Free access to Foundation Directory Online Essential

Nonprofit organizations can still search for funding opportunities while the Chester County Library is closed. Candid, the parent company of the Foundation Center, has provided us with temporary, free access to Foundation Directory Online Essential. This valuable resource includes:

  • 103,000+ expanded grantmaker profiles
  • 300,000+ key decision makers and leaders
  • Searchable 990s and 990-PDFs
  • FDO Workspace

If you need more in-depth information on a foundation than FDO Essential can provide, please email us at ref@ccls.org and one of our librarians can send you the full Funder Profile from Foundation Directory Online Professional.

Kids’ Update: How to Tie Your Shoes

​Terry Moore believes that most of us are tying our shoes incorrectly. Surprisingly enough, he’s probably right. In this informative TED Talk, Moore demonstrates how to tie a stronger knot that won’t let us down. You just might be surprised when you click on How to Tie Your Shoes! As Moore notes, sometimes small advantages can yield big results.

Here’s a funny book about NOT going to school in a very interesting way! Me and My Cat.

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

Get Book Recommendations from Novelist Plus!

Are you looking for what to read next? Need some suggestions based on your favorite books, authors, or series? Novelist Plus has you covered!

NoveList connects readers to their next book by making recommendations for what to read next. It covers non-fiction and fiction as well as book suggestions for readers of all ages, from young picture book lovers to adults in the mood for an intense historical fiction title.

One of the most popular features is read-alikes. If you have ever read a book and wanted to find another just like it, NoveList makes it a breeze to find your next great read. In addition, recommended reading and award-winning book lists are available in NoveList. It also has extra content like reviews (both professional and reader reviews), book discussion guides, curriculum guides, and other book-oriented articles.

NoveList will become your one-stop shop for all of your reading needs and wants!

Vote by mail–no questions asked!

The 2020 Primary Election is just over a month away and you want to make sure your vote is counted! Did you know that you can now vote by mail in Pennsylvania? Due to recent voting reforms, registered voters can now apply to receive a  mail-in ballot without  providing  a  reason. Registered voters with a valid PA Driver’s License or PennDOT ID number can apply for their vote-by-mail ballot online. If you do not have one of these ID numbers, you can download a paper application from the same site and mail it to your County Board of Elections. Learn more about voting in PA in this handy online guide.

Library Update March 27

Welcome to Stay Connected with Chescolibraries. The Libraries are closed until April 13. Please do not return library materials at this time. All due dates have been extended to April 15, and current overdue materials will not continue to accrue fines until we reopen. For help with your library account, please visit our Contact Us page. For help with OverDrive, please visit our OverDrive Help page.

Kids’ Update: Philly Zoo at 2

​Get an insider’s look at the Philadelphia Zoo during their Philly Zoo at 2 Facebook Live series and virtually meet and interact with the amazing animals and dedicated staff every weekday at 2:00 p.m. Philly Zoo at 2.

Just like bear, we should be kind to the bees! Please, Please the Bees.

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

Time to Start Your Own Vegetable Garden

Having a vegetable garden supports a healthy and sustainable life style.  Now is the time to start one, but how?

First, let’s find your plant hardiness zone from USDA Hardiness Zone Finder.  It will help you to decide which plants should go into your garden.

Second, timing is everything.  This Garden Planting Calendar tells you when to start planting your desired vegetables.

Third, let’s get up and start your own vegetable garden!

Resources

From OverDrive:

Ultimate Garden Guide
143 Ideas for Containers, Beds & Borders
Southern Living by The Editors of Southern Living

The Rodale Book of Composting, Newly Revised and Updated
Simple Methods to Improve Your Soil, Recycle Waste, Grow Healthier Plants, and Create an Earth-Friendly Garden by Grace Gershuny and Deborah L. Martin

Ecological Gardening
Your Path to a Healthy Garden by Marjorie Harris

From Seed to Skillet
A Guide to Growing, Tending, Harvesting, and Cooking Up Fresh, Healthy by Jimmy Williams

Starting & Saving Seeds
Grow the Perfect Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, and Flowers for Your Garden by Julie Thompson-Adolf

There are also many resources from Fipster.  Search Home & Garden.

Other Resources:

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Food for Thought

Composting information from Chester County Soil Waste Authority 

Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years. – Unknown
There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments. – Janet Kilburn Phillips
When the world wearies and society fails to satisfy, there is always the garden. – Minnie Aumonier

Kids’ Update: Hidden Worlds of the National Parks

Follow rangers on a journey to places most people never go. Virtually visit Bryce Canyon, Hawai’i volcanoes, or other National Parks at Hidden Worlds of the National Parks.

He doesn’t go to a National Park, but you might want to find out what happened on The Night I Followed the Dog.

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

Second Town Hall for Small Businesses in Chester County

Please join the Exton Regional Chamber of Commerce tomorrow, March 27th, at 11 am for the second in a series of Telephone Town Halls for all Chester County business owners and managers impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This session focuses on preparation for navigating and applying for the federal and state programs created to help businesses survive the COVID-19 crisis.

Register at https://event.conferencegroup.com?eventIdentifier=6777469F-8784-4414-BD7E-D6584DBD3801

Tinkering at Home!

Looking for coding, gadgetry, and other STEM activities to do at home? These organizations have you covered!

First, follow along with the Girls Who Code and make binary bracelets, Scratch stories, and digital tutorials. They’ll be updating with new activities regularly, so stay tuned.

Next, check out Make Magazine’s Makercamp! They have a great catalog of projects to follow along with, from low tech papercraft automata to a fully functional Makey Makey Operation board game.

Finally, check out these Khan Academy schedules to add a bit of structure to your day! They have lessons on everything, from Math to Biology to Reading Comprehension.