Sharon Donovan: Transforming A LIFE

Thursday, August 19 at 7:00 P.M.

Due to a childhood illness, Pittsburgh author Sharon Donovan was told by doctors that she would be blind by age 25. She had a career as a secretary for the Court of Common Pleas, but that work and her lifelong ambition to become an artist were thwarted by the doctors' prediction and she gradually lost her sight after many surgeries. Channeling her creative talents into new outlets, Sharon took writing classes and went to workshops and conferences to hone her skills. Using a talking computer, she began writing her own story as an inspiration to others who suffer loss of sight. Today she is the author of books of inspiration and books of suspense. Join us on the 19th to hear Sharon Donovan's inspiring story. Her books will be available for purchase by those who are interested.
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.

THREE RIVERS STORYTELLING FESTIVAL

Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7

The tenth annual Three Rivers Storytelling Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7, on the library grounds.

This year’s featured tellers include Tim Tingle, an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and a frequent speaker at tribal events, West Virginia native Granny Sue Holstein, who tells and sings stories in the old-time front porch style, traveling storyteller Kate Danaher, and local favorite Joe Wos, who has been combining storytelling and cartooning into a very non-traditional approach for more than a quarter of a century.

The Festival begins with Kid’s Day events on Friday morning and afternoon, followed by an evening concert with all of the featured tellers at 7:30pm. Then it’s time for Ghost Stories at 10:00pm. Saturday’s schedule includes individual storytelling sessions on two stages throughout the day beginning at 10:00am with both local and featured tellers, followed by an evening concert with our featured tellers at 7:30pm.

Other Festival events include Stories and Lunch for Seniors at noon on Friday, where you can enjoy a box lunch and stories for just $10. Also scheduled on Friday are workshops with our featured tellers during the day, priced at $35 apiece. Tickets for the lunch and the workshops are available in the administration office on the lower level of the library weekdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

HOT DOG DAY!!

August 5 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but our Hot Dog Day on Thursday, August 5 from 11:00am to 1:00pm comes pretty close. There will be hot dogs for just fifty cents, as well as other snacks and beverages, crafts, face painting and a Book Nook discount table. Join us on the library grounds for this annual highlight of the summer.

Director's Corner by Sandra Collins

The summer is just zipping by as usual – August is upon us and soon children will be returning to school. Northland will feature several special activities before the end of summer that focus on connecting families:

• Join us for lunch at our annual Hot Dog Day, Thursday, August 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot dogs, chips, soft drinks, juice and Rita’s Italian Ice will be available for a reasonable cost. Just look for the tent on our south lawn.

• The Three Rivers Storytelling Festival follows on August 6 and 7. Featuring nationally recognized storytellers, including Pittsburgh’s own Joe Wos, the festival is a fun activity for all ages. Friday daytime tellers will feature stories for children 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday’s tales begin at 10 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. and feature 2 different tellers every hour on 2 stages. Evening story concerts on Friday and Saturday begin at 7:30 p.m., with ghost stories featured at a late night concert on Friday. For those interested in learning more about storytelling, workshops will provide the opportunity to learn from the master tellers. All programming, except the workshops, are free and you can attend as many as you want.

• The Northland Public Library Foundation is holding a Family Fun(d)raiser at Wildwood Highlands on Saturday, August 21 during normal park hours. The event will feature Freddie the Fire Engine, the Gymagic bus, raffles and a silent auction. A car cruise, with various prizes is scheduled from 5 to 8. Northland will receive 20% of all proceeds from food, tokens and attractions if those visiting the park that day present a Northland coupon to the cashiers. Coupons are available at Northland or on our website at www.northlandlibrary.org. All proceeds will benefit special library programs and services such as our bookmobile service and online tutoring program.
Please come and celebrate with us.

A New Twist on Tea

Thursday, August 5 at 7:00pm

Spend an evening with the Tea Goddess, Betsy Hollweck, proprietor of Marketfrau, and learn that there's more than "meets the cup." Learn to make "mock-tails," "mar-tea-nis," and other elegant and refreshing summer tea drinks that will soothe your palate. Betsy's knowledge of teas is impressive and she knows how to combine flavors to make a healthy and satisfying beverage. Enjoy some delicious snacks along with samples of these special drinks. 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.

Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong

Monday, July 26 at 7:00pm

Actor Gregory Gibson Kenney presents the life of Louis Armstrong in an entertaining program featuring music and song. From his early days in New Orleans, Armstrong loved music and later became one of the greatest and most beloved horn players of our time. Kenney's program will delight family members of all ages. 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.

Dixieband Rain Date

Tuesday July 27

The Ohio River: Past and Present

Wednesday, July 21 at 7:00pm

Rick Rhodes has been fascinated with the Ohio River all of his life. He fulfilled a lifelong dream when he took his 24-foot pocket trawler from Fairmount, West Virginia to Cairo, Illinois, traveling 981 miles on five of its tributaries and the Ohio River itself, ending where the river flows into the mighty Mississippi. Rhodes has done extensive study on the Ohio's role in history, the industrial development along the river from past to present, and its locks and dams. He also has advice for those who wish to navigate the Ohio.

Join us for an evening of outstanding visuals and the interesting story of our "three rivers." 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.

Happy Independence Day!

Dixieband

Tuesday, July 13 at 7:00pm

Bring a blanket or folding chair to the library's upper lawn and prepare to tap your feet to the jazz rhythms of Dixieland music played by our local Dixieband. The band is composed of members of the North Suburban Symphonic Band who love to play Dixieland music. You'll even have a chance to sing along with some of the familiar tunes. No reservation is required for the program. If the weather is uncooperative, the band will play on Tuesday evening, July 27.

The Journey Takers

Tuesday, July 6 at 7:00pm

Northland Library is pleased to welcome genealogist and freelance writer, Leslie Albrecht Huber, for a presentation on her book The Journey Takers. The author re-creates the immigrant experience of nineteenth century Europeans through the story of her own ancestors who made their way from Germany, Sweden and England to start new lives in the United States. Huber visited their homelands, walked in their footsteps and looked over the lands they farmed in the course of her extensive research for the book.

Leslie Huber's articles and essays have won numerous awards in genealogy publications and her lectures to history groups throughout New England have been widely praised. Her presentation will be very helpful for those tracing their immigrant ancestors. The Journey Takers will be available for purchase after the program. 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.

Health Fair

Tuesday, June 29 from 11:00am-3:00pm

HealthyWorks of Pennsylvania will present a Health Fair at Northland Library on Tuesday, June 29, where you may visit various booths to learn more about the latest information on a variety of health issues. Included among the booths will be bone density testing, blood pressure readings, posture screening, ask the dietician, massage therapy and body fat analysis. No registration is necessary. Drop in at your convenience between 11 and 3.

Director's Corner by Sandra Collins

Representatives of the 45 public libraries in Allegheny County have spent the last 2 months visiting with our state representatives and state senators to share the following message:

• Libraries received a 21% cut in basic operating funds (State Subsidy for Public Libraries) in 2009-2010.

• Reimbursement for nonresident use (Access PA) was eliminated in 2009-2010.

• Online resources (Power Library) available through both public and school libraries were cut in half. In 2009-2010.
For Northland this meant a loss of $121,000 in direct funding. Countywide the loss in basic operating funds was $1.7 million plus an additional half million in support of the delivery system (how you get items from other county libraries). Add on the loss of electronic resources through and it is clear why libraries have been forced to reduce hours, eliminate staff and cut back on purchasing resources. In Northland’s case, staff benefits were reduced, open positions have not been filled, a hiring freeze is in place and the books and materials budget was cut by 38%.
You can help by contacting your state representative and senator to:

• Advocate for a minimum of level funding in the State Subsidy line.

• Advocate for the restoration of at least $3 million in the Library Access line to restore Power Library resources.

State Senator
Jane Orie – District 40
La Casa Blanca
9400 McKnight Rd.
Pittsburgh PA 15237
412-630-9466
jorie@pasen.gov

State Representatives
Robert Matzie-District 16 (FP&Ross)
1240 Merchant St.
Ambridge PA 15003
414-565-3569
www.pahouse.com/matzie click on “Contact”

Adam Ravenstahl – District 20 (Ross)
3689 California Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
717-787-5470
www.pahouse.com/ravenstahl click on “Contact”
Dom Costa – District 21 (Ross)
6808 Greenwood St. Suite 2
Pittsburgh PA 15206
412-361-2040
www.pahouse.com/dcosta click on “Contact”

Mike Turzai – District 28 (BW,FP, MAR,MCC)
125 Hillvue Lane
Pittsburgh PA 15237
412-369-2230
mturzai@pahousegop.com

Randy Vulakovich – District 30 (Ross)
1407 Mt. Royal Blvd.
Glenshaw, PA 15116
412-487-6600
rvulakov@pahousegop.com

Make a Splash - READ! Adult Summer Reading Club

June 7 - August 28

Once again, the Adult Summer Reading Club offers you a chance to read books for pleasure and for prizes! It's easy and it's fun. For each book you read, you fill out a prize slip and put it in one of the many prize boxes. At the end of the summer when prize slips are drawn, you may win a gift certificate to a local store or restaurant. Stop at the reference desk on or after June 7 for your reading booklet. We'll explain the simple rules and offer suggestions, if you need them, of titles in some of the chosen categories.

Kids' and Teens' Summer Reading Clubs

Registration will be ONLINE and begins SUNDAY, JUNE 13 (there will be a link on the library homepage )

Clubs will run all day, every day the library is open June 14-August 7

• Read to Me - (preschoolers)
• Summer Reading Club - (K-grade 5)
• Teen Summer Read - (grades 6-12)

2010 SUMMER READING CLUBS!!

Summer Reading Clubs are On the Way

It's almost time for summer reading! Our summer reading program for adults begins June 7, and our summer reading clubs for kids and teens begin online registration June 13!

This year's theme is Make a Splash! @ Northland Library – Read

Taking Great Photographs/Choosing Great Cameras

Thursdays, June 10 and 17 at 7:00pm

John Craig, local photographer and owner of Craig Photography, will conduct a two-week workshop to help you learn the best techniques in taking outstanding photos. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned photographer, there are many things you can learn to improve your photography skills. What are the most important things to know about exposure? Did you just buy a new digital camera and want more information on its applications? Are you thinking of purchasing one? Which camera is best for your needs? There's a whole new world of photography out there and John Craig is eager to share his expertise with everyone.

If you have a DSLR digital camera, bring it along to the workshops. 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. Please note that you will have to register for each workshop date individually to sign up for both classes.

Northland Knitters

Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00pm

Whether you're a beginner or experienced knitter, we have a new monthly program for you. Bring your latest knitting project and join an enthusiastic group who meet on the second Wednesday of each month to get acquainted, compare notes, share ideas and techniques, swap patterns, and talk about all things knitting. Periodically, we'll show a DVD on a particular knitting technique or listen to a member reading some humorous pearls of knitting wisdom from the Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, but mostly, we'll just knit, break for some dessert, and knit some more. Crocheters are welcome, too. No registration is necessary.

Library Summer Hours

Northland Public Library will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31.

Our summer hours schedule begins on Sunday, May 30 through the Labor Day weekend. The summer hours are as follows:

• Monday through Thursday - 9:00am to 9:00pm
• Friday and Saturday - 9:00am to 5:00pm
• Sunday - Closed

Memorial Day 2010

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers.