Rachel Kohl celebrates 35 years

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on August 31, 2015

A line from an old TV commercial – “You’ve come along way, baby” – can readily be applied to the Rachel Kohl Library in Concord Township.

The library, which serves five municipalities, including Chadds Ford Township, opened 35 years ago when very few people had a home computer. Now it has its own 3D printer that will become available for public use sometime in September, said Amy Abella, the library’s director.

The Cube 3D printer will be available for public use in the middle of September.

And it’s all up to the user to decide what’s printed.

“You can print a vase, a tie hanger; you can print jewelry. The possibilities are endless, and that’s what’s so great about 3D printers,” Abella said.

During an anniversary celebration on Aug. 29, Abella said that the library actually serves much more than just those five municipalities. It also serves people from Chester County and those who come up from the state of Delaware.

“There’s a real community spirit in that it started in the school, then into a trailer,” she said.

The library moved into the permanent structure in 1989 when the building was constructed, Abella said. It shared the building with the township offices until Concord moved from the Smithbridge Road facility to Thornton Road.

Abella became director in September 2014 and said she’s trying to turn it into a community center. Part of that concept is the inclusion of the 3D printer in what she calls a “maker space area.”

A lithopane made in plastic with a 3D printer.

There will also be video and editing software, as well as a Wacom tablet for artists to digitize their work to get it on computers. She also said the library is opening its community room for more tutoring space.

“We’re really trying to reach out and build the different areas. We have a really vibrant children’s department. We did cake decorating in the summer and will be doing cookie demonstrations later. We’re really trying to make sure we’re doing programming for all levels.” Abella said.

At the same time, she added, books and reference material are available for public use, just as before.

To help raise money for the library, the Rachel Kohl Friends will be holding a Bingo Night on Sunday, Sept. 20. Local businesses will be providing prizes and proceeds go Rachel Kohl Library, according to Jean Mackenzie, who’s on the library’s board of trustees.

(Top photo: Little duffers have some playtime during the 35th anniversary celebration for Rachel Kohl Library.)

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.