News

Library Foundation welcomes Katherine Center for Novel November

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Tickets available October 1 at: ptlib.org/katherinecenter

New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center will be featured at The Peters Township Library Foundation’s ninth annual Novel November event. This entertaining and conversational keynote will take place on November 5, followed by a Q&A session and post-event book signing. Previous featured speakers included Yaa Gyasi, Tim O’Brien, Anna Quindlen, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Andy Weir, V.E. Schwab, Patrick Radden Keefe, and S.A. Cosby.

BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including Things You Save in a Fire, The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, The Rom-Commers, The Love Haters and more. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books about how life knocks us down–and how we get back up. Her latest novel, The Shippers, is a swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship. Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Katherine Center to Peters Township on Thursday, November 5 as our ninth annual Novel November author,” says Lacey Love, Director of the Peters Township Public Library. “Katherine’s books offer relatable characters, sweet romance, and witty dialogue. Her romance novels are bestsellers for a reason – they’re fresh, funny, and heartfelt!”

Tickets are available at ptlib.org/katherinecenter. Adult general admission tickets are $30, and student tickets are $5. A limited number of VIP tickets will be available for $75, which include a reception with music and light refreshments from 5:30 to 6:45pm in the Peters Township Middle School cafeteria. VIP ticket holders will receive a hardback copy of The Shippers and attend a pre-event book signing by Center. Local, independent bookseller Riverstone Books will sell Center’s books before and after the program.

 

More about Katherine Center:

5 Questions with Katherine Center

Katherine Center and the Lure of the Rom-Com

 

2026 Tween and Teen Writing Contest Winners Announced

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The Peters Township Public Library held its fourth annual Tween and Teen Writing Contest this spring.

This year’s theme challenged writers to explore the word “unearth.” From uncovering prehistoric fossils and ancient relics to exposing long-buried secrets, forgotten memories, or hidden truths, we invited writers to dig deep and show us what lies beneath the surface! The 14 teens and tweens entering the contest addressed the theme in a variety of creative ways. Judges–including library staff, Library Board members, and Peters Township Library Foundation members–scored entries based on creativity, technique, and theme.

Select the writer’s name below to read their entry*. 

Tween Fiction:
Grand-prize winner: Ishanvi Kuppili
Runner-up: Emily Mish

Teen Fiction:
Grand-prize winner: Eleanor Gorman
Runner-up: Thomas Oxenreiter

Tween Participants:
Veronica Danielson
Elizabeth Hovanec
Ruth Hovanec
Patrick Oxenreiter
Caiden Poremski
Grace Robles
Elliana Wilson
Amelia Wright

Teen Participants:
Christopher Boyce
Samantha Senneway

*Please note that unlinked participants have opted not to publish their entry. 

Summer Bookmark Contest

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It’s Bookmark Time! We invite creative individuals of all ages, from Pre-K to Adults, to design a bookmark celebrating the Summer Reading program’s theme, “Unearth a Story.”

Entries will be judged based on the prompt, “Unearth a Story.” Participants can create their designs by hand or digitally. A panel of judges, including library staff, board members, PTL Foundation members, and 84 Sign Shop staff will select the winners. The library must receive entries by April 30, 2025, and participants can drop off their forms at the library during open hours or email their digital artwork to skrawiec@pt-library.org.

Participants must submit only one entry and must hold a valid WAGGIN Library Card to be eligible to win. All entries become the property of the Peters Township Public Library, and only original characters and creations are allowed. Copyrighted characters and images are not permitted. Incomplete forms will be disqualified.

Click here to view the entry form online as a PDF
or visit the library to get your entry form!

The winners will be announced on Saturday, June 6, at 11:30 a.m. at the Summer Reading Kickoff. The winners will receive a commemorative award and copies of their bookmarks. Winning designs will also be printed and available at the library throughout the summer.

This contest is sponsored by the 84 Sign Shop. The Sign Shop provides graphic design, printing services, promotion, and awards for this contest.

2026 Teen & Tween Writing Contest Announced

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It’s back! The library is holding its fourth annual Tween & Teen Writing Contest this spring with the theme, “Unearth.”

Whether writers want to explore “unearth” as a literal action (to dig up out of the earth or bring to light after burial) or as a figurative discovery (to find or reveal something that has been hidden, lost, or forgotten) — entrants can get creative in how they craft an original work that relates to the theme. From uncovering prehistoric fossils and ancient relics to exposing long-buried secrets, forgotten memories, or hidden truths, we invite writers to dig deep and show us what lies beneath the surface!

Entries will be accepted between March 1-15. Click here to view the form, instructions and complete rules.

A panel of judges will score each entry based on three main criteria:

~ Creativity/Originality
~ Technique
~ Theme

Winners will be announced at a reception on April 16th at 6pm at the library. Families and friends are encouraged to attend this event, which will include light refreshments and recognition of all contest participants. Click here to register for the reception.

Contact Shannon Pauley at spauley@pt-library.org with questions about the contest, or if you’re interested in joining our creative writing club.

PT Historical Hunt

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Thank you to everyone who participated in the PT Historical Hunt! Our 12 historical sites had an average of 25 engagements at each location. A big thank you to all the organizations who allowed us to post signs for this event.

If you missed the hunt, you can still view the sites online below to learn more!

October is American Archives Month! Visit and learn about 12 historical Peters Township sites this October with information and images provided by the Peters Township Public Library Archives. The PTPL Archives acquires, preserves and makes available to the public original unpublished records documenting the history of Peters Township.

“We hope to raise awareness of the Archives and let people know we are here,” shares archivist Nancy Martin. “This is a fun, interactive way to get out in the community and share some little known local history.”

Left, archivist Nancy Martin processes the 1977-1978 circulation statistics notebook for the library. Right, Brush Run Cemetery then and now. Historical image from A History of Christian Service Through the Peters Creek United Presbyterian Congregation 1795-1970, 1970.

Most of the selected sites have historical images and records that are available in the Peters Township Public Library Archives. Participants can visit the library to get a list of the sites or click the link at the bottom of this post. Each site has a yard sign posted with a historical image and QR code where you can learn more about the history of the location.

Participants who learn about all 12 sites can come to the library and enter their name into a drawing for local history notecards. The PT Historical Hunt will be up through the month of October.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 12 SITES