National Library Week

We invite you to join us this week as we celebrate National Library Week from April 11 through 17. Several exciting programs and events are on tap throughout the week. Including:

• An Evening With Mark Twain, on Wednesday, April 14 at 7:00pm.

• Delicious and Nutritious Chinese Cooking, on Thursday, April 15 at 6:30pm.

• Raven’s Feast, on Friday, April 16 at 7:00pm, featuring puppeteer Steve Abrams.

• Secure Your ID Day, on Saturday, April 17 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Bring any personal papers you would like shredded to the loading dock area of the library.

• Line Dancing Demonstration, featuring Ginny and Jerry Crawford, on Saturday, April 17 at 2:00pm.

• Sleepover Luau, on Saturday and Sunday, April 17 and 18. Children 5 and older and a grownup can spend the night at the library.

More information on these and other programs and events can be found in the News & Events, Kids, and Events Calendar sections of the library website.

An Evening with Mark Twain

Wednesday, April 14 at 7:00pm

We're pleased to include in our celebration of National Library Week a very special event. On Wednesday, April 14 at 7:00pm we'll enjoy an evening with the famous author and satirist, Mark Twain, "in the flesh."

Dr. Alan Solter, well-known Mark Twain scholar, will present a series of tales and observations that highlight Twain's immense talent to amuse, enlighten and confound. Dr. Solter becomes Mark Twain with all of his mannerisms, flashes of wit, and ability to weave delightful stories. Upon his death, Mark Twain was lauded as "the greatest American humorist of his age." Please 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.

You still have time to file your taxes!!

Come to Northland for Tax Preparation Assistance

This service is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to noon until April 15th. 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.

Future bestsellers - April

Future bestsellers are "to-be-released" fiction titles that have been ordered for Northland's collection.


Albert, Susan Wittig-- Holly Blues (China Bayles)
Berg, Elizabeth-- The Last Time I Saw You
Brown, Rita Mae-- Cat of the Century
Clark, Mary Higgins-- The Shadow of Your Smile
Grimes, Martha-- The Black Cat (Richard Jury)
Johansen, Iris-- Eight Days to Live
McCall Smith, Alexander-- The Double Comfort Safari Club
Parker, T. Jefferson-- Hook, Line, and Sinister
Patterson, James-- The 9th Judgment
Peters, Elizabeth-- A River In the Sky (Amelia Peabody)
Pickard, Nancy-- The Scent of Rain and Lightning
Rice, Christopher-- The Moonlit Earth
Spencer-Fleming, Julia-- One Was a Soldier
Woods, Stuart-- Lucid Intervals (Stone Barrington)

Director's Corner by Sandra Collins

Give us your best excuse ---why your library material was returned late in 25 words or less. Northland will celebrate National Library Week, April 11-17, 2010. As part of the celebration we’d like to hear why those books were late – in your most creative way. In addition to the essay contest (yes, there will be prizes), there will be special programs, tours, a library scavenger hunt for all ages, a sidewalk sale in the Book Nook, children’s activities and a special fundraiser to aid mobile libraries delivered via camel in Kenya. All designed to illustrate Northland’s role in encouraging and enabling a lifetime of discovery and learning and to showcase what your public library provides to the communities it serves. You will find a schedule of events at www.northlandlibrary.org or go to our Facebook page.

PIRATES 11, DODGERS 5

Garrett Jones hit two home runs, including one out of PNC Park, and Ryan Doumit added another as the Pirates cruised to victory.

What a great start to the 2010 season. Could this be .....the year!

Why My Library Book is Late Essay Contest!

Contest runs April 1-17

Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! We want people to tell us Why My Library Book is Late -- and it better be a darn good excuse! Tell us why your books are late in 25 words or less. Be creative or honest. We'll accept all excuses just this one time.

Entry forms are available at all service desks. Contest runs April 1-17. Open to ages 6 through adult. Winners will be recognized in several categories -- funniest, saddest, tallest tall tale, most literary, haiku/poetry and other categories that may strike our fancy. Each winner will receive a coupon book for discounts on future fines.

Delicious and Nutritious Chinese Cooking

Thursdays, April 8, 15, and 22 at 6:30pm

Ping Lee, native of China and student dietician, will present three evening programs featuring Chinese cooking that is both healthy and satisfying. She will introduce some common and easy-to-make Chinese dishes you'll want to try. Enjoy some delicious samples of the cuisine and learn some of the special techniques that make Chinese cooking an enjoyable addition to your family meals.

Attend any or all of the series. Please register for the program(s) using our library website's Events calendar or by visiting or calling the Adult Services Reference Desk at 412-366-8100, extension 113.