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!”
Celebrate National Library Card Sign-up Month this September with Chester County Library and the American Library Association! We’re inviting everyone to discover the incredible resources and opportunities available at your local library by signing up for a library card.
This year, we’re thrilled to have Optimus Prime from the TRANSFORMERS as our special ambassador, highlighting that there’s more than meets the eye at Chester County Library. Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills, find valuable information, or connect with fellow avid readers, a library card unlocks a world of possibilities.
“Chester County Library is so excited to partner with Senator Comitta once more for our second Library Card Sign-Up Fest this September!” said Chester County Library Director, Jenna Persick. “Join us on Sunday, September 8th, from 1-4 pm at Chester County Library in Exton for a fun day where you can get a taste of some delicious ice cream from Handel’s Downingtown and check out all the fun activities we have planned for the day including crafts, face painting, STEM kits, Touch-a-Truck, a photo booth, story times with special guest readers including Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen, Arianna Spurlin, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s Zoo & Stem On Wheels and special character visits. Staff volunteers will also be accepting donations of new or gently used books for ages 0-18 years to be distributed to local non-profits. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. Of course, the main reason for this celebration is that you can register for and roll out with your library card and start the school year off right, with your most important school supply—a library card. Everyone should have one!”
“Getting a library card is a transformative experience. It opens up a whole new world of education, exploration, entertainment, and enrichment. I am thrilled to again be partnering with the Chester County Library for our Library Sign Up Fest. And I want to thank all of the staff, volunteers, and supporters working to spread the word about the power of public libraries,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee.
Today’s libraries are vibrant community centers offering much more than just books. At Chester County Library, you’ll find diverse programs, homework help, creative maker spaces, book clubs, author talks, story times, and more.
Curious about exploring a new hobby or learning a new language? Chester County Library has the resources you need. Interested in starting or growing a small business? We offer various resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing internet and technology access, literacy skills, and support for job seekers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.
Getting a library card is easy and an essential step toward academic success and lifelong learning for students. Don’t miss out! Visit Chester County Library this September to sign up for a library card and discover all that your library has to offer.
On August 11, the Chester County Library System held its 1st Annual CCLS Teen Photo Contest Reception. Sixty unique pieces of artwork submitted by teens in Chester County during July were displayed during this open house event. Teens in grades 6-12 were encouraged to submit digital artwork fulfilling the theme Picture Your Adventure in two categories, Traditional Photo and Anything Goes.
Entries poured in throughout Chester County – from Oxford to Honey Brook to West Chester to Berwyn with 20 municipalities, 15 libraries, and 27 schools represented. The creative Teen artwork was viewed by about 80 people during the reception and you now have a chance to view the slideshow on the Chester County Library YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKBRXwF8Yas.
Winners in the Traditional Photo Category are:
1st Place Miriam M., Pottstown, Across Blue Ridges
2nd Place Claire S., Parkesburg, Taking Wing
3rd Place Kathryn K., Berwyn, Foggy Morning Elephants
Winners in the Anything Goes Category are:
1st Place Chase M., Honey Brook, Heart Head
2nd Place Addison G., West Chester, Mixed Media Lighthouse
3rd Place Zachary D., Chesterbrook, Fireworks that look like a Palm tree (inverted)
We look forward to the 2nd Annual CCLS Teen Photo Contest next summer with a new theme “Color Our World.”
Beginning on August 20, the Chester County Library & District Center will launch a new initiative called Connect Tuesdays. Every Tuesday, the Library will welcome a different non-profit organization to host an information table promoting their services. Topics will include housing, employment, mental health, disability assistance, and more.
Each week of Connect Tuesdays is dedicated to a different need: a housing organization will be available on the 1st Tuesday of every month, CareerLink’s employment services on the 2nd, the 3rd alternates between a variety of needs, and the 4th is dedicated to Representative Kristine Howard’s Mobile Office. In addition to the service organizations, patrons can also meet with a resource specialist, called a Mobile Navigator, from the Human Needs Network. This navigator, who will be onsite every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., can answer questions about social services needs and perform the intake necessary for certain support programs.
Participating organizations include Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP), the Housing Partnership of Chester County, Handi-Crafters, North Star of Chester County, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chester County PA Chapter, and more. Find the full schedule and visitation times at bit.ly/Connect-Tues-CCL. Questions can also be directed to the Chester County Library Reference Department at (610) 344-5957.
If you need help now, dial 2-1-1 to get connected with resources today. For mental health emergencies, dial 9-8-8. Both of these services are available 24/7.
Join author David H. Moskowitz to discuss the newest title in his The Creative Positivist Series, The Judge and the Incorrect Decision.
Each book in this series of four is designed to introduce and then expand upon Moskowitz’s legal theory of creative positivism.
Moskowitz explains, “Creative positivism is a legal philosophy that is an extension of the legal positivist theory presented by H.L.A. Hart in his classic work The Concept of Law…I present the foundation for creative positivism and the principles of creative positivism in The Judge and the Incorrect Decision. Accepting that judges make incorrect decisions, as I have defined them, and that these incorrect decisions make new legal rules is the central theme of creative positivism.”
CHESTER SPRINGS—Museums are extremely important to our society for the way they bring out the extraordinary (and ordinary) stories of our past, stories that define our culture. This can be especially significant for African American history and culture which has been largely overlooked in the past. On Thursday, June 20th, from 6:00-7:30 p.m., in the Annex, Henrietta Hankin Branch Library is pleased to share fascinating clips from “Discovering 18th & Vine in Kansas City, stories of American history and culture,” in which host Crosby Kemper (Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services) travels to two museums in Kansas City, Missouri, that chronicle that community’s contributions to a pair of uniquely American pastimes: the Negro League Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum.
After the screener, enjoy some light refreshments and join in a discussion with a panel of guests from some of our own local museums: Christopher Miller, Executive Vice President of the African American Museum in Philadelphia; Kathryn Lynch, Collections Manager for the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia; and Ellen Endslow, Director of Collections/Curator at the Chester County History Center, West Chester, PA. Panelists will share their impressions of the screener as well as stories from their own experiences in chronicling local African American history and culture. All of the museums that our panel represents are part of the Museum Pass Program of Chester County Library and Henrietta Hankin Branch, so participants may be inspired to go and visit some of the special exhibits discussed.
“Discovering 18th & Vine in Kansas City: stories of African American History and Culture,” is part of the PBS series, Visions of America: All People, All Stories, All Places. Henrietta Hankin Branch will be hosting screeners and discussions on other episodes from this series in the fall in partnership with PBS Books.
Fans of baseball, jazz, and museums alike are sure to enjoy and gain valuable wisdom from attending this special event. To register and learn more about our amazing guest panelists, visit https://ccls.libcal.com/event/12200561 or call the library at 610-344-4196. Henrietta Hankin Library supports PA Forward Civic and Social Literacy.
Join us at the Henrietta Hankin Branch Library on Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 5:30-7:30 PM for a “Books for all Readers” community workshop. This workshop is designed to inform educators, parents, and caregivers about the science of reading and ways to help early and struggling readers become skilled readers with the help of decodable books.
Decodable books are simple books written for beginning readers and contain specific grapheme-phoneme correspondences that students have learned. This provides learners with the opportunity to use their developing segmenting and blending skills to read words and develop automaticity, which is the ability to recognize words quickly and effortlessly, leading to independent reading success.
In November 2022, State Sen. Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) announced a $125,000 grant to establish a collection of decodable books in every public library across Senate District 44 and to offer training and professional development on these collections for librarians and our community members. The funding for this initiative comes from Pennsylvania’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The 10 libraries in Senate District 44 eligible to receive decodable text collections include Atglen Public Library, Chester Springs Library, Henrietta Hankin Branch, Honey Brook Community Library, Parkesburg Free Library, Spring City Library, and the Phoenixville Public Library in Chester County; Lower Providence Community Library and Royersford Free Public Library in Montgomery County; and the Boone Area Library in Berks County.
“Learning to read is a fundamental human right. The process of learning to read and achieving adequate literacy skills is a unique process for each individual learner. Ensuring availability of phonics-based resources in both our classrooms and community libraries for young learners to practice decoding – a necessary skill for reading comprehension – will enhance structured literacy efforts implemented during explicit instruction,” Senator Katie Muth said. “Through this program, librarians across SD44 have already participated in several training sessions on decodable book collections that improve and promote fluency and accuracy, and help kids practice their phonics skills they have learned and build on those skills to master essential reading competencies. The next step in the program is the June 6th community event and I am really looking forward to seeing everyone at the library!”
The workshop being offered at Henrietta Hankin Branch Library (located at 215 Windgate Dr, Chester Springs, PA 19425) will focus on using decodable books in libraries as resources to support skilled reading for all children. Teach My Kid to Read (teachmykidtoread.org/), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, will present this information. Cigdem Knebel from Simple Words Books will also share her story and present a system she created to assess the quality of decodable books.
After the workshop, attendees are invited to view a display of examples of decodable books, sign up for giveaways, and interact with the presenters.
“Every school community is working to ensure that all children are reading on grade level by third grade, and the library sees lending decodable books as another tool to support these new readers and their teachers and caregivers,” said Joseph L. Sherwood, Executive Director of the Chester County Library System. To register for the workshop, please visit https://ccls.libcal.com/calendar/HankinBranchLibrary/communitydecodables.
Join the Chester County Library for its inaugural Read Local! event, which will feature authors and illustrators from Chester County and neighboring regions in Pennsylvania. The event will showcase a variety of genres for both children and adults.
According to April Nickel, the Youth Services Director at Chester County Library, the intention behind this event is to spotlight selected authors and illustrators who have recently self-published or published a book through an independent publisher and have submitted applications to Chester County Library to be able to present their work to the local community. While not all of these books meet the Library’s collection development policy, they strive to provide a platform for these writers and artists to share their work with the public. The Read Local! event is expected to become an annual gathering for creatives in Chester County and nearby areas.
The event will include thirty authors and illustrators of adult and children’s books across various genres. Each participant will have a designated table inside the library where they can sell their books. Attendees can interact with the writers and illustrators and learn about their work and creative process. This open house-style event will take place at the Chester County Library on Sunday, May 19, from 1 pm to 4 pm. No registration is required to attend.
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