From the Executive Director | | |
Greetings!
Summer is in full swing at your libraries, and our calendar is packed with opportunities to learn, create, and have fun together. Whether you're looking for family activities, something new to try, or simply a great book to enjoy in the sunshine, there's lots going on at the libraries every week.
We're especially excited to celebrate the arrival of our new American Girls collection at the Elkins Park Library with a birthday party honoring the 40th anniversary of these beloved dolls. Families can also enjoy a high-energy children's concert with Crystal Murphy Music at Glenside, guaranteed to bring smiles and laughter.
Teens have exciting opportunities of their own this month, including creating edible terrariums at Glenside and learning digital drawing techniques at Elkins Park. Adults can choose from a wide variety of programs as well, from Fishing 101 and chess to crossword gatherings and book clubs. No matter your age or interests, you'll find welcoming spaces to connect with others while learning something new.
Of course, summer at the library wouldn't be complete without our Summer Reading Challenge! Can you read just 15 minutes a day for 30 days this summer? Register today to track your progress, discover great books, and earn chances to win fantastic prizes. It's a simple way to make reading part of your summer routine while joining hundreds of your neighbors in the challenge.
As our nation marks its 250th year, CTLS is celebrating America's birthday with special programs throughout the month. Join Professor Rogers M. Smith for an engaging discussion of the Declaration of Independence, search for famous U.S. landmarks during our month-long scavenger hunt at both Elkins Park and Glenside, or step back in time by playing Colonial-era games with family and friends.
Finally, if you've ever wanted to play a larger role in supporting your library, now is a wonderful time to get involved. We are seeking candidates to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Library Board. Board members are dedicated volunteers who contribute about ten hours each month through committee work, advocacy, and monthly meetings. If you're a Cheltenham resident who is at least 18 years old, a registered voter, and a library card holder, we encourage you to consider applying. Full details, position description, and application will be available on our website soon.
We hope you'll spend part of your summer with us. Whether you're attending a program, discovering your next favorite book, or finding new ways to connect with your community, the library is here to help make your summer memorable.
Mary Kay Moran
Executive Director
215-885-0457
Email
| | What I am Reading/Listening To | | LibraryReads July 2026: The top 10 books that library staff love! | | CTLS Summer Reading Challenge | |
|
This year's CTLS Summer Reading Challenge runs from
June 13 through August 16!
Join the challenge & earn prizes throughout the summer! Register with CTLS on Beanstack to track your Summer Reading progress here.
| | | | Resource Spotlight: ParentTV | |
|
Did you know that you can access ParentTV™ with your CTLS Library Card?
ParentTV™ offers thousands of on-demand parenting videos and courses with expert-created content designed to support those who care for children, from pregnancy through teenage years.
Available to: Cheltenham residents
Card required?: Yes
Check out ParentTV™ and CTLS's other resources here!
| | | |
|
July Library Closures
All branches will be closed on Saturday, July 4 & Sunday, July 5, for Independence Day. Regular hours will resume on Monday, July 6.
| | | | Youth and Family Programs | |
|
Family Storytime at the Library
Elkins Park: Wednesdays @ 10:30 AM
Glenside: Mondays, Saturday, July 11 & Tuesday, July 28 @ 10:30 AM
This interactive class helps children develop early literacy skills with stories, rhymes, fingerplays, and music and movement. Simple art or sensory activity offered on most dates. For ages 5 and under.
Evening Storytime at the Glenside Library
Tuesdays, July 7 & 21 @ 6:30 PM
Come and meet Ms. Allison for Storytime at the Glenside Library. This interactive class helps children develop early literacy skills with stories, rhymes, fingerplays, and music and movement. Pajamas and cozy clothes welcome! For ages 6 months to 5 years.
| | | | American Landmarks Scavenger Hunt | |
|
American Landmarks Scavenger Hunt
at Elkins Park & Glenside Libraries
(All July)
Seek out famous USA landmarks in the Children’s section to learn cool facts about them. Earn a prize for finding them all!
| | | | Drop-in & Play at the Glenside Library | |
|
Drop in & Play
Wednesdays
10:30 AM
Glenside
Families and caregivers with children up to age 5 are invited to drop in and play together! Your children will enjoy blocks, puzzles, gross motor toys, books, and more while you enjoy conversation with other parents.
| | | |
|
Reading Buddies
Thursdays, June 25 - July 30
6:30 - 7:00 PM
Glenside
Join our 6-week program promoting literacy and community. Young readers partner with teen volunteers and take turns reading aloud. Rewarding for the new readers and the teens! Ages 5-10 for young readers, 14-17 for teen readers. Registration required.
| | | | The Sorcerer's Apprentice & Disney | |
|
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice & Disney
Wednesday, July 8
3:00 PM
Glenside
Discover the connection between the City of Philadelphia and one of Disney’s most beloved musical classics, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Enjoy music, history, and a craft! Ages 4 to 8. Registration required.
| | | |
|
Toddler Sensory Play
Friday, July 10
11:00 AM
Elkins Park
Engage with interactive sensory stations together and explore finger painting, shaving cream, bubble wrap, scooping and pouring rice, sticky contact paper with various textures, and more! For ages 1 to 3.
Registration required.
| | | | Family Concert with Two of a Kind | |
|
Family Concert with Two of a Kind
Monday, July 13
7:00 PM
Elkins Park
Featuring songs about dinosaurs, digging, underground, reading & books. Interactive show involves singing, movement, sign language, lyrics-on-the-spot, puppets, and more! For families with children of all ages. Registration required.
| | | | Kids' Concert with Crystal Murphy Music | |
|
Kids' Concert with Crystal Murphy Music
Wednesday, July 15
3:00 PM
Glenside
Crystal Murphy brings the musical fun! Join us for a kids' concert full of laughter and energy guaranteed to make your day brighter. Ages 6 months to 6 years old. Registration required.
| | | |
|
Colonial Games
Friday, July 17
11:00 AM (Drop-in)
Elkins Park
Celebrate America 250 by playing Colonial-era games like quoit, marbles, jackstraws, and more! Optional: make your own whirligig or cup-and-ball game to take home. For ages 6 to 12. Registration required.
| | | |
|
Pokémon Party
Saturday, July 18
1:00 - 2:30 PM
Elkins Park
Gotta catch them all! Decorate Pokémon balls, trade cards, and complete a scavenger hunt of your favorite Pokémon! Ages 6 to 12.
Registration required.
| | | | American Girl Dolls Birthday Party! | |
|
American Girl Dolls Birthday Party!
Tuesday, July 21
4:30 PM
Elkins Park
Celebrate the recent arrival of 6 American Girl Dolls at the Elkins Park Library and the 40th anniversary of the dolls' launch. Ages 4 to 12. Party attire and dolls from home welcome. Registration required.
| | | |
|
Little Archaeologists
Friday, July 24
11:00 AM
Elkins Park
An educator from the American Swedish Historical Museum presents a storytime followed by hands-on archaeological tool exploration and a mini-dig site. For ages 2 to 6. Registration required.
| | | | Ben Franklin and Electricity | |
|
Ben Franklin and Electricity
Friday, July 24
3:00 PM
Glenside
How did Ben Franklin and a kite bring us to lights and the internet? Learn all about electricity from Ben Franklin to today, and then enjoy working with squishy circuits! Ages 8 to 12. Registration required.
| | | | Dino-Magic with Mike Rose | |
|
Dino-Magic with Mike Rose
Monday, July 27
7:00 PM
Elkins Park
The show consists of impossible magic tricks and off-the-wall comedy all themed around dinosaurs and archaeology. For families with children of all ages. Registration required.
| | | |
|
Kids Book Club
Wednesday, July 29
4:30 PM
Glenside
Join our kids book club and vote on the book we read next! Read it, come discuss it, and enjoy a fun activity each month. Check with the Glenside Library for this month’s pick. A light snack will be offered. For ages 9 to 12 years. Registration required.
| | | |
|
Music & Movement with Miss Ouliana
Thursdays, July 30-September 3
10:30 AM
Elkins Park
Explore rhythms and melodies, and get creative with musical instruments, fun movements, and sounds. Ages 1 to 5 years. Registration required.
| | | | |
Buttons & Brownies
Wednesday, July 1
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Elkins Park
Design and create your own buttons with our multiple button makers! Then, mix together, microwave, and enjoy a delicious mug brownie! Please bring your own mugs. Ages 13 to 18. Registration required.
| | |
Reading Buddies
Thursdays, June 25 to July 30
6:30 - 7:00 PM
Glenside
Join our 6-week program promoting literacy and community. Young readers partner with teen volunteers and take turns reading aloud. Rewarding for the new readers and the teens! Ages 5-10 for young readers, 14-17 for teen readers. Registration required.
| | Robotics Camp: Amusement Park! | | |
Robotics Camp: Amusement Park!
Monday-Friday, July 6 to 10
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Elkins Park
Design a mini amusement park using robotics in this week-long library camp! Teens will work in groups to create one attraction, like an animatronic beast, a windmill for mini-golf, a haunted house jump-scare, or a moving roller coaster car. We will be using Hummingbird Kits, BirdBlox (block) coding, and various crafts to bring the amusement park to life. At the end, we will put all attractions together and have an automated train car of miniature people take a tour! Ages 12 to 18.
Registration required. Please register on the July 6 date.
| | |
Edible Terrariums
Tuesday, July 14
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Glenside
Learn and build a mini ecosystem straight from your outdoor garden, and then eat it afterwards! We will “soil” a mini glass with edible dirt (jello/cake crumbs) and “plant” candy mushrooms, grass, flowers, and rocks to make a mini biome! Ages 13 to 18. Registration required.
| | |
Digital Drawing
Wednesday-Thursday, July 15 to 16
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Elkins Park
Get hands-on experience with digital drawing! Using free apps like iBis Paint, Krita or FlipaClip, you will learn step-by-step how digital software works and create your own art piece to download. We have iPads & styluses, but feel free to bring your own iPad & stylus. Taught by Keville Bowen, local digital artist. Ages 10 to 16.
Registration required. Please register on the July 15 date.
| | |
Teen Advisory Board
Saturday, July 18
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Elkins Park
Join our Teen Advisory Board, where teens design fun programs and create displays for the library! Ages 12 to 18. Registration required.
| | Forensic Toxicology: Solve the Case! | | |
Forensic Toxicology: Solve the Case!
Tuesday, July 21
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Glenside
Step into the role of a forensic scientist in this immersive, hands-on workshop that introduces participants to the science of toxicology — the study of how chemicals affect the human body. Participants will investigate a realistic health case and use evidence-based reasoning to determine what happened to their patient! Taught by Tamykah Anthony, local forensic toxicologist. Ages 8 to 12. Registration required.
| | |
Video Game Club
Wednesday, July 22
4:00 - 5:30 PM
Elkins Park
Play video games with your friends at the library, like Smash Brothers, Mario Kart, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and more! Ages 9 to 12. Registration required.
| | |
Squeegee Art & Smoothies
Thursday, July 23
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Glenside
Color fun squeegee art - a technique where you drag paint across a surface to create abstract art - to make bold designs! Also, blend together fruit, milk(s), cocoa powder, and other fun ingredients to make a delicious smoothie for a hot summer day! Ages 13 to 18. Registration required.
| | Character Creation Workshop | | |
Character Creation Workshop
Tuesday, July 28
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Glenside
In this interactive class, you’ll learn how to make characters, especially your protagonist, jump off the page for your readers. Featuring multiple activities, including a Q&A with you as your character, we’ll get inside their minds and make them real. Taught by Kathleen Zoll, local fantasy & romance author. Once you have your fleshed-out character, attend the Drawing for Cartoons and Comics course to learn character design and bring them to life! Ages 11 to 15. Registration required.
Presented by the MontCo Teen Author/Illustrator Workshop Committee.
| | Drawing for Cartoons & Comics | | |
Drawing for Cartoons and Comics
Wednesday, July 29
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Elkins Park
Learn the secrets of making cartoons and comics! We’ll study the importance of moving the reader from one panel to another and how drawing emotive characters tells a story. If you attended the Character Creation Workshop, you will be able to bring your written character to life in this drawing & design course! Taught by Jason Rodrigues, local illustrator & comic artist. Ages 11 to 15. Registration required.
Presented by the MontCo Teen Author/Illustrator Workshop Committee.
| | |
Video Game Design w/Bloxels
Friday, July 31
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Glenside
Use the app Bloxels to build our very own video games! From characters to scenes to power-ups, YOU design & make it! And, best of all, we'll play each other's games and give constructive feedback. Taught by Jason Fialkovich, founder of Bright Idea Makers. Ages 8 to 12. Registration required.
| | |
The Declaration of Independence
& American Dreams
| | |
The Declaration of Independence and American Dreams
Wednesday, July 1
7:00 PM
Elkins Park
Celebrate MontCo.250 with us by attending this fascinating lecture by Professor Rogers M. Smith on the Declaration of Independence. Registration required.
| | |
Mahjong
Tuesdays, July 7, 14, 21 & 28 @ 12:00 - 2:30 PM
Elkins Park
Bring your group and your own set of tiles, or join other players in the library’s community room. This program is for experienced Mahjong players. Registration required.
| | |
Sit & Stitch
Wednesday, July 8
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Elkins Park
Drop in with your needlework project and join other crafters for a productive and inspiring session. Light refreshments will be provided. All skill levels are welcome! For adults and teens. No registration required.
| | |
Virtual Drawing Class with Anita Thompson (Zoom)
Thursday, July 9
6:30 PM
Join us virtually for an art class! Through guided instruction, Participants this month will create a summer lighthouse drawing. Zoom link will be sent to registrants. Registration required.
| | | Truth or Non-Fiction: Adult In-Person Book Club | | | | |
Truth or Non-Fiction:
Adult In-Person Book Club
Thursday, July 9
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Glenside
An adult non-fiction book club! We will meet in person at Glenside Free Library on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. We will discuss Butts: A Backstory by Heather Radke.
If you have any questions, please email Sean at ssaraka@cheltenhamlibraries.org.
| | No Talent Required! Adult Craft Night | | |
No Talent Required! Adult Craft Night
Tuesday, July 14
7:00 PM
Glenside
Join us for tile painting and contribute to a local collaborative art project! Dress for a possible mess! Registration required.
| | |
Chess, Please!
Thursday, July 16
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Glenside
Come play chess! All levels of experience are welcome! If you don’t know the rules, someone will gladly walk you through the basics. Chessboards provided.
| | |
Game Night
Monday, July 20
6:30 PM
Elkins Park
Have a fun night out playing games with our open and friendly group. No prior knowledge of games is needed, just your interest in having fun and learning new games.
| | Senior Coffee & Crossword | | |
Fishing 101 with Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed
Glenside: Thursday, July 23 @ 6:30 PM
Elkins Park: Saturday, July 25 @ 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Let’s talk about where you can fish, and basic skills such as knot tying, fish identification, and bait selection. Registration required.
| | Senior Coffee & Crossword | | |
Senior Coffee & Crossword
Monday, July 27
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Elkins Park
Join us in the community room for coffee and puzzles! Crossword, Sudoku, jigsaw, and more. Let’s meet our neighbors and enjoy some time together.
| | Virtual Book Discussion Group | | | |  | |
Book Discussion Group (Zoom)
Tuesday, July 28
7:00 PM
This month, we will discuss Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. New members are always welcome! Please email glref@mclinc.org to register and receive the Zoom link.
Registration required.
| | |
|
Tech Time
Elkins Park: Sara
Mondays, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Glenside: Connor
Wednesdays, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Glenside: John
Thursdays, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Registration required. Call Elkins Park (215-635-5000) or Glenside (215-885-0455) to schedule.
| | | |
| | |
Visit the Digital Media Lab!
You can also use our equipment to convert VHS, cassettes, 8 mm film, and vinyl records to digital files. Call the library at 215-635-5000 for more information and to make an appointment to use the lab.
| | | |
|
Stay Informed!
Wondering what's going on in the township?
Sign up for Cheltenham Township notifications and receive alerts to your phone or email. Check out the township's website for further information and instructions.
| | | | |
The next library board meeting will be held on Wednesday,
July 22 @ 7:00 PM at the Glenside Library.
The public is welcome to attend.
Please check www.cheltenhamlibraries.org for information.
| | | | |
215 S. Keswick Avenue
Glenside, PA 19038
| | | | |
