Chestnut Hill Library Friends
Chestnut Hill Library Friends
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Advocacy
    • Who We Are
    • Accomplishments List
    • Our History
  • Our Library
  • Ways to Give
    • Become a Member
    • Get Involved
  • Hilltop Books
  • Contact
    • Suggest Programs
  • News
  • Book Donations
  • More
    • Home
    • About Us
      • Our Advocacy
      • Who We Are
      • Accomplishments List
      • Our History
    • Our Library
    • Ways to Give
      • Become a Member
      • Get Involved
    • Hilltop Books
    • Contact
      • Suggest Programs
    • News
    • Book Donations
  • Sign In

  • My Account
  • Signed in as:

  • filler@godaddy.com


  • My Account
  • Sign out

Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Advocacy
    • Who We Are
    • Accomplishments List
    • Our History
  • Our Library
  • Ways to Give
    • Become a Member
    • Get Involved
  • Hilltop Books
  • Contact
    • Suggest Programs
  • News
  • Book Donations

Account


  • My Account
  • Sign out


  • Sign In
  • My Account

Accomplishments & Notable Events

In addition to hosting frequent sales at Hilltop Books and at festivals and events, The Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library has served the arts and literary community by organizing, supporting,

and/or sponsoring the activities below.

Timeline

2025

January

  • Coordinated and sponsored Erinys String Quartet from the Curtis Institute of Music for the Meet the Musicians Series at the Library.
  • Coordinated and paid for a full building inspection at the Chestnut Hill Library. 
  • Sponsored Music with Ms. Molly & Yoga for Curious Kids at Library

February

  • Coordinated and sponsored Kulu Mele Drum Ensemble as part of the Meet the Musicians Series.
  • Sponsored Music with Ms. Molly & Yoga for Curious Kids.
  • Coordinated library author talk: Hope & Struggle in the Policed City: Black Criminalization and Resistance in Philadelphia by Menika Dirkson
  • Coordinated library author talk: Milkweed & Honey Cake: A Memoir in Ritual Moments by Wendy Horwitz
  • Hosted sci-fi author panel at Hilltop Books
  • Hosted author of Seven Sisters & a Brother at Hilltop Books

March

  • Sponsored Music with Ms. Molly & Yoga for Curious Kids.
  • Coordinated and sponsored Junk Drawer String Band as part of the Meet the Musicians Series.
  • Coordinated author talk with Karen Bojar, library author of Feminist Socialism from Eleanor Marx to AOC.
  • Coordinated Garden Cleanup at the Chestnut Hill Library.


2024

January

  • Sponsored Yoga for Curious Kids & Music with Ms. Molly at the Library.
  • Coordinated and paid for repair of blinds in the Community Meeting Room, an essential repair for use of AV equipment.

February/March

  • Replaced dilapidated Little Free Library at Chestnut Hill Library
  • Sponsored adult Horticulture, Mushroom, & all-ages Knitting Workshops. 
  • Hosted "Not Your Average Date Night" at Hilltop Books
  • Coordinated and sponsored Meet the Musicians: Irish Duo at the Library
  • Sponsored youth programs including: Music with Ms. Molly, Geography Lady, Yoga for Curious Kids, Artist in Residency Program, & a Cursive Writing Program

April/May

  • Hosted Earth Day author event at the Library and a Library Garden Cleanup & Workday
  • Sponsored youth programs including: Music with Ms. Molly, Yoga for Curious Kids, Artist in Residency
  • Sponsored and coordinated Meet the Musicians events: Minas (Brazilian Jazz) & Variant 6 (Vocal Choral music)
  • Purchased display case for Library's new birding backpacks
  • Coordinated & promoted author event at Library: Black History in a Philadelphia Landscape by Amy Cohen
  • Hosted two free Poetry Readings at Hilltop Books

June, July, August

 

  • Children’s Programs at Library: 64 programs, 1575 attendees. 
  • Maintained Library garden, coordinating volunteers
  • Hosted Pride poetry reading and Pride Family Author Event
  • Coordinated and sponsored Pride-themed music group: Ants on a Log at Library and Hilltop Books
  • Sponsored monthly gardening workshops at Library
  • Provided free kids book coupons for youth who earned them via the Library's summer reading challenge 
  • Co-hosted (with booked & Multiverse) popular Silent Reading Club in Pastorius Park

 

  • Sent 120 postcard to Library leadership advocating for Saturday hours across Library branches.

September/October

 

  • Hosted West Philadelphia Orchestra (Sept) & Warren Orree & the Jazz Arpeggio (Oct) as part of the Meet the Musicians series.
  • Sponsored ticket giveaways to Wilma Theater's Dogman
  • Provided funds for critical clean up and maintenance at the Library garden

November /December

 

  • Sponsored Music with Ms. Molly at Library 
  • Sponsored Yoga for Curious Kids at Library
  • Library programs were limited due to boiler issues and library closures. During this time Friends members pushed for information and offered help to reopen the branch.


2023

January

  • Hosted our first Book Fair with more than a dozen authors at Hilltop Books in January 2023

March

  • Attended The People’s Forum to advocate for library supporters on City Council. Coordinated with Friends of the Library to ask all At-Large Council Candidates to pledge their support for fully funding our libraries. All 27 candidates at the forum pledged their support.

April

  • Installed a Storywalk at the Chestnut Hill Library
  • Purchased furniture for the Chestnut Hill Library reopening
  • Celebrated Chestnut Hill Library reopening with celebration with 100+ people in attendance! This included author events, face painting, games, and more.
  • Hosted a Poetry Reading at Hilltop Books on Independent Bookstore Day and another author event!

May, June, July, August

 

  • Children’s Programs Sponsored by the Friends with Attendance: 14 programs, 459 attendees. Total Cost of Programs: $3007.54
  • Maintained Library garden, coordinating volunteer and professional landscapers
  • Hosted author readings/events in May at Hilltop Books
  • Hosted poetry readings in May and June at Hilltop Books

September, October

 

  • Coordinated and sponsored Piffaro: the Renaissance Band at the Chestnut Hill Library
  • Sponsored Reading Promise Week Street Storieze at Fall for the Arts and Chestnut Hill Library  This program encourages pride in where one lives and gave kids the opportunity to tell their own stories through the exploration of the history behind the names of our city's streets.  It also included book give-aways.
  • Sponsored Kids Yoga program and Music with Ms. Molly at the Library


2022

February

  • Celebrated Black History Month by sponsoring author visits and book giveaways at Jenks Elementary School. Authors reached 392 students and all youth participants received a copy of the authors book to keep.

March

  • Gave away 225 new children’s books by award-winning authors to celebrate Read Across America Day on March 3rd .
  •  Attended the “Strong Libraries are Essential” March 28 th Press Conference to press the Mayor’s Office and Council members for funding increases in the Free Library of Philadelphia budget.
  •  Friends Board President authored Opinion piece “Philadelphia is allowing its libraries to wither and rot” in the Philadelphia Inquirer

April

  • After years with only one staff librarian, Adult & Teen Librarian, Claire Hand, joined the Chestnut Hill Library branch.

May

  • The Friends hired a contractor to repair the smashed front door at the Chestnut Hill Library
  • The Friends sponsored Children’s Programs at the library branch: Polish Folk Art & Flower Pot Painting
  • Hosted Zoom meeting with Councilmember Cindy Bass. Friends of the Chestnut Hill

June

  • The Free Library of Philadelphia won a $13 million funding increase over last fiscal year! This funding increase was the result of advocacy by The Friends of the Library, including the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library

July/August

  • The Friends sponsored Summer Programs and giveaways at the Chestnut Hill Library
  • Throughout Summer & Fall 2022, the Friends sponsored paid work opportunities for Teen Library Assistants
  •  Hilltop Books hosted two free author events including that included four writers
  • Supported grounds maintenance at the Library, providing hands-on volunteer help in the garden and hired a professional landscaper to complete larger jobs

October/November

  • Hosted a Fall Authors Series at Hilltop Books with three author events in October 2022
  • Sponsored the Fall Afterschool Tortoise Club Programs in the Library’s Children’s Dept.
  • Ceiling damaged in the Children's Department forced the branch to close for repairs. The Library was closed from November 14, 2022 to April 2023.

More History of the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library

The opening of Hilltop Books, remembering Renee Polsky, and other important activities of the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library

Find out more

Copyright © 2024 Chestnut Hill Library Friends - All Rights Reserved.


84 Bethlehem Pike, Philadelphia PA 19118

Powered by