Book sales, block parties, more from libraries in May
DARBY BOROUGH » Darby Free Library holds an indoor block party at the Darby Recreation Center, 1022 Ridge Ave., from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 12. Special guest performers Mlanjeni and The Amazing Mr. Q arrive at noon.
Come out for free and fun activities including a 275-book giveaway from the Darby Library Company’s Anniversary Committee, Community Bubble Art, games, crafts, sunflower planting, community information tables and more.
Relive ‘60s soul in U.D. on Friday
UPPER DARBY » Upper Darby/Sellers Library, 76 S. State Road, welcomes Jon Turk for “The Sound of Sixties Soul” at 7 p.m. Friday, May 4. Come out to dance, sing along, and test one’s knowledge of soul music from the ‘60s. Turk brings back memories of Black music trends during the decade with this one-hour retrospective. He analyzes why Black music was such a strong music form of the times and was right in step with world events. One of the premier soulful acts in the Philadelphia tri-state area, Turk generates energy and excitement wherever he performs.
The program is free and open to the public in the accessible adult library. Turk’s CDs are available for purchase after the event. Registration in advance is encouraged.
For information and directions, call the library at 610-789-4440 or visit www.udlibraries.org/adults
Mother’s Day craft at Prospect Park
PROSPECT PARK » Prospect Park Library, 720 Maryland Ave., invites children ages 3 and over during regular scheduled hours the week of May 6 for a make-and-take Mother’s Day Craft. Stop in between noon-8 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, and 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday. For information, call 610-532-4643, email prospectpark@delcolibraries.org or visit www.facebook.com/PPFLIB
Children’s, adult programs at Norwood
NORWOOD » Norwood Public Library, 513 Welcome Ave., welcomes students in grades 2-5 for an “Hour of Code” at 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 7. Registration is required; space is limited to 12 participants. Gamers in grade levels 6-8 should stop by for Between the Teens on Wednesday, May 9, at 3:30 p.m., when the library gets out the PS4. No registration is required. Guests can feel free to bring their own remote for team playing.
For information and registration, call the library at 610-534-0693 or email nocsd@delcolibraries.org
The Norwood Sister Circle hosts “Democracy Is Not A Spectator Sport - Vote!” at 7 tonight, Tuesday, May 1, at the library. This program is presented by the League of Women Voters of Delaware County to help citizens of Delaware County exercise their full voting rights in the May primary election and the November general election. During this presentation, guests learn about the voting registration process, absentee voting, important state and federal offices up for election and what and how their functions affect people’s daily lives. The Norwood Sister Circle holds monthly meetings/ programs on various subjects at the Norwood Public Library. For information, email sistercircle11@gmail. com or call the library.
History, flower sales at library in Haverford
HAVERFORD » The Haverford Township Free Library, 1601 Darby Road, Havertown, hosts a history talk on General Ulysses Grant given by Jim Seagrave-Daly at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 2. Come out for a lively discussion of the most acclaimed general of the Civil War. From his humble beginnings as a trainer of Union military recruits in 1861, Grant became a master of army movements and logistics, instrumental in winning the war for the North. This program is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
The library holds a weekend fundraiser at Taddeo’s Greenhouses, 1601 Darby Road, Havertown, from Friday, May 4-Sunday, May 6, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Celebrate spring and support the library by buying spring plants at the sale. Download the flyer at www.haverfordlibrary.org/event/taddeos and present it at Taddeo’s on the above dates and for 10 percent of the purchase to go to the library,
For information, contact Mary Bear Shannon at 610-446-3082, ext. 16, email shannon@haverfordlibrary.org or visit www.haverfordlibrary.org
Book, bake sale at Ridley Park
RIDLEY PARK » Friends of the Ridley Park Library hold a book and bake sale from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at the Ridley Park Borough Hall, 105 E. Ward St. Adult fiction, nonfiction, mystery and children’s books and adult fiction books on tape are available for sale. Baked goods, raffle tickets and 50/50 tickets can also be purchased. Raffle prizes are donated by local businesses.
There is also a shredding truck behind borough Hall. There is no charge for this but donations are gladly accepted. The time for shredding is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Donations of books less than 10 years old in good condition and DVDs and children’s books may be brought to the borough hall from 2-8 p.m. Thursday, May 3; and 10 a.m.-noon and 4-6 p.m. Friday, May 4. The sale does not accept encyclopedias, text books and VCR tapes. For information, call the library at 610-583-7207.
Drink tea, benefit May 5 Upper Chichester
UPPER CHICHESTER » Friends of the Upper Chichester Library hosts a Victorian Tea Saturday, May 5, from 1-3 p.m. at the Creekside Village Clubhouse. For a $25 donation, supporters receive an assortment of teas, finger sandwiches, scones, desserts and song stylings by Tracy Mace. Proceeds fund library operations.
Tickets are limited and can be purchased at the library or by contacting Laura Schreiber at lschreiber@comcast.net
Soap making, more at Aston Public Library
ASTON » Aston Public Library, 3720 Concord Road, holds a soap making class for adults at 11 a.m. May 5. Learn to make soaps to give as gifts or to keep. All materials are supplied. Please register through the calendar at www.astonlibrary.org
Friends of Aston Library hold a bingo night from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Aston Community Center adjoining the library. Doors open at 4:30. All prizes are cash. Admission is $25. The event includes special games, food, bingo supplies and raffles. No on under 18 years old is permitted to enter. Proceeds benefit the library.
The library hosts Walk With Ease, the Arthritis Foundation’s evidencebased program for people 60 and over that is proven to reduce the pain of arthritis and improve overall health, from 10:30 a.m.-noon Monday-Wednesday through May 23. No matter if participants need relief from arthritis pain or just want to be active, the six-week program teaches how to safety make physical activity part of everyday life. The program is proven to reduce the pain of arthritis; increase balance, strength and walking pace; and build confidence in the ability to be physically active. The program is free; registration is required.
To information and to register for the above programs, visit the calendar page at www.astonlibrary.org
Book sale, history program in Wallingford
NETHER PROVIDENCE » Helen Kate Furness Free Library, 100 N. Providence Road, Wallingford, holds its annual May Fair from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 12. Come out for freshly grilled food, face painting, games and prizes for kids, plants sale, baked goods, a visiting fire truck, a costume jewelry counter, a moon bounce and the first day of the spring book sale.
The book sale features thousands of books in all categories — fiction, mysteries, cookbooks, art, gardening, history, rare books and more. Donors to the library’s Annual Appeal are invited to a special preview on Friday, May 11, from 7-9 p.m. The sale continues through Tuesday during regular library hours. Hard-backed books are be half-price on Sunday. There is $2 a bag sale on Monday and Tuesday. Proceeds benefit library programs, materials and services to the community.
The library welcomes the Chester Historical Preservation Committee for “Under the Big Top and the Big Eye: How Frank Furness and the Templars Inspired Chester’s Wildest Presbyterian Church” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 23.
Shelley Ashford from CHPC analyze the architecture of the famed Old Third Presbyterian Church and explains how architect Isaac Pursell combined the desires of Old Third’s trustees to create this surprising, graceful building, that is at once camp revival tent and Civil War memorial, with both modern efficiencies and Masonic elements hiding in plain sight.
Historic pastors and preachers at the church include Abraham Lance Lathem and Mel Trotter. A pantheon of Delaware County’s Gilded Age personalities populate the lecture, including Theophilus Chandler (architect of the Dixon House, now Wallingford CAC), John Wannamaker, Frank Black, Adam C. Eckfeldt, Hugh Shaw, Dr. William Gray, and William Hinkson, as well as William Provost Jr, who built Penn Steel Casting, Old Chester High School, Aberfoyle Manufacturing, St. Paul’s and Third Presbyterian Church.
Question-and-answers, bibliographic/source material handouts, light refreshment are provided. Artist Diane Mont from Media displays her paintings of this landmark and architectural masterpiece, unveiling her newest original work.
The free program is held in the library’s lower level Chadwick Auditorium.