Cherry Hill Public Library opened the new building at 1100 Kings Highway North 20 years ago!
National Library Week in April of 2005 marked the official grand opening, attracting a crowd of 10,000, and offering numerous activities for patrons of all ages.
Join us as we celebrate the past 20 years throughout 2025!
New Building Grand Opening April 2005
Our history
1950s—In the Beginning
The Delaware Township Library Association was formed in 1957. Area civic groups banded together with the common desire of creating a community library. In 1958, Delaware Township Free Public Library opened in an old courtroom by the police station; it boasted a collection of 2,000 books which were supplied by the Camden County Library and was open two evenings per week.
1960s—Changes
In 1964, the library board voted unanimously to purchase a 3.3 acre tract of land along Kings Highway.
A new library building, eight times the size of the previous one, opened in 1966. The $400,000 structure boasted space for 150,000 books, 350 periodicals, microfilm readers, a music listening area, art display areas, and a meeting room for local organizations in addition to a 3,430 square foot mezzanine. Explore our vast library history.
20-year Celebration Programs:
Color Our World Art Festival
Kickoff summer reading and join us as we continue to celebrate 20 years of the new Library building!
Live performances by:
- 10:30 a.m. – April Mae & the June Bugs
- 4 p.m. – Mister Boom Boom Play Patrol Company
- DJ Hunt!
Crafts including:
- Caricatures by Bruce Blitz
- A Flick of the Wrist Splatter Paint mobile unit
- Make your own friendship bracelets
- CHPL Community art project
- Tote bag decorating*
- A blackout poetry station
- Henna hand art
Food trucks will be available to purchase food while here!
- Dan’s Waffles
- The Food Bus
- Mechanical Brewery
- Kona Ice
*Limited edition 20-year canvas totes will be available to purchase for $10
National Library Week 2025
Join the CHPL Book Challenge for 20 Years
Follow along the reading challenge with the community! Val and Kristin worked together to come up with unique prompts for you to find your next favorite book. Follow along on StoryGraph and add your picks to each prompt. Sign up to follow prompts 1-10 and prompts 11-20.
- A book with “Cherry” or “Hill” in the title or cover art; a book with “anniversary” in the storyline
- A book from our Local Author shelf in the Reading Room
- A book written by an author who has presented at CHPL
- A book published in 2005 or 2025
- A book with a story featuring a library, or a museum visit
- Ask a CHPL staff member to recommend their favorite book
- A banned book
- A YA or JF bestseller
- A book you see a library patron reading
- A book read in one of CHPL’s three book clubs (Feminist, Concoctions or CHPL)
- A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist / a book by a trans or non-binary author
- A book with a four-word title (i.e. Cherry Hill Public Library)
- A book with a setting in a place you’ve visited in the last 20 years
- A book where the protagonist has a different cultural background
- A book featuring seeds or gardening
- A true crime book listed on the CHPL website readers guide
- A book from our Readers Advisory Binder in the Reading Room
- A non-fiction book featuring a musical instrument or musician
- A book with more than 20 letters in the title
- A book with “twenty” in the title
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
Gold Sponsor
Gold level sponsors contributed $501-$1,000 to our celebrations.
Silver Sponsor
Silver level sponsors contributed $201-$500 to our celebrations.
Bronze Sponsor
Bronze level sponsors contributed $50-$200 to our celebrations.
We appreciate all contributions made to drive the success of our celebrations!
Are you interested in becoming a sponsor?
Sponsoring events at the Cherry Hill Public Library gives you the opportunity to achieve a high-degree of visibility and brand awareness within our community and beyond. Library events draw thousands of visitors each year from our region and provide maximum exposure for our sponsors. Learn more in our sponsorship brochure.
Interested sponsors can contact Hope Holroyd, Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator, at hholroyd@chplnj.org or by calling 856-903-1207.
CHPL Over the Years:
Looking toward the future
As we look forward to the next 20 years, the Cherry Hill Public Library will continue expanding our initiatives developed by our dedicated staff and librarians. We hope to reach the needs of the diverse population here in Cherry Hill, providing resources, services, and technology for residents of all backgrounds, incomes, and ages.