(EXTON, PA) The Chester County Library System (CCLS), which includes 18 locations, is committed to continually improving and transforming library services to meet the evolving needs of the community.

CCLS invites the public to participate in an online survey that will help shape the future of public libraries in Chester County. The survey will be open until February 21, 2025. Click here to take the survey.

Joseph Sherwood, CCLS Executive Director, states, “Maintaining welcoming and comfortable spaces for people is an essential part of our services. Families attend story times, individuals receive assistance with resume writing and job searches, and entrepreneurs start or expand businesses—all of which highlight the importance of our physical spaces. In addition to these in-person services, we also offer virtual resources, including programming and our collections of e-books, e-audiobooks, and e-magazines. In 2024, the Chester County Library System circulated 1,121,808 electronic items, making us the third most popular OverDrive collection in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. As stewards of public resources in a time of changing economic conditions, we recognize the importance of embracing innovation and aligning our services to meet the pressing needs of our community.”

“As we look towards the future, we are grateful for the support from the community, local municipalities, the County, and the State in helping us deliver services that excite, inspire, and delight our patrons. The funding allocated to our mission is critical for the growth and success of our communities,” says Michael Skay, Trustee Board President of the Chester County Library System. This survey will assist the member libraries in providing exceptional value and service to library users, communities, and organizations throughout Chester County.

We are thrilled to announce that the Chester County Library Trust Speaker Series will kick off on Wednesday, January 29th, from 6:30 – 7:30 pm in the Struble Room at Chester County Library in Exton with Philadelphia-based author and teacher, Jim Zervanos.

That Time I Got Cancer: A Love Story,  is a memoir by Jim Zervanos, detailing his unexpected battle with cancer and its profound impact on his life and relationships. The narrative begins with Zervanos experiencing alarming symptoms that lead to a life-threatening diagnosis, compelling him to confront his mortality and reevaluate his connections with loved ones. The book delves into the spiritual dimensions of Zervanos’s journey, emphasizing his reliance on faith, mindfulness, and the support of friends and family.

1.8 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer every year; 16 million are living with cancer. Jim hopes his story about love and relationships, and not wasting time on negativity will provide hope for patients and their families—not to mention the countless friends and coworkers impacted by life-threatening illnesses. He also advocates for medical professionals to adopt “Narrative Medicine,” promoting the value of the patient’s personal story as part of the holistic clinical picture.

That Time I Got Cancer: A Love Story, is lauded for its honest and heartfelt depiction of a life-altering experience and offers readers a profound exploration of love, mortality, and the human spirit. Kirkus Reviews describes it as “a precise, moving, and expertly crafted remembrance,” highlighting how the experience redefined Zervanos’s relationships and perception of life. Register at https://bit.ly/CCLTrustSeries-ZimZervanos. This event is sponsored by the Chester County Library Trust. To find out more about Jim’s story, check out this 60-second YouTube teaser, edited and produced by The Patient Story, which has 165,000 views; and this longer 20-minute video featuring an interview with Jim, with photos, and compelling footage to tell his full clinical story.

Make it a homemade holiday! The holiday season can be a busy time of year, filled with family gatherings and the search for the perfect gifts for loved ones, which often leads to frustration and stress. Since time is a precious commodity, remember that the library is your best destination for family entertainment, holiday de-stressors, party-planning ideas, and unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list!

The Chester County Library will be hosting its 13th annual Craft Show on Saturday, December 14th, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Fifty vendors will be set up throughout Chester County Library in Exton, showcasing a variety of crafts just in time for the holidays. You’ll find makers of personalized ornaments, jewelry, pottery, woodworking, knitted and fabric crafts, bath and body products, home décor, baked goods, and more. We look forward to assisting you in your holiday gift search!

December 3 is Giving Tuesday, the annual global day of generosity. The Chester County and Henrietta Hankin libraries rely on patrons’ generosity to provide our community with excellent services, materials, and programs. Please consider supporting your library by donating at Chester County Library Trust Donation Page

the quest for common ground at Henrietta Hankin Branch Library

(CHESTER SPRINGS, PA)—On Monday, November 4th, from 6:00-7:30 p.m., Henrietta Hankin Branch Library is pleased to welcome constitutional scholar, Rogers M. Smith, to address the controversies that often arise around our country’s most significant founding document.  Sharp clashes between traditionalist and progressive conceptions of the U.S. Constitution contribute to the severe polarization that plagues contemporary American politics. Professor Smith argues that despite their very real differences, both the traditionalist and progressive views are now parts of the text of the Constitution and that the Reconstruction Amendments define constitutional goals and principles that can serve as common ground for both sides if they are willing to seek common ground to move the nation forward. 

Professor Smith offers this and other talks as a member of the Penn Association of Senior and Emeritus Faculty (PASEF) Speakers Bureau.  The PASEF Speakers Bureau enables senior and retired faculty from the University of Pennsylvania to share their knowledge and insight on a large variety of topics with audiences in Philadelphia and the surrounding region.  All are excellent and accomplished. 

Rogers M. Smith is the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught from 2001 to 2022.  From 1980 to 2001 he taught at Yale University, ultimately as the Alfred Cowles Professor of Government.  He is the author or co-author of many articles and nine books, including America’s New Racial Battle Lines: Protect versus Repair (2024); That Is Not Who We Are! Populism and Peoplehood (2020); Political Peoplehood: The Roles of Values, Interests, and Identities (2015); Still a House Divided: Race and Politics in Obama’s America (2011); Stories of Peoplehood: The Politics and Morals of Political Membership (2003) and Civic Ideals: Conflicting Visions of Citizenship in U.S. History (1997).  Civic Ideals received six best book prizes and was a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize in History.  Smith also received 5 teaching prizes from Yale and the University of Pennsylvania for both undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring. He is the co-founder of the Teachers Institute of Philadelphia and the founding director of Penn’s Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2004, the American Academy of Political and Social Science in 2011, and the American Philosophical Society in 2016.  He served as Associate Dean for Social Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania from 2014-2018, and as President of the American Political Science Association from 2018-2019.

Rogers is very eager to share this presentation with the community.  Please join us for this important and timely event.  There will be light refreshments and time at the end of the presentation for questions and answers. Registration is required. To register, visit https://ccls.libcal.com/event/13235010 or call the library at 610-344-4196.  Henrietta Hankin Library supports PA Forward Civic and Social Literacy.

The Chester County Library & District Center will host a Housing Fair on Tuesday, October 29 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. This event is intended to aid unhoused and at-risk populations in securing stable housing. Several service organizations from around Chester County will attend to share information about their housing programs. Registration is not required.

Participating organizations include Bridge of Hope Chester County, Chester County Department of Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, Housing Partnership of Chester County, North Star of Chester County, and Safe Harbor of Chester County. A Mobile Navigator from the Human Needs Network will also be onsite to provide information and referral services. See a complete list of participating organizations at bit.ly/ccl-housingfair24.

At 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., the Housing Partnership of Chester County (HPCC) will lead Credit Counseling Workshops in the Burke Room. Without good credit, it is nearly impossible to secure proper/stable housing, whether renting or purchasing. During the workshop, HPCC will cover the basic principles that everyone should understand including how credit is reported, the credit bureaus, FICO scores, and how to improve your credit situation.

This Housing Fair is part of Chester County Library’s new initiative called Connect Tuesdays. Every Tuesday, the Library welcomes a different non-profit organization to host an information table promoting their services. Each week is dedicated to a different need: a housing organization is available on the first Tuesday of every month, CareerLink’s employment services on the second, the third alternates between a variety of needs, and the fourth is dedicated to Representative Kristine Howard’s Mobile Office. In addition to the service organizations, a resource specialist, called a Mobile Navigator, from the Human Needs Network is available to provide additional information on a variety of needs. Find the full schedule and visitation times at bit.ly/Connect-Tues-CCL.

Questions about the Housing Fair and Connect Tuesdays can be directed to Kelly Quigg, Community Engagement Librarian, at kquigg@ccls.org, or to the Library’s Reference Department at (610) 344-5957.

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 22nd, to join the Chester County Library System Board Meeting virtually, or attend in person at the Chester County Library, 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.

THE FRIENDS OF CHESTER COUNTY LIBRARY FALL BOOK SALE is scheduled for October 4-6, 2024. A variety of books, music, movie CDs, and DVDs will all be sold at bargain prices. A large selection of children’s books will be available in a separate room.

• Friday, October 4, 6-8:30 pm — The sale starts for members of the Friends of the Chester County Library only. Memberships can be purchased on Friday night starting at 5 pm at the membership table or in advance by mailing in the membership form available at the Library or on our website.
• Saturday, October 5, 9:30 am- 4 pm — The sale will be open to the public.
• Sunday, October 6, 1- 4 pm — During ‘Bag Sale Day’ we will supply the bag; you fill it and pay $10 (only $7 per bag with your current FRIENDS membership). For less than a whole bag, the books will be sold at half-price.

We accept cash, checks, PayPal, and Venmo. All proceeds from the Book Sale benefit the Chester County Library.

Our Spring Book Sale dates are currently scheduled for April 11-13th, 2025.

Henrietta Hankin Branch Library joins thousands-strong democracy coalition to register voters in Chester Springs, PA, and surrounding areas

(CHESTER SPRINGS, PA)— On September 17, 2024, Henrietta Hankin Branch Library joins a coalition of thousands of Partners across the country that will celebrate National Voter Registration Day with a coordinated democracy blitz aimed at getting every eligible American registered to vote in advance of election 2024!

According to post-2020 election Census data, one in four Americans either are not registered to vote or do not know whether they are registered to vote. With the help of a nonpartisan, coordinated nationwide effort to get Americans of every stripe registered to vote in time for their next election, we’ll build a stronger democracy. Every eligible citizen should have the option to exercise their right to be heard at the ballot box, and with well over 5 million registered voters to its name since 2012, National Voter Registration Day is the perfect day to start getting America #VoteReady for Election 2024. 

What: National Voter Registration Day at Henrietta Hankin Branch Library

Who: With the help of Chester County Voter Services staff

When: Tuesday, September 17, 2024, from 1:00-4:30pm

Where: Henrietta Hankin Branch Library, 215 Windgate Drive, Chester Springs, PA 19425

National Voter Registration Day is an annual nonpartisan event held each September. It is composed of coordinated efforts by over 4,000 national and Community Partners from all across the country working to raise awareness of voter registration resources and opportunities.  As the nation’s largest nonpartisan civic holiday, it has facilitated over 5 million voter registrations since 2021. National Voter Registration Day is endorsed by the National Association of Secretaries of State, the National Association of State Election Directors, the US Election Assistance Commission, and the National Association of Election Officials.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month and we hope you’ll come to journey with us as we “Read Across CHESCO.” As participants travel from library to library, they will learn about the various services and resources the 18 libraries in the Chester County Library System (CCLS) have to offer. Each library will be spotlighting a different service/resource, so visit as many as you can.

Start your journey by picking up a “Read Across Chesco” passport from your local library and if you are a current library card holder, get your first sticker for the inside cover. If you don’t have a CCLS library card yet, you can sign up for one right there and then! Each library will display information about a specific service that the Chester County Library System provides. Answer the question on the corresponding library page for the location you are visiting and have library staff check your answer so they can give you a PA adventure critter sticker for your passport page. Each library has its own specific PA critter so try to collect all 18 of them!

Once your quest is complete with all 18 libraries visited, questions answered and stickers collected, stop by Chester County Library in Exton to get your swanky “Read Across Chesco” tote bag proudly featuring some of the wonderful landmarks we have here in Chester County.

“We are thrilled to offer Read Across Chesco,” said Lauren Harshaw, Staff Development & Advocacy Coordinator at Chester County Library System. “We wanted to find a way to encourage people to visit all of our libraries and see all of the different parts of Chester County. Furthermore, it is a great opportunity to learn about all of the different services and resources we have to offer beyond books!” “We hope you will join us for Read Across Chesco starting this September with it also being Library Card Sign-Up Month,” said Niki Kolb, Public Relations and Graphics Specialist at Chester County Library System. “This quest does not have a specific deadline as we know it may take some time to visit all 18 library locations across the County. However, we are very excited to see who will have bragging rights as the first patron to finish the entire adventure. See you at the libraries this fall!”