News

Gale LegalForms helps with basic legal needs

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Selling a house? Making a will? Signing a lease? Gale LegalForms, an online, authoritative legal resource is available to help! Peters Township Public Library patrons can access Gale LegalForms, a robust online collection of legal forms for FREE on our EResouces page with the a valid WAGGIN library card.

With access to authentic “attorney forms”, residents can better understand common legal procedures and the involved documents. Unlike other online legal products – which frequently include generic, do-it-yourself materials that may not have been drafted by an attorney – Gale LegalForms offers a well-organized collection of forms actually used in legal practices, and allows users to edit the forms as they need.

From Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, Gale LegalForms offers an easy-to-use, state-by-state and step-by-step approach to addressing basic legal matters, such as developing a will, conducting real estate transactions including rental or lease agreements, and more. Users have access to thousands of customizable online legal documents that are available anytime from any place. Many of the forms can be used across all 50 states, while the resource also includes forms unique to each particular state. Coupled with the straightforward interface, users avoid hours of research often required to develop legal documents. Users can simply locate the appropriate form that’s needed by using the homepage links, download the form and plug in their information.

You can access LegalForms 24/7 on any device by visiting the eResources page under the eResearch category and login by entering pt and your library bar code number. For more information, call the library at 724.941.9430.

Preschool-A-Palooza on Saturday, March 4

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Register online or call the Youth Services Desk at 724.941.9430 #3.

Finding the right preschool for your child can be an exciting yet stressful task. To help area parents gather the information they need to make the best choice, the Peters Township Public Library will offer a Preschool-A-Palooza on Saturday, March 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. While parents ask questions of representatives from area preschools, Children’s Librarian Linda Esposito will offer activities for children including games, crafts and a basket raffle.

While visiting the library, families can explore the library’s new Play K area that allows children to “play Kindergarten” using materials for six different themed playscapes. Within each playscape, the nine key learning areas for PA’s Learning Standards for Early Childhood are reinforced as children play and participate in the activities. My Colorful World, All Around Town, and Let’s Go Shopping are a few examples of the playscapes that will be on display on a rotating basis.

Children can experience the new Everbright Light Board that was recently installed in the Family Activity Center adjacent to the Children’s Department on the first floor of the library. Purchased with donations from the WCCF Day of Giving, the Everbright is an interactive light wall for all ages with hundreds of adjustable color dials that rotate through the color spectrum.

For more information about the Preschool-A-Palooza, contact Linda Esposito at lesposito@ptlibrary.org.

NEW Everbright Light Board

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We have a new addition to the Family Activity Center! An Everbright Light Board was recently installed which was purchased through generous donations on the WCCF Day of Giving.

From the Everbright web site: Everbright is an interactive light wall for all ages. Inspired by the Lite-Brite, it’s a huge grid of hundreds of adjustable color dials that rotate endlessly in either direction through the color spectrum.

Yes, it looks like a giant Lite-Brite. But it does things that no Lite-Brite can do. 

Unlike screens, Everbright feels satisfying to touch. Instead of removable pegs with a limited selection of individual colors, this alternative to the giant Lite-Brite has dials that change in hue as you twist them, offering almost unlimited color possibilities when creating designs. When you’re done drawing, the entire board resets to a blank canvas with the press of a button. 

Stop by the Family Activity Center during library hours and wake up your imagination with our Everbright!

“The Gallery” Photography Exhibit returns

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The Peters Township High School Photography Classes will exhibit their work in the main lobby of the library from March 9 through 23 during library hours. “The Gallery” is a display of hundreds of student photographs from the classes and club at the high school.  An opening reception will be held on Thursday, March 9 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.  All are welcome to attend.

Matted photographs and canvases will be on display. The Photography Club officers include President Ashley Lesniakowski, and Board Members Tessa Beaumariage, Emily DeNunzio, Lindsay Pendergast, Samantha Szewczyk and Cassidy Tom.

For more information about “The Gallery,” contact the club sponsor, Erin Boni, at bonie@pt-sd.org.

Solving Crimes with Forensic Science

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With the help of DNA forensics, the 1979 murder of a secretary is solved 34 years later using evidence that had been stored for more than three decades.  What sounds like a plot from an episode of CSI:Crime Scene Investigation is actually a true story detailed in the book Justice Delayed: The Catherine Janet Walsh Story by Dr. Steve Hallock.

The Peters Township Public Library will welcome Dr. Hallock, Dr. Raymond Hsieh and students from the California University of Pennsylvania Forensic Science Club for a captivating evening to discuss Justice Delayed: Solving Crimes with Forensic Science on Thursday, March 2 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Register online or call 724.941.9430 #1 to attend. A book signing will follow the program. Due to the nature of this topic, this program will contain images that some viewers may find disturbing.

Beginning at 6:00 p.m. members of the Forensic Science Club from California University of PA will demonstrate fingerprint techniques and present multiple panels on the topics of Digital Forensics, Forensic Anthropology, Crime Scene Imaging, Forensic Pathology, Cold Cases, and Evidence Collection and Preservation. The displays will be available to view following the program.

Dr. Steve Hallock, author of the book Justice Delayed: The Catherine Janet Walsh Story, will speak about the effects of murder on a small close-knit community of friends, relatives and neighbors in Monaca, PA. Dr. Hallock is director of the graduate studies program for the School of Communication at Point Park University and has a Ph.D. in Journalism from Ohio University.

Dr. Raymond Hsieh will discuss the role of Forensic Science in solving the Janet Catherine Walsh case. Dr. Hsieh will explain what makes up trace evidence and biological evidence. Dr. Hsieh is a Professor in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science at California University of Pennsylvania and Director of Justice Studies. He is certified as a Computer Forensic Examiner and holds numerous professional forensic certifications.

Angela Novak is President of the California University of Pennsylvania Forensic Science Club and will facilitate the student participation for this event.

PA Forward Star Library Program Launch

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Your Peters Township Public Library is participating in the PA Forward Star Library Program as part of the Pennsylvania Library Association’s 21st Century Literacies Initiative, PA Forward. This statewide initiative places the spotlight on Pennsylvania libraries and the important role our libraries have in the lives of citizens.

We are excited to raise awareness of our programs and offerings that help Pennsylvania citizens improve their command of five types of literacy – basic, information, civic and social, health, and financial. These literacies are essential to greater success in all vital roles of life: as students, as parents, as employees, as consumers, as citizens.

As part of the program, logos on our event flyers and marketing materials will identify which specific literacies the events support. PA Forward encourages all Pennsylvania libraries to use cohesive branding and marketing tools to frame communications to key stakeholders – elected officials, community leaders, donors, patrons, board, Friends, and employees. Libraries use PA Forward’s five literacies as a guiding framework for setting service priorities, identifying potential community and funding partners, structuring strategic plans, and building well-rounded, multi-skilled boards.

We hope you will visit our library to take advantage of our exciting programs and events we have planned for 2017 and become part of moving PA Forward!

About PA Forward

The Pennsylvania Library Association’s PA Forward | Pennsylvania Libraries initiative was conceived to give voice to what the library community already knows, and what other states throughout the nation are also recognizing: With the right support, libraries are ideally positioned to become the community centers of information, technology, and learning that will fuel educational and economic opportunity for all of our citizens.

Libraries have moved far beyond just being book repositories. They’re agile institutions serving real-life needs. Libraries can be key to powering progress and elevating the quality of life in PA by fueling the types of knowledge essential to success: Basic Literacy, Information Literacy, Civic and Social Literacy, Health Literacy, and Financial Literacy.

For more information: PAForward.org; facebook.com/paforward