Exeter Community Library christens outdoor theater
If there was a silver lining to the coronavirus pandemic, it may have been that for many it reignited a love of being outdoors.
With the danger of spreading COVID-19 when people gathered inside, moving events outdoors was an attractive option. It provided fresh air and more space.
But at the Exeter Community Library, moving activities outside wasn’t an option. The facility simply didn’t have a dedicated outdoor
space.
Now, it does.
On May 13, the Exeter Township library welcomed community members to gather for a special event to christen its new amphitheater. Guests were treated to a host of performances and demonstrations designed to show off the versatility of the new outdoor space.
Mallory Hoffman, executive director of the library, said the idea of having an outdoor space at the library is one that had been bounced around for several years.
The challenges of COVID showed that it was a necessity.
“Laura Kauffman, our children’s librarian, had always dreamed of having an outdoor space,” Hoffman said. “Last summer she came to me and said we have to do this outdoor space. It was totally her vision and determination that got this done.”
The library received a grant from Berks County using funds from the American Rescue Plan to help cover about a third of the cost of the project. Another grant from the Berks County Community
Foundation helped to fund the lighting.
Construction of the amphitheater was finished in November, but because of the timing library officials decided to wait until spring to have a big event to officially open it.
“We just started planning for a big event to showcase all the different things that could be done with the space,” Hoffman said.
The amphitheater sits behind the library. A group of windows in the back of the building that