The Board of Trustees of the Chester County Library System/Chester County Library are hosting their monthly board meeting as a hybrid offering. If you have always wanted to attend a meeting but haven’t had the time, this is your opportunity. Please click on this link at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20th, to join the Chester County Library System Board Meeting virtually, or attend in person at the Chester County Library, 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton. The Chester County Library Board Meeting will immediately follow. Find the Chester County Library Board Packet here.
If you are a person with a disability and wish to attend this meeting and require an auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodation to observe or participate in the proceedings, please call Chester County Library’s Administration Office at 610-344-5600 or email ddadoly@ccls.org to discuss how we may best accommodate your needs.
Jim McErlane pictured with Lamb McErlane colleagues and former State Senator Andy Dinniman at the Chester County Library Trust Donor Appreciation Event.
On October 1, the Chester County Library Trust gathered donors and friends in the Struble Room at Chester County Library for its annual Donor Appreciation Event. The evening celebrated the generosity of Trust supporters and recognized James E. McErlane, Esq., whose leadership has shaped the Trust since its beginning.
Jim has been part of the Trust’s story from the very start. When the organization was being established in 2006, he helped guide its formation and served as the Founding President, laying the groundwork for the Trust’s ongoing support of library services at the Chester County Library and Henrietta Hankin Branch. His work during those early years—building policies, refining bylaws, and setting a strong foundation—continues to influence the Trust’s mission today.
The Chester County Commissioners presented Jim with a citation honoring his service, stating, “Jim McErlane is a leader whose enduring commitment to the Chester County Library Trust and the broader community will be felt for generations.”
Former State Senator and Chester County Library Board member Andy Dinniman also praised Jim’s impact, noting his ability to bring people together to solve community problems and concerns. “Every county needs a Jim McErlane to provide this vital function. Chester County has been blessed through Jim’s work.”
Jim’s dedication to Chester County extends far beyond the Trust. A lifelong resident, Navy veteran, Villanova‑trained attorney, and senior partner at Lamb McErlane, he has served on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s Judicial Conduct Board, the Judicial Nominating Advisory Panel for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and several local nonprofits and community organizations.
The Trust is grateful to all donors whose support helps strengthen library programs, collections, and services for residents throughout Chester County.
The Chester County Library Trust, a 501(c)3 organization, was established to bridge the gap between traditional funding sources and community needs. The goal of the Trust is to develop financial resources to build collections, expand library programs and services, and support projects the libraries cannot afford through operating budgets. https://chescolibraries.org/about/how-you-can-help/chester-county-library-trust/
Welcome to the tenth month of this year’s reading challenge! The 2026 Reading Challenge is open to all readers reading at a Young Adult or Adult level in any format. Please register for the challenge this year using this online registration form or by speaking to the Reference Desk. Then, pick up a physical tracking log at the Reference Desk or print one out at home using the link provided in the Resources section of the Reading Challenge page at bit.ly/AdultReadingProgram.
For those of you who joined us for last year’s challenge, you all know the drill! For those who are just joining us this year, I will post the prompt along with some suggested reads and resources here on the blog every month. Different from last year, the prompts this year are “this or that” in style, so you will have more options to choose from! You do not need to read a book from both “this” and “that.” Just one or the other – unless you really want to go the extra mile and read more, in which case don’t let me stop you! But there is no extra prize for doing both. Just brownie points in the eyes of the librarians.
October’s reading challenge prompt is “A banned or challenged book” OR “A book for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”
Need inspiration for what to read? Check out a few suggested reads below! See the full lists on our catalog here:banned/challenge booksor books for Domestic Violence Awareness Month* (titles suggested by the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County). Make sure to also visit the library to explore our interactive book display.
P.S. If you’ve made it all the way to the end, comment a heart under this post! ❤
*CONTENT WARNING – Most of the books on this list, due to the nature of the issue of Domestic Violence, may depict graphic accounts of violence: verbal, emotional, and sexual/physical abuse, and some may have explicit language and even discussion of homicide.
