Welcome to 2010

With the long uncertainty of State budget cuts, 2009 was a difficult and very long year.  The result overall was an $80,000 reduction to Marple Public Library from the State. It could have been worse without all the letters and advocacy from you, library supporters, and we appreciate the support and hard work.

In response to the cuts, the library reduced staff and hours in January 2010.  Our new hours are: Monday & Tuesday 10 to 9, Wednesday 1 to 9, Thursday & Friday 10 to 6, Saturday 10 to 5 and Sunday 1 to 5.  We had been open Wednesday morning and Thursday evening. 

The library also began charging for items that had previously been free.  TV Series are now $1.06 for 7 days, Children’s DVDS are now $1.06 for 7 days and Informational DVDS are now $1.06 for 21 days. 

While the library has reduced hours, we are still purchasing new books, DVDS and other items.  It is our goal to provide our users and the community the best possible library service.

Please plan to visit the Marple Library this year. We  look forward to serving you.

Fall Programs are Here

Marple has added new fall programs to our website. The Delaware County Library System’s Fit for Life series of programs brings us Pilates in September, Latin Dance in October, and A B T (Abs, Buns, Thighs) in November. We’ll be hosting a lunchtime Opera series beginning in October. Our celebration of all things Abraham Lincoln continues with two fall lectures and the exhibit, “Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America” in December. Book clubs begin again this month. Make plans to attend a library event soon!

Summer Reading is Going Strong!

If you haven’t signed up for one of our summer reading programs yet – there is still time! Young children can “Be Creative @ Your Library”, while teens may “Express Yourself @ Your Library”, and adults can “Master the Art of Reading”.
The adult program involves stopping by the reference desk and filling out a yellow book review form. Once turned in, you fill out a ticket and are eligible for the weekly drawing. Each winner gets to pick a book or audiobook from the prize bags. I’ve been drawing 2-3 names per week, so there are lots of chances you may win!

Marple Library Needs Your Help !

Pa Libraries are facing major funding cuts in the 2010 state budget. If the Marple Library is important to your, please contact your local legislator and tell them to maintain level funding for libraries.  For more details of countywide library cuts which would result from cuts, please check out the Delaware County Library System’s website at www.delcolibraries.org.  To find your local legislator, go to The Pennsylvania General Assembly – Find Your Legislator-www.legis.state.pa.us..   Proposed cuts, if passed, will result in fewer library hours, books and other material and programs.

Delaware County Summer Festival Concert Series

Rose Tree Park in Media is again hosting a Delaware County Summer Festival concert series. We’ve had questions at the library about the schedule and have some brochures available, so be sure to pick one up before we run out! Also, the concert schedule is available online at www.co.delaware.pa.us/summer/2009WebSchedule.pdf

Community Pride Day in Broomall

Join us Saturday May 16 at the Old Marple School. The Library is raffling off a Free DVD for Life card and you can have your picture taken with Abraham Lincoln. Come visit all the local businesses and groups. Food and kids games and activities.  11 to 3.

Gearing Up For Summer

The Children’s and Teen’s departments of the library are just about ready to print the 2009 Summer Reading Brochures! There will be a lot going on this summer. Marple is the only library in Delaware County with two weeks of Science in the Summer sessions – register now through June 1 in the library. The theme of this year’s Summer Reading program is “Be Creative @ Your Library”, so look for lots of arts and crafts, music and theater programs here. Make sure to check our website for all of our Summer Reading programs. Get Creative!

Used Audiovisual Sale Fundraiser

 

The Friends of Marple Library are having an audiovisual sale in our library meeting room this weekend. Please join us for great deals on videocassettes, DVDs, and books on tape. We even have some books for sale!
Friday, May 1 from 9:30 to 5, Saturday, May 2 from 9:30 to 3, and Sunday, May 3 from 1 to 4. On Sunday we will have a 1/2 price clearance sale. Hope to see you there.

Abraham and Frederick at the Library

Join us at 7PM on Thursday April 23 for “Abraham and Frederick: The Lincoln and “Other” Douglass Debate”, a living history presentation from the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia, and sponsored by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, a Federal-State partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. I really think this will be interesting, as two actors will portray President Lincoln and the abolitionist Frederick Douglass as they journey from mutual incomprehension to mutual respect. This program is one in our series celebrating the Lincoln Bicentennial in 2009.

Another Successful Edible Book Festival!

I think I’ve just come down from the sugar high of Sunday’s 2nd Annual Edible Book Festival here at the library! The entries were fantastic this year. So many books were represented: The Lightning Thief, To Kill a Mockingbird, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, and many more. And we had a few “edible Lincoln” entries, too! Our judges Trudy Riddell, Mariah Stewart and Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln had a difficult time deciding who to choose as our winners. And once the winners were announced – Adult winner: Charlotte’s Web by Megan Moran; Teen winner: Whitewashing a Fence by Karly Feinberg; Child winner: A Dog Called Kitty by Vanessa Clark; Group winner: Where the Wild Things Are by The Fabik Family; Most Original winner: Old Yeller by Cathy and Sarah Gach; Edible Lincoln winner: George Washington Welcomes Abraham Lincoln to Heaven by Kimberly Gibson; and the People’s Choice winner: Where the Wild Things Are by the Fabik family – we dug in and ate the entries! Check out pictures from the event at our Flickr account. And start thinking of your entry ideas for next year, when we hold our 3rd Annual Edible Book Festival on Sunday March 28, 2010!