Chester County Library and Henrietta Hankin Branch have announced Mary Gazdik as its next library director. She will succeed Marguerite Dube, who retired at the end of April after 20 years with the organization.

Gazdik’s understanding of a library’s role in the community comes with over 20 years of prior experience and proven accomplishments providing innovative library services to the community and building great teams that help execute exemplary customer service. Before joining Chester County Library, she was the director at Middletown Free Library in Delaware County for ten years. Before this, Gazdik was the Library Director in Narbeth and a Head Librarian at the Glenside Library in the Cheltenham Library system (both in Montgomery County).

Joe Sherwood, Executive Director for Chester County Library System, praised Gazdik’s “extensive experience as a public library director—starting her career as a Teen Librarian before moving into the administration of small and medium-sized libraries. She brings a mix of service to various constituencies with a thorough knowledge of library services.”

“In her variety of positions, she has pushed for better customer contact to technology and formats. Particularly her work at the forefront of public libraries’ maker spaces and the advancement of new technology access for the public shows that she has the vision to lead the Chester County Library & District Center into the future,” Sherwood said.

Gazdik started her new role on January 31st. Her responsibilities will include all aspects of library operations, future strategy and direction, donor relations, and fundraising. “As I start my new role, I am most looking forward to getting to know the community and staff and to continue the wonderful work the library has been doing in building strategic partnerships with other community organizations and leaders,” said Gazdik. “I am especially excited to share my passion for maker spaces and creative learning in libraries and the way they connect people through curiosity and discovery.”

Library staff and the Library Board of Trustees are equally delighted to welcome Mary as the new Director for Chester County Library. Chester County Library System Board President JoAnn Weinberger said of Gazdik’s appointment: “On behalf of the entire Board, we have the utmost confidence that this appointment as Director for Chester County Library will be one of continued success, always keeping our library community at the forefront of technology, programs, and future initiatives. Mary’s proven track record of leadership and management demonstrates the critical skills needed as we strive to provide the highest quality and diversity of programs and services our community wants.”

Ticket sales are now open for our greatly-anticipated, virtual Novel Tea event on Wednesday, March 9, at 7 p.m. featuring #1 NYT bestselling author, Erik Larson, also known for works such as Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania, and The Devil in the White City which is set to be a Hulu limited series.  Larson’s In the Garden of Beasts is also currently under option by Tom Hanks, for a feature film.

This will be a LIVE virtual interview with Erik Larson where he discusses his newest book, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz which is a bestselling 2020 work of narrative nonfiction (and due for release in paperback this February) – recounting Winston Churchill’s first year as prime minister of Great Britain—a year marked by the Nazi bombing of England (the Blitz). Britain’s top naval official, Churchill is chosen as prime minister on May 10, 1940, amid widespread discontent with the current leader, Neville Chamberlain. On Churchill’s first day as prime minister, the Nazis invade Holland and Belgium, portending an anguished war on the continent. Larson uses letters, diaries, archival documents, and other primary sources to reconstruct the day-to-day lives of Churchill, his family, and his inner circle—and in doing so, shows, in cinematic detail, how Churchill taught the British people “the art of being fearless.”

Visit https://bit.ly/LarsonLibrary for more event information, online registration, and ticket sales which opens on Monday, January 24 – March 8. Two ticket options consist of: a $55 Premium Tea Ticket which includes a library branded tea tin, chocolates, a signed novel, a book club discussion kit, and tea to enjoy at home while watching a live interview with Erik Larson. In purchasing a Basic Ticket for $35, you will receive a signed novel, a book club discussion kit, and a link to view the live stream.

Proceeds collected during this Novel Tea fundraiser support your local library within Chester County and we are very excited to be collaborating with Reads & Company Bookshop, in Phoenixville, for this event.  Your contribution promotes and celebrates reading and writing, but also raises needed funds for the library to meet the changing needs of the community we serve. Your support helps your local library consistently provide opportunities to read, learn, create, connect, and support individual well-being. In doing so you are strengthening your community! Be sure to join us for an enthralling evening!

• a book binding machine,
• a CNC Mill printing machine
• a Cricut printing machine
• a Sewing machine & Serger
• and a Virtual Reality game and learning center

Our book binding machine, the CoilBind S-20A, can punch up to 20 sheets of paper at once (46 holes). It uses 4:1 pitch plastic binding coils, which can be inserted by either using the rapidly spinning electric coil roller on top of the machine or by twisting them manually into the document. It can bind documents up to 2-inches thick. So bring in your children’s books, your professional presentations, or personal projects!

The CNC mill printer is a Nomad 3. CNC (computer numerical control) mills are used for anything that requires precision carving from a solid block of material. A variety of cutting tips allow users to easily cut into materials including soft metals, wood, and plastics. The Nomad 3 incudes integrated software to help make the user experience as easy as possible. Among the many uses one can make of this machine are creating molds for jewelry or other art, engraving, making lithopanes from real photographs, or creating prototypes for business plan pitches.

Our Cricut Maker is top of the line! It’s a smart cutting machine that can handle fabrics, leather, paper, and balsa wood. This machine is a great complement to our high-end sewing machine in its ability to cut fabric patterns. It is also great for scrap-bookers, card makers and crafters of all kinds. Our library staff have been enjoying using the machine to create materials for our popular series of craft programs and take-and-make projects.

The high-end sewing machine is a Bernina 475 QE. It is powerful enough to handle the thick layers of even your biggest quilts while providing consistent thread tensions to make every stitch perfect. It also includes little extras like the thread cutter that keeps projects moving towards completion. The serger, a Bernina L460, is great for overlocking of seams at the fabric edge. It can handle any type of fabrics and is excellent for fine hems in delicate silk or satin fabrics, cutting and sewing heavy linen, fleece and denim fabric, and can create flat and even seams and hems with its differential feeds. The differential feed also will help in producing ruffles, or any type of gathering.

Our Valve Index Virtual Reality kit allows visitors to the Henrietta Hankin Library to explore the world of virtual reality, either for entertainment or education. In addition to playing games, users can take part in virtual learning experiences, such as completely building and dismantling a car engine from scratch, in full 3 dimensions!

Make it a homemade holiday!

The holiday season is a busy time of year. Family gatherings and finding the perfect gift for loved ones can be frustrating and stressful. With time being a precious commodity, remember that the library can be your best destination to find all of your family entertainment, holiday de-stressors, and party planning ideas, as well as unique, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts for everyone on your list! The Chester County Library will be hosting its 10th annual Craft Show this Saturday, December 11th, from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Vendors will be set up throughout the library to display and sell their crafts just in time for the holidays. We have a great selection of vendors this year that you can view here! Save some holiday shopping and enjoy browsing our vendors who will include makers of personalized ornaments, jewelry, pottery, woodworking, knit and fabric crafts, bath and body products, home décor, baked goods, and more!

The Craft Show is free to attend. We look forward to helping you out with your gift search during this holiday season!

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world on November 30, 2021.

It was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

One of the best ways to get involved is in your own community. The Chester County Library and Henrietta Hankin Branch Library are proud to serve as your community center and provide resources for computer skills, job searches, genealogy, writing workshops, and so much more.

Please help us to uphold this tradition by donating here. http://tinyurl.com/ccltrust

Diwali is a celebration of major significance to many in our community who are of Indian heritage.  Would you like to learn more about the significance of the celebration here and around the world and also take part in a fun traditional craft? 

Henrietta Hankin Branch Library will be hosting a virtual educational program on this topic presented by the Dr. Preetha Kesari on Friday, November 5^th, from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.   Dr. Kesari’s presentation will explain what Diwali is, how it is celebrated all over the world, and what it symbolizes to the Indian population.  This will include descriptions of origin stories from Hindu mythology pertaining to Diwali and progress to explain Diwali’s current economic and political significance.  

Born and raised in India, Dr. Kesari came to the United States in 1988 to pursue a degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.  She has been practicing dentistry in Chester County since graduating in 1992. Having celebrated Diwali her entire life, Dr. Kesari is very passionate about educating those in her community about this very special celebration.  She has presented in the past for various community organizations including the YMCA and Camphill Village Kimberton Hills. 

In addition to her dental career and raising a family, Dr. Kesari enjoys doing pottery and creating porcelain sculptures for her nonprofit organization, Supreeti Creations.  Following her presentation and a question and answer period, Dr. Kesari will share her pottery and crafting skills to lead participants through a demonstration of traditional techniques for decorating diyas, the oil lamps made from clay often used as part of the celebration of Diwali.  Registered participants can stop by the Reference Desk at Henrietta Hankin Branch Library to pick up a craft kit consisting of a clay diya made by Dr. Kesari and painting supplies.  These craft kits will be available in the week preceding the program, from Friday, October 29^th through November 5^th, while supplies last. 

Register for this special event here. 

This event supports PA Forward Civic and Social Literacy.

Movies
Language Arts
London Unplugged
Silo
Slaxx
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Black Widow
The Boss Baby: Family Business
Out of Death
Exhumed: A History of Zombies
Running Wild: The Cats of Cornwall
Cruella
Ancient Greece 101: Greek History, Myth and Civilization
F9: The Fast Saga
Boys From County Hell
The Christmas Dance
Domino: Battle of the Bones
Lady of the Manor
Last Call
Love & Basketball
The Middle Ages 101: Medieval History and Life
Roman History 101: From Republic to Empire
On These Grounds
Blithe Spirit
The Damned
Fully Realized Humans
The Crusades 101: Holy Knights, Epic Battles and Sacred Land
The Mysteries of Mental Illness

TV Series 
Chicago P.D. season 8
Frankie Drake Mysteries season 4
Monster Horror Documentary Series season 1
Seal Team season 4
Young Sheldon season 4
Lucy Worsley’s Royal Myths and Secrets Volume 2
Magnum P.I. season 3
Mare of Easttown: Complete Limited Series
Batwoman season 2
The Blacklist season 8Metheny
The Equalizer season 1
Nancy Drew season 2
Resident Alien season 1
When Calls the Heart season 8
A House Divided season 3
Whitstable Pearl

Music
Cinderella Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Mercury: Act 1 by Imagine Dragons 
Senjutsu by Iron Maiden
Sitting Pretty on Top of the World by Lauren Alaina
Sometimes I Might be Introvert by Little Simz
USEE4YOURSELF by IDK
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album
Mr. Luck: A Tribute to Jimmy Reed – Live at the Royal Albert Hall by The Ronnie Wood Band
God is Partying by Andrew W.K.
Live in Denver by TobyMac
My Bluegrass Heart by Bela Fleck
SYNW by Belly
Paranoia Party by Frances Forever
29: Written In Stone by Carly Pearce
Bet You’re From A Small Town by Jameson Rodgers
Catch the Wind by Herb Alpert
Dearly Beloved by Daughtry
Bootleg Series 16: Springtime In New York 1980-1985 by Bob Dylan
Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV) by Pat Metheny by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Dedicated by 2Cellos
Lindsey Buckingham by Lindsey Buckingham
One Way Out by Melissa Etheridge
Same Truck by Scotty McCreery
Without Remorse Original Motion Picture Score 
Wolves by Candlebox
The Beautiful Liar by X Ambassadors
Culture III by Migos
Lifeforms by Angels & Airwaves
Relief: A Benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America’s Musicians’ Emergency Fund
I’ll be Your Mirror: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground & Nico
Mettal/Jazz EPS by Rodrigo Y Gabriela
Moments in Between by Ruth B.
This is How the World Ends by Badflower
Firebird by Natalie Imbruglia
Flux by Poppy
Remember Her Name by Mickey Guyton
Renewal by Billy Strings

Audiobooks
Forgotten in Death by J.D. Robb
The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves
Matrix by Lauren Groff
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
The Shadow by James Patterson & Brian Sitts
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
Vince Flynn Enemy at the Gates by Vince Flynn
Daughter of the Morning Star by Craig Johnson
Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown
Bloodless by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson

Enjoy the beautiful fall weather, take a stroll around Exton Park, (located at Swedesford Rd. and Church Farm Ln.) and explore our StoryWalk® where we have just installed a new book “Those Shoes” by Maribeth Boelts. Jeremy’s story shows diversity in family structures, economic funds, need vs. want, giving, and friendship and is beautifully illustrated by Noah Z. Jones.