Note from the Director

We have been feeling the love here as our patrons have been telling us during February what they love about the Haverford Township Free Library on our “I 💗 HTFL'' banner. Thank you! You still have time before the end of February to contribute to our valentine wall and show your love for the Library!

One of the things we love about our patrons is their passion for reading and discussing books! Not only do we have six dedicated library-led book groups, we also have the popular service of Book Clubs in a Bag. Each bag has everything your book club needs to read and discuss a particular title including: 8 books, 1 large print book, 1 audiobook, and discussion questions. Bags can be borrowed for up to two months. You can check out what titles we have by clicking here. To reserve a Book Club in a Bag and to check availability, contact the Reference Department at 610-446-3082 x 503 or reference@haverfordlibrary.org. 

Our diverse library-led book groups meet various different interests - from fiction to history to graphic novels! Reading a Round meets on Zoom and Books on Tap meets at McGillicuddy’s and both discuss fiction.  For history lovers we have Hooked on History that reads a book together on a topic in history and the following month they read from a list of books provided to learn more about the period. With our Cookbook Club, you cook from a different cookbook each month and then bring what you prepared to share with the club at the CREC. The Graphic Novel Club meets on Zoom and covers all types of topics from alternative graphic novels tackling real-life issues to superheroes. The Library’s Nonfiction book group covers a wide variety of subject matter and meets at the Quadrangle. For mystery fans, there is Cookies and Mystery which discusses mysteries in different genres at St. James United Church of Christ. For more information on each group and how to join, visit our website calendar by clicking here or call the Reference Desk 610-446-3082 ext 503.

Our staff takes pride in connecting our patrons to the books and book clubs that would interest them. Stop by to get a recommendation from a Librarian today! The temporary library is a bustling place full of library lovers ranging from kids attending our storytimes to seniors from the Quadrangle making us a “stop” on their weekly trip to the Manoa Shopping Center. We appreciate all of your support and we hope to see you at the Library soon!

Warm regards,

Sukrit Goswami, Library Director

The Library will be closed in observance of Presidents' Day on Monday, February 19.

Adult Program Highlight

Ambush at Central Park: When the IRA Came to New York - Author Talk

Tuesday, March 12 - 7:00 pm

Community Recreation and Environmental Center (CREC) - 9000 Parkview Dr.

Join us to hear Mark Bulik talk about his recent book Ambush at Central Park: When the IRA Came to New York. Mark is a former editor at The News of Delaware County and The Daily Times.

The book, hailed by The New York Daily News as “a harrowing account of how the IRA came to New York City to get vengeance on a traitor,” explores the only authorized attack by the Irish Republican Army on American soil – the 1922 shooting of an informer who fled County Cork after getting six IRA men killed during the Irish War for Independence. A year after the killings in Cork, three of his former comrades tracked the informer to Manhattan and gunned him down in a hail of bullets before a crowd of horrified New Yorkers at 84th Street and Central Park West. The three gunmen then visited Philadelphia.

Signed copies of the book will be available for sale. Bulik, a native of Ridley Park, has been an editor at The New York Times for 26 years. His first book, “The Sons of Molly Maguire: The Irish Roots of America’s First Labor War,” was praised by Dublin Review of Books as “a milestone study of the Irish in the hard coal fields” of Pennsylvania.

No registration is required.

Adult Calendar

Monday, February 19

Library Closed for Presidents' Day

Tuesday, February 20

7:00 pm - Books on Tap (McGillicuddy's - 33 Brookline Blvd., Havertown)*

Wednesday, February 21

2:00 pm - Great Courses - Masterpieces: The Louvre (Zoom)*

Thursday, February 22

2:00 pm - Quilting Group (Temporary Library - Manoa Shopping Center)

Friday, February 23

10:00 am - Tea and Stitch (St. James United Church of Christ - 135 Myrtle Ave., Havertown)

Monday, February 26

7:00 pm - Hooked on History (Zoom)*

Tuesday, February 27

7:00 pm - Reading a Round (Zoom)*

Wednesday, February 28

2:00 pm - Great Courses - Masterpieces: The Louvre (Zoom)*

7:00 pm - Nonfiction Book Group (Quadrangle - 3300 Darby Rd, Havertown)*

Friday, March 1

10:00 am - Tea and Stitch (St. James United Church of Christ - 135 Myrtle Ave., Havertown)

*Registration is required

HTFL Teens @ the Kelly Center!

Join the fun every weekday after school from 3-4:15 pm as we host free teen programs at the nearby Kelly Center (4 East Eagle Road, Havertown)! Go on an adventure with our Dungeons & Dragons Club, explore your creativity in Teen Art Club, and play games at Gaming Club. Relax at Mindful Monday, make a difference in our community in the Teen Reading Lounge, discover new favorite books at our Tween Book Club, and earn volunteer hours by joining a Teen Advisory Board. Register online to join! Questions? Email Teen Services Librarian Jennifer Appell: appell@haverfordlibrary.org.

Teen Programs Tasting: Pizza Night for Parents & Teens at the Kelly Center!

Monday, February 26 - 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Parents, guardians, and teens welcome!

Are you looking for engaging after-school programs to enrich your teen’s learning experience?

At this special event, you’ll have the chance to:

🔍 Learn about our exciting after-school teen programs, like book clubs, gaming, volunteering, and more!

👩‍🏫 Meet our Teen Services Librarian, Jennifer Appell, who will be there to answer questions and introduce you to our wide variety of activities designed for teens!

🍕 Enjoy delicious pizza and refreshments while mingling with other parents, guardians, and teens in the community.

Whether your teen is a bookworm, a gaming enthusiast, or simply looking for a fun and supportive space to hang out after school, we have something for every teen!

We can’t wait to see you there! If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Teen Services Librarian, Jennifer Appell, at appell@haverfordlibrary.org

Registration is highly recommended. To register, click here.

Teen Calendar

Monday, February 19

Library Closed for Presidents' Day

Tuesday, February 20

3:00 pm - Teen Reading Lounge (Kelly Center - 4 East Eagle Rd)*

Wednesday, February 21

3:00 pm - Dungeons and Dragons (Kelly Center - 4 East Eagle Rd)*

Thursday, February 22

3:00 pm - Art Club (Kelly Center - 4 East Eagle Rd)*

Friday, February 23

3:00 pm - Gaming Club (Kelly Center - 4 East Eagle Rd)*

Monday, February 26

3:00 pm - Mindful Monday (Kelly Center - 4 East Eagle Rd)*

6:00 pm - Teen Programs Tasting - Pizza Night for Parents and Teens (Kelly Center - 4 East Eagle Rd)

Tuesday, February 27

3:00 pm - Tween Book Club (Kelly Center - 4 East Eagle Rd)*

Wednesday, February 28

3:00 pm - Dungeons and Dragons (Kelly Center - 4 East Eagle Rd)*

Thursday, February 29

3:00 pm - Art Club (Kelly Center - 4 East Eagle Rd)*

Friday, March 1

3:00 pm - Gaming Club (Kelly Center - 4 East Eagle Rd)*

Storytime at the Temporary Library!

Babies and Books Storytime Tuesdays, February 20, & 27 - 11:30 am Join our children’s librarians with your infant or baby for this quiet and cuddly storytime that includes books, songs, lap bounces, and simple rhymes! Babies & Books is tailored to children under the age of 18 months. Registration Required. To register click here.

Baby Social - February 20 & 27 - 12:00 pm After Babies & Books Storytime, it’s time to make some new friends! At our Baby Social we bring age-appropriate toys to our tumble mats so that babies can play and learn to interact in a safe environment while their caretakers get to know each other, share their experiences, or just relax while watching their little ones play. No registration required.

Kids Calendar

Monday, February 19

Library Closed for Presidents' Day

Tuesday, February 20

11:30 am - Babies and Books (Temporary Library - Manoa Shopping Center - 1305 West Chester Pike)*

12:00 pm - Baby Social (Temporary Library - Manoa Shopping Center - 1305 West Chester Pike)

Thursday, February 22

10:30 am - Circle Time Storytime (Temporary Library - Manoa Shopping Center - 1305 West Chester Pike)*

Saturday, February 24

10:30 am - Saturday Storytime at HTFL (Temporary Library - Manoa Shopping Center - 1305 West Chester Pike)*

Monday, February 26

10:30 am - Circle Time Storytime (Temporary Library - Manoa Shopping Center - 1305 West Chester Pike)*

4:00 pm - Lego Club (Temporary Library - Manoa Shopping Center - 1305 West Chester Pike)*

Tuesday, February 27

11:30 am - Babies and Books (Temporary Library - Manoa Shopping Center - 1305 West Chester Pike)*

12:00 pm - Baby Social (Temporary Library - Manoa Shopping Center - 1305 West Chester Pike)

Thursday, February 29

10:30 am - Circle Time Storytime (Temporary Library - Manoa Shopping Center - 1305 West Chester Pike)*

*Registration is required for all programs except for Baby Social

Senior Nights at the Haverford CREC

Wednesdays, February 28, March 27, & April 24, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Community Recreation and Environmental Center (CREC - 9000 Parkview Dr., Haverford)

Haverford Township seniors aged 60+ are welcome to attend Senior Nights at the CREC, featuring various themed social events. On Wednesday, February 28, 2024, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., we'll have a Movie Night, followed by a Sing Along/Karaoke Night on March 27, and a delightful Potluck Dinner on April 24. With a diverse range of activities, there's something for everyone.

Although participation is free, space is limited, so make sure to pre-register to secure your spot! Click here to register.