skip navigation.

access pa (power library)

History of the Elkins Park Free Library

The original home of the Elkins Park Free Library

In 1957, a few residents of Elkins Park approached the Cheltenham Township manager, Harold Pike, about starting a library. Mr. Pike originally asked, "Why would anyone want a library? Everyone has a book." The neighbors persisted, and the Elkins Park Free Library was incorporated later in 1957 and began operation in the old Township building and police station on March 15, 1958.

A children's room opened in 1963 and included a circulating toy department and a "modern listening center" that permitted several children to hear the same record at once. It was soon clear that the library was too small to meet the needs of the community.

From 1970 through 1989, Gordon Lawrence represented Elkins Park on the Cheltenham Board of Commissioners. Gordon says it was not easy to get the other commissioners to agree to acquire land and funding for a new library, but he accomplished it. The Township agreed just to erect the shell of a new building. The community was to actually furnish the inside. Starting in 1979, the Friends of the Library raised $157,000 for those furnishings. Joan Stern was president of the Friends. Peter Stern was the chairman of the fund-raising drive.

The Library moved into its current facility on Church Road, replacing the Shoemaker Elementary School that was built in the early 1900s. The dedication for the new library building was June 7, 1981. Gordon Lawrence was the master of ceremonies then, and again at the 10th anniversary on June 2, 1991.

The new building had solar panels, which were removed when a new roof was installed. A pair of them still operate on the roof of Friends Board member and Melrose Park resident Andrew Rudin, who traded consulting services for them in 1997.

The 10-foot high stainless steel sculpture outside the front doors was the best of thirty-seven entries that were submitted in a 1983 competition sponsored by the Friends. The sculpture cost $20,000 and is called "The House of Knowledge." It was designed by Joyce de Guatemala, shown in the photograph inserted in this picture of the sculpture, near the Library entrance. Library Friend, Mary Cope met the truck carrying the sculpture at the corner of Greenwood Avenue and Route 309 and followed it to the Library.

Joyce de Guatemala said that the design of her sculpture evolved from an ancient Mayan belief that that the world is a house supported by deities representing the elements. The six panels in the sculpture are arranged like spokes. The imaginary sphere enclosed by the panels represents the earth. The sculpture is oriented so that no reflections of sunlight will interfere with motorists passing on Church Road.

Our head librarians for the new building have been as follows:

Betty Bockman was the librarian for the former library for more than seven years.

As with the other libraries in Cheltenham, the Township owns and maintains the building. While the Township Library System funds each library, the Friends of the Elkins Park Free Library raise money for additional books, periodicals, part-time personnel, display cases, computers and contributions to the Township Library System. We also stimulate interest in using the Library and offer many different types of programs for the community.

The Friends are governed by a board of directors, referred to by some members as an "active board." In other words, you will find Board members helping with the book sales, fundraising celebrations and information booths at neighborhood events.

Much of the information for this history of our Library was supplied by Friends' Honorary Directors — Peter Stern, Phyllis Sichel, David Bayersdorfer and Mary Cope.