Annual Report

2015 BAPL ANNUAL REPORT
A Rockin’ Good Year!
What’s even cooler than a book signing by one of the most
successful authors in the world? How about a visit from a
certified member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! While
2014 brought us “Diary of A Wimpy Kid” creator Jeff Kinney
(who really is extremely cool), 2015 brought us Marky
Ramone, drummer of the hallowed Ramones. He visited
BAPL to sign copies of his memoir and meet with the
record-shattering crowds. It was just one exciting moment
in a year full of them. There was a ground-breaking food
program, a deep discussion on race and crime, and a
children’s literature festival. Our South Side Branch
received several significant donations, a testament to the
community’s deep love for the neighborhood library that has
been a home away from home for generations.
The most exciting moment (sorry, Marky) had to
be the joyous sound of hammers as construction
began on the long-awaited Frances L. Barnard
Children’s Center. This has truly been a communitywide project; hundreds of donations of all sizes
have been given which, along with local and State
grants, have made this possible. The ribbon will
soon be cut on an innovative and exciting addition
to our library which will inspire and educate young
people for generations to come. Construction is
scheduled to be finished in March of 2016. We
can’t wait!
-Josh Berk, Executive Director
2015 BAPL ANNUAL REPORT
2015 Board of Trustees
City of Bethlehem Board Members:
Bethlehem Township Board Members:
Robert Cohen
Jane Gill
Aurea Ortiz
Cathy Reuscher (Treasurer)
Emil Signes
Marie Sterlein (Secretary)
Sharon Yoshida
Janet Barry (Vice-President)
Thomas Nolan (President)
Fountain Hill Board Member:
Annamarie Jordan
Hanover Township Board Member:
Jack Nagle
Thank you to the dedicated individuals who serve on the Library Board. These trustees are
appointed by Bethlehem City Council and the governing bodies of each of our supporting
municipalities. Trustees do not receive compensation for the invaluable service they provide on
behalf of the Library and their communities.
2015 Card-holding Membership
Member Community
2015 New
Cardholders
Total Active
Cardholders
Cardholders % of
Residents
City of Bethlehem
2,569
44,243
59%
Bethlehem
Township
528
9,749
41%
Fountain Hill
140
2,341
51%
Hanover Township
283
5,243
48%
Total Service Area
3,520
61,576
54%
2015 BAPL ANNUAL REPORT
2015 BAPL ANNUAL REPORT
2015 Financial Information
It was an extremely difficult financial year for BAPL, as it was for every organization in Pennsylvania that relies on state
funds to operate. The budget impasse resulted in missed payments and a major decrease in operating revenue for the
library.
Revenue
2015
2014
Expenditures
2015
2014
City of Bethlehem
$1,277,082
$1,277,082
Salary & Wages
$1,680,588
$1,632,760
State Aid
$366,206
$514,542
Employee Benefits
$247,734
$ 234,197
Bethlehem Township
$404,166
$404,166
Amortized Benefit
Obligation
$165,000
$165,000
Hanover Township
$185,068
$185,068
Utilities
$102,941
$ 108,673
Library Materials
$216,467
$246,322
Supplies
$45,213
$52,375
Equipment Repairs &
Maintenance
$38,689
$51,048
IT/Computer Network/
Technology Fees
$92,222
$101,816
Financial & Legal
Services
$48,675
$53,965
Bookmobile
$10,319
$9,424
Miscellaneous
$17,081
$45,434
Transportation/
Meetings
$1,594
$2,803
Overdue Fines
Fountain Hill
Investment Income
$117,444
$78,295
$60,293
$117,444
$78,295
$72,337
Book Sales
$56,405
$56,549
Copy Service
$14,340
$12,670
Buy-a-Book campaign
$13,341
$13,603
Book Rentals
$3,088
$4,239
Miscellaneous
$19,336
$9,480
Note: An annual audit of BAPL financial
information is prepared in the spring of each year by
Maher Duessel, Certified Public Accountants,
Harrisburg, PA
2015 BAPL ANNUAL REPORT
Thank you to our donors
BAPL would like to thank the many generous donors who have given to the capital campaign in 2015.
Grants & Gifts
Reidler Foundation
$47,500
Anonymous
$44,825
Keystone Savings Foundation
$30,000
City of Bethlehem
$24,000
Shaffer Family Charitable Trust
$20,000
ESSA Bank & Trust
$20,000
Friends of BAPL
$11,850
PPL
$7,500
Thomas F. Staley Foundation
$4,000
The Shafer Family Charitable Trust Foundation
$2,500
First Windish Fraternal Benefit Society
$2,000
GFWC Women's Club
$500
TOTAL
$ 214,675
Individual Donations $34,646.96
Including the following 2015 Outstanding Donations:
Janet Barry • Jan Brody • Estelle Browne-Pallrand • Margery Gotshall
Terese Heidenwolf • In honor of Walter Heller • April & Pat Herrity • Carolee Hlay
Liza and Jim Holzinger • Katherine Johnson • Richard Johnson
In memory of Nancy Kernan • Bruce Palmer • In memory of David E. Paul
In memory of Ruth C. Pesavento • In memory of Louis Rodriguez • Marie F. Sterlein
Deni Thurman-Eyer • Marie Utsch • Kathy & Gordon Weil • Sharon and Ron Yoshida
2015 BAPL ANNUAL REPORT