A screener and discussion at Henrietta Hankin Branch Library

To kick off this year’s Summer Reading program, Indie Lens Pop-Up, presented by ITVS, INDEPENDENT LENS in partnership with Henrietta Hankin Branch Library and WHYY will host a screening of “Free for All: The Public Library,” followed by a discussion led by a panel of special guests.  The discussion panel will feature Chester County Library and Henrietta Hankin Branch Director, Jenna Persick, and Branch Manager, Carey Bresler, together with Michael Skay, President of the Chester County Library System Board of Trustees. “Free for All: The Public Library” tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who created a civic institution where everything is free, and the doors are open to all.

The public library is one of America’s most valued yet endangered institutions.  Director Dawn Logsdon travels the United States, discovering historic and modern-day figures, especially women, who contributed to the library’s integral position within democracy. “Free for All: The Public Library” chronicles the evolution of the nation’s public libraries, tracing the battles over who can enter, what belongs there, and who makes these decisions, while exploring how public commons are defined and defended.

WHAT: 5:00 pm refreshments and activities; 5:30 pm a FREE preview screening of “Free for All: The Public Library” followed by a community discussion.

WHEN: Thursday, June 5^th, 5:00-7:30pm

RSVP: To register, click here.

Doors will open at 5:00pm for participants to enjoy pizza and light refreshments as they take part in activities designed to get everyone thinking about what has made public libraries important in their own lives. Participants can also enter a raffle drawing for family passes to Longwood Gardens. The screener will begin at 5:30pm. After the screening, our guest panelists will host an engaging and interactive discussion about how public libraries shaped the country and continue to be a sanctuary for Americans everywhere, despite the threats to funding the civic institution has faced in recent years.

“Free for All: The Public Library” had its debut on April 29, 2025, on PBS and the PBS app. For more information, visit Independent Lens.

About Indie Lens Pop-Up

Indie Lens Pop-Up is a community series that brings people together for film screenings and conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS’s INDEPENDENT LENS, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations to discuss what matters most. Learn more at pbs.org/indielenspopup.

About INDEPENDENT LENS INDEPENDENT LENS is an Emmy® Award-winning PBS documentary series. With founding executive producer Lois Vossen, the series has been honored with 10 Academy Award nominations and features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by ITVS, INDEPENDENT LENS is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Acton Family Giving, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Park Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts. Stream anytime on the PBS app. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens.

Mock Interviews, Career Counseling, & Professional Headshots

(EXTON, PA)— Join the Chester County Library & District Center Business and Career Librarian, Mikaila Strano, as we introduce new resources and services to our Business Center. The Chester County Library is introducing three new career programs held in-person at the library. The first is a mock interview service in which patrons can request an appointment with a volunteer to practice for an upcoming interview. Whether it’s your first time job seeking or you’re just looking for extra practice, consider setting up an appointment today. Our volunteer will interview a hiring manager, so have a prepared resume, dress to impress, and bring questions! The volunteer will also provide written feedback so you can assess and perfect before the big day. If you don’t have a resume, consider joining the library’s monthly Resume and Job Search Workshop held in partnership with PA CareerLink as a hybrid event.

The second new service, which is in partnership with our career advisors, is PA CareerLink Office Hours, held every Tuesday from 12 pm-3 pm in the Reference Department. Patrons are encouraged to drop in during this time to speak with a CareerLink representative about what programs and services are available to adults and young adults. Tap into individualized services for access to career counseling, adult training funds, youth incentives, and employer events.

Finally, our latest service is a professional headshots event which will take place on May 12^th from 10 am-12 pm in the Struble Room. Whether it’s for a LinkedIn profile or a business website, you’ll want this photo to be the first thing potential employers or customers see when they look you up. After the photo is taken, you will be emailed a digital copy that you can upload to your choice site with the confidence that your professionalism will shine through. Please ensure you have a working email address so that you can access these photos once they’re sent. This is also a drop-in event, but interested attendees are encouraged to register via the library’s event calendar to ensure their contact information is submitted prior.

The mission of the Chester County and Henrietta Hankin Branch Libraries is to provide informational, educational, and cultural services to the residents of Chester County so that they may be lifelong learners. The Chester County Library & District Center is located at 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton, PA. For hours or more information, visit our website at https://chescolibraries.org/tools-and-research/business-and-career-center/

at Henrietta Hankin Branch Library

A Vibrant Musical Puppet Show Inspired by the 2025 Longwood Gardens Community Read!

Crystal Murphy Music, in collaboration with the Murphy Murpets, invites families to a joyful and imaginative journey with Extraordinary Joe – The Quest for Color, a musical puppet show inspired by The Extraordinary Gardener, a 2025 Longwood Gardens Community Read selection.

This engaging 1-hour program is specially designed for children ages 3 and up, accompanied by an adult. Young audiences will delight in a magical blend of original music, puppetry, interactive movement activities, and an extraordinary take-home craft that extends the experience beyond the show.

Event Details:

Monday, April 28, 2025

1:30 – 2:30 PM

Henrietta Hankin Branch Library, 215 Windgate Drive, Chester Springs, PA

Registration is required at: https://bit.ly/HHBCrystalMurphyPuppetShow

Please note: Space is limited. By registering, you’re reserving a valuable spot. If your plans change and you can no longer attend, kindly let us know so we may offer the opportunity to another family.

This program proudly supports PA Forward’s Basic Literacy initiative and is part of the Longwood Gardens Community Read — promoting community engagement and literacy through the shared experience of storytelling.

The mission of the Chester County and Henrietta Hankin Branch Libraries is to provide informational, educational and cultural services to the residents of Chester County so that they may be lifelong learners.   The Henrietta Hankin Branch Library is located at 215 Windgate Drive, Chester Springs, PA.  For hours or more information, visit our website at www.chescolibraries.org.

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, April 15, to join the Chester County Library System Board Meeting virtually; or attend in person at the Chester County Library, Burke Room, 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton, PA 19341. 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.

Submissions Open April 7 – May 3

Were you lucky enough to get your hands on one of our stickers or magnets unveiled last year? They ended up being harder to come by than a Kristin Hannah library book! We were astounded by the excitement these stickers and magnets generated and we were even more humbled that so many people want to share their library pride. Thank you for being such vocal supporters of the Chester County Library and the Henrietta Hankin Branch!

Looking back on the success of last year’s sticker launch, we would like to start a new tradition of annual library stickers. But we’re librarians, not graphic designers, like some of YOU are! We want to see the creativity and artistry of our library-loving patrons, especially since this year’s National Library Week theme is Drawn to the Library. And what’s the biggest draw to the library? Well, you tell us—in your designs!

Submissions will be accepted from Monday, April 7 – Saturday, May 3 at https://forms.gle/VtjrY1yWoLG5duew5. Designs must fit within a 1:1 square (stickers will be 2” and magnets will be 4” when printed). Submissions must also incorporate the library’s website URL “chescolibraries.org” somewhere in the design. A selection of no more than four designs will be chosen by a panel of librarians. Winners will be announced no later than May 19, 2025.

Click here to see the full contest rules. All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them. It is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that any submissions do not infringe upon the copyright of any third party or law. Entrants must attest that the design they submit is their work and that they own the copyright for it.

For more information, contact Kelly Quigg, Chester County Library Community Engagement Librarian, at kquigg@ccls.org.

Good luck, designers!

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, March 18 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.

The Chester County Library is thrilled to invite local authors to apply for our Annual Local Author Showcase! This special event celebrates the vibrant literary talent in our community. Priority will be given to Chester County authors, and if space permits, we will also consider authors from across Pennsylvania.

The showcase will be held on Sunday, May 18th, from 1-4 pm, at Chester County Library located at 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton, PA. This exciting event provides authors with a unique opportunity to engage directly with library patrons, discuss your work and publishing journey, and connect with fellow local authors. You’ll also have the chance to offer your books for sale and gain visibility within the community.

If you’re interested in participating, please complete and submit the application form before March 21, at https://bit.ly/CCLReadLocalApp2025

You will be notified of your acceptance status by March 24, 2025.

For any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our Program Coordinator at pmarquette@ccls.org. We look forward to your application and to celebrating our local literary community together!

Join us on March 2^nd, 2025 at 2 pm at Chester County Library in Exton, for an inspiring evening with Lu Ann Cahn, author of the motivational memoir I Dare Me, as she shares her journey of daring to live life to the fullest.

Lu Ann Cahn, a veteran journalist, and Emmy award-winning reporter, will recount her transformative year of trying something new daily to break free from feeling “stuck.” In her memoir, I Dare Me, Cahn chronicles a transformative year in which she embarked on a daily adventure to push herself out of her comfort zone. Inspired by her daughter, Alexa, Cahn committed to trying something new every day as a means to break free from her stagnant routine. The memoir grew out of her blog, “Year of Firsts,” and has touched readers with its authentic account of her journey to reclaim joy and purpose in her life.

Cahn, who spent 27 years at WCAU-TV and won a National Emmy for her investigative work, is now the Director of Career Services at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication. Her story is not just about daring to do new things but also about inspiring others to embrace change and discover new possibilities.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Lu Ann Cahn speak in person and be inspired to dare yourself to “do the new.”

We thank the Chester County Library Trust for their generous support in making this event possible.  Registration is required at https://bit.ly/CCLTrustLuAnnCahn or call the library at 610-344-5600.  Chester County Library supports PA Forward Civic and Social Literacy.

at Henrietta Hankin Branch Library

(CHESTER SPRINGS, PA)—Tired of feeling overwhelmed and stuck? Ready to be energized and organized? As you aim to move your goals forward in 2025, consider how you will go about doing that. How will you maintain focus and momentum to achieve your desired outcomes?  Sometimes a new approach can be transformative.  And techniques don’t need to be complicated to be effective.

Stop by the Henrietta Hankin Branch Library on Tuesday, February 4^th at 6:00 pm for an interactive session with local author Melissa G. DelMonego and explore strategies from her book Think Like a Planner: Simple Strategies to Stay on Task and Accomplish Your Goals. You’ll walk away feeling inspired and energized with tools to create a vision of what you want to accomplish and a unique road map for getting there.  Melissa is also happy to share her own journey in becoming an author for other aspiring writers.  Her book will be available for purchase and signing at the event.  Please call the Reference Desk at Henrietta Hankin Library with any questions: 610-344-4196.

Melissa will also be at the library from 2:00-3:00 pm on Sunday, February 2^nd for an author meet and greet. We look forward to seeing you there! 

About the presenter: Melissa DelMonego was a corporate event planner for more than thirty years. She wrote Think Like a Planner to share strategies and insights she has used throughout her life and career to stay on task and move plans forward. She believes in simple strategies and the power of a plan in driving change. And she uses these techniques to help others be their best; more focused, empowered, and accomplished.

Melissa was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She has a Business Degree in Marketing from Susquehanna University. When not working, Melissa enjoys planning trips and sharing new adventures with her family. Her happy place is in the mountains. Favorite activities include skiing, fitness training, hiking, writing, cooking, and being in nature. Melissa is a life-long resident of Pennsylvania and resides with her husband in Chester Springs.

This event supports PA Forward Financial and Civic and Social Literacies.