(Bethlehem, PA) — The Bethlehem Area Public Library (BAPL) is pleased to announce it has received a grant of $2,000 from the Bethlehem Rotary Foundation. The grant award will support the renovation of the Bob Cohen Room at BAPL, and was presented to library Development and Marketing Specialist Kate Racculia by Bethlehem Rotary Club President Mark Reed at the club’s monthly meeting on Wednesday December 19, 2018.
The Cohen Room—the former children’s room on the first floor of BAPL—currently shows the wear of over half a century of use. It is being refurbished into a flexible multipurpose room, where the library can host concerts, lectures, meetings, plays, art galleries, workshops and other community-driven events. The room honors the memory of late Library Board member, donor, and supporter—and dedicated Rotarian—Bob Cohen.
Bethlehem Rotary President Mark Reed presents the Bethlehem Rotary Foundation’s grant to Kate Racculia of the Bethlehem Area Public Library. Photo credit: Chris Nelson.
“On behalf of everyone at BAPL,” said Racculia, “we’re so grateful to the Bethlehem Rotary Club for this gift, and for their support of the Cohen Room. It’s a joy to celebrate our mutual dear friend Bob Cohen by creating a wonderful renovated space at the library where the community we all love can gather.”
“Knowing Bob’s passion for music, the library and Rotary, this grant award was just a perfect combination, and we are honored to pay tribute to Bob in this meaningful way,” said Reed. “It is exciting to know that his legacy will live on in a space of which he would be so very proud!”
Construction on the Cohen Room at BAPL will begin this January.