“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.”
—Anna Quindlen
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Falls of Schuylkill Library
Summer Hours
- Monday 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Tuesday 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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☎️FSL direct extension:
(215) 685-2093
☎️FLP help number:
1-833-TALK FLP (825-5357)
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Falls of Schuylkill Library
Upcoming Holiday Closings
- Juneteenth (Friday, June 19)
- Independence Day (Saturday, July 4)
- Labor Day (Monday, Sept 7)
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📚Programs at a Glance📚
Falls of Schuylkill serves the community of East Falls with a variety of programs for all ages. Childrens Programs are held in the downstairs meeting room (Midvale Avenue entrance). Some select samples of programs offered include:
👩👧👦Summer Quest
This summer through August 16
The Free Library’s flagship summer program fosters a love of reading and learning with self-paced activities for all ages at every library! Learn more at: https://libwww.freelibrary.org/programs/summerreading/.
🧘🏻Qigong in the Garden
Thursdays at 11AM through June
Experience a sense of well-being with the calming, nourishing practice of Qigong (chee-gong). Eileen Kelsall will lead the group in gentle movements, deep breathing, and self-massage. You’ll find yourself feeling less stressed and more energized with this meditative practice.
📖 Author talk: The Battle of Germantown with David Young
Tuesday, June 16, at 5:30PM
Join local author David Young as he talks about The Battles of Germantown. Known as America’s most historic neighborhood, the Germantown section of Philadelphia (established in 1683) has distinguished itself by using public history initiatives to forge community. Progressive programs about ethnic history, postwar urban planning, and civil rights have helped make historic preservation and public history meaningful. The Battles of Germantown considers what these efforts can tell us about public history’s practice and purpose in the United States.
Back to “In this Issue”
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“Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities.” This is an oft-circulated quote from R. David Lankes who is the Virginia & Charles Bowden Professor of Librarianship at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Information. You might think that there is no such thing as a bad library (somewhat true) as how can any space that is designated “free library” or “third space” and filled with books and so much more be bad? But I agree with the latter part of the quote that great libraries build communities. And I also believe that the Friends play a vital role in this mission of community-building. At its core, a community is a group of people with shared interests, values, goals or experiences. In this, the Friends promote the needs and values of Falls Library, a neighborhood treasure.
Many times, we “promote the needs and values” through fund-raising efforts such as our popular biannual book sales, on the other side, we bolster by funding library programs and services, for instance support for Summer Quest or Spanish Storytime or funding a special topics speaker. Other times, “promoting the needs and values of the Falls library” is demonstrated through quiet labors of love such as garden members bending or kneeling to plant flowers or pull weeds, watering the indoor plants around the library, pulling ivy off the back of the building, or carrying tables to set up at community events. And still other times, that sense of community is noticeable in the chatter and laughter of a growing number of people who meet for fiber arts, engrossing conversations with library staff at the circulation desk, or even the sadness of children who gather to say good-bye to a Children’s librarian who in their eyes has rock-star status.
In building a community of Friends that support our branch library, I note that the start of our fiscal year is July 1. If you are a current (or past member), I encourage you to renew; and if you are not a member, I invite you to join. You can join or renew online and pay via PayPal (credit card; you don’t need a PayPal account to do this) or pick up an application at the library and mail in a check. Membership dollars provide books, DVDs and CDs; maintenance of a beautiful, welcoming garden; speakers and refreshments for adult and children’s programs; and building enhancements (e.g. considering new carpeting, painting bookshelves, duct cleaning, etc. this year). The biggest building enhancement projected for this year, of course, is the much-anticipated installation of a new HVAC system made possible by pledged funding of $500,000 from Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.’s capital project budget. (Thank you Councilman Jones!) While we still have not received confirmation of a projected timeframe for this major project, we did get a tentative heads up that this “might” take place starting in October. In early June, a representative of the city’s Capital Program Office conducted a walk-through with two HVAC estimators. I will keep you updated as things progress.
If great libraries build communities, the new HVAC system will keep the doors of the library open more frequently in both summer and winter. This directly builds community by transforming the library into a reliable, year round refuge and community hub that ensures access to essential resources, educational programs. This is our future.
For now, I look forward to seeing you in the library or in the garden over the summer, chatting about what we are reading among many other things that friends talk about.
Back to “In this Issue”
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From the Desk of:
Falls of Schuylkill Librarian, Jenn Estepp
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Jenn is taking a well deserved break this issue. From the Desk Of will return in the fall.
Back to “In this Issue”
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From Jenna Musket, President, Friends of Falls of Schuylkill Library
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I remember when you first started, here, Ms. Grace. In 2023, the pandemic was coming
to an end, and Falls of Schuylkill was re-opening its doors after a community had
learned how to Zoom. The whole world was opening up again, and your arrival opened
us up to new possibilities.
You came in like an Energizer bunny! High spirited, high energy. Full of enthusiasm, chock full of great ideas, and armed with off the charts talent and skills.
You reorganized the Children’s section, came out from behind the Children’s Librarian desk area, interacted with children and youth (sometimes 50-60 at a time) as you facilitated or coordinated an array of programs that fit the needs of children of all ages: Stories and Songs for Babies and Toddlers; Read, Baby, Read; Library Playgroup; ¡Canticuentos Spanish Storytime!; Shiruli שירולי Hebrew Storytime; Princess Storytime; Pajama Storytime; Crochet for Children: Make a Scarf or Phone Case and so many more wonderful programs that filled the library with the vibrant sounds of children’s laughter, joy and sometimes awe.
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Your contributions to Falls Branch are too numerous for a newsletter column article.
Some highlights include:
- Reorganizing the Children’s section of the library;
- Expanding the collections of books and materials available for children;
- Adding your personal creative touches throughout the Children’s area of the library with your artistic flair;
- Working with community partners such as Friends of Mifflin and Thomas Mifflin Elementary School in events such as Career Day, and the “Give a Book to Every First Grader” campaign;
- Participating in community events such as East Falls Festival, Mifflin Madness, Flea Market in McMichael Park; and community block parties such as the Rutabaga Toy Library parades;
- Arranging for special projects such as Enchantment Theater, Eclipse Viewing Party, Young Playwrights Summer Camp to come to Falls of Schuylkill;
- Stepping up and serving as Acting Branch Manager when Drew Birden (our last Branch Manager) left, and new Branch Manager, Jenn Estepp had not yet come on board providing for a stable transition;
- Drawing and designing a picture of Falls Library that people praised so much, thedrawing got adopted and imprinted on commemorative bookmarks for the 110th Birthday Celebration of Falls of Schuylkill Library;
- And so much more!
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Grace, your leaving creates a hole and a vacuum and some mighty big shoes to fill. But
you have left your mark on our community where many children will remember your
name for years to come.
Despite our loss, we all wish the best for you as you embark on a new chapter of your
life returning home to Massachusetts. We hope we have secured a place in your heart
when you look back upon this time in Philadelphia, and your experiences in East Falls
that we are included in good memories of the city, the community, the library. The
Friends tag line after all is “The Library is the heart of East Falls.” And you, Ms. Grace,
have helped to actualize that in major ways. For this, myself and all our other board
members, we are grateful for having spent time with you, seeing you in action, and
witnessing the uniqueness of you.
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💕A Message from Ms. Grace💕
Thank you to the whole East Falls community for a wonderful three years at the Falls Library! It has been a magical time seeing our youngest patrons learn and grow – I love to read, make crafts, and sit around chatting with people – particularly children. It can be easy to overlook kids and to see their interests, problems, and dreams as small and unimportant. As the children’s librarian, I got the opportunity to interact with each child who came in as an individual living a full and complex life and support them in finding resources that deepen and further their interests. Libraries are one of the last free public spaces. They are a refuge from the heat or the cold and a place to access the internet, as well as major repositories of books and other materials. Libraries in Philly specifically also fill an incredible need for children and caregivers to access books and literacy learning resources. Almost no public schools in Philadelphia have functioning libraries staffed by certified school librarians. Children have a right to read, and the lack of library educators creates a snowball effect that negatively impacts all parts of the city and beyond. I am glad that I got to help bridge this gap in our community and I look forward to continuing this work as I head back to where I grew up in Massachusetts.
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📰News from the Friends of Falls Library📰
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🧶Fiber Arts and Sit and Stitch Update🧶
The Falls Library Fiber Arts and Sit & Stitch participants have enthusiastically accepted the challenge of crocheting 9×9 squares for Project Chemo Crochet. This initiative, started by the Pink Warriors, takes crocheted or knitted squares and transforms them into blankets used to comfort chemo patients during treatment. The blankets are sent worldwide. To date, our Fiber Arts/Sit & Stitch team has created over 90 squares and counting! This project is ongoing, so no deadlines…. feel free to join in!
Here are the guidelines for crocheting (or knitting) your squares:
1. The squares must measure 9 x 9 and can be crocheted or knitted.
2. Medium weight yarn (#4) is preferred (please do not use bulky yarn). Crochet hook size to use is H/5mm; US8/5mm knitting needles.
3. Bright colors are best, and yarn should be washable, so acrylic is a good choice.
4. Use your own crochet or knit pattern and be sure to weave in the ends of your completed squares.
5. Monetary donations are also welcome to help cover costs of shipping the completed blankets year-round to patients around the world. If you want a blanket sent to someone, please submit a request via website at www.projectchemocrochet.com.
As you finish your own squares, you can drop them off at the adult reference desk. Jennifer Estepp, the Branch Manager, will have a clearly marked box for them which the Staff will know about, if you come in when she is not there. Please label them for Project Chemo Crochet OR you can drop-off squares at Stitch Central, 128 E. Glenside Avenue in Glenside, PA (www.mystitchcentral.com).
Please note: Fiber Arts meets in the main area of the Falls Library every Tuesday from 2-4 pm and Sit & Stitch meets every Saturday at 10:30am-12:30pm. Please come join us! Curious or have questions, email fallsfriendsfiberartsgroup@gmail.com
–Contributed by Eileen Perez Kelsall
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🌻Garden Committee Update🌻
How did our library garden evolve from an unused grass lawn to the popular garden it is today? Who were the initiators? In July 1989, library user and neighbor Walsh Wright envisioned this lawn as an “outdoor reading room” and began The Garden Project with “mass digs” by enthusiastic “community diggers.” She was the Chairwoman of the project.
The city delivered a ton of “EarthLife” fertilizer to enrich the border beds. Volunteers who raked and shoveled the earth included then librarians Wendy Robinson and Winston Moody, Wendy’s son Daniel, John McIlvaine, William Morris, Elaine Smith, Kapus Smith and Kenyatta Young. Lucas Castejon, Joe Lo Castro and Bruce and John Wright among others dug in plants, many of which were donated according to newspaper clippings.
In October of that year the Water Department delivered wood chips to winterize the planted beds. Spreading the wood chips in addition to Wendy Robinson and Walsh Wright were Carla and Ryan Bednar, John and Zachary Franklin, Rocco Giannetta, Luci Iannitto, John Liddick, Bill Morris, John Mullen and Jane Osterling.
In December 1989, volunteers had a potluck supper to celebrate the new community garden. Other volunteers included Linda Dotter, Alexis Franklin, Rocco Gianetta, Wilbur Hobbs, Doris Kelley, Betty Little, Betty Miller, Wally Miller, Jack Morris, Myra and Kathy Picardo, Wynn Sauer, Ellen Sheehan, Frank Sherwood and Mary Ann Veneziale.
In 1993, Gayl Henze and Sallie Maser were the garden co-chairs. By 1999, Judith Beck, Elizabeth Bennett, Linda Ecker, Luci Fagnani, Marie Gallagher, Esther Kurtz, Cay Paisley, Suzanne Penn, Nancy Pontone, Sandy Russow, Julianne Sullivan, Gordon Thompson and Joanne Timmins had joined the Garden Committee.
There is a long list of local volunteers who established the garden and kept it going. Thanks to current Garden Committee members who are part of this tradition including our youngest members Sylvie and Maisie pictured here.
Nancy Pontone
Andrea Sunderland
Co-Chairs Garden Committee
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📖Book and Bake Sale Spring 2026 Update📖
The Spring Library Book and Bake Sale was a smash success! And it was a success thanks to our wonderful volunteers and customers. We thank the volunteers who brought in numerous book donations, sorted the books, staffed the book sale daily, and purchased books while smiling the whole time! We also thank the many satisfied customers who purchased the books and baked goods. The Spring Book and Bake Sale grossed over $6000. This amount was achieved with four donation days, three selling days and a lot of hustling. Advertising on social media, lawn signs, the library website and word of mouth brought a constant flow of shoppers to our door. We look forward to the continuing support and enthusiasm in the fall for our next Book Sale. Thank you to everyone who made this book sale a success!
Next sale we will ask that donations not include any books with broken spines, yellowed or molded pages, layers of dust on cover or edge or torn and missing pages. These books are an expense to get rid of and take away from the profit of the sale. If you feel you have a rare or vintage book, please bring that book to our attention so that we can access its value.
Beth Hymel and Emily Bongiorno
Co-Chairs Book Sale Committee
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📚Reminder: We Sell Books Year Round📚
If you cannot wait until the Fall Book Sale, and you are looking for some good books to read over the Summer…and want to support your library in a small but significant way, also consider our Book Case Sales which is the first book case of shelves to your right when you enter through the Warden Street main entrance.
Martha Fuller does a great job at refreshing the shelves with new additions which she culls from our book sale events as well as from patrons who donate to our year-round fund-raising efforts.
Standing in front of the shelves, some items that seem to pop are classics like Alexander Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, or Pulitzer-prize winning author, Isabelle Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of our Discontent. There are also some popular authors nestled in there: Bonnie Garmus, Louise Penny, Lisa Scottoline. And some titles that make you go hmmm…wonder what that is about like Hamilton’s Curse. There is something for everyone: fiction, non-fiction, mystery, even cook or foodie books, and knitting books!
There is a wooden box to the left of the shelves that signals “honor system.” Simply drop your money in the box for what you want to take with you. Hardback books $3.00; Trade paperbacks $2.00; Mass market paperbacks 2 for $1.00. DVDs and CDs are priced as marked.
All sales benefit the Falls of Schuylkill Library.
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Standing in front of the shelves, some items that seem to pop are classics like Alexander Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, or Pulitzer-prize winning author, Isabelle Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of our Discontent. There are also some popular authors nestled in there: Bonnie Garmus, Louise Penny, Lisa Scottoline. And some titles that make you go hmmm…wonder what that is about like Hamilton’s Curse. There is something for everyone: fiction, non-fiction, mystery, even cook or foodie books, and knitting books!
There is a wooden box to the left of the shelves that signals “honor system.” Simply drop your money in the box for what you want to take with you. Hardback books $3.00; Trade paperbacks $2.00; Mass market paperbacks 2 for $1.00. DVDs and CDs are priced as marked.
All sales benefit the Falls of Schuylkill Library.
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The Trees
by Percival Everett
Submitted by Rosalyn Thomas
Percival Everett became a household name when Erasure was brought to the screen as American Fiction, which is a brilliant satirical statement about truth and the game of truth. I recently discovered that Everett is a prolific writer with 30 plus books to his name. I like his writing because it’s what I would call naughty. It’s tongue in cheek, amusing and deadly serious all at once. The Trees tells the story of a series of grisly murders in Money, Mississippi (of all places!). Who would have thought? What’s unnerving is that there is always a second body at the scene, and the implications become ominous and hilarious simultaneously. Everet’s writing informs us by using the absurd to soften the truth.
It will stay with you for a while.
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Begin Again
by Oliver Jeffers
Submitted by James Pfizenmayer
Begin Again, honest time. I was a Graphic Novel snob. Looking down. Jeffers is gold. If his name is on a book doing anything read it. Then I was put in charge of section to organize labeling, correct age appropriation and scrub our software. I fell in love with this book. Few words, neat design. Lazy Philosophers dream. If your apprehensive, go read a opinion or description of it from another on the net. This book is on my coffee table.
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The Sun Also Rises
by Ernest Hemingway
Submitted by Rosalyn Thomas
Ok. I will always recommend this. If you haven’t read it. Read it. Simple and yet somehow, complex character development, expats in Europe partying during WWII. Cool Stuff: You find out what a Perinod is (it is a drink), his descriptions of the events place you in this book. If your an extravert, you just might live through the plot while reading it. Maybe it was the age at which I read it first , but he creates a picture and atmosphere of texture like I’m sitting at the bar.
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📆Library Calendar of Events📆
The library has multiple free programs this Summer with programs for all ages.
Click here to check the library website for any updates to the verify the specifics of which space/time changes for each event.
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👩👧👦Summer Quest👩🏼👧👦🏾
Welcome to the Ultimate Quest
The Free Library’s flagship summer program fosters a love of reading and learning with self-paced activities for all ages at every library! Join us all summer through August 14, 2026.
Learn more https://libwww.freelibrary.org/programs/summerreading/
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🧶Fiber Arts🧶
Tuesdays at 2:00 PM
Stop by the library and bring a portable craft project (knitting, crochet, hand-sewing, embroidery, etc) that you are working on. Don’t know how, but want to learn to hand-craft from others who are passionate about their work? Stop in to watch and learn some basics.
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✒️Falls Writing Group✒️
Tuesdays at 5:30 PM
Connect with other writers for motivation, accountability, and inspiration via free writing, prompts and writing games, group sharing, feedback sessions and more. This will be a positive and non-judgmental community open to writers of all genres and skill levels.
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🪡Sit and Stitch🪡
Saturdays at 10:30 AM
Join us for a casual, drop-in meet-up for crafters of all varieties and levels. Bring your own knitting, crochet, embroidery, or other project for socializing and inspiration.
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📚Avid Reader’s Circle📚
Fridays at 11:00 AM
Come discuss what you are reading and/or get recommendations! |
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🙆🏻Qigong in the Garden🙆🏻
Thursday at 11am through June
Experience a sense of well-being with the calming, nourishing practice of Qigong (chee-gong). Eileen Kelsall will lead the group in gentle movements, deep breathing, and self-massage. You’ll find yourself feeling less stressed and more energized with this meditative practice.
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✍🏻Author Event✍🏻
The Battles of Germantown with David Young
Thursday, June 16 at 5:30 PM
Join local author David Young as he talks about The Battles of Germantown. Known as America’s most historic neighborhood, the Germantown section of Philadelphia (established in 1683) has distinguished itself by using public history initiatives to forge community. Progressive programs about ethnic history, postwar urban planning, and civil rights have helped make historic preservation and public history meaningful.
The Battles of Germantown considers what these efforts can tell us about public history’s practice and purpose in the United States.
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🎲Board Game Cafe🎲
Saturday, June 20
from 2:00-4:00 PM
Enjoy board games? Looking to socialize, meet up with neighbors, and have fun?
Bring your favorite board games or enjoy one of the many owned by the library, including familiar favorites. Every Board Game Café will include one or two tables for playing (and learning) Mah Jong. Want to learn, but don’t know how? No worries, come learn the game, Chinese style.
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Light refreshments will be served but feel free to bring your favorite snacks.This program is hosted and sponsored by the Friends of the Falls of Schuylkill Library, and will take place in the Meeting Room; please use the Midvale Avenue entrance.
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📖Falls Book Club📖
Monday, June 29 at 5:30 PM
Join the Falls Book Club – one of the Free Library’s longest running programs. The group is open to all and new members are welcome. June’s selection is The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson.
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💓Stop the Bleed Training and
Blood Pressure Screening for All💓
Tuesday, June 30 at 1:00 PM
Death due to traumatic bleeding can occur in less than 5 minutes. In under 1 hour, you can learn to save a life.
Individuals will receive formal Stop the Bleed training, which includes a presentation followed by hands-on practice of applying direct pressure, packing a wound, and using a tourniquet to stop bleeding. Presented by educators from Jefferson Health in the Meeting Room.
Walk-ins welcome, no registration required.
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🔍Mystery, Mayhem, and Murder🔍
Tuesdays at 4:00 PM
If you love mysteries and thrillers, join us for our book club!
July 14 – A Rage in Harlem or Cotton Comes to Harlem by Chester Himes
August 11 – Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke
September 8 – The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri
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🚐Claymobile at the Library🚐
Friday, July 24 at 12:00 PM
The Claymobile is a pop-up ceramics studio. Participants will learn skills from professional teaching artists using clay to nurture imagination, critical thinking and persistence while learning the basics of clay building and decoration. All materials will be provided and space may be limited. Clay can be messy, please dress appropriately. For all ages.
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Friends of the Falls of Schuylkill Library
Officers
Jenna Musket, President
Mary Jean Cunningham, Vice President
Ann Wiley, Treasurer
Mamie Doyle Manella, Recording Secretary
Jenn Estepp, Branch Librarian, ex-officio
Committees and chairs
Advocacy – Neha Pancholi, Karla Irwin
Archives – Peggy Gertz
Book Case Sales – Martha Fuller
Book Sale – Beth Hymel & Emily Bongiorno
Building – Rich Matkowski
Community Outreach & Engagement – Polly Edelstein, Cassy Krueger
Garden – Nancy Pontone & Andrea Sunderland
Governance and Nominating – Connie Gillespie
Hospitality – Mary Jean Cunningham, Marie Filipponi
Membership – Jessica Herring
Marketing – Connie Gillespie
Social Media – Piyanut “La” Sripanawongsa, Jamie Winder
Technology – Nicolas Colarossi, Rich Lampert
Members of the Community Outreach and Engagement Committee
Emily Branch – Newsletter Editor
Polly Edelstein & Cassy Krueger – Committee Co-Chairs
Martha Fuller – Fiber Arts
Karla Irwin – Newsletter layout and design
Tali Satlow – Board Game Café co-host
Piyanut “La” Sripanawongsa – Social Media (FB, IG) and co-host Board Game Café (Májiàng)
Thank you to our business members!
Joseph D. Boyle Agency;
The Fallser Club;
Connie Gillespie, Realtor, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors;
East Falls Family Dentistry;
Grim and Grove Communications;
McIlvaine Funeral Home;
Rossi Auto Repair;
ShopRite of Fox Street;
JT Ideations
Join the friends!
Ensure the library remains a vital center of lifelong learning for all the members of our East Falls community. Sign up online today!
We are looking for volunteers, too! All ages are welcome, email outreachffsl@gmail.com for more information.
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