The British Library’s Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition is now available online for you to visit any time. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the Harry Potter series in a new, interactive way. Learn about the history of magic and its influence on J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. Offered through Google Arts & Culture, the online exhibition can be accessed here. Enjoy!
Master Gardeners answer your gardening questions!
Have questions about gardening? The Chester County Master Gardener Program is still here to help while physical offices are closed! They’re operating their Garden Hotline remotely and are available to answer your gardening questions via email.
Also, starting on April 17th, expert Master Gardeners and Extension Educators from across the state will be answering questions during a new live show, “Garden Hotline LIVE.” You can submit a question or learn more about how to tune in by visiting the Garden Hotline page and scrolling down to the “Garden Hotline LIVE” section.
Happy gardening!
Kids’ Update: Going on a Bear Hunt!
Families around the country are taking walks in their neighborhoods for a little outdoor time. They’re also going on a Bear Hunt! If you take a walk in your neighborhood, you can go on a Bear Hunt, too! Many families are putting teddy bears in their windows. See if You can find one!
We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one.
What a beautiful day! We’re not scared. Uh-oh!
Grass! Long wavy grass.
We can’t go over it. We can’t go under it.
Oh no! We’ve got to go through it!
Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy!
We’re going on a bear hunt … and then you can go through: a RIVER, a deep cold river (Splash! Splosh!) and MUD, thick, oozy mud (Squelch squerch!) and a FOREST, a big dark forest (Stumble trip! Stumble trip!) and a SNOWSTORM, a swirling, whirling snowstorm (Hooo wooo!) and a CAVE, a narrow gloomy cave (Tiptoe tiptoe!)
WHAT’S THAT!
One shiny wet nose! Two big furry ears! Two big goggly eyes!
IT’S A BEAR!
Quick! Back through the cave!
Tiptoe! Tiptoe! Tiptoe! … and all the way back until we
Get to our front door. Open the door. Up the stairs.
Oh no! We forgot to shut the door.
Back down stairs. Back upstairs.
Into the bedroom – in to the bed
Under the covers
I’m not going on a bear hunt again.
Keep your eyes open! Have fun!
The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.
Virtual Theme Park Rides
Missing or postponing your spring break plans? You can experience many theme park rides while staying home. Here are a few of them:
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Escape from the TARDIS: A Digital Escape Room
Are you a ‘Whovian’ (Doctor Who fan)? Are you a lover of puzzles? Check out our digital escape room, Escape from the TARDIS!
Teen Update: Online Magazines with Flipster
If you have a library card and an internet connection then you can access digital copies of some amazing magazines through Flipster. Most recent and older issues are available. Here are just a few of the over 80 magazines that are right at your fingertips:
Sports Fans – ESPN Magazine, Black Belt (world’s leading magazine of marital arts), Backpacker, Golf Digest
Aspiring Cooks – Bon Appetit, Clean Eating, Eating Well, Food Network Magazine, Allrecipes
Automobile Enthusiasts – Motor Trend, Hot Rod, Car & Driver
And still more . . . Sky & Telescope, National Geographic, Newsweek Global and, of course, you can always catch up on the latest celebrity gossip with People Magazine!
Penn State Extension resources, including free online courses through April
Penn State Extension, connecting people, businesses, and communities with practical, science-based information, is currently offering more than 50 select courses from their online library for free through the month of April. Register for courses between April 1st and April 30th to qualify (read more about online course promotion rules).
Courses are available on a range of topics, including Beekeeping 101, Understanding Forests, Dining with Diabetes, Plant Health Prognosis, and more. Complete courses at your own pace and at any time before the course expiration date. Some courses offer certificates and/or continuing education credits.
Penn State Extension’s site also offers free year-round access to articles, videos, and other educational materials. Start exploring by hovering over the menu at the top of the Penn State Extension site to browse by topic or format; hover over a category to connect with additional choices such as Home Gardening, Home Food Safety, Poultry (including small flocks), and much more.
Visit Penn State Extension – Chester County to get in touch with your local educator while physical offices are closed.
Enjoy exploring!
TODAY: Chester County Commissioners’ Press & Community Briefing
Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline, along with Chester County Health Department Director Jeanne Casner, will present an update on coronavirus case facts, Chester County’s actions being taken, and support being given to various communities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This briefing will occur on Monday, April 6, 2020 at 3:15 p.m. It will be livestreamed via Zoom at https://www.chesco.org/4459/Press-Conference-4-6-20 and via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChesCoGovt/.
SCORE Online Workshops for Small Business Owners
SCORE continues to offer LIVE webinars and online workshops. Upcoming offerings include:
April 7: Learn to Delegate and Truly Leverage Your Team for Success
April 14: 7 Behaviors That Put Entrepreneurs At Risk
April 16: National Resources and Policy Updates for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
April 28: Marketing Advice to Combat an Economic Downturn
Keep up to date with available SCORE resources at https://chesterdelco.score.org/coronavirus.
Kids’ Update: Learn about Our Government
2020 is an election year, and that makes it a perfect time to learn more about Our Government. Join Ben Franklin as he takes you on a tour of all the branches of government and teaches you about how they work. Meet Ben at Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government!
In As Fast as Words Could Fly, Mason is a young man who’s making a difference.
The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.
Stay Connected with Chescolibraries 