Join us on July 23 at 6:30 for Alan Irvine’s Tales of Music and Musicians, a program of folk tales and legends, history and tales of the creation of music and songs!

Alan tells his tales at many diverse venues, including libraries, schools, colleges, and festivals. He was a Commonwealth Speaker for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council for many years. He has appeared at Renaissance festivals, Irish festivals, and science fiction conferences.

In addition to performing, Alan helped found the storytelling group StorySwap. He has produced numerous storytelling shows, and was the chair of the 2006 National Storytellers Conference, held in Pittsburgh. Alan has numerous recordings, many of which have won Storytelling World and NAPPA awards. He has twice won the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival Liars contest (2013 and 2016).

Alan also leads walking tours of Pittsburgh. He works with Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks, where he tells stories of Shakespeare’s plays, as well as hosting the popular Bring Your Own Bard reading series. He is the co-founder of Brawling Band Theater, a troupe specializing in high-energy comedy and stage combat. Alan writes and directs for the company.

This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. To register, please visit the library or call 724-744-4414, ext. 101.

President Ulysses S. Grant is coming to Penn Area Library on Monday, July 16 at 6:30pm!

Kenneth J. Serfass, gunnery sergeant USMC (ret.) is a first-person impressionist who will portray President Grant. With over 40 years spent studying his self-avowed childhood hero, Serfass is a full-time professional living historian portraying Ulysses S. Grant as both General Grant and President Grant. It is with a profound honor that he tells the story of one of America’s greatest military leaders. Serfass reaffirms Grant’s place of honor among the most respected people of our nation’s history. He will talk about Grant’s legacy and answer questions.

To register please call the library at 724-744-4414, ext. 101.

Inspired by Pride and Prejudice, author Lacy Williams has introduced a new dual love story with a Wild West twist, Cowboy Pride, which has been selected for the next Big Library Read. From July 9 through July 23, Penn Area Library users will be able to borrow the eBook format of the title with no wait lists or holds.

Readers can take part in the two-week program by visiting ebooks.wlnonline.org or by downloading the Libby app. Readers can join a global online discussion about the book at BigLibraryRead.com. The free program runs for two weeks and to get started reading, all that’s needed is a Westmoreland Library Network library card.

Big Library Read is facilitated by OverDrive, the leading platform for eBooks and audiobooks from the library.

About OverDrive

OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. We are dedicated to “a world enlightened by reading” by delivering the industry’s largest catalog of eBooks, audiobooks and other digital media to a growing network of 40,000 libraries and schools in 70 countries. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio, and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten.

Friday, July 27 | 9:00 – 5:00 and Saturday, July 28 | 9:00 – 3:00

The Friends of Penn Area Library invite you to their summer used book sale held in the library’s multi-purpose room. The sale offers hundreds of hardback and paperback books for children, teens, and adults, as well as jigsaw puzzles.

Items will be priced to sell individually or “by the bag” for books. Now’s the time to grab a few summer reads and help your library at the same time!

The Friends hold three book sales each year – in March, July, and November, with all proceeds benefiting the library’s services and programs. Over the past three years, the Friends have raised $18,500 in support of the library. These funds have enabled the library to purchase three AWE literacy computers for children, a DVD shelving tower, brochure stands, staff computers, a LEGO table, a science activity center, and much more!

Thanks for your support!

June  2018     July 2018