DIRECTOR’S CORNER

Storytelling – something we all do almost daily without thinking about it – describing your day at work or at school, telling friends about a fun vacation, passing on family stories to your grandchildren or telling your preschooler your version of the home invasion by that pesky blonde.  Northland’s annual family event – the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival on August 10 and 11 features a number of special tellers who will share a wide variety of stories.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and generally enjoy yourself as you participate in an enduring tradition and the first form of social media.  Northland can also help you shape and share your personal story with other featured programs in August including Indian cooking and how to use Linked In for networking and job searching.  

Director's Corner



Play is important work and a vital early literacy practice.  For young children, especially, play is the process of building knowledge of the world and their place in it.  Play provides positive socialization and aids in the child’s transition to the world of abstract learning.  Studies have shown that children deprived of play opportunities demonstrate social, emotional and cognitive narrowing and are less able to handle stress.

Starting this month, with the opening of the Playful Parenting Room,  Northland continues to expand its emergent literacy services to the young children and their caregivers.  Featuring age appropriate toys and books, the area will provide a special place for children under the age of 5 and their caregivers to share the fun of play with and to learn together through imagination.  As Pittsburgh’s own Mr. Rogers noted:  “Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.”   

eBooks for non-Kindle eReaders

Monday July 16th at 2:00 pm
In this class you will learn how to borrow e-books from Northland and download them onto your non-Kindle eReader device (Sony, Nook, Kobo, Literati, Pandigital, etc.). You do not need to bring your device to this class. Please register in advance by calling the computer center at 412-366-8100 ext. 131

eBooks for Mobile Devices

Thursday July 12th at 7:00 pm
In this class you will learn how to browse, check out, and download free e-books from Northland and read them on your Android, Blackberry, iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch, or Windows Phone 7. Bring your mobile device with you and get ready to read! Please register in advance by calling the computer center at 412-366-8100 ext. 131