September 2023

Update on our Public Works Building located at Walnut Lane Park

The building is now under roof awaiting the final metal roof. Interior walls and electric wiring are currently being installed, as well as plumbing for the bathroom and break room.

Fill dirt has been hauled off site and interior painting is planned for next week. We'll keep you posted as the building nears completion!

Meeting information, including agendas, can be found on our website

Thank You!

By: Susie Hawkins

Another Summer Reading Program has come to an end and what a summer it was! We had over 100 programs including a Stuffy Camp-Out, two Mosaic Workshops, three Science in the Summer Sessions, six Summer in the Park performances, and so much more. If you’d like to remember everything we did this summer, follow this link to see our Summer Reading Highlights video.

You all did a lot of reading this year! There were over 2,500 tickets entered for our End-of-Summer Prize Drawing. If you won a prize, you should have received a phone call informing you of your win. If you’re unsure, please call the library at 610-827-9212. Thank you so much to everyone who donated prizes to our Summer Reading Program. Because of your generosity, we had over 120 prizes to give away to these diligent readers.

Also, a lot of you worked hard to earn patches this summer for the Patch Power program. We’ve awarded over 80 patches- so far! We’re accepting Patch Power cards through Labor Day, so if you’re working on a patch, you still have some time.

The summer may be over, but we have a lot of fun things planned for the fall. Check out our events calendar here to explore everything we’ll be offering. Here are some highlights:

August 26-September 30, Every Saturday 9-10am: Fall Yoga in the Park- Free adult classes at Pine Creek Park.

September 6, 10:30-11am: Story times are back after our post-summer reading break! Join us on Monday, Wednesday (24 months and younger), and Friday mornings for stories, songs, and play.

September 7, 10:30-11:30am: Grandparents’ Day Celebration w/ Makin’Music- Bring your special people and enjoy cupcakes, a craft, and a photo booth station.

September 12, 1:30-2:30pm: Adult Spice Café- Pick up a spice from the front desk and create a dish to bring for a potluck lunch on the program day. Every second Tuesday of the month. This month’s spice: A Taste of Tuscany

September 19, 10:30-11:30am: Succulent Workshop with the Uwchlan Garden Club- Registration link here: Succulent Workshop - LibCal - Chester County Library System

Thanks again for joining us this summer! To those who are going back to school soon, we wish you the best of luck. Keep on reading!

News from CHESTER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM

Highlighted Service of the Month: NoveList Plus Database - Your Next Great Read Is Just Clicks Away!

Get inspired and discover new books while nudging yourself out of your comfort zone with a book challenge! A good way to find a new read is to access NoveList Plus which connects readers to their next book by making recommendations for what to read next. It covers non-fiction and fiction as well as books suggestions for readers of all ages, from young picture book lovers to adults in the mood for an intense historical fiction title.

One of the most popular features is read-a-likes. If you have ever read a book and wanted to find another just like it, NoveList Plus makes it a breeze to find your next great read. In addition, recommended reading and award-winning book lists are available in NoveList Plus. It also has extra content like reviews (both professional and reader reviews), book discussion guides, curriculum guides, and other book-oriented articles. NoveList Plus will become your one-stop shop for all of your reading needs and wants! Start exploring now at https://bit.ly/34ikDlO

RECYCLING DOESN’T END AT THE CURB!

Industry perspectives

You gave your food cans and bottles a good rinse, stored them in a container separate from your household trash, and tossed in your clean mixed paper. You placed the recycling cart at the curb on collection day. Congratulations, you’ve recycled! Or have you?

Well, not exactly. You’re doing the right thing, but it’s just the first step in the recycling process – the “set out.” Next, the hauler collects it, transports it to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for sorting and baling. These commodities will be marketed to a paper mill, plastics broker, or metal recycler to eventually be manufactured into new products.

Recycling is a process. Residents are the first step. So, who better to teach us about the processing other than MRF managers?

Jeff Furmanchin of Total Recycle in Birdsboro wants us to know, “Contamination in single stream recyclables is the largest cause of downtime and damage to processing equipment. Please keep hoses, wires, construction debris and yard waste out of your recycling. Lithium-Ion or rechargeable batteries of any type need to stay out of recycling and trash bins, as they are an enormous fire hazard.” (These batteries only belong in a household hazardous waste collection program!)

Scott Mengle, Director of SECCRA Landfill, manages a dozen drop off bins across southern Chester County. He says, “Just because an item bears a recycling symbol doesn't guarantee its actual recycling. This poses financial and logistical challenges, as non-recyclable items disrupt sorting, increase costs, and devalue recycled materials. To preserve the financial and environmental sustainability of recycling programs, it's important to know what is truly recyclable. 'When in doubt, throw it out’ to ensure our success.”

Matt Cougle of Cougle’s Recycling wants us to know that water bottles (PET #1) are recycled into carpet and clothing. PET is also re-made into new bottles, closing the recycling loop. “It starts in your home. Keep food, liquids, and cigarette butts out of bottles. They make recycling much harder. Get those clean and loose (not bagged) bottles in the cart!”

Better to recycle right, than to recycle more. When in doubt, check it out! Let’s get Trash Smart!

Learn about events happening in Chester County!

Upcoming events:

Ludwig's Corner Horse Show & Country Fair

September 2-4, 2023

Radnor Hunt

September 8-10, 2023

Kennett Square Mushroom Festival

September 9-10, 2023

Phoenixville Blues Festival

September 9, 2023, noon to 10pm

Devon Horse Show

September 14-17, 2023

Chester County Restaurant Festival

September 17, 2023, noon to 5:30pm

Downingtown Fall Fest

September 24, 2023, 11am to 4pm

October 29, 2023, Noon to 3pm

Chester County Solid Waste Authority will be sponsoring a Used Bicycle and Sewing Machine drive for the organization Pedals for Progress.

This year the event will be held at the West Goshen Municipal Complex on Sunday October 29, 2023, from 12:00pm-3:00pm.

This event is a great way for people to get rid of their gently used unwanted bikes and sewing machines and to ultimately help those in need to improve their economic conditions.

The generous residents of Chester County have already donated more than 130 bicycles and sewing machines, and $2400 to help pay for shipping to Pedals for Progress’ partner countries.

Donations are tax deductible, including the value of the bicycle or sewing machine.