Databases Series: Kanopy

February 10, 2025February 4, 2025 ~ rmanuel191 ~ Leave a comment

Hello! My name is Rebecca, and I am the Information Literacy Librarian here at the Chester County Library. (You might recognize me as the librarian with the purple hair!) Welcome to a new series here on our blog where every week (or thereabouts) I’ll be introducing you to one of the library’s databases. A library database, for those who are unsure, is essentially just an online resource that the library pays for so that you can access it for free with your library card!

Today, I will introduce you to Kanopy, our free streaming service. Kanopy offers films, TV shows, documentaries, and children’s programming available to stream on-demand for free with your library card. While the content you can find on the site won’t be the latest big blockbuster, you can find a wide and ever-growing collection of audiovisual content, from the well-known to the lesser-known, from the BBC and classic films, to anime and K-Dramas, to children’s storytimes and PBS Kids. There’s something on there for everyone!

Want to make sure your kids access only the media appropriate for them? Click on the Kids button in the top right-hand corner to only show Kanopy Kids programs.

Stream Kanopy on your computer, through the mobile app on your smartphone or tablet, or through the SmartTV app directly on your television. Just add your library card, create an account with your email and a password, and you’re in!

Find Kanopy on our website by going to chescolibraries.org –> Downloads. Click on the orange button that says “Click Here” under Kanopy Plus, and it will take you directly to Kanopy.

This post is number nine in this databases series! If you missed the previous installments, you can view them here.

Databases Series: Black Freedom Struggle

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025 ~ rmanuel191 ~ Leave a comment

In honor of Black History Month, today I will tell you a little bit about our Black Freedom Struggle database. This database has a curated selection of primary sources designed for teaching and learning about the struggles and triumphs of Black Americans and is available for free to everyone regardless of whether you have a library card or not. Developed with input from Black history scholars and advisors, its easily discoverable materials are ideal for assignments and special projects focused on U.S. Black history. Browse the materials by historical period, peruse featured documents, or use its resource guides to direct your learning.

Find Black Freedom Struggle on our website by going to chescolibraries.org –> Tools and Research –> All CCLS Databases –> B –> Black Freedom Struggle

This post is number eight in this databases series! If you missed the previous installments, you can view them here.

2025 Reading Challenge! February

February 1, 2025February 25, 2025 ~ rmanuel191 ~ Leave a comment

An image of a post-it on a blue background with the text "February: A book written by a Black author" written on it along with an image of a raised, clenched fist.

Welcome to the second month of the Chester County and Henrietta Hankin Branch Libraries’ 2025 Reading Challenge! The challenge is open to all readers reading at a Young Adult or Adult level in any format.

Each month, there will be a new reading prompt to follow. The reading challenge prompt for February is “A book written by a Black author.”

Need inspiration for what to read? Check out a few suggested reads below! See the full list on our catalog here. Make sure to also visit the library to explore our interactive book display.

If you need even more inspiration for books to read or listen to, feel free to request Personalized Reading Suggestions or check out the NoveList Plus database.

No registration is necessary to participate in the challenge. To get started, simply 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 https://bit.ly/CCLReadingChallenge2025.

Happy reading!

The book cover for "The Education of a British-Protected Child" by Chinua Achebe.

The book cover for "Before I Let Go" by Kennedy Ryan.

January Releases

January 30, 2025January 30, 2025 ~ asandovalcclsorg ~ Leave a comment

Movies

TV Shows

Vienna Blood – Season 4

Music

Audiobooks

Databases Series: Flipster

January 27, 2025January 24, 2025 ~ rmanuel191 ~ Leave a comment

This week, I’d like to introduce you to Flipster. Many of you have likely heard of Flipster, and some of you may even use it regularly. But for those who don’t know much about it, Flipster is where you can find our collection of digital magazines.

You can find over 100 magazine titles on Flipster, including HGTV Magazine, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Bon Appétit, and the Consumer Reports Buying Guide. There are no holds; you can access any issue of any magazine at any time. Issues will go back even as far as 2015 in some cases! Access Flipster through your web browser or download the app on your smartphone or tablet. Just log in with your library card number.

Find Flipster on our website by going to chescolibraries.org –> Downloads. Click on the orange button that says “Click Here” under Read Digital Magazines, and it will take you directly to Flipster. Or go to your app store and download the Flipster app for your mobile device.

This post is number seven in this databases series! If you missed the previous installments, you can view them here.

Set Yourself Up for Success in 2025!

January 27, 2025 ~ mkolb76 ~ Leave a comment

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.

February Adult Book Groups

January 24, 2025January 24, 2025 ~ Jenna P ~ Leave a comment

Our Adult Book Groups are a mix of in person, hybrid, and virtual programs. Please see our February titles and dates below. The online/hybrid groups are being held via Zoom. We are requiring registration for the online/hybrid book groups in order to send out the Zoom meeting information. Click on the date below to register. Information on our adult book groups can also be found on our website: https://bit.ly/chescolibs-bookgroups.

Chester County Library Adult Book Groups

Evening Book Group
February 3, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
This session will be held in person in the Burke Room at the Chester County Library.
Please note: our January 6 meeting was canceled due to inclement weather. All titles have been pushed back from the originally scheduled date.

Afternoon Book Group
Wednesday, February 19, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
This session will be held in person in the Burke Room at the Chester County Library.

Henrietta Hankin Branch Adult Book Groups

Banned Book Club
Monday, February 3, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This session will be held in person in the Community Room at the Henrietta Hankin Branch.

Page Turners Book Group
Thursday, February 13, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
This session will be a hybrid session, in person in the Annex at the Henrietta Hankin Branch or via Zoom.

Whodunits Book Group
Wednesday, February 19, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
This session will be a hybrid session, in person in Small Conference Room A at the Henrietta Hankin Branch or via Zoom.

Strange New Worlds Book Club
Thursday, February 27, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
This session will be held in person in Small Conference Room A at the Henrietta Hankin Branch.

Registration is required for all online book groups. Registration will close at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled start time of the book group. A Zoom link will be emailed to registrants 2 hours before the book group starts. Make sure to check the email address you registered with to receive the link. You do not need a Zoom account to attend the virtual book group.

These programs support the PA Forward Civic and Social Literacy Initiative.

Databases Series: Ancestry Library Edition

January 20, 2025January 16, 2025 ~ rmanuel191 ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to the sixth installment in the series! If you missed the previous ones, you can find them here. Today, I will talk a little about Ancestry Library Edition. Many if not most of you have likely heard of Ancestry before, but if not, Ancestry is one of the leading online resources for genealogical (family history) research. Ancestry has 30 billion records from all over the world, from census and immigration data to historical newspapers, maps, photographs, and more. Ancestry Library Edition gets you access to Ancestry’s wealth of information as long as you are on a library computer or connected to the library’s Wi-Fi network.

Pro tip: While you cannot create an account on Ancestry Library Edition, and thus cannot save your research to the website, you can create a free family tree account on the regular Ancestry website, so you can download records from Ancestry Library Edition and then upload them into your family tree on the main site.

Find Ancestry Library Edition on our website by going to chescolibraries.org –> Tools and Research –> All CCLS Databases –> A –> Ancestry Library Edition

For more genealogy research, you can also check out HeritageQuest or MyHeritage Library Edition. HeritageQuest is owned by the same company as Ancestry, so you might recognize the user interface; it carries fewer records than Ancestry, but it has the collection of Freedman’s Bank records, which is unique to this resource. MyHeritage Library Edition is a genealogy resource provided for free to all Pennsylvania library card holders through the State Library of Pennsylvania; it has 20+ billion records and is available in 42 languages. Find HeritageQuest by going to chescolibraries.org –> Tools and Research –> All CCLS Databases –> H –> HeritageQuest. Find MyHeritage Library Edition by going to chescolibraries.org –> Tools and Research –> All CCLS Databases –> M –> MyHeritage Library Edition.

Chester County Library System Conducts Customer Survey

January 20, 2025January 20, 2025 ~ mkolb76 ~ Leave a comment

(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.

CCLS/CCL Board Meeting

January 16, 2025 ~ Jenna P ~ Leave a comment

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, January 21 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.