Don't get frazzled!!

Come to Northland for Tax Preparation Assistance





Northland Public Library, in conjunction with AARP, will once again offer free assistance in preparing federal and state tax forms to senior citizens and low-income residents. This service will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to noon from February 2 to April 15. Help is offered on a first-come, first served basis, and we cannot guarantee that everyone needing assistance can be accommodated on any given day. Please make sure to bring all necessary paperwork needed to prepare the forms.

Exercising with Arthritis

Thursday, January 28 at 1:00 pm

Exercise may be the last thing on your mind when your joints are aching and stiff, but it may be just what you need. Studies show that regular exercise may help reduce joint pain and stiffness, increase mobility and muscle strength and improve your overall well-being. However, it's important to do the kinds of exercises that improve your condition and do not damage the joints or put extra strain on them.

On Thursday, January 28th at 1:00 pm, Joshua Hubert and David Campagna, Doctors of Physical Therapy from Physical Rehabilitation Services, will describe the types of exercises that can greatly benefit those who suffer with arthritis. Bring your questions and concerns for an answer session to follow their presentation. You may register for the program using our library website's Events calendar or by visiting or calling the Adult Services Reference Desk at 412-366-8100, extension 113.

Books for new parents--

Dr. Spock doesn't cover everything.
These are a few tried-and-true "parent savers" that fill in a little of the missing bits and pieces. Click on the title to go to the book in our catalog.

• The Father's Almanac
S. Adams Sullivan
Father's guide to the world of infants.

• The Mother's Almanac
Marguerite Kelly
The complete guide to loving - and living with - small children.

• Practical Parenting Tips: Over 1500 Helpful Hints for the First Five Years
Vicki Lansky
Useful tips that make a parent's life much less hectic.

Winter Storytimes

Preschool Storytimes
Mondays and Tuesdays at 10:00 am
Jan. 25, 26, Feb. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, Mar. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16
For children ages three through five who are ready to be on their own for a half-hour of stories, songs and fingerplays. No registration necessary.

Mother Goose Storytimes
Wednesdays at 10:00 am and 11:00 am
Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24, Mar. 3, 10, 17
Songs, stories, nursery rhymes and "bounces" for children ages six-months through twenty-four months accompanied by a parent or care-giver. No registration necessary.

Kangaroo Storytimes
Thursdays at 10:00 am and 11:00 am
Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, Mar. 4, 11, 18
Nursery stories, songs and "tickle-rhymes" for children ages twenty-four months through thirty-six months with a parent or care-giver. No registration necessary.

Pajama Storytime
Fridays at 7:00 pm
Jan. 29, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, Mar. 5, 12, 19
Stories, songs, games and art activities for preschool and elementary age children and their families. No registration necessary

Kids: Upcoming Events

Northland Chess Tournament
Saturday, January 30 at 9:00 am
Our annual chess tournament for children in Kindergarten through 8th grade. First place winners in each age division (Kindergarten-4th grades and 5th-8th grades) will go on to represent Northland at the finals of the Allegheny County Library Association chess finals in March. Registration begins January 6. Please register in person at the Children’s Reference Desk. There is no cost to register for this event.

Books for 4th - 6th Graders

Click on the title to go to the book in our catalog.

• Missing Manatee
Cynthia DeFelice
Skeet Waters is worried. He just found a dead manatee with a bullet hole in the Gulf of Mexico. Why would anyone kill a manatee? Meanwhile, as Skeet tries to solve this mystery, life happens around him. His parents are breaking up, maybe. His grandmother, Memaw, just won the karaoke contest. But one of Skeet's dreams comes true: Dirty Dan the Tarpon Man invites Skeet to go fly-fishing. Dirty Dan helps Skeet to see that things aren't always what they seem at first. (Ages 8-12)

• The Giant Rat of Sumatra Or Pirates Galore
Sid Fleischman
This pirate book takes place mostly on land-in Mexico. Shipwreck, a kid from Boston, has been befriended by the pirate ship's captain who has come ashore to make an honest living at ranching. But there are a lot of secrets still to be uncovered…and one secret that Shipwrecked has to hide inside his coat. (Ages 10 up)

• Moon Runner
Carolyn Madsen
Mina hates gym. She is a "girlie-girl." She and her friends, Ruth, Alana, and Sammy, have a club called the Fellow Friends. One day, though, Coach announces that they are starting track in P.E. class, and that they will be competing against another elementary school. Mina starts to run and she runs and she runs and she runs. She discovers that she loves running. Ruth is used to winning and this causes tension between the two friends. (Ages 8-12)

KIDS BRIDGE BOOKS--

Bridge books are for third grade readers, the bridge between younger beginning readers and older fiction titles.Click on the title to go to the book in our catalog.


• Dork on the Run
Carol Gorman
Jerry's running… but is it for class president or from his dorky past?

• The Killer Underpant
Michael Lawrence
Jiggy's new underwear hypnotizes the school bully, to everyone's delight.

• The Four Ugly Cats in Apartment 3D
Marilyn Sachs
Four cats, three days. Can Lily find new homes for the ugliest cats in San Francisco before someone new moves into Mr. Freeman's apartment?

• The Hamster of Baskervilles
Bruce Hale
Time is running out for detective Chet Gecko. If he doesn't solve this mystery soon, he'll forfeit two-get-out-of-detention-free cards and a box of jelly doughnuts.

• A Mother to Embarrass Me
Carol Lynch Williams
Wearing pajamas in public? Burning down the house to make toast? Starring in a fitness video for… pregnant women? Laura wants a makeover for her mother, quick!

Our new resident hamster Norfolk--

Have you met our new resident hamster Norfolk?

Visit the Children's Room to say hi!

My name is Norfolk. I am a girl (You'll just love the pink car in my cage). I am about 5 months old. I am from Animal Friends. I am so happy to be at my new home at Northland Public Library. I have many brothers, sisters, and friends still waiting for good homes. I am nocturnal-so sometimes you might not see me playing. But I love to read! My favorite books are The Golden Hamster series by Dietlof Reiche. Don’t you just love realistic fiction?

I am still getting used to everyone here at the library-the library is actually a much busier place than I ever expected. My hearing is much better than my eyesight- please don’t speak loudly to me! I am okay with indoor voices. Also, sometimes I use my teeth as my eyes-so no fingers please! I would feel sad if I accidentally tasted someone.

I look forward to getting to know you...

--Norfolk

Director's Corner by Sandra Collins

Each day, on average more than 2000 items are borrowed from Northland that are used to meet the educational and entertainment needs of our users. These are difficult economic times and with a 38% cut in our books and materials budget there will be a corresponding drop in purchases for the collection in 2010. Every empty space on our shelves is a lost opportunity to enrich our customers’ lives by informing, entertaining and sharing knowledge with them.

You can help create a richer library experience for the children, teens and adult users of Northland through our Memorial and Honor Book program which fills shelves with new books (and other formats, if you desire). You can specify a subject, age level, format or leave the choice to Northland’s collection development staff. A special bookplate recognizing the honoree and the donor is placed in each item and we will notify the recipient or recipient’s family of the honor.

You can donate online at www.northlandfoundation.org, pick up a memorial/honor donation form during your next visit to Northland or mail your donation (checks should be made out to NPL Foundation) and memorial/honor information to Memorial/Honor Books, Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237 or call 412-366-8100 for additional information. Thank you for your generosity.

Future Bestsellers - January

Future bestsellers are "to-be-released" fiction titles that have been ordered for Northland's collection. Some of these items may be listed in the catalog as "on order", in which case you may place a hold to be on the waiting list for when the item arrives. Some of these titles are not yet listed in the catalog. You may reserve these by calling the Adult Services Reference Desk at 412-366-8100 x113. This list is updated each week. (Last updated January 6, 2010 )


Chevalier, Tracy--Remarkable Creatures
Crais, Robert-- The First Rule
Delinsky, Barbara-- Not My Daughter
Fforde, Jasper-- Shades of Grey
Hooper, Kay-- Blood Ties
Kostova, Elizabeth-- The Swan Thieves
Lescroart, John-- Treasure Hunt
Rankin, Ian-- Doors Open
Tyler, Anne-- Noah's Compass