We are excited to announce the digitization of two local newspapers, The Bethlehem Star and the Bethlehem Press, now available for the community to explore and enjoy!
The Bethlehem Star Archive
The Bethlehem Star, a bold and engaging weekly newspaper, first hit the streets in December 1993. Known for addressing hot-button issues with no hesitation, the paper quickly made its mark. Unfortunately, its run was short-lived, ceasing publication just a year later in December 1994.
At the time, Thomson Newspapers, the paper’s owner, was in the process of selling many of its publications. In 1994, both The Bethlehem Star and its sister paper, The Express-Times, were sold to MediaNews Group. Editor Gerald Scharf optimistically noted in the March 3 issue that the sale wouldn’t affect the Star’s publication: “We’ve been assured that the people of MediaNews Group love cheeky little community newspapers like ours.” But sadly, the Star’s story ended soon after.
We are proud to present all 42 issues of The Bethlehem Star in PDF format for our community to browse, revisit, and reflect on.
Bethlehem Press Archive
The Bethlehem Press, part of the Lehigh Valley Press group of weekly newspapers, began its journey in September 1987 when Times News entered the local weekly newspaper scene. Over the years, it became an essential source of news, serving the Allentown and Bethlehem areas.
Thanks to the diligent efforts of BAPL staff, we’ve now digitized all weekly issues of the Bethlehem Press from January 20, 2010, through August 2, 2023. You can browse through the issues by date or use the search bar to find a specific edition.
Special thanks to volunteer Bob McCall and staff members Michael Henninger, Kristen Leipert, and Matthew Rothfuss for making this project a reality.
For any questions, feel free to reach out to us at info@bapl.org.