Friends of the Falls of Schuylkill Library Summer Newsletter
Meet the new children’s librarian and learn about summer events at the Falls of Schuylkill Library.
☀️ Summer News and Events ☀️
Well-run libraries are filled with people because what a good library offers cannot be easily found elsewhere: an indoor public space in which you do not have to buy anything in order to stay.
By Martha Fuller, President, Friends of Falls of Schuylkill Library
The definition of a library, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is “a building that houses collections of books, CDs, newspapers, and other materials for people to read, study, or borrow.” However, as loyal patrons of the Falls of Schuylkill Library, we believe that our library offers much more than that.
Over the years, libraries have evolved to serve different purposes. People now visit to use computers or find a peaceful environment to work on their own. Patrons come to borrow books, DVDs, or introduce their children to the wonders of reading. At the Falls Branch, you can also find newspapers such as the NEW YORK TIMES, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, DAILY NEWS, and the WALL STREET JOURNAL. (Thanks to the Friends of the Falls of Schuylkill Library who pay for the subscriptions.)
The Falls Library has been hosting various programs and events over the decades, thanks to the support of the Friends of the Falls. They have organized storytelling, ham radio and chair yoga sessions, and even a demonstration on how to spice up Ramen noodles. Upcoming events include Intro to Houseplant Care and Canvas Couture for Teens and Book Talk: One Hug at a Time with author Dave Snyder. There are also Community Game Nights and Film Nights scheduled throughout the summer.
If you haven’t visited the Falls Library recently, we encourage you to come by. You will be greeted by Drew, our Branch Librarian, and the staff who will be happy to assist you. Take a seat at one of the tables and browse through our collection of new novels, cookbooks, and reference books to help you with your projects.
The Falls Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia welcomes you!
Welcome to The New Children’s Librarian
My name is Grace Foster (she/her), and I am excited to join the Falls Library as the new Children’s librarian!
I come here by way of the Free Library Foundation Youth Services and Programs, where I spent two years working on the Literacy in Early Learning Spaces project, the Read Baby Read initiative, and the summer reading camp challenge program.
Before moving to Philadelphia, I was a teacher in Boston. I grew up in a tiny town in Massachusetts, and, although East Falls is part of a huge city, the community, here, reminds me a lot of Woods Hole.
Outside of work, I love to do handcrafts like sewing, knitting, and quilting. My mom is from West Philly, so I grew up eating cheesesteaks with green peppers, onions, and American cheese – no one serves Whiz in Mass!
Calendar of Events Summer 2023
The library has over 30 free programs this summer with programs for all ages.
Cynthia Kishinchand in the community meeting room of Falls of Schuylkill Library (May 23, 2023)
Many people in the Falls know Cynthia as the coordinator of East Falls Tree Tenders (EFTT) since 1996. In the past 25 years, EFTT has had a hand in planting about 1,000 trees along 47 thoroughfares as well as at schools and a recreation center.
Personally, I am thankful for Cynthia’s efforts in helping my block, the 3400 block of Crawford Street, get 10 of those 1,000 + trees after the towering canopy of trees on the block was declared diseased and subsequently, felled. With a door-to-door campaign and Cynthia’s help, we were able to get Japanese lilacs and American Cladrastis luteas planted. That was about 20 years ago.
