Chestnut Hill Library
Fall Programs in the Children's Department:
Music & Movement Programs for Toddlers & Preschoolers
First Thursday of the Month, 10:30 a.m.
October 6th, Mlanjeni Magical Theater Puppet Presentation!
November 3rd, Imagine More Storytime Adventures led by Thembi Palmer
December 1st, Philly Circus Arts & Tots Love Tumbling
Storytime Series led by Children’s Librarian Prather O’Donnell
Third Thursday of Each Month, 10:30 am
September 15th: Stories of Friendship & Kindness
October 20th: Spooky Stories & All Things Fall!
November 17th: Hibernation & Winter Animals
December 15th: Winterland Train Adventures
Storytelling Series for Families! Led by Professional Storytellers from the Patchwork Storytelling Network
Last Wednesday of the Month @ 6: 00 pm. For Families with School Aged Children, although younger siblings are welcome.
September 28th: Favorite Stories for the Season
October 26th: Spooky Halloween Tales
November 30th: Winter Solstice Favorites
Afterschool Programming:
We have Homework Help available most afternoons led by our Teen Library Helpers & Volunteers, with activities scheduled from 3:30-5:00 pm.
Monday: Tortoise Club
Tuesday: Book Arts
Wednesday: Games
Thursday: Build-It! Club
Friday: Tortoise Club
Art w/ Shannon!
First Wednesdays of every month, 10/5, 11/2, & 12/7 after school from 3:30-4:30.
Local Artist Shannon LeBraun will lead kids in exploring various painting techniques through a series of creative projects. Prepare to get messy and have fun! For school- aged children in grades 2nd and above.
Also: Did you Know the Chestnut Hill Library has a Girl Scouts Troop? Troop #00974 was started in 2016 with just a handful of Daisies and now has over 50+ participants in the Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette & Ambassador levels! Ask Ms. Prather how you can register your child for the Girl Scouts Troop at the Chestnut Hill Library!
Meetings occur on Monday evenings from 6-7:30 pm and Special Events as planned by the Troop Leaders.
*All Free Library Branches are Closed to the Public on the second Thursday Morning of Every Month for Professional Development, The Chestnut Hill Library’s Hours on those Second Thursdays are 2:00-6:00 p.m.*
Monday Matinees!
Mondays, 1:00-3:00 p.m., September 12th through November 14th
Movies are adaptations of books. Most movies are rated PG-13 or PG; some are rated R. All Movies ratings will be posted. For more information, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.
MSET – Virtual Math and Science Enrichment Tutoring Program for Teens
Tuesdays, 3:30-5:00 p.m., September 27th through December 6th (Except October 11th and November 22nd)
Saint Joseph’s University STEM students will offer tutoring help in algebra I & II, geometry, biology, chemistry, and physics to preteens and teens in one-on-one, group, and virtual settings. Chestnut Hill Library is a Zoom access site! This afterschool program is sponsored by Saint Joseph’s University and is a partnership with Wynnefield Library and Chestnut Hill Library. To attend the virtual tutoring session at Chestnut Hill Library’s Zoom access site, contact Adult/Teen Librarian Ms. Claire Hand at handc@freelibrary.org. To access the virtual session at another location, register on Zoom at https://freelibrary-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElcu-gqT8oEtU7o_vYezrugLwfeyYSP5-6 . A confirmation email with a link to join the tutroring session will be sent to the email they used to register.
Textile Crafters Club at Chestnut Hill Library!
1st Tuesday of each month, 1:00-3:00 p.m., September 6th through May 2nd (Except Jan 3, 2023)
Yarn, Handwork, Sewing, and Textile crafters are welcome to socialize, create, learn, and share craft ideas, techniques, and community project opportunities. Ms. Claire Hand organized this club. For more information, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.
Star Trek!
3rd Wednesday of each month, 6:00-7:30 p.m., September 21st, October 19th, November 16th
Join Mr. Derek McLean in discussions about the Trekkie World: September 21st - Memorable Characters: Khan and Gary Seven, a discussion about the life and development of Khan and Gary Seven. October 19th – Technology and Adversaries, a discussion about transporters, warp drive, The Dominion, The Borg and more. November 16th - The Nexus, a discussion about The Nexxus. Do anything! Be anywhere! For more information, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.
Plant Cuttings Swaps!
Wednesdays, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Stop by the Chestnut Hill Library's atrium to drop off a plant cutting from your collection or from nature, and select a new one to take home! You may also browse our new horticulture collection, unique to Free Library branches and explore the library's garden. While the Plant Swap Station is Open whenever the branch is Open, on Wednesdays from 2-4 there are dedicated volunteers present to help identify cuttings and swap plant care tips!
Game Day Wednesdays!
Wednesdays, all day, September 14th through November 9th
Scrabble, Chess, Trivia, Star Trek, Card Games, and more! We have games for you to play or bring your own! For more information, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.
Bridging the Indigenous and Modern Worlds:Pachamama Alliance!
Wednesday, September 14, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Ms. Yasmin Goodman of Chestnut Hill and an active supporter of the Pachamama Alliance will talk about the Pachamama Alliance, the Achuar people of Ecuador, her travels to the region, and the Dream Culture. For more information, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.
The Healthy Brain!
Tuesday, September 27th, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Ms. Jerri Kohut, nurse educator will talk about ways to maintain a heathy brain. For more information, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.
Sleep Health!
Wednesday, October 5th, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Ms. Jerri Kohut, nurse educator will talk about the importance of getting enough sleep and the impact of getting too little sleep. For more information, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.
Mr. Asar Author Talk: Writing About the Black Experience!
Wednesday, October 12th, 6:00–7:30 p.m. in our large meeting room and on Zoom
Mr. Asar writes Urban Fiction. His most recent work is When The Streets Call You Home: An Urban Drama. This event will be held in-person and on Zoom. To register on Zoom, please go to the registration link at https://freelibrary-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIldemupj8rHdGYrAdUGcWuX1ZVXTdIZUfw . To attend in-person, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.
What’s Lurking in Your Cupboards? Organizing Your Kitchen for Easy, Quick and Healthy Eating!
Wednesday, November 2nd, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Ms. Yasmin Goodman, owner of Organized At Last in Chestnut Hill will discuss the benefits of healthy eating habits through organization and recipes. For more information, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.
Medicare Awareness – Medicare Parts and Options!
Tuesday, November 15th, 10:30–12:30 p.m. in our large meeting room and on Zoom
Ms. Monique Scott from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services will talk about the Medicare Parts and Options. This event will be held in-person and on Zoom. To register on Zoom, please go to the registration link at https://freelibrary-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsdu-opj8jGd2KgOhBcd4yWT2ezF7yoo9- . To attend in-person, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
Upcoming Closures
- Mon., Oct. 10 : Closed Indigenous People Day
- Fri., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
- Thu., Nov. 24 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
- Sun., Dec. 25 : Closed Christmas Day
Services By Appointment
Services
- Wi-Fi
- Reference Services
- Book Drop
- Materials / Holds Pick Up
- Browse Shelves
- Computer Use
- Printing Services
Facilities
- Baby changing station
- Bicycle rack
- Book drop box
- Computers for public use
- Electrical outlets available
- Photocopier (black/white)
- Printing (black/white)
- Public restrooms
- Street parking (metered)
- Water fountain
- Wireless internet access (wi/fi)
Upcoming Events
Monday Matinees
Movies shown will be adaptations of books. Most will be rated PG or PG-13, although some may be rated R. Movie titles will be posted in advance. For more information, please…
Tortoise Club!
The library now has a baby African Sulcata Tortoise! During this eight-week session, kids will research, design and build a unique tank for our new friend. This project will…
Textile Crafters Club
Yarn, handwork, sewing and other textile crafters are welcome to socialize, create, learn, and share ideas techniques, and community project opportunities. The group will be led by s. Claire…
Game Day Wednesdays
All day! Join us in the Adult/Teen department for Scrabble, chess, trivia, Star Trek, card games, and more! We'll have games, or you can bring your favorites. For more information,…
About
Located a half-block north of Bethlehem Pike in the middle of a lovely garden, the library is just beyond the end of the 23 route. facebook.com/FLPChestnutHill/
History
The first inhabitants of the Chestnut Hill area were the Delaware Indians. One of their leaders, Chief Tedyuscung, is immortalized in a statue in nearby Fairmount Park overlooking Wissahickon Creek. The Indians sold this section of their territory to William Penn on July 14, 1683.
The area's first white settlers were religious dissenters from Holland who were attracted to Penns Woods by the tolerance of its gentle leader. The name Chestnut Hill first appeared in a deed of 1711. Although there were no more Chestnut trees on the hill than anywhere else, the now almost extinct trees gave the town its name.
To serve the schools and the community, philanthropist Henry Williams built the Christian Hall Library in 1872 at 8711 Germantown Avenue. Williams named the library Christian Hall because he did not wish anything to go on in the two-story building and subsequent annex that would be inconsistent with the word "Christian." Singing, elocution classes, magic lantern shows, art lectures, church fairs and temperance meetings were permitted.
At first the library was only a reading room, and books were issued only to subscribers. But after 1876, Mr. Williams was persuaded to allow anyone to take books without charge. In 1897, the trustees of the Christian Hall Library decided that the library would be of greater benefit to the community as a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, and so they granted the grounds to the city.
A new library building was built in 1907, funded by Andrew Carnegie and on the same site as the Christian Hall Library. In 1991, a modern meeting room addition was added. The library was renovated in 1999 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign, which brought Internet service to every branch. Active support is provided by the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library, founded in the 1970s.