Friends of the Chester Library

12/02/2025

✨ Happy Giving Tuesday, Chester community! ✨

Today is a special day where communities everywhere come together to support the places that make life richer, kinder, and more connected. For us here in Chester, our library is one of those places.

We’ve seen firsthand how much heart, care, and creativity our library staff pours into serving our town. From children discovering the joy of reading, to adults finding resources, connection, and inspiration, our library touches every generation.

If you’re able, we would be incredibly grateful for your support this Giving Tuesday.
Your donation, of any size, helps us fund programs, events, materials, and enhancements that make our library a true community gem.

📚 Donate via Venmo: -NJ
💙 Employer matching encouraged!
⭐ Suggested giving levels are shown in the image below.

Whether you donate, share this post, or simply stop by the library this week, we appreciate you. Truly.

Thank you for being a Friend. We couldn’t do any of this without your generosity and your belief in what a library can mean to a town.

With gratitude,

The Friends of the Chester Library

11/17/2025

What a night! Chester Library’s Grand Tasting was EVERYTHING we hoped for and more – a true celebration of community, connection, and the beacon that brings us all together: our beloved Chester Library.
Huge thanks to:
Artista – has kept the room buzzing since our first event 4 years ago with delicious and coveted passed canapés and a gorgeous charcuterie spread
Fresco – nourished us body and soul with their delicious offerings; we kept going back for more!
Nina Lou – Chef Laurent, you amazed us beyond reason (again! IYKYK)
Point 5 – for proving mocktails are an adventure in possibility
Sandy’s Wine & Spirits – for their continued support of this event and always curating an unforgettable tasting experience

So much more gratitude is in order for this incredible night: The HCBA, Alstead Farms, E. Christopher & Sons Metalsmith, Stony Hill, Frank Anthony, Chester Meat Market, Winky’s Pet Boutique, Maple Shop, Smooth as Glass, Linda’s Biscotti, The Garden Club, and The Floral Design Group all made valuable contributions to make the evening a memorable success.

The generosity, talent, and spirit of our local businesses made Saturday night magical. Because of you – and everyone who attended – we’re able to help our Library thrive as a place where we can all gather, learn, and grow together. Please remember this holiday season what our community has to offer, and look locally first for your catering and gifting needs. We all have a choice in supporting our community.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback has us grinning from ear to ear. Same time next year? We’ll bring the glasses if you bring the dancing shoes! Fred Astaire Dance Studio will lead, steal the show, and have us all dancing and laughing again.
P.S. Did Hillary snap your photo? Follow us and send us a message – we’d love to share the memories with you!
Here’s to community, to libraries, and to all of you. Thank you!

11/15/2025

LAST CALL!!! Tickets are still available at the door TONIGHT, Chester Library 5-8. Hope to see you there!

11/14/2025

Remember last year when Lupita and Irvin from Fred Astaire’s in Chester had us all gliding across the library floor like we actually knew what we were doing? Pure magic. They’re back for another year at our Grand Tasting, ready to teach moves that’ll make you feel like the star of your own musical – glass in hand optional.
Whether you’ve got two left feet or secretly fancy yourself the next Ginger Rogers, Lupita and Irvin make everyone feel like they belong on the dance floor. We’re lucky to live in a town that offers this much fun, this much community, and this many reasons to twirl around supporting our beloved Library.
Join us Saturday, November 15th from 5-8pm for dancing, sipping, noshing, and celebrating everything that makes Chester extraordinary. Ticket link in bio.

11/13/2025

Who says you need alcohol to have a spirited good time? Point 5, one of Chester’s must visit Main Street destinations, is proving that "dry" is anything but dull. Pop into their bottle shop to taste, sip, and discover a whole world of sophisticated non-alcoholic beverages that'll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about mocktails.
At our Grand Tasting, Point 5 will be shaking up their signature alcohol-free cocktails – because supporting your local library is an all inclusive celebration. Whether you're sober-curious, designated driver, or just ready for a plot twist in your glass, come see why we love this brilliant bottle shop.
Join us Saturday, November 15th from 5-8pm @ the Chester Library to raise a glass (and money!) for great books, local flavor, and the heart of our community, the Chester Library. Get your tickets now!

11/12/2025

Nina Lou – Where Sweet Surprises Support Great Causes
Chef Laurent is back for year two, and if last year taught us anything, it’s this: expect the unexpected, and prepare to be amazed. Nina Lou keeps their Grand Tasting contributions delightfully under wraps, but we can promise you one thing – whatever Chef Laurent creates will be the kind of surprise that has you going back for seconds (and thirds, and maybe just one more...).
This Chester gem has mastered the art of turning the everyday into the extraordinary, and they’re bringing that magic to our Library once again. Because when talent meets generosity, raising funds for our local library has never tasted so sweet!
Join us Saturday, November 15th from 5-8pm to discover what culinary delights Chef Laurent has in store. Spoiler alert: your taste buds are about to be very, very happy!
Ticket link in bio

11/12/2025

🥖Nina Lou – Where Sweet Surprises Support Great Causes
Chef Laurent is back for year two, and if last year taught us anything, it's this: expect the unexpected, and prepare to be amazed. Nina Lou keeps their Grand Tasting contributions delightfully under wraps, but we can promise you one thing – whatever Chef Laurent creates will be the kind of surprise that has you going back for seconds (and thirds, and maybe just one more...).
This Chester gem has mastered the art of turning the everyday into the extraordinary, and they're bringing that magic to our Library once again. Because when talent meets generosity, raising funds for our local library has never tasted so sweet!
Join us Saturday, November 15th from 5-8pm to discover what culinary delights Chef Laurent has in store. Spoiler alert: your taste buds are about to be very, very happy.

11/11/2025

The Grand Tasting Is This Weekend!

An Evening to Sip, Savor & Celebrate!
Saturday, November 15, 2025 5:00pm-8:00pm
Join us for a festive night featuring:

🍷 Curated wines, bourbons, and craft beers
🥂 Mocktails & non-alcoholic spirits
🍴 Delicious tastings from local restaurants
🎶 Live music & community fun

⸻

Tickets
🎟 $79 in advance (through Nov. 14)
🎟 $100 at the door
Cocktail attire encouraged

All proceeds support adult & children’s programs at the Chester Library.

11/10/2025

11/03/2025

Looking for a way to support the Chester Library?

Join us for:

The Grand Tasting
An Evening to Sip, Savor & Celebrate!
Saturday, November 15, 2025 5:00pm-8:00pm
Join us for a festive night featuring:

🍷 Curated wines, bourbons, and craft beers
🥂 Mocktails & non-alcoholic spirits
🍴 Delicious tastings from local restaurants
🎶 Live music & community fun

⸻

Tickets
🎟 $79 in advance (through Nov. 14)
🎟 $100 at the door
Cocktail attire encouraged

All proceeds support adult & children’s programs at the Chester Library.

10/30/2025

The Grand Tasting
An Evening to Sip, Savor & Celebrate!
Saturday, November 15, 2025 5:00pm-8:00pm
Join us for a festive night featuring:

🍷 Curated wines, bourbons, and craft beers
🥂 Mocktails & non-alcoholic spirits
🍴 Delicious tastings from local restaurants
🎶 Live music & community fun

⸻

Tickets
🎟 $79 in advance (through Nov. 14)
🎟 $100 at the door
Cocktail attire encouraged

All proceeds support adult & children’s programs at the Chester Library.