Cherry Hill Sun

Tag: cherry hill public library

  • The Indian King Tavern’s Revolutionary War history

    Abigail Twiford/The Sun
    Joella Clamen presented a slide show at the library about the tavern’s role in the Revolutionary War, among its other history.

    As part of its ongoing series to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of America’s founding, the library hosted a Nov. 18 presentation on the Indian King Tavern.

    The grant-funded project “U.S. at 250: South Jersey and the Revolution” is a year-long exploration of area history and its role in the nation’s beginning. The library talk focused on the tavern’s Revolutionary War history.

    Joella Clamen, museum interpreter of the historic site, told stories and presented a slide show with historical photos, illustrations and maps to help explain the tavern’s past. Clamen began by noting that the tavern is located on what is now Kings Highway – then known as Salem-Burlington Road – and had an important connection to South Jersey’s first two English settlements.

    The tavern was operated by widow Mary Creighton, who got help during the war from her second husband Hugh and two sons. Clamen explained how at the time, the role of tavern keeper was often filled by women, given the job’s focus on homemaking skills.

    “You can work from home if you’re running a tavern,” she remarked.

    Creighton got financial and other support from Haddonfield to buy the tavern and obtain her license to run it. 

    “They actually had pretty strong social welfare laws …” Clamen noted. “Taxpayers of the town put money into a group called the Guardians of the Poor, who then had to support impoverished people. So it’s really not in anyone’s interest for a widow who’s in a vulnerable situation and might have fallen into poverty. It’s actually in everyone’s interest for her to be gainfully employed.”

    Clamen also noted that some of the tavern’s workers were enslaved and pointed to the impact slavery had on social standing at the time, though the borough’s largely Quaker population was against it.

    “If you did not have a plan to free them (slaves),” she said, “then you could be what was called disowned from the meeting.”

    Quakers who supported the revolution were also disowned, given the religious group’s pacifist stance on war.

    “They not only said that they didn’t want people from their religious committee to bear arms, they said, ‘We don’t support this revolution,’” Clamen related.

    She also noted that Haddonfield was chosen as the revolutionary government of New Jersey’s headquarters – after the imprisonment of the British-appointed leadership – but there are no records of why. A room at the tavern, however, became the location for the young government’s meetings.

    “This is why some people say New Jersey became a state there,” Clamen related.

    The revolutionary government eventually left the borough after the British took control of Philadelphia in the fall of 1777, so its headquarters wouldn’t be close to enemy troops. But Haddonfield’s role in the revolution did not end there: When enemy soldiers left Philadelphia later in the conflict, they marched through the town to retreat.

    Following the war, Quakers who were disowned by their church continued to practice their religion and became the Society of Free Quakers in Philadelphia. 

    Clamen also addressed how Haddonfield native Timothy Matlack Jr., son of one of the tavern’s first owners, was known for his penmanship, so he was chosen to create a handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence.

    “So when somebody tells you, ‘Thomas Jefferson wrote the declaration,’” Cleman pointed out, “yeah, but he didn’t hand write the declaration.”

    Clamen ended her talk by discussing how the tavern became a museum in 1903, after the Daughters of the American Revolution lobbied the state to buy the building. It has been a museum since, with a bronze plaque outside to commemorate its important role in the Revolutionary War.

  • Professor discusses how to judge online ‘facts’

    Abigail Twiford/The Sun
    Speaker Joseph Assalone has 45 years of experience as a CPA and recently retired from his position as adjunct professor of taxation at Rowan College of South Jersey.

    The township library addressed the issue of online misinformation and how to be more aware of it by hosting an AARP Community Conversation on Oct. 16 entitled, “Tips for Being News Savvy Online.”

    The speaker was Joseph Assalone, who has 45 years of experience as a CPA and recently retired from his position as adjunct professor of taxation at Rowan College of South Jersey. Much of his career has focused on “professional skepticism,” a skill that separates fact, fiction and opinion online.

    Assalone began his presentation by offering attendees pamphlets on how to tell if something online is truthful or not. He then discussed fake news – including satire and parody, propaganda and deep fakes – and how social media helps spread it.

    “Now, social media has done a revolutionary thing in making news available to us that could come from anybody,” he acknowledged. “But it’s not even well-known sources anymore. Anybody can get on and spread all kinds of craziness.” 

    A video Assalone showed from FactCheck.org explained how one can evaluate a source’s credibility, offering tips like reading past a headline before sharing a news story, double checking information with secondary sources and using fact-checking websites.

    Assalone also described “post- truth,” when objective fact is less influential than emotional appeals in public opinion. 

    “There is, in society now, an increasing tolerance for BS,” observed audience member Cary Hillebrand. “An alternative fact means if you don’t like what the news is presenting, courtesy of Google, you can find whatever echo chamber fits off what you want to hear.”

    In addition to information that is untrue, Assalone also discussed the various ways reputable news outlets can still skew stories, through word choice, the decision to omit certain details, the author’s personal bias, spin or slant.

    Participants were encouraged to consider their own biases when evaluating information, namely accepting something just because it validates a particular viewpoint. An information outlet’s own biases are also an issue.

    Deepfakes, images and videos created through AI – as well as doctored images – were illustrated by the TikTok video of a man who creates deepfakes of himself as actor Tom Cruise. Examples of AI power and influence were also addressed.

    “There are events in human civilization which actually change civilization,” Assalone explained. “The fall of the Roman Empire, the end of World War II, the Industrial Revolution, the internet. AI is in that same category, and it is going to change every single thing.”

    Assalone also showed the audience how to report false information on sites like Facebook and how to use fact checking websites like Snopes, FactCheck.org and Politifact. The group also talked about how divisive the news landscape has become, with Assalone mentioning that politicians seem to be more willing to say things they wouldn’t have in past decades.

    “I think that’s the difference in the politicians now than maybe 20 to 30 years ago,” he observed. “They were guarded about what they said because they knew that they were in a position of power, and your words are going to do tremendous harm.

    “They don’t care. They don’t seem to care now.” 

  • Library costume swap is easy on the wallet

    Libraries are centers of reuse and sustainability in communities worldwide, and Cherry Hill’s is no exception. Besides loaning books and other materials to residents, the facility also hosts sales and exchanges of lightly used goods, among them its Halloween costume swap on Oct. 15.

    Photos by Abigail Twiford/The Sun
    Residents go through clothing racks at the second annual Halloween costume swap on Oct. 15.

    It was the second consecutive year for the event, which takes place as Halloween approaches.

    “It was a huge hit,” said library director Tierney Miller. “Last year, we actually got some local broadcast news coverage, so we were on the local evening news.

    The swap is the work of the library’s youth services department, which handles the sorting of costumes and other items. Two sessions – one in the morning and one in the evening – took place in the children’s story time and craft room. Both sessions of the swap attracted dozens of residents, including 92 in the morning.

    “It seems pretty popular with folks,” Miller noted. “Halloween costumes are expensive and you only wear them once, so it’s a really good chance for people to maybe get something good and not have to spend any money.” 

    Several tables and clothing racks were set up for the swap, with clothing items sorted into age ranges. Also available were accessories like wigs, masks and hats, and even props like plastic tools. 

    “We do our best to merchandise,” Miller said. “It’s a lot of things in bags.”

    Collections for the swap began a month ahead; the library was open for donations from Sept. 15 to Oct. 12.

    “We just advertise that we need donations through our social media and email and stuff, and the community shows up,” Miller commented. 

    He pointed out how many items were for kids, with several Disney princess and superhero costumes on display. 

    At the back of the room, one of the tables specifically for child sized costumes displays various items.

    “We tend to get kids costumes, probably because kids outgrow costumes year to year,” Miller explained. “So I’m sure families have a lot of them on hand. I know I did … I would say like 95% are for kids.” 

    Patrons were not required to donate a costume in order to take one home.

    “Aside from being a great way to save money, it’s also really sustainable,” Miller offered. “Instead of throwing the costume in the landfill or just having it collect dust in your closet, you can pass it on to another family, another person, and it has a new life …

    “It’s good for the environment and it’s good for people’s wallets.”

  • Families dress for a library fundraiser

    Party-goers spent some after hours at the library on Oct. 3 for a family costume party and fundraiser.

    The entry fee of $10 a person enabled the library to raise funds for itself. Meredith Meyer, its volunteer coordinator, helped plan the event, first organized two years ago.

    “We just wanted to give the kids something fun to do while raising a smidge of money,” she said. “Everybody who was there had a blast. Everybody that walked out the door said, ‘Oh my gosh, thank you. We had a great time.’

    “It’s always cute to see all the kids in costumes, and sometimes the parents get involved, which is fun, too.”  

    Happy kids received boxes of candy as prizes during the library’s costume party for families on Oct. 3.

    Children and their parents were encouraged but not required to wear costumes. Some kids showed up in coordinated outfits inspired by Minecraft and the Harry Potter movies. Other adults donned Halloween-themed T-shirts and sweaters, while their children dressed to look like Barbie or Michael Jackson, among others.

    Parents and children danced to music from a DJ who also used lights to create an appropriate mood for each song.

    Music was provided by a hired DJ, who also controlled colored lights to set the mood for each song and passed out candy to enthusiastic dancers. There were also competitions that gave children the chance to use inflatable musical instruments and microphones to see who could best mimic a real musical performance.

    At the end of the night, participants voted on a winner in the kids’ costume contest, with the top three earning the prize of a gift card.

    The library will continue its Halloween-themed activities with a costume swap on Wednesday, and trick or treating for children up to age 5.

  • National program promotes literacy in children

    Courtesy of Cherry Hill Public Library. Sharon Clarke reads a story to 2025’s graduates from the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge.

    Libraries throughout the country serve those of all ages, operating as a resource to develop a love of reading in younger generations.

    One national program that seeks to create a habit of reading before children even enter elementary school is the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge, which the Cherry Hill Library participates in.

    Program graduates – or those who reach the goal – are celebrated with an annual pizza party in September of each year, marking the end of one year of the challenge before another begins.

    The program runs year round for children as young as infants up until 5 years of age, with parents signing up their children at the desk and receiving their first reading log, which features 100 books that can be colored in as the children read them. 

    Parents who wish to sign up their children for the challenge must have a library card and fill out a form with their child’s information.

    Once one log is completed, the children return it to the library and receive another, until 10 logs are completed.

    After the first 100 books are read, participants have a picture of their face taken and receive a paper worm that they are able to put on the board that tracks all of the readers participating in the challenge. 

    The photo of their face is placed on the worm to keep track of each individual’s progress throughout the program. 

    Abigail Twiford/ The Sun The current progress board for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge.

    Sharon Clarke and Jacquie Daddato run the program for Cherry Hill’s participants. 

    “After the first 100, we take their picture, and their worm goes on the board… they can see their progress going up to 1,000 and then once they reach 1,000, they get an invitation to a pizza party, which Jacquie and I do to run together,” said Clarke.

    Once they reach 1,000 books, a larger picture is taken of each child and it goes up on the wall above the progress board until the party. 

    “They get that as one of their prizes for finishing their 1,000 books, [which is] their graduation photo,” said Daddato.

    At the party, which was held on Sept. 6 this year, the kids have stories read to them and Clarke gives a proclamation on the achievement, with each child receiving a button and a signed and laminated copy of the proclamation of their success.

    The party also gives the children the opportunity to enjoy cookies, music and a photo booth station. 

    Cherry Hill has participated in the program for a number of years, though the parties for graduates were not able to be run during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. They did a bigger party to celebrate those years.

    “… Everybody got celebrated that did that, once we were able to,” Daddato said. “It’s a good time. The kids really look forward to it. The parents are very, very happy and appreciative.”

    Though the program is national and does have a model for how it can be run, not every library does it the same way, with some libraries offering different rewards for reaching the goal.

    This year, Cherry Hill saw a total of 36 graduates with 27 coming out to attend the party. 

    Books that are read more than once can be logged multiple times and still count towards the total. 

    “If they read the same book 17 times, they check it off 17 times,” said Daddato.

    In addition to promoting early literacy, the program also serves as a way to help parents and children bond with one another.

    “Most people don’t even realize they’re doing it…,” Daddato points out, noting her friend reads her daughter five books a night.

  • ‘We have such a quality group’

    The Cherry Hill Public Library has seen a number of staff changes and promotions over the last several months, with major departments seeing new leadership following promotions.

    Tierney Miller, formerly the head of reference and adult services, took over as library director in mid-June of this year. She takes the many internal promotions and staff changes as a positive sign, with people moving from part-time to full-time roles or transitioning into leadership positions. 

    “… We have such a quality group of professionals here who really like working here, who care about the community that they work for and with, and want to continue their career here in Cherry Hill,” Miller said. “And we’re really lucky to have them.”

    Photos courtesy of Cherry Hill Public Library.
    Tierney Miller is the new director for the Cherry Hill Public Library.

    Miller said her transition has been wonderful with the support of all the staff and the Friends of the Library.

    Miller’s new role involves her getting out into the community, as well as helping out in various departments whenever needed. She is the face of the library.

    “As the director of such a large organization, it can be easy to pull back and get siloed away from the public,” she explains. “And I have no desire to do that. I’ve worked with the public for a really long time, and I think the best way to stay connected to the patrons and the staff is to continue to work in various departments, see what issues come up, see what people are happy about.”

    So far, the most challenging part has been getting used to being the leader of the organization that she’s worked in for so long.

    “I value so much in terms of working collaboratively and in a team-oriented way, with people figuring out the balance of how to keep the spirit of that going, while also recognizing that the buck stops with me,” Miller said.

    Her favorite part so far has been getting the opportunity to see and connect with more of the library staff.

    She hopes to increase the library’s mission to become more sustainable. In her previous role, she started a sustainability community.

    “Sustainability is really important to me,” Miller said, “and I feel like libraries are positioned really well to be exemplars of sustainability in the community… people reusing materials over and over again, rather than using and discarding them.”

    She also hopes to lead the library in developing more ways to build community at the library.

    “I think that a lot of people of all ages are struggling with isolation, loneliness, feelings of division, and the library can be a place for them to come to connect with others,” Miller said. “… to sit down with like-minded people, maybe get creative and find others that make them feel a little less alone.”

    Kelly Shesko took over as head of reference and adult services following Miller’s promotion to director.

    Kelly Shesko takes on leadership in reference and adult services. She is a Cherry Hill resident and has worked in the library for the adult services department for six years, having previously gained experience at six library systems across four states before deciding to stay in Cherry Hill.

    The role she is taking over involves coordinating all programming for adults at the library, handling scheduling, staffing and payment for performers and speakers, as well as figuring out what makes a good library program versus what may not.

    The role also involves all collections of print, audio, databases, periodicals and all other materials for adults throughout the library. 

    Jasmine Riel took over the role of supervisor of youth services following the retirement of previous supervisor Erica Moon.

    The youth services department is also under new leadership following the retirement of former supervisor Erica Moon.

    Jasmine Riel, a Cherry Hill native who graduated from Cherry Hill High School West in 2011, has taken over in the position, having worked at the library since 2015. She previously worked as the teen librarian in the department.

    The role involves Riel handling all programming for library patrons from infancy to 18 years of age, as well as outreach for school visits and youth oriented events around the community.

    Talie Meza is the new teen librarian.

    A new teen librarian, Talie Meza, recently began working in the department as well, coming to Cherry Hill from the Burlington County Library System where she worked as a Digital Learning Library associate.

  • Township library co-hosts voter registration effort

    Along with this year’s gubernatorial race in November, Cherry Hill will hold elections for the board of education and the township council.

    As part of an effort to keep people engaged in every election and not just the presidential contests, the League of Women Voters visited the township library on Sept. 16 to mark National Voter Registration Day, a non-partisan observance the league started in 2012. 

    Joan Divor is co-president of the league’s Camden County chapter.

    “The overall goal is to empower people, because your vote is your voice,” she noted at the library. “And we want to get out the vote, increase the number of people that are ready to vote and that will vote. It’s a big election in New Jersey this November.”

    During the voter observance, volunteers get involved in their communities, reaching out to people in person and online to encourage election registration.

    League members at the library approached patrons and asked them if they were registered, and answered any voter questions and concerns. Along with getting out the vote, the volunteers also helped ensure that registrations were updated and provided information on polling locations and candidates.

    “One of the things that attracted me to the league is all the ways they find to get out and get people to vote and strengthen our democracy,” noted league member Bobbie Doose.

    The league also regularly appears outside the Camden County Courthouse following naturalization ceremonies to get new citizens registered, and visits correctional facilities to register those inmates elegible to vote.

    “If you want to have a choice in who’s representing you, you have to use your vote,” Divor explained. “That’s the way you choose … The more people vote, the more that the elected officials will be accountable, and the more likely we are to get the elected officials that we want.

    “It’s going to be decided by the voters, not the people that stay home.”

    Elections in New Jersey will be held on Nov. 4. To check a current voter registration status, visit nationalvoterregistrationday.org.

  • Library hosts WHYY for book banning talk

    Abigail Twiford/ The Sun One of the small groups discussing the different aspects associated with book banning during the WHYY event.

    The Cherry Hill Public Library and WHYY both aim to be channels for members of the public to share opinions and voice opposing viewpoints in a safe and respectful way.

    This was demonstrated by the library hosting WHYY for a conversation on book banning on Sept. 10.

    According to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, it tracked 821 attempts to ban library materials or services last year, with 2,452 unique titles challenged. 

    While these numbers are lower than those in 2023, they are still higher than reported ban attempts before 2020, which is one of the reasons why WHYY decided on the topic for the talk.

    They began their event with moderator Brisa Luzzi Castro, a community convener at WHYY and Tony Cuffie, senior manager of community and engagement at the organization showing the group a “60 Minutes” piece of book banning throughout the nation.

    After showing the piece, the group was given a hand out outlining agreements to participate in the discussion and five questions.

    “We’re out with you today to share our perspectives, but listen to the perspectives of others, and be willing to be here with an open mind, listening to some of these, of the lived experiences of the folks who are sitting next to us,” said Castro. 

    The rules for the group included to come with an open mind, listen to learn from others, respect the other speakers, no personal attacks and an acknowledgement that facts are universal while opinions are subjective.

    “It’s all a matter of one’s perspective in terms of how they think to solve the challenge,” Cuffie said, adding there’s no right answer.

    The audience was broken into four small groups for a 20 minute small group discussion to discuss the five provided questions.

    The questions consisted of why the individual wanted to participate, the biggest challenges related to the issue, key groups or issues related to the issue that are often missed, what they feel people with opposing viewpoints get wrong and what they would like key stakeholders to change or improve about the issue. 

    Conversations featured people saying that librarians are not being defended, parents having the right over their own children’s educations but not rights over all public school curriculum, lack of respect for one another fueled by social media and the need to hear other perspectives.

    Kathy Hogan is a Cherry Hill resident and lawyer who came out to share her views and hear those of others.

    She shared similar views in attendance, noting that it is important for maintaining freedom of speech to not allow a few people to ban works based on their own views. 

    Many in the group also said that due to this similarity in views, they thought it would have been more productive to have more people with varying views. 

    “It’s so important, especially now for communities to get together,” Hogan said.

  • Library hosts class on computer backups

    Abigail Twiford/The Sun
    Instructor Peter Mokover hosted the class, acknowledging that while no method is a guarantee of security for devices, backups are recommended.

    The Cherry Hill library’s many offerings include sessions that teach people how to use technology and software and protect their electronic devices.

    “Back up Your PC: Protect Your Information,” taught by Peter Mokover on Sept. 3, explained to the 12 people in attendance their options for copying data outside of a computer to protect against a device getting lost, damaged or broken. 

    Mokover – who routinely addresses the topic at the library – began by asking how attendees would feel if their computer was to suddently stop working. He explained that there are generally two ways a computer can be backed up, either by copying all of the data to an external solid-state drive (SSD) or hard drive, or by backing information up to the cloud. 

    Creating a backup with an SSD requires the user to plug in the external drive and export the data onto it themselves, then store the SSD in a safe location.

    “Most people have at least one bed in their house,” Mokover said. “You can put it (the SSD) between the box spring and mattress, or put it as far away from the computer as you can get. Or give it to a friend. But lock it before you do that,” he added, noting some of the possible safety locations.

    Backing up to a cloud service is an option that allows the user to save information to a computer that is not in their own home, with the backup completed online after the user subscribes to an available service.

    “The single biggest advantage of cloud-based backups is that it is located somewhere else,” Mokover noted. “If your house literally caught on fire and burned down to a pile of dust, your computer that’s in the house probably didn’t survive, but at least all your data is backed up somewhere else.”

    He acknowledged the advantages and disadvantages of each backup type, including the difficulty in finding a secure place for a physical hard drive and the risks of having personal information stored on a computer owned and operated by a stranger, as happens with cloud backups.

    Mokover also acknowledged that no method is a complete guarantee of computer protection, backing up a device is still a better idea than not. 

    “I like to go to these classes,” said resident Audrey Giza. “It’s being taught right, it’s being taught professionally. We have outlines, we have something to go on instead of just winging it. And I think he (Mokover) is excellent.”

    After his presentation, Mokover answered questions and addressed other concerns from the class, such as the best places to store passwords for cloud services or external drives, including with friends or in a safety deposit box.

    “I think the class went well,” he noted, “and I think if nothing else they got, they understand how important it is to back up their computers.”

  • ‘A lifelong dream’

    Photos by Abigail Twiford/The Sun Several of Debbie Lynch’s watercolor works on display on one of the tables in the conference center.

    The lower level of the Cherry Hill Public Library features an art gallery. The walls are lined with works of art that are switched out on a monthly basis, each new exhibit displaying the works of a different local artist.

    For the month of August, the gallery features the works of Debbie Lynch, whose works feature a heavy emphasis on nature, color and animals. 

    After spending five years teaching science and 17 years as an elementary art teacher, Lynch retired, now spending her time working on her art, having always wanted to have the opportunity to display her work. 

    “It’s always been my dream to work on my paintings and to have the opportunity to exhibit them,” Lynch said. “Yeah, so this is a lifelong dream being fulfilled.”

    As a Cherry Hill library patron, Lynch would often visit the gallery, which is what gave her the idea to ask about potentially getting her own work displayed there. After asking about it and giving some examples of her work a year and a half ago, August 2025 was her month to display.

    “I’ve been over the moon since,” she said.  

    Lynch’s artist reception at the library, titled “Exhibit Number One, My Journey’s Just Begun,” was held on Aug. 16, where she met with friends, fans and viewers.

    The walls of the hallways were adorned with Lynch’s acrylic paintings, while half of the conference center was set aside to display her watercolor works, painted vases, and painted coasters. 

    Her style of painting – with its use of color and the way shapes and textures are utilized and painted – are reminiscent of Vincent Van Gogh and Gustav Klimt, two of her inspirations, along with Canadian artist Alex Demers, who also often features animals as her primary subjects.

    One of Debbie Lynch’s paintings featuring a horse titled “Starry Night Stallion.”

    “I love color … sometimes I just go off the grid and just kind of go abstract and crazy, I just love to play with color,” said Lynch. 

    Her paintings largely feature forests, cats, horses and sometimes fantastical elements like fairies and dragons. 

    “I wanted to show a variety of what I can do,” said Lynch. 

    Some of the pieces also feature hidden images, like “The Cat, the Moon and Friends,” which shows a cat sitting in a tree illuminated by the moon, with the shapes of several black cats hidden among the tree’s roots. 

    The acrylic painting “The Cat, the Moon and Friends” hanging on the wall of the library’s art gallery.

    “This one sold as soon as I painted it,” said Lynch, referring to the work. “But I said, I need to hang onto it for my show.”

    Cats and dogs are some of her favorite subjects. She has two black cats and a lab mix. Horses are another favorite subject of Lynch, and are featured in a number of her pieces as well.

    Her watercolor works were set on a table in the conference center, with visitors sifting through the different works to look at the range of subjects Lynch took on, with some viewers purchasing pieces as well. 

    Besides her love of animals, her passion for gardening is also present in much of her art, with several paintings displaying a variety of plants, trees and flowers. Each of the painted vases on display had flowers painted on them.

    Another piece on display was a painted stool that bore a note telling spectators to ask about the work.

    While it looks like a stool now, it started its life as a plant stand in the 1960s, once having three tiers, though over time it became just a one level stool-shaped structure. Lynch inherited the stool from her mother last March.

    Several of Lynch’s works on display, including the painted stool.

    “She used to just put her feet on it and I thought, ‘I can do something with this … ’ So I filled in the hole with a little bit of work, and I hand painted it, and now it’s a decorative footstool. It was once a 1960s plant stand, and it’s been reborn,” said Lynch.

    While this was her first art display, Lynch hopes to have more in the future. She is already in talks with other local art displays and galleries.