In Honor Of---

Looking for a way to honor someone who has touched your life? Contact the library for more information on how to donate a memorial/gift in someone's name.

Here are some titles that have been so generously donated. (Click on the book title to go to the catalog and then click on your browsers back button to return to this page)

Greece by Howard Martin

Shelby: The Complete Book of Shelby Automobiles by Colin Comer

Succulent Container Gardens by Debra Lee Baldwin

American Stories: Paintings of Everyday Life, 1765-1915 by Barbara Weinberg

Bert Sugar's Baseball Hall of Fame : A Living History of America's Greatest Game by Bert Randolph Sugar

Costa Rica: A Journey Through Nature by Adrian Hepworth

Rose's Heavenly Cakes by Rose Levy Berenbaum

Stir: Mixing It Up in the Italian Tradition by Barbara Lynch

Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women by Harriet Reisen

An Uncommon History of Common Things by Bethanne Kelly Patrick

Secrets of the Short Game by Phil Mickelson

Northland Knitters

Wednesday, May 12 at 7:00pm

Calling all knitters... beginners or experts, those who love to knit, enjoy talking about knitting, sharing tips and learning a few techniques from others. Bring your latest knitting project and join us for some dessert and a planning session for an ongoing series of get-togethers. Do you prefer listening to music while you knit, listening to an amusing audio book or just having conversations with others about your favorite hobby while you stitch away? Are you interested in knitting for a charity? Let's talk about it. No registration required for this free event.

The Work of Byron Katie: A Method of Self-Inquiry

Thursdays, May 6 and May 13 at 7:00pm

Byron Katie's simple yet powerful method of inquiry into the causes of suffering and unhappiness is called The Work. Those who use The Work as an on-going practice report life-changing results as they learn effective and lasting ways to cut through their fears and anxieties. Several of her books on the subject have been bestsellers.

Barbara Bittenbinder has studied Byron Katie's methods and will present two interesting evenings exploring ways to understand and change our outlooks and judgements that cause stress and dissatisfaction. The subject content will differ on each of the evenings. You may attend one or both evenings. Please register for the programs using our library website's Events calendar or by visiting or calling the Adult Services Reference Desk at 412-366-8100, extension 113.

Writing as a Spiritual Journey

Thursday, May 6 at 7:00pm

Former professor of world religions and art history, Madhu Wangu leads a monthly writers' group that focuses on putting deeply-felt emotions and experiences into words. Dr. Wangu believes that such writings have positive results for both the writer and the reader. If you enjoy writing, turning your intense emotions into words and sharing some of your ideas with others, join us on Thursday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. The group will continue meeting on the first Thursday of each month. No registration is required.

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.

PITTSBURGERS SPELL OUT GOOGLE!!

"Ready, willing and able"

People hold signs over their heads as they spell out "Google" along Forbes Avenue between Ross and Grant streets.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and residents celebrated "Google Day" this afternoon by spelling out the company name for a photo Downtown to help boost its chances to host Google's experimental high-speed Internet network.

The city launched a campaign against more than 600 other applicants on March 17 with the website http://www.pittsburghgoesgoogle.com/ and the slogan "Ready, willing and able."

Mayor Ravenstahl said Google will pick a city in about four months that demonstrates enthusiasm for the project, which has given some creative license to applicants - maybe the mayor’s name will change to “Mayor Googlestahl”.

Happy Ada Lovelace Day!

March 24th is Ada Lovelace Day, which is dedicated to blogging about women in technology and science.

Of course, we all know who Ada Lovelace is, right? A quick primer is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace. In short, she wrote the first ever computer program, which was pretty impressive considering that the computer hadn't been invented yet (Babbage was working on it, but never finished) and that this was in the Victorian era.

Also, there is a Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=253179284089

So go and look up women in technology and science, and comment here about your favorite. I'll start with Hedy Lamarr. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedy_Lamarr Now she is best known as an Austrian-born actress who fled her homeland during the Nazi occupation. What fewer people know is that she also worked with composer George Antheil to create "frequency hopping", a method of making radio guided Allied sub torpedos harder for the enemy to jam.

Because of technology limitations, this wasn't used until 1962 during a United States blockade of Cuba, but it still was revolutionary. Frequency hopping is also the basis of technology used in wi-fi network connections. So next time you're using wi-fi on your laptop or your cellphone, remember that Hedy Lamarr helped to make that happen.

Don't Toss My Memories in the Trash

Wednesday, March 24 at 7:00pm

Vickie Dellaquila draws on her experience as a professional organizer to share valuable tips on organizing, downsizing and moving. Owner of Organization Rules and member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Vickie knows that some people become "stuck" and need help in moving forward with their life plans. Helping them to de-clutter, organize and simplify is sometimes the first step in easing the overwhelming number of decisions they face about the "stuff" in their lives...what to keep and what to discard.

Whether you are contemplating a move or simply need to make good decisions about clutter and possessions, you'll gain some helpful information with Vickie's guidance. Copies of her book, Don't Throw My Memories in the Trash: A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Seniors Downsize, Organize, and Move will be available for purchase.

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.

Teas Around the World

Thursday, March 18 at 7:00pm

After a trip to Shanghai, Danielle Spinola, a lifelong tea drinker, dreamed of starting an Asian-inspired tea business. Tupelo Honey Teas combines Danielle's love of and research into the world of black, green and herbal teas. Working from home, she blends and sells her teas, most of which are organic or fair-trade products. A number of her teas are found in local coffee and tea houses.

Join us to learn more about the satisfying and healthful properties of tea and sip a variety of samples of Tupelo Honey Teas. 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.

Tough Toddlers: Solutions for the "Terrible Twos"

Tuesday, March 9 at 7:00 pm

From sweetly docile behavior to temper-induced tantrums and stubborn refusals to cooperate, children develop new behavior patterns and often test the limits imposed on them, trying the patience and skills of many parents. Dr. James Rodrigues of Bellevue Pediatrics will offer practical and useful suggestions for dealing with these issues and will allow time after his presentation for your questions.

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.

Dining with Diabetes

Monday, March 8, 15, 22, 29
1:00pm-3:00pm

Diabetes can be a serious and costly disease, but those who learn how to manage their blood sugar levels with medication, good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can lead normal, productive lives and greatly lower their risks of complications.

Cindy Javor, registered dietician with the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service, will conduct a four-week series on Dining With Diabetes. The program is designed to teach adults with diabetes how to prepare meals that are healthy, simple and tasty. Participants will have the opportunity to help prepare some of the recipes, enjoy some tasty samples and learn the latest up-to-date information on managing blood sugar levels through good nutrition. Recipes and handouts will be available. Partial funding for the series is provided by the PA Department of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The fee for the four-week series is $30.00 per person or $50 per couple, payable at the time of registration. (Some insurance plans will reimburse the cost.) Please register for the series at the upstairs reference desk. For questions, call Jane Jubb at 412-366-8100 X110.

Writing as a Spiritual Journey

Thursday, March 5 at 7:00pm

Madhu Wangu, former professor of world religions and art history, published writer and facilitator of spirituality-sparks.com will lead a monthly writers' group that will focus on putting deeply felt emotions and experiences into words. Madhu believes that such writings have beneficial results for the writer and the eventual reader.

If you enjoy writing, turning your thoughts into words, and learning from other writers' experiences, please join us on March 5 at the library. No registration is necessary for the free event.

Norfolk is asking for pet food donations!

Norfolk would like everyone to bring a donation (dog food, cat food, pet toy, treats, etc) for Animal Friends the evening of the derby. If you do not have a hamster (or gerbil, or other competing rodent), you may still bring in a donation for Animal Friends the week of February 21.

Norfolk's friends at Animal Friends and Kaytee have generously given her prizes to award at the derby!

Stay for a special pets-themed Pajama Storytime after the Derby (around 7:30pm)! Hamsters, gerbils, etc. in their balls are welcome, too!

Hamster Ball derby March 19, 2010 at 7:00pm.