Lucky for us, Librarian and Branch Manager, Drew Birden, saw an idea worth “borrowing” from other libraries: Installing a revolving community puzzle. So, he talked to FFSL’s Building Committee chair, Rich Matlowski to design a table to be repurposed, Rich, a general contractor with carpentry skills, built his (and his wife Debbie’s) own house in the Poconos. He is also currently rehabbing two houses. He says he “was pleased and honored” that Drew asked him to build a platform to top the table for working on large jigsaw puzzles. An idea actualized. Success!
Rich is quick to credit Drew for the idea and envisioning the project; and Drew has shared that many who stop by the library are pleased to see this new addition of material culture in our beautiful library space.
Now anyone who happens by is encouraged to help to assemble the puzzle. And it’s not just for random persons visiting the library. The community puzzle is also quite popular with library staff who can’t resist searching to connect pieces on their breaks.
Therefore, next time you’re visiting the library, why not stop at the table just to the left of Drew’s desk and find a puzzle piece or two–or three–to complete the puzzle of the month? Or visit the library, specifically, just to advance the puzzle assembly.
Thanks, Drew for always thinking of ways to enhance library experiences; and thanks Rich for volunteering your time and talents in creating the community puzzle table!
Library Staff Book Pick
Roslyn Thomas reccomends Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
I just finished reading Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. I am an avid reader and have to say that this is one of the most elegantly written books I have read. Simply put, it’s the retelling of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield (similarities abound); the setting is modern day Appalachia. This is the story of an orphan who falls on hard times and the resilience he develops in the face of insurmountable odds. It’s the story of anyone who grows up without parents and in a world where drugs are foisted on the community. Homelessness, drug abuse, incarcerated parents and siblings, child abuse; they’re all present and yet the reading is not ponderous. Sometimes, the language used to describe a situation is difficult to contain and can possibly trigger some unwanted internal responses, but implicit in the language is hope. We want this boy to win. We want these people to win. We want them to win because they deserve to overcome.
Kingsolver writes a man’s story in a man’s voice who is recounting his past. It is the voice of a man-child, a teenager and a man child trying to find his way. The voice is skeptical, irreverent, resigned and chronicles the realities of the hardships around him. The language drew me in from the first line: “First, I got myself born, A decent crowd was on hand to watch, and they’ve always given me that much: the worst of the job was up to me.”
Calendar of Events Fall 2023
The library has multiple free programs this autumn with programs for all ages.
Creator, child and family therapist, Omari Baye, author of Spaces, a book he says he designed to be a catalyst for opening discussions about children’s capacity for experiencing complex emotions. This book talk is especially geared to promoting conversations between children (Kindergarten- 4th Grade) and their parents/ grandparents.
An evening with Ann deForest, Sterling Duns and Nathan Popkin,
Ways of Walking
Oct. 18 (6:30pm)
Meeting Room of Falls of Schuylkill Library
Ann de Forest’s writing often centers on the resonance of place. Her short stories, essays, and award-winning poems have appeared most recently in Quarter after Eight, Gyroscope Review and Royal Beauty, a collection of ekphrastic writing. She is the editor of Ways of Walking, an anthology of essays (New Door Books, 2022), inspired by her experience walking the entire perimeter of Philadelphia, the city the California native has called home for nearly four decades. That project has prompted ongoing conversations with a growing community of artists and writers about margins and edges, the power of slow creative practice, and art as collective witness. Her “Walk Around Manifesto” was featured in the 2023 exhibit, “Walking the Edge,” at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. In addition to Ann, two authors who are featured in the anthology will participate in this special evening program.
Dwight Sterling Dunston, aka Sterling Duns, is a West Philly-based facilitator, hip-hop artist, educator, and activist who had brought his creativity, care, and compassion to homes, schools, community centers, retirement homes, festivals, and stadiums all over the country and internationally. His poem, “Hum,” was recently featured on Philadelphia’s Healing Verse Poetry Line, and you can hear Dwight/Duns in conversation with spirit-led artists and activists on Pendle Hill’s new podcast, The Seed: Conversations in Radical Hope.
Ways of Walking contributor Nathaniel Popkin is the author of seven works of fiction and non-fiction and the co-editor of the anthology Who Will Speak for America? Popkin is a Philadelphia-based writer, editor and historian. In addition to co-founding the Hidden City Daily in 2011, his Song of the City (2002), The Possible City (2008) Lion and Leopard (2013) and Philadelphia:Finding the Hidden City (2017).
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron,
author of If Only We Knew
Nov. 15 (6:30pm)
Meeting Room of Falls of Schuylkill Library
Lomazoff-Marron is a contemporary fiction writer who decided to write a novel upon retiring from a career in the healthcare field. Her debut novel was Beneath a Blanket of Snow. She will discuss her latest book If We Only Knew which was released in 2021.
📚 Calling all authors! 📚
Have you written a book: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, sci-fi, history, a cook book, etc? Or contributed to an anthology of collected works? Or compiled a book filled with archival images? Or have written a book for children?
Would you be interested in sharing your book, your ideas, your process of writing? Are you interested in having a book signing? Authors can bring their own books, or we can coordinate an event, and order your book(s) through a local bookstore to be available for signing. We also welcome Zine authors and writers working with alternative and indie publishing to talk about their writing projects!
Authors will be asked to provide the following: author photo & short bio, a book photo & summary. If you are interested in a book signing, please contact outreachffsl@gmail.com.
Falls of Schuylkill Library turning 110 years old!
Falls of the Schuylkill Library under contrustion in October 1918.
(Image source: Falls of Schuylkill Library and East Falls Historical Society)
Back on November 18, 1913 – the Falls Library on Warden Drive opened its beautiful English Collegiate doors for the first time with a gala celebration. Before this date (1901 – 1913), the library was located on the second floor of the Old Academy Building. And now, exactly 110 years to the day, we will be commemorating this occasion with a birthday party for the whole community on Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 11am – 2pm. This event is a public Thank-You to all library supporters and neighbors. It is free and open to everyone.
Plans are still being made by the “110” Committee –Beth Hymel, Ann Wiley, Martha Fuller, Carla Bednar, and Wendy Moody. Your ideas for the party are welcomed. We are envisioning an historical sign-in book and a drone photo of all attendees to document the occasion for posterity, birthday cake/cupcakes, live music from the 1913 era, children’s crafts and entertainment, huge public jigsaw puzzles of the library, food trucks, and short remarks. Children will create birthday cards for the library.
More details on the 110th Birthday Celebration event will be emailed to our Friends members and publicized in our local media. Past officers of the Friends and past Falls Staff Members will be attending. A good time to reconnect!
Special Program: Taking Charge of your Bone Health. Joanne P. Fagerstrom, PT, CFP. Owner, Mindful Physical Therapy, LLC
Nov. 17 (11am-1pm)
Meeting Room of Falls of Schuylkill Library
Joanne Fagerstrom is a bone health specialist. Joanne has been a physical therapist since 1978 and is the creator of Strong Bones Exercise Classes. Joanne will discuss the importance of understanding bone density tests, why you must have a bone health plan, and evidence-based ways to safely and effectively strengthen your skeleton.
This is a co-sponsored event between the Friends of Falls of Schuylkill Library and East Falls Village.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
FRIENDS OF FALLS ANNUAL MEETING
Guest speaker: Judith Everitt, President, Friends of Philadelphia City Institute Library
Nov. 1 (6:30pm)
Meeting Room of Falls of Schuylkill Library
We hope you will join us for the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Falls of Schuylkill Library on Wednesday, November 1, at 6:30PM. The first 30 minutes of the meeting will contain a report from our Branch Librarian, Drew Birden, reports from the FFSL Treasurer and President and the introduction to and election of two officers of the Board, the Vice President and the Recording Secretary.
Our guest speaker for the next part of the Meeting will be Judith Everitt, the President of the Friends of the Philadelphia City Institute which is a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia located on West Rittenhouse Square. The topic of her speech will be the current state of book bans.
Judy is a retired Librarian, who worked in New Jersey schools as a School Librarian for 18 years and in the Somerset County Public Library system for seven years. She started volunteering in libraries when she was in fourth grade and continues to do so. After retiring, Judy and her husband moved to Philadelphia in 2017 which, she says, was the best retirement decision that they made. Judy has been involved with the Friends of PCI Library since 2017 and says, “It has been a most rewarding and enjoyable experience.”
Light refreshments will be served after the Meeting.
Friends of the Falls of Schuylkill Library
Officers
Martha Fuller, President
Neha Pancholi, Vice President
Terry Cunningham, Treasurer
Peggy Gertz, Recording Secretary
Drew Birden, Branch Librarian, ex-officio
Join the friends!
Ensure the library remains a vital center of lifelong learning for all the members of our East Falls community.
