Now, every time you borrow materials from a BAPL branch, you’ll not only receive your due date—you’ll also see how much you saved by using your library card. It’s a fun and meaningful way to highlight the value of your membership. So next time you visit, check your receipt and celebrate the savings!

The Bethlehem Area Public Library’s mission is to connect our community through literature, media, and more. Our cardholders enjoy access to thousands of books, movies, albums, and other resources—all completely free. We’re proud to provide this service to the people of Bethlehem and the greater Lehigh Valley.

This kind of access isn’t just convenient—it’s community-driven. Whether you’re searching for a weekend movie, a new novel, or materials for school or work, the library is here to support lifelong learning, enrichment, and entertainment. By offering a wide range of media to borrow, BAPL helps reduce household expenses while promoting a culture of sustainability, sharing, and connection.

Maryann Riker: Selected Works | April 25 – July 30 | Bethlehem Area Public Library – Main Library

Maryann Riker’s works evoke a sense of memory, time and journeys. Her works incorporate digital images, Victorian iconography and other symbols to convey a sense of memory and time as one opens and unfolds the work. Her works have been exhibited both nationally and internationally and are in the Special Collections of: The Brooklyn Museum of Art, The Walker Art Center, the Art Institute of Chicago, The National Museum for Women in the Arts, Yale University, Mills College, University of Iowa, Rhode Island School of Design, Lafayette College, Rutgers University, Newark Art Museum, Newark Public Library and many other private and public collections.

• Visitors to the Main Library: 173,285

• Reference questions answered: 25,788

• Items Borrowed: 421,492

You can also read about the new local history collections added to bapl.org, the many events held at our many library locations, our outreach activities in the community, and a list of our major donors.

Thank you to everyone who participated in BAPL’s year in ways big and small. Whether you checked out a book, attended a program, donated to a fundraiser, or used a resource online, you were part of our story in 2024 and we thank you!

Ron Williams on Film Noir:

What is Film Noir? Is it fedoras, trench coats, and high-contrast black and white film? Is it seedy bars filled with chain smoking private eyes and ex-cons looking for a big score? Is it star-crossed lovers with an inconvenient husband who needs to disappear? Yes, it is. Film Noir is all of that and much more.

The term “Film Noir” was first used in post-war France by cineastes in Paris who were just catching up on the Hollywood pictures they had missed during the war. The French critic, Nino Frank, is credited with coining the term ‘film noir’ to describe the bleak crime pictures of the time. Hollywood hadn’t recognized this new genre while they were making these films, but Frank and other critics picked up on the dark themes of insecurity, nihilism, and existentialism at the heart of many of the films, as well as the expressionist inspired, low-key, black and white cinematography which defined most noir films during its classic period in the 1940s and 1950s.

While the cinematic style of film noir has changed over the years, the term is still used to describe crime films with characters who blur the lines between hero and villain. Here are a handful of Film Noirs which perfectly encapsulate the genre. You can find them on Kanopy!

The Classic Period:

• Kansas City Confidential (1952)
  Directed by: Phil Karlson
  Written by: George Bruce and Harry Essex
  Produced by: Edward Small
  Fans of Reservoir Dogs (1992), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) will see clear inspiration for those films here. This classic caper features an intricately planned heist which is to be pulled off by a crew of cons who are strangers to each other. No one knows each other, so no one can betray each other…but they can’t trust each other, either.
• Detour (1945)
  Directed by: Edgar G. Ulmer
  Written by: Martin Goldsmith
  Produced by: Leon Fromkess
  Things go from bad to worse to catastrophic for a down-on-his-luck piano player hitchhiking from New York to Los Angeles. Detour is one of the most widely-known noir films of all time and perfectly embodies the bleak fatalism of the genre.
• Too Late For Tears (1949)
  Directed by: Byron Haskin
  Written by: Roy Huggins
  Produced by: Hunt Stromberg
  What would you do if a big bag of money fell into your lap? Would you keep it or turn it over to the police? That’s the quandary at the heart of Too Late For Tears. If you’re not familiar with the works of the actor Dan Duryea, get ready to meet one of cinema’s greatest heels.

French Noir:

• Symphony for a Massacre (1963)
  Directed by: Jacques Deray
  Written by: Alain Reynaud-Fourton, José Giovanni, Claude Sautet, Jacques Deray
  Produced by: Julien Derode
  Inspired by The Asphalt Jungle, this French noir classic is full of backstabbers, two-timers, schemers, and total degenerates…a perfect noir cocktail, especially in the hands of a skilled filmmaker like Jacques Deray. Deray became so famous for making noirs, thrillers, crime films, and spy movies the Jacques Deray Prize was created in 2006 to honor him. It is awarded annually to the best French crime-thriller film of the year.
• Le Samouraï (1967)
  Directed by: Jean-Pierre Melville
  Written by: Jean-Pierre Melville and Georges Pellegrin
  Produced by: Raymond Borderie and Eugène Lépicier
  Alain Delon plays a methodical, perfectionist assassin who hits an unexpected snag on a job and must elude both the authorities and the people who hired him in Jean-Pierre Melville’s stylish neo-noir. This is one of the coolest films of all time. I challenge anyone to watch this and not feel compelled to buy a trenchcoat.

Neo Noir:

• The Long Goodbye (1973)
  Directed by: Robert Altman
  Written by: Leigh Brackett
  Produced by: Jerry Bick
  Elliot Gould made some great films with Robert Altman over the years, and I would put this one towards the top of the list. Here he perfectly embodies Raymond Chandler’s legendary private detective, Phillip Marlowe. Gould made a career playing moral men who are constantly butting heads with a world that seems to be turning more cynical and selfish all the time. In The Long Goodbye, his principles are tested by the weirdos, gangsters, and sleazebags of seventies Los Angeles.
• Point Blank (1967)
  Directed by: John Boorman
  Written by: Alexander Jacobs, David Newhouse, and Rafe Newhouse
  Produced by: Judd Bernard and Robert Chartoff
  Based on the Robert Stark novel, The Hunter, this 1967 neo-noir is your prototypical revenge film. There are no “good guys” here. Lee Marvin plays a crook who was double-crossed and now he’s looking to bury the people who did him dirty.

We have some exciting news about the South Side Branch of the Bethlehem Area Public Library! While we are currently still operating on reduced hours, we’re getting closer to our full schedule.

Here’s the update:

• This week (November 4th-7th), South Side will be open 2-6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, just like last week.
• Starting Monday, November 11th, the South Side Branch will return to 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
• We remain closed on Saturdays for now, but we’re hopeful for further improvements soon.

We appreciate your patience as we work toward full operations. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! Thanks for your continued support of BAPL and our South Side Branch.

We’ll keep you posted on any additional changes. Hope to see you soon!

Bethlehem, PA (October 2024) — Lehigh Valley artist, musician, and professional skateboarder Ray Gurz will release his fourth children’s book, Jacob and Ridley Hang with Koda, at a special launch event here at the Bethlehem Area Public Library (BAPL) on November 30 at 10 AM. Gurz, known for his energetic creativity and his passion for skateboarding, continues the heartwarming adventures of his beloved characters, Jacob and Ridley, in this highly anticipated new book.

Jacob and Ridley Hang with Koda follows the two best friends as they embark on a new adventure, welcoming a new furry friend named Koda into their crew. Koda is based on Ray’s real-life pug of the same name, who he adopted from the Sanctuary of Haafsville. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit their work. As in previous books, Gurz’s playful illustrations bring the story to life, while the narrative encourages children to embrace friendship, inclusion, and living authentically.

“I’m so pumped to introduce Koda in this book,” said Gurz. “The Jacob and Ridley series is all about staying true to yourself and hanging with your friends — with a little skateboarding fun thrown in for good measure.”

This marks Gurz’s fourth book, building on the success of his previous titles, including Jacob and Ridley Head to the Park and Jacob and Ridley Start a Band.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ray back to the library,” said BAPL Executive Director Josh Berk. “I’m a big fan of his music and art and the Jacob and Ridley books in particular. They are so fun and it’s always a blast having him at the library. Maybe Koda will come too!”

The event will take place at BAPL’s Main Library, located at 11 W. Church Street in Bethlehem. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Ray Gurz, purchase signed copies of Jacob and Ridley Hang with Koda, and enjoy activities for kids. Copies of the book will be available for sale during the event.

We want to keep you updated on the status of our South Side Branch. Unfortunately, the branch will remain closed until Monday, October 28. We’re working hard to resolve the issues, and we’ve got our fingers crossed that everything will be sorted by then.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We hope to welcome you back soon and get back to our usual hours and services!

The evening event featured a thrilling one-man performance of Sherlock Holmes and The Speckled Band by acclaimed actor Neill Hartley. Attendees were captivated as Sherlock unraveled the mystery inside a dark, menacing mansion, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.

The rare book auction was the highlight of the evening, with bidders competing for the chance to own a signed copy of The Stark Munro Letters by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. “Conan Doyle autographs are incredibly rare,” said BAPL Executive Director Josh Berk. “Owning a signed book by him is a dream come true for collectors.”

This memorable event was made possible through the generous support of Elliot Tracey – State Farm Insurance. Thanks to Elliot’s sponsorship, all funds raised from the auction and book sales will go directly toward purchasing BAPL’s new bookmobile, ensuring that the library’s reach continues to grow.

Thanks to everyone who attended and supported the library’s efforts—it was a day to remember for Sherlock fans, book lovers, and supporters of the library alike!

Elliot Tracey – State Farm Insurance

The Bethlehem Area Public Library South Side Branch is CLOSED this week: Sep 30-Oct 5

Please note that the South Side Branch of BAPL will be closed the following dates through the 2024 Labor Day holiday. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you visit our other locations during this time.

• Wednesday, 8/28: CLOSED
• Thursday, 8/29: CLOSED
• Friday, 8/30: CLOSED (as usual)
• Saturday, 8/31 – Monday, 9/2: CLOSED (Labor Day Weekend)
• Tuesday, 9/3 – Saturday, 9/7: CLOSED

Sherlock Holmes has to stop a killer in an old mansion in the case of Sherlock Holmes and The Speckled Band. Can he prevent another murder?! The performance is a riveting one-man show by acclaimed Neill Hartley. Neill Hartley is professional actor on the theater faculty of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

The centerpiece of the evening auction is a signed copy of The Stark Munro Letters by none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. “Conan Doyle autographs are very rare and to own a signed copy of a book by him is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for a bibliophile,” says BAPL Executive Director Josh Berk.

The opportunity to purchase The Stark Munro Letters is only avalaible with a ticket to the performance and auction. Purchase your ticket here. Refreshements will be served. The book fair from 10-5 is free and open to all. This event is sponsored by Elliot Tracey – State Farm Insurance and all funds raise go to the purchase of BAPL’s new bookmobile.