Friday, August 13, 2010

Local Author Debuts Novel "In Search of Mercy"

Local author Michael Ayoob’s debut novel, "In Search of Mercy," has won the PWA/St. Martin's Press Best First Private Eye Novel competition last year and will be released on October 12. Check out the book’s website at: www.insearchofmercy.com.

Michael will be available beginning in November for local library visits after his Halloween launch party at the Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont.  Michael is interested in visiting libraries throughout the county for readings, sitting in on book discussion groups, and fund raising projects during this time of economic crunch for libraries.

If you would like to schedule an author visit, contact Michael Ayoob at michael@michaelayoob.com

Laptop Version of National Library Symbol

The national library symbol most often seen along roads leading to libraries is changing with the times to include a laptop.

Read more about the evolving national library logo at the American Library Association's fact sheet.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Intergenerational Programs Online Course

Announcement of University of Pittsburgh’s Introduction to Intergenerational Programs Online Course

“Introduction to Intergenerational Programs” is an online interactive experience based upon the 13-year success of Generations Together Intergenerational Training Institute at the University of Pittsburgh.  This interesting course is designed to help students develop skills needed for success in the creation and management of intergenerational programs.  Students read course materials, complete online assignments, discuss content with fellow students and instructors and follow step-by-step procedures to complete the six units of this 13-week course.  The schedule is September 5 - December 12, 2010.  This course stands alone or may be used as the first step in acquiring an Intergenerational Specialist Certificate.

For complete information, visit http://jir.ucsur.pitt.edu and click on “Interactive On-line Course” near the top tight of our homepage under “JIR Spotlight,” or contact Sally Newman, newmans@pitt.edu, Emerita Professor/Course Coordinator, 412-648-7155.

For application/registration, contact Tracy Soska, tsssw@pitt.edu, or Darlene Davis, drn8@pitt.edu, at the University of Pittsburgh Continuing Education School of Social work, 412-624-3711 or 412-624-6902 or visit www.socialwork.pitt.edu.

The Journal of Intergenerational Relationships also have a call for papers from intergenerational shared sites.  They would love to have a library actively providing a variety of ongoing intergenerational programs submit a field article.  Here is the call for papers.  It would be wonderful to discover a library which could be a model nationally and internationally.

Banned Books Week 2010

From Nanette Perez at American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom:

Banned Books Week 2010 will be held September 25 through October 2. If you plan on hosting an event during this week, please consider promoting it on www.bannedbooksweek.org, a site maintained by the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.  If you would like to enter your event for this site, please fill out this form.  All events will be posted here.

If you will be in Chicago, IL on Saturday, September 25, please consider joining us for the national kick-off of the Banned Books Week Read-Out! More information on this event can be found online here.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Get Crafty @ Your Library

ALA news recently noted the popularity of do-it-yourself projects and crafting.  Libraries are a great resource for DIY and crafting books programs and books. Many local libraries hold regular DIY and crafting programs.  Here's just a few:
Read the ALA article.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Checks for Vets: From Local Author Joseph McCarthy

Thought you may be interested in knowing about this book, Checks for Vets, a guidebook to help wartime service veterans and their surviving spouses receive VA pensions to pay for long-term care.  The author, Joseph McCarthy, used one of our local public libraries, the Whitehall Public Library, during his research and writing.  www.checksforvets.com

Pennsylvania Civil War 150

From 2011 through 2015 Pennsylvania will be commemoriating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.  The initiative's website notes:

"Pennsylvania Civil War 150 (PACW 150) is a statewide partnership of major history organizations convened by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) and the Pennsylvania Heritage Society (PHS) at the request of Governor Edward G. Rendell to serve as the Commonwealth’s official planning committee for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War (2011-2015)."

Learn more by visiting the website. 

Thanks to Ann Andrews at the Lauri Ann West Memorial Library for sharing this information.

Continuous Chest Compression CPR

The University of Arizona College of Medicine has developed Continuous Chest Compression CPR.  A short 5 minute video is available for viewing on their website which states that:

"Every three days, more Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest than the number who died in the 9-11 attacks. You can lessen this recurring loss by learning Continuous Chest Compression CPR, a hands-only CPR method that doubles a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest. It’s easy and does not require mouth-to-mouth contact, making it more likely bystanders will try to help, and it was developed at the University of Arizona College of Medicine."
 

More information is also available through the American Heart Association.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Author Events | American Libraries Magazine

Thanks to Suzy Ruskin at the Moon Township Public Library for sharing this link which she thought was a great programming resource:

Author Events | American Libraries Magazine
Source: americanlibrariesmagazine.org

PA Fair Care

The Consumer Health Coalition has shared information on PA Fair Care in a recent update. The plan will begin taking applications this week and they are encouraging eligible individuals to get there applications in early.

PA Fair Care is Pennsylvania’s health plan for uninsured adults with pre-existing conditions. This temporary plan offers transitional insurance coverage until the broader coverage provisions of federal health insurance reform come to fruition in January 2014. Learn more at www.pafaircare.com.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Three Rivers Storytelling Festival @ Northland Public Library

Check out the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival this week at the Northland Public Library! KDKA featured a story about the festival today. Click here to see the video.

For more information visit the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival's website.

Free Basic Computer Classes @ Braddock Employment & Training Center

An update from the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and the OCS Braddock Employment and Training Center:

Allegheny County Department of Human Services, OCS Braddock Employment and Training Center (BETC) provides education, training, and employment services for Allegheny County residents. This Community Accessible Building is located @ 849 Braddock Avenue, Braddock, PA 15104.

We are presently enrolling seniors 55 and older in the Free Basic Computer classes. The introductory course invites seniors to participate in an experience in which they learn the variety of ways that computer skills are used in daily life. This course is designed for seniors with no prior or limited knowledge of computers. The course will present the latest windows software for computer application. The emphasis on computer skills training will enable seniors to better prepare for this ever changing world.

Classes begin Tuesday, September 7, 2010. (9:30am-11:30am) Class schedule (twice a week) are Monday and Wednesday from 9:30am-11:30am. Seats are filling up fast, please call to reserve your seat. Base on first come first serve. *Dates and times are subjective to change.

For further information contact
John W. Smith @ 412.273.6468
jwsmith@alleghenycounty.us