Friends of historic library plan 2025

by Lynne Brown, Board member, Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library
Posted 1/23/25

Even as we all ring in the new year, the Chestnut Hill Library is still facing many of the challenges of the old year. And as it has in 2024 and 2023 — and for the last 53 years — Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library will be there to support our historic neighborhood library in 2025 and beyond.

Everyone knows the Chestnut Hill Library is more than just bricks and mortar. It's the staff, the books, the access to information and educational programming. It's the atmosphere the beautiful, historic building provides as an inclusive and welcoming space for our community. But, as …

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Friends of historic library plan 2025

Posted

Even as we all ring in the new year, the Chestnut Hill Library is still facing many of the challenges of the old year. And as it has in 2024 and 2023 — and for the last 53 years — Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library will be there to support our historic neighborhood library in 2025 and beyond.

Everyone knows the Chestnut Hill Library is more than just bricks and mortar. It's the staff, the books, the access to information and educational programming. It's the atmosphere the beautiful, historic building provides as an inclusive and welcoming space for our community. But, as recent HVAC issues have shown, a sound building is crucial for the public to access all the resources the library has to offer. To help library staff prepare for and prioritize building issues, the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library is funding a comprehensive building inspection.

Jan LeSuer, president of the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library, explains: "After several extended closures of the library due to building issues, the Friends has hired an independent building inspector to do a thorough inspection. We are paying for this inspection and report to guard against future building failures catching us by surprise. We plan to use this information to guide preventative maintenance work and prevent more closures that impede community members from relying on the library."

The Friends is sponsoring some cultural and educational programming at the library this winter and spring. Passes to local museums and cultural attractions procured by Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library will be available to borrow with a library card. And the popular free "Meet the Musicians" program will kick the new year off with a bang with a performance by the Curtis Institute quartet-in-residence, the Erinys String Quartet. Presenting a program of Beethoven, Debussy and Haydn, this Helsinki-based group of musicians will be at the Chestnut Hill Library at 5:15 p.m. Jan. 28. Next up in the program, Kulu Mele, a local African dance and drum ensemble, will perform Feb. 25.

Hilltop Books, the Friends-operated used bookstore on Bethlehem Pike, continues to be a favorite for book lovers from around the area as well as a source of funding for Chestnut Hill Library initiatives. In addition to the well-curated selection in the bookstore, the Friends hold occasional sales at the book donation building and sorting center at 97 Bethlehem Pike, across the street from Hilltop Books. The Friends will be hosting a special Winter Warehouse Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 25-26 at the drop-off center. There will be lots of treasures for sale at deep discounts.

Whether it's working for diverse programming, better building maintenance or more funding for the Chestnut Hill Library (and libraries in general), Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library is only as strong as its community support. Please become a member, shop at Hilltop Books or attend one of the many programs the library offers and show how important our library branch is to the life of Chestnut Hill.