The history of the Upper Perkiomen Valley Library tells the story of how the persistence of a few has benefitted many - for generations.

            Fifty years ago, a group of local citizens, led by Marion Bardman, was working hard to open a library in the Valley. They faced many challenges but would not give up, resulting in a thriving institution that annually serves more than 20,000 patrons of all ages.

The Upper Perkiomen Valley Library's first Board of Directors, left to right, Gwen Barndt, Marion Bardman, Jackie Lauchner, Al McCrea, Marilyn Markley and Ruth Yoder.

            The library's advisory board will honor Bardman with its Founders Award during the 29^th annual Wine Tasting fundraiser on Saturday, February 1, from 7 to 10 p.m., in the Perkiomen School's Parents Hall.

            The award was established in 2018 to kick off the two-year celebration of the

Left to right: Allison Louis, library board president, Jeanne Cove, UPV Library Branch Manager, Marion Bardman, first president of the board 50 years ago. Bardman will re- ceive the Founders Award during the 29th annual Wine Tasting fundraiser on Saturday, February 1.

library's 50^th anniversary and is awarded each year for service to the library and the greater Upper Perkiomen Valley.

            It all started at a Parent Teacher Association meeting at the old Marlborough School around 1968. According to Bardman, who was PTA president at the time, Kathy Bradshaw, a parent, stood up and asked the question, "Why don't we have a public library?"

            In response, Bardman appointed a committee to answer that question.

            "People moving into this area from other places were used to having libraries," said Bardman. "We had a bookmobile, but that wasn't enough."

            The group worked directly with Pearl Frankenfield who was Executive Director of Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library from 1968 to 1976.  "We knew if we could be associated with the County library we could get all of the county services. Mrs. Frankenfield emphasized that we had to have a paid librarian, not a volunteer," said Bardman, meaning the group had to raise money for a building and a part-time librarian's salary. The initial budget for the startup was about $4,000.  

            "We put it on a referendum, and we asked the public if they would support it. I think it was 20 cents per person, and it failed in every municipality," she said. "I got up and made speeches, but it was defeated."

            Despite the setback, the newly formed library association, with Bardman as president, leased a small building in Red Hill. Her husband, Carl, who just died two years ago, built shelves for the books. Other early board members included Al McCrea, Gwen Barndt, Jacqueline Lauchnor, Marty Horn, Marilyn Markley, Ruth Yoder, Kathy Bradshaw, Joyce Mest, Dorsey Reynolds, Albert Teske, and Amy Treichler. Forty volunteers helped stock the shelves and prepare for the public.  

            Without funding from the municipalities, the group raised money by holding charity balls, garage sales, quilt raffles, selling cookies at the Goshenhoppen Folk Festival in historic costumes, and soliciting donations. "Anything to make money," said Bardman, who also hosted craft shows with her friend Sheila Weber.

            Eventually, the same municipalities that voted the measure down, allocated funding in their budgets to support the library, including the boroughs of Red Hill, Green Lane, East Greenville, and Pennsburg, and the townships of Marlborough and Upper Hanover. According to Branch Manager Jeanne Cove, their faithful support is crucial to the library's success as it provides nearly $30,000 each year."

            In 1970, the association received permission to start a station of the county library in a small building at 518 Main Street in Red Hill. After a few years, the library became an official county branch and moved to the old Red Hill Post Office, located at 359 Main St., where it remained for nearly 20 years.

            "I can still remember lying on the old green carpet to read books as a child," said Shaun Yorgey, current vice-president of the library board and Director of Strategic Innovation at Perkiomen School.

            "I still remember the smell of the carpet," said new library board president Allison Louis. "I have fond memories of choosing books with my mother and participating in the Summer Reading Club." She now makes memories with her three daughters, who are regulars at the library.  "The library provides so many opportunities for their love of books to thrive and grow. I'm thankful the library is a place my whole family can enjoy."

            In 1992, the library moved diagonally across Main Street to today's 8,000-square-foot facility, where it now has three full-time and six part-time employees and an annual budget of more than $90,000.  

            Board member Kelly Cox grew up just a few blocks away and got her first library card at just six years old.  "It's been a love affair with libraries ever since," said Cox, "We attended Storytime, and I'd get handfuls of Goosebumps, Boxcar Children, and Nancy Drew books. I was eventually allowed to walk to the library by myself, and it became a symbol of freedom and independence."

            Cox works at the Montgomery County Community College library and will receive her master's degree in Library and Information Science this spring.  "My love for libraries and my sincere belief in free and equal access to community resources was born at the Upper Perkiomen Valley Library. I'm so grateful that I was introduced to a library at a young age, and I think it's important that we continue to help libraries thrive."

            While Bardman could not foresee the library of today filled with electronic media and computers, the UPVL has introduced many patrons to these resources and continues to provide free access, circulating more than 80,000 items including books, eBooks, audios, literacy kits and DVD's each year. It is the area's primary provider of free public computer and Internet access, with more than 10,000 computer hours utilized by over 5,000 patrons annually.

            "In the mid-90s, I was able to utilize the library resources to learn how to code during the internet's infancy," said Matt Newman, who attended Upper Perkiomen High School and Juniata College. "I used the skills I learned at the library to build digital websites for well-known entertainment/sports brands, including The Office, American Gladiators, and the Olympics."

In 2010, Newman's work on the Biggest Loser's social networking site was nominated for an Emmy Award. The former Director of Automation Engineering at NBC Universal recently returned to the valley and lives in Red Hill.

            The Upper Perkiomen Valley Library is a branch of the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library with the mission to provide a gateway to lifelong learning by providing convenient access to resources that inform, educate, entertain and enrich people's lives. The library building is owned and maintained through fundraising by the Upper Perkiomen Valley Library Association, a nonprofit organization made up of representatives of the six local municipalities.

            The annual Wine Tasting on Saturday, February 1, is the association's largest fundraiser, and all proceeds are used to maintain the building, support the staff and provide programs.  It will feature wines of the Pacific Northwest presented by Main Line Wine Guy Robert Peters and delicious food parings prepared by Perkiomen School Chef Alan Kern and his staff from Sodexo. As always, there will be a very competitive silent auction.

            For more information about the library or to buy tickets to the Wine Tasting, please call 215-679-2020 or go to www.upvlibrary.org.