Fall Big Truck Book Sale: September 17 & 18

The books are closing in on us! We need you to come pick them up at rock bottom prices.

All weekend we’ll be selling off tons of great books that we simply don’t have space to fit in the store. During our sidewalk sale we’ll fill more than a dozen tables with books. Swing by and build your own book tower and then test the limits of a paper bag, bringing home your stack. Get in on the fun!

Sept 17 & 18: 10am-4pm
$1/Paperbacks
$2/Hardbacks
$5/bag beginning at 1pm on Sunday
Big Truck Book Sale Details
Save the Dates!

October is a good month to lean into all things creepy, scary, and thrilling and Tony Knighton’s thriller will definitely make your pulse race – perfect for a quick October read.

A little teaser about Tony’s book “A Few Days Away”: On Valentine’s Day, a professional thief and his partner robbed a bank in a Central Pennsylvania town. It all went well… until the getaway. His partner was killed, the money was lost, and the injured thief barely escaped with his life. Now, four months later, he’s going back for his money. But he’s not the only one after it. Corrupt cops, warring street gangs, white nationalists and crooked politicians all agree on one thing – they want him gone. Permanently.

Author Q&A with Tony Knighton
Saturday, October 22 at 3pm
Rain Date: October 23 at 3pm


After a career in healthcare, Arlene was ready to draft two quick-paced novels that explore themes of family, security, and close relationships. How supportive is your support system? How deep and honest are your relationships? If you enjoy stories with richly drawn characters that pose these types of questions, you’ll be interested in Arlene’s two novels “If We Had Known” and “Beneath A Blanket of Snow”.

Reading & Discussion with Arlene Lomazoff-Marron
Saturday, October 29 at 3pm
Rain Date: October 30 at 3pm
Hiring Efforts at the Free Library of Philadelphia
Did you catch the two recent articles on the Free Library of Philadelphia in the Inquirer and Billy Penn? They are worth reading.

Both articles focus on the chronic understaffing across the library system and the efforts to remedy the situation with a significant hiring effort. We are thrilled to now have to two librarians at the Chestnut Hill Branch (after an extended wait), but can attest that our local branch and the system as a whole are still understaffed. With school back in session and students turning to their libraries to make use of programs such as Literacy Enrichment After-School Program (LEAP), which provides free after-school homework help and hands-on STEAM programs, the vacancies are even more acutely felt.

Due to the budget increase won by Free Library of Philadelphia staff and advocates citywide, the library system is now looking to fill more than 300 positions, approximately 200 full-time positions and 100 part-time positions, like those LEAP positions. This hiring effort is focused on stabilizing open hours for five day service, which Director Kelly Richards has stated as a priority. He has also remarked that he is committed to six-day service, allowing for patrons to use the library on Saturdays. It has been years since the Chestnut Hill Library had regular open hours on Saturdays and it is one of the improvements for which we’ve been advocating.

We’ll be watching closely to encourage that the hiring effort is as swift as possible. Stay tuned as we’ll likely be asking for your help pushing this process forward.
Programs at the Library
Monday Matinees: Come to the library every Monday (not holidays) at 1pm for a movie at the library. Movies shown will be adaptations of books. Most movies are rated PG or PG 13. For more information, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian at handc@freelibrary.org.

Game Day Wednesdays: The Chestnut Hill Library is the perfect place to connect with friends and neighbors over a game. Meet up in the Adult/Teen department for Scrabble, chess, trivia, Star Trek, card games, and more!  The library has the games, or you can bring your favorites.  For more information, please contact Ms. Claire Hand, Adult/Teen Librarian, at handc@freelibrary.org.

Book Clubs: The Chestnut Hill branch hosts two free and open book clubs, a Classics Club and a Contemporary Club.

Classics Reads:
October 6 – Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone de Beauvoir
November 4 – The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann

Contemporary Reads:
September 28 – A Horse Walks Into a Bar by David Grossman
October 26 – Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
November 30 – The Promise by Damon Galgut

To join any of these discussions, email HandC@freelibrary.org. She will share the zoom link and meeting time with you.
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For more information about the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library and Hilltop Books – please visit our website at www.chlibraryfriends.org or hilltopbooks.org
The Friends of Chestnut Hill Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity. Your donation is tax deductible.
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Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library
84 Bethlehem Pike

Philadelphia, PA 19118-2716