should have been 5,000 square feet for the number of residents in 1981, but they built what they could afford,” Jack said.

The library has designs ready for a new 30,000-square-foot building to serve the 56,000 residents of the three townships.

Estimated cost is $14.6 million, which includes permits, construction and furnishings.

Jack said the size of the building was determined by library consultants based on the number of residents in the service area.

Jack commented on the advantages of a larger building.

“We’ll be able to have more events for seniors, children, teens and adults in the community,” Jack said. “We’ll give them the space they deserve, and we’ll be able to have more than one program at a time.

“The new site will have 170 parking spaces.”

To lower costs, the library eliminated the cafe which was part of the original proposal.

Instead, vending machines will be provided for self-serve refreshments.

Rob Cohen, who serves as the liaison from the Parkland School Board to the library board, said the new building has been enthusiastically embraced by library supporters.

He said the present structure is only one-fifth the size of an average library relative to its population.

Jack offered an additional thought as Election Day approaches.

“We’re very hopeful the community will come out and support the referendum,” Jack said.