New Board members elected to Chestnut Hill Library Friends are (from left) Ashley Brenner, Karen Freedman, Ann Marie Arment, Lindsey Pennington, Jan LeSuer, Phyllis Donahue, president of the Friends board, Stan Cutler, and Prather O’Donnell, library branch manager. Missing from the photo is Ilene Blain. All have been elected to a two-year term.[/caption]

In September, seven new members were elected to the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library for two-year terms. This move expands the board from its current 10 to 17 members.

The Friends are a voluntary, nonprofit organization with the mission of promoting the needs of the Library’s patrons and expanding utilization of its facilities. New members on the board are Ann Marie Arment, Ilene Blain, Ashley Brenner, Stan Cutler, Karen Freedman, Jan LeSuer and Lindsey Pennington. All have been elected to a two-year term and will serve on various committees.

“Over the years we’ve provided funding for the community room and the garden,” said Phyllis Donahue, president of the Friends. “We have sponsored programs for adults and children, paid for magazine and newspaper subscriptions and even helped furnish the library. But we are planning for increased activity and support.”

The organization is quick to recognize that the Free Library of Philadelphia does a great job of expanding use of the library system and has been a leader in establishing “21st Century Libraries.” However, in recent years, the FLP system has experienced budget reductions that have contributed to staff shortages, causing occasional and unexpected, daily branch closings.

Prather O’Donnell, Chestnut Hill branch manager and children’s librarian, relies on the Friends Organization to help fund programs like the successful summer reading program for kids.

“Without the Friends group,” said O’Donnell, “we wouldn’t be able to host our popular ‘Playgroup for Infants & Toddlers’ or have supplies and snacks for the regular Thursday ‘Build It! Club.’ But the role of the Friends group is more crucial than ever – for support needed to advocate for full funding to be restored to our city’s public library system.”

“The library does a great job of providing programs for children and families,” said board member Lyn Buchheit, “but we seem to fall short on Adult Programs – we have been functioning without an adult librarian for over a year now. Frankly, I think the Friends are in a great position to bring more neighbors into the library, and to take more of our library to the community.”

“The Friend organization’s fundraising, primarily the weekly used book sale and membership drives, means our community is helping us supplement our library in a number of ways – from paying for newspaper and magazine subscriptions to buying furniture for the library atrium, and by installing a kitchen in the basement for use by the staff and for potential programs,” said treasurer Mike Henry.

Bringing on new board members with diverse interests, experience and skills is seen by current board members as an important step into the future.

Stan Cutler, a local author and newly elected board member said, "I have a romantic notion of libraries. To me, they are an essential element of the Enlightenment, no less than universities, public schools and democratic elections. As 'content' increasingly takes the place of books in our culture, we weaken the intellectual foundations of American democracy. I hope we, as Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library, can find ways remind the community of the vital role of books in our lives by providing more exciting and relevant services.”

“We are getting ready for our Fall Book Sale, which takes place at the library during the Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival on September 30,” added Renee Polsky, a board member who helped organize the Gently Used Books Sale in 1995. “It not only gives us a chance to sell books for prices affordable to most people – most books are 25 cents to one dollar – but it is also a great way to meet people in our community.”

Additional members of the Friends board are Beth Bartle, Lyn Buchheit, Carol Duncan, Joanne Dhody, Phyllis Donahue, Prather O’Donnell, Mike Henry, Renee Polsky, Carol Romsloe and Marlene Sider.

For more information about the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library, contact the Friends at info@chestnuthilllibraryfriends.org