Happy July 4th

Penguins Win the Stanley Cup!!!!

Matching Game

Match the writer with their crime:

1. Jeffrey Archer
2. Anne Perry
3. William Burroughs
4. Oscar Wilde
5. Henry David Thoreau
6. Norman Mailer
7. Jack London
8. O'Henry
9. Robert Lowell
10. Malcolm X


A. Homicide
B. Perjury
C. Sodomy
D. Homicide and Narcotics
E. Tax Evasion
F. Assault (stabbed his wife)
G. Draft Evasion
H. Vagrancy
I. Burglary
J. Embezzlement

How many correct answers did you have? Leave a comment to check your answers.

Rama the Camel

Director's Corner by Sandra Collins

We have reached a critical time for library funding in Pennsylvania. As noted in an earlier message Northland Public Library receives 56% of its funding from the 5 municipalities of Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall. McCandless and Ross, approximately 16% of our funding comes through state aid.

Governor Rendell’s budget for 2009-10 proposes a 2.3% cut in state support for local library services. The larger impact for is a 10.6% proposed cut in funding for online databases and other online services provided to Pennsylvania residents through their public libraries that an individual library such as Northland would have difficulty funding on its own.

Since the Governor’s budget proposal was disseminated the Senate Republicans have passed a 2009-2010 budget that would cut state support to public libraries by 50% and eliminate all funding for online databases. Access to many business, health, full text magazine articles, automobile repair manuals and other information sources would certainly be lost altogether. No individual library will have the resources needed to pick up the databases on their own.

You can help by contacting your local legislator to thank him/her for their past support of public libraries and ask her/him to help develop a budget that includes state funding for libraries equal to this year’s (FY2008-09) funding. We realize the reality of added budget pressures during a recession. But, like other public libraries, Northland has seen a growing need for library services precisely because of the recession. We are asking for level funding in order to meet some part of the rising demand for access to computers, training classes, current books and publications and other materials.

On behalf of Northland, thank you to those who have already contacted our legislators. Your support is appreciated – but if you have not had the chance to share your thoughts, please take a few minutes a drop a short note to your State Representative or Senator.

Northland’s State Legislators:

· Senator Jane Orie 9400 McKnight Rd. La Casa Blanca Suite 105 Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-630-9466
· Rep. Mike Turzai 125 Hillvue Lane Pittsburgh PA 15237, 412-369-2230
· Randy Vulakovich 1407 Mt. Royal Blvd. Glenshaw, PA 15116 412-487-6607
· Dom Costa 1808 Chislett St., Pittsburgh, PA 15206, 412-361-2040
· Don Walko 3880 Perrysville Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15214, 412-321-5523, Robert Matzie 1240 Merchant St., Ambridge, PA 15003, 412-761-1701

Swine Influenza A (H1N1)

The Swine Flu, officially the Swine influenza A (H1N1) virus, is spreading rapidly around the world and has now been confirmed in Pennsylvania. There is no need for panic but using some common sense will help.

What you can do:
If you feel like you have flu symptoms, stay home. When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Throw out used tissues and wash your hands. If you’ve got flu symptoms and you’ve recently been to a high-risk area such as Mexico see your doctor.

Your doctor may not be able to determine whether you have swine flu, but he or she would take a sample from you and send it to a state health department lab for testing. If you were immunized with the Swine Flu vaccine in 1976, it probably won’t protect you now.

The following links have current and reliable Swine Flu information:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/20061101/swine-flu-faq

http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/

Director's Corner by Sandra Collins

Where will you be the week of April 12 to 18? If you answered Northland Library, congratulations you’ll be participating in National Library week, sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA). Libraries across the country will join the celebration and this year’s theme, “Worlds Connect @ your Library” describes Northland’s mission very succinctly.

In honor of National Library Week, register for a membership today. A borrower’s card gives you access to a collection of books, CDs, DVDs, videos, audio books, downloadable resources as well as online resources and services such as Northland Tutor.

Northland Public Library provides services from the founding by our supporting municipalities (Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall Township, McCandless and Ross Township) for the benefit of their residents.

STEELERS OPERA

Turn your sound on because this is great.

Director's Corner, by Sandra Collins

Did you know that Northland provides access to tutoring to students of any age, in just about any subject? Our online tutoring service Northland Tutor is open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week, every day of the year (except Christmas, New Year’s and Easter). Whether you are in kindergarten or college, writing a resume or just can’t remember how to calculate the square footage of carpet needed, someone is available to help. Just log into Northland Tutor from http://www.northlandlibrary.org/ and click on “Northland Tutor” – select your grade level (K-12, college or adult) and subject and ask your question.

You can log in at Northland, from home or any other site with Internet access. You will need a Northland borrower’s card if accessing Northland Tutor outside of the library. The service is available to all residents of communities within the North Allegheny and North Hills School Districts. All tutors are certified and have been through background checks through Tutor.com, the service provider.

We are able to provide Northland Tutor through the financial support of the Northland Public Library Foundation, Praxair Corporation and Magoo’s Bar and Bistro. This is just one of the many ways Northland supports the lifelong learning efforts of our communities.

Books I’m Reading:The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George
The Main-Travelled Road by Hamlin Garland
The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters
The Scold’s Bridle by Minette Walters.

SUPER STEELERS!

The Director's Corner, by Sandra Collins

These are unsettling economic times for people. In order to save money, we’re clipping coupons and cutting back on buying things. We’re also taking advantage of discount cards, making sure we save money on groceries, clothing and other necessities. In times like these, there’s not much room for entertainment or items considered unnecessary.
Northland Library has the best discount card of all: a library card. Consider this: a trip to a major bookstore, where you might purchase two best-selling novels, a CD and a DVD, could run you about $75.00 or more. A night out at the movies for a family of 4 could cost $30-$40. Now think about making the same trip to Northland Library, stocking up on bestsellers, CDs or DVDs, attending a foreign film or participating in a conversation salon. What will this run you? Not a dime. It’s all free to use because the communities which support Northland (Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall Township, McCandless and Ross Township) have elected to use a portion of your municipal property tax to support Northland. During these tough times, using Northland Library is practical and economically smart, as well as fun. Make sure you take advantage of Northland Library today. If you don’t have a library card, get one. You have already made an investment in Northland; its resources are here for all.

The Director's Corner, by Sandra Collins

As we move towards the beginning of a new year, I wish to say Thank You to:

• The communities of Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall Township, McCandless and Ross Township for their continued financial support of Northland Public Library. The 5 communities provide 56% of our funding and Northland could not operate at the level it does without their joint effort.

• The members of the Northland Public Library Authority Board –Jason Bragunier (Marshall Twp.); Daniel DeMarco (Ross Twp.); Jane Hopey (Franklin Park); John Murtagh Jr. (McCandless) Paul Parobeck (Ross Twp.) Cynthia Potter (McCandless); and Sheryn Trickett-Lammers (Bradford Woods) who volunteer their time to ensure library operations are efficient and meet community needs.

• The volunteer members of the Northland Library Foundation Board and Sara Jane Lowry, the Executive Director of the Foundation who raise private funding through grants and donations to supplement Northland’s budget for special projects. Northland is able to offer Northland Tutor, an online after-school tutoring service because of their efforts.

• The many community volunteers who aid in providing library programs and services by assisting in the Book Nook, working at the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival, updating community directories and similar activities.

• The 88 employees of the Northland Public Library who do a phenomenal job.
They have handled more than 1,000,000 loans in a year, reshelved those borrowed items and in 2008 will add more than 27,000 new items to the collection. They provided programs attended by more than 14,000 people and answered more than 92,000 reference questions.

Professor Randy Pausch—last lecture

The professor from Carnegie Mellon who gave his last lecture "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" died of pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008. He was 47 years old. The lecture on You Tube has been viewed more than 3 million times. If you are unable to come to the library on Tuesday December 9th you can listen to his speech here. It is definitely worth your time!

NORTHLAND STAFF REUNION

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR A LARGER VIEW

(click on your browser back arrow to return to this page)

1960 1970 1980 1990


2000 1960 to present

NPL guys over the years

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY NORTHLAND

...and thanks to all of the Staff over the years!

The Director's Corner, by Sandra Collins

As reported in the New Republic (April 9, 2008), the Schipol International Airport in Amsterdam, Holland made a fascinating discovery. In an effort to deal with an ongoing problem in keeping the men’s rooms clean, an economist on the airport staff suggested a novel solution. An image of a housefly was etched onto the bowls near the drain on each urinal. Spillage decreased by 80%- -just by providing a target at which to aim. Northland Public Library is currently working on a strategic plan which will outline the target it will need to aim for during the next few years and will provide a map for us in developing our programs and activities to better serve you. The targets have been defined through information obtained from the various library stakeholders – the elected officials of the 5 municipalities Northland serves, the North Allegheny and North Hills Schools, library users, the Northland Library Board, the Northland Library Foundation and library staff. We want to make certain that Northland will continue to be an institution that is important to the residents it serves. Ah, the power of a housefly.

Memories

Stroll down memory lane with us and share your memories of Northland. Here are a few memory ticklers: Do you remember when Northland was at Three Degree Road? Do you remember when we moved into our current site and when we were at Northway Mall during our renovation? How about sharing your memories with us and our Northland family.

Do you remember...

Curious George arrives-- 1974

The Director's Corner, by Sandra Collins

Welcome to Northland’s blog. You’ll need to bear with some of us old folks who are tiptoeing into the use of new technology – but my staff has finally dragged me kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. Northland is all about connections –connecting you to books – to information – to learning –to the world and to our communities-to each other. Our blog is another tool designed to connect Northland to you and vice versa. Important connections for Northland are:

• Our memberships in the Allegheny County Library Association and the Electronic Information Network which has made the collections of all 44 libraries in Allegheny County available to you.

• Our participation in Access Pennsylvania which has made the collections of participating libraries throughout Pennsylvania and the P.O.W.E.R (Pennsylvania Online World of Electronic Resources) databases available to you.

• Our monthly Conversation Salon which provides a forum for discussion of topics of interest to those attending.

• Storytimes for children, ages 6 months to 5 years, which lay the foundation for lifelong learning.

• Computer Classes for adults of all ages that provide connections to the world of technology.

How does Northland help you make connections?