Public Library Celebrates 100 Years at Book Ball

A stroll down Powell Lane Saturday evening may have led to a chance encounter with Harry Potter. Or Othello and Desdemona, or any number of other literary figures or authors.

, a party to celebrate ’s centennial year, brought together book lovers—many in costume—on Powell Lane Sept. 17.

The outdoor party featured food, live entertainment, a silent auction and the book character contest, all in support of the town's library and a very special birthday celebration.

“For the last 100 years, there has been a building on Haddon Ave. the people of the town have supported with time, energy and money. It’s been about books and learning, and they have voluntarily contributed to making that happen," said Brett Bonfield, director of Collingswood Public Library. "One hundred years is a really long time in that context.

“We are celebrating this town’s commitment to reading, learning, coming together as a community and sharing with each other. I think that’s an absolutely incredible thing," he said. "The echo in that—the parallel—is that tonight was dozens and dozens of volunteers working hundreds, maybe thousands, of hours."

Along with volunteers, the wouldn’t have been possible without support from borough officials, including Jerry Chambers, head of the Collingswood Foundation for the Arts, said Meredith Brennan, who co-chaired Saturday's event with her husband, Brett Wiltsey.

Collingswood’s first outdoor bash was back in 2000, the Gala on the Avenue, said Borough Commissioner Joan Leonard. Since then, the town’s outdoor celebrations have evolved based on the organizations willing to step up to the plate, she said.

“It’s a lot of work," said Leonard Saturday. "(The library) had a huge committee of people who worked to put this together, and it’s a perfect night. It’s nice that so many people came out and wanted to support the library.”

All Book Ball proceeds will go toward buying books for the library.

“We want to support our library, and we’re glad that all of the profits will go to it,” said Michele Coulombe, a Collingswood resident.

The community’s dedication to the library inspired its director.

“It’s amazing to me that people want to come together around the things I’ve devoted my life to: reading, learning and information," Bonfield said. "That’s motivating to people, and it has been for 100 years."

For Joan Leonard, the library’s impact on her town is immeasurable.

“We support education, learning and expanding our horizons, and the library has always been there (to help assist),” said Leonard. “It’s a challenge, because of finances and economics in this day and age, to be able to keep up. This event will help and support (our library) for the next 100 years.”