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Peters Township Public Library Logo
  • Catalog
  • Account
  • Donate
  • Home
  • Services
    • Library Cards & Borrowing
    • Meeting Rooms
    • Print & Copy Services
    • Other Library Services
  • Explore
    • Youth Services
    • PTPL Archives
    • Makerspace
    • Memory Lab
    • Seed Library
  • Events & Programs
    • Events Calendar
    • Summer Reading 2025
    • Reading Challenges
    • Read Local Eat Local
    • Library News
    • Book Clubs
    • Novel November
    • Program Proposal Request
  • Resources
    • Digital Media
    • Resources – A to Z
    • Resources – By Subject
    • Resources – Youth Services
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Hours & Location
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    • Cart/Checkout

News

New PTPL Events Calendar and Online Room Reservations

February 6, 2023 by Lacey Love

We are thrilled to launch a new intuitive calendar for you to find and register for events that interest you! Go to https://events.ptlibrary.org/ to get started. Be sure to bookmark that webpage for future use. We thank the Peters Township Library Foundation for their financial support in bringing this new calendar, registration, and room reservation platform to our community!


Using the New Calendar

You can see a screenshot of the February 2023 calendar below. Along the left side of your screen, you can search for events by keywords, age group, program type, and registration type. Events are color-coded by age group on the main portion of the calendar. You can change the view to Upcoming, Month, Week, or Day. You can easily see which programs are Full, Open, Waitlist, or require no registration.


New Program Sidebar

If you view the calendar on a desktop and hover over the program title, the program details will appear on the left sidebar. In the example below for Orchids 101 on February 11, you can see that 15 seats are remaining for this program for adults. Click on the program title in the sidebar or the full calendar to register. 

 


Full Event Details and Registration

Below is the full event listing for Orchids 101. Using the three icons in the center of the description, you can add the event to iCal or your Google Calendar, print the event, or share it on social media. Next, you can review the Event Details. If registration is required, complete the requested information. The Add Another button allows you to add multiple persons using your contact information. If you are registering for a program from the Youth Services Department, we are asking you to register the name of your child/tween/teen. If we need the name of the Parent/Guardian with the child, the registration form will specifically ask for that information. Optional questions How did you hear about this program? and Do you want to sign up for the newsletter? will help library staff learn how you receive library program information. If you have additional questions, you can refer to the Contact Info for that particular event on the far right of the listing.   

Once you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation to your provided email address. You will receive a program reminder 48 hours before the event takes place with instructions should you need to cancel. If you are on a waitlist for a program, check your email frequently for a notification if we have moved you from “Waitlist” to “Registered”!
If you do not use email, you can call the library at 724.941.9430 #1 to register for a program. Please have the event date and title ready when you call.

Reserve a Meeting Room Online!

In addition to a new calendar and registration platform, PTPL also has a new page for reserving meeting rooms. Outside organizations no longer need to call the library to check for meeting room availability – it’s all visible online at events.ptlibrary.org/reserve-room. This page is also accessible through the library website. Under the Using the Library tab, select Meeting Rooms and follow the link. 

You can view availability either by room or by day. Once you select a room or date, you can see all availability.

Greyed-out times slots are not available to book. Any time slot with an orange plus sign is available. Simply choose the desired start time of your meeting, and fill out a brief form with your contact information, AV equipment needs, and organization type.

 

We can no longer accept paper forms to request a room. Once the form is submitted, please allow two business days for library staff to review and respond.


Launching this new online calendar was one of the objectives of Goal 2 of our Strategic Plan: Prevail as a gateway of knowledge and information by offering programs and services that meet the needs of a 21st-century citizenry. Our objective was to strengthen marketing and communication strategies to maximize opportunities for sharing information in a cohesive manner that improves your library experience. We are pleased to offer you this new calendar to begin 2023!

Filed Under: Adults, All Ages, Announcements, News

Andy Weir is the 2022 Novel November featured author

August 29, 2022 by Lacey Love

Andy Weir will be the featured author for The Peters Township Library Foundation’s upcoming Novel November. The literary event will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at the Peters Township High School Auditorium at 121 Rolling Hills Drive in McMurray. This program will be the fifth in the Novel November series. Previous featured speakers included Yaa Gyasi in 2017, Tim O’Brien in 2018, Anna Quindlen in 2019, and Taylor Jenkins Reid in 2021.

Ticket sales begin online at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 7, at ptlib.org/AndyWeir. Adult general admission tickets are $25, and Student tickets are $5. All general admission tickets include a post-event book signing with Weir. Riverstone Books, The Foundation’s independent local bookselling partner, will sell Weir’s books before and after the program.

A limited number of VIP tickets will be available for $60. The VIP ticket includes a reception with passed appetizers from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. in the Peters Township High School cafeteria. VIP ticket holders will receive a copy of Project Hail Mary, Weir’s newest book, and attend a pre-event book signing by Weir. You can also purchase tickets at the Peters Township Public Library circulation desk.

A digital ticket option will be available for $25 for those who prefer not to attend in person. A recording of the program will be available on Friday, November 4, with a code to view for 14 days.

Following local health and safety guidelines, if Novel November cannot take place in person, all tickets will automatically convert to the digital format.

About Andy Weir
Andy Weir built a two-decade career as a software engineer until the success of this first published novel, The Martian, allowed him to live out his dream of writing full-time. He is a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of such subjects as relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. He also mixes a mean cocktail. Weir lives in California. His newest book, Project Hail Mary, has been optioned for a film starring Ryan Gosling.

More about Andy Weir:

Littsburgh: Staying Within the Realm of Real Physics: Littsburgh Interviews Andy Weir

Observer-Reporter: ‘The Martian’ author to land in Peters Township for Novel November

Sound advice: Audiobooks to thrill, delight, and spread hope

‘Project Hail Mary’ was consistently voted the best science fiction book of 2021 — here’s why it’s as incredible as everyone says

Andy Weir’s New Space Odyssey

Review: Andy Weir’s ‘Project Hail Mary’ is an out-of-this-world tale of science and friendship

‘The Martian’ author Andy Weir aims for the stars with new sci-fi thriller ‘Project Hail Mary’

Filed Under: News

Health Literacy This September

August 20, 2022 by Sydney Krawiec

September is Health Literacy Month at Peters Township Public Library. In addition to countless books to help you focus on your physical and mental health, the library also has e-resources and programs this month to help educate and inform.

You can learn how to access our online e-resources in the short video below!

Dare 2B Tick Aware | Tuesday, September 6, 7:00 pm | via Zoom
Lyme Disease is the fastest growing vector-borne infectious disease in the United States. Learn about the most current research available and how you can protect yourself. The PA Lyme Resource Network presentation will cover PA tick stats, tick identification, tick habitats, tick behavior, Lyme and tick-borne diseases, prevention options, and early symptoms. Click here to register or learn more.

Potty Talk with an Expert | Monday, September 12, 6:30 pm | at PTPL
This informational session will give parents of toddlers the tools they need for stress-free potty training. We will discuss a child’s signs of readiness, pre-potty home preparations, and how to get started. Special topics include potty training pitfalls and top 10 tips for success. This program will be presented by Becky Lipinski of Just About Pediatric Therapy. Click here to register or learn more.

Suicide Prevention Training | Wednesday, September 28, 6:30 pm | at PTPL
USA Today reported that the CDC has discovered that the rate of suicide among young people aged 10-24 increased by nearly 60% between 2007 and 2018. By recognizing the early warning signs of suicide, opening a supporting dialogue, and securing consultation with a professional, with a professional, you may prevent the need for an emergency room visit or psychiatric hospitalization. Click here to register or learn more.

Medicare 101 | Monday, October 3, 6:30 pm | at PTPL
Medicare continues to provide important benefits such as the health insurance program for people 65 and older, people under 65 with certain disabilities, and people of any age with end-stage renal disease, permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis, or a kidney transplant. PA MEDI is a free health insurance counseling program designed to help older Pennsylvanians with Medicare.  Lois Thomas, local PA MEDI Coordinator will review both the Medicare and PA MEDI programs with handouts and New to Medicare packets available for persons attending the program. She will discuss other assistance programs such as PACE/PACENET, Extra Help, and the Medicare Savings Program. If you think you may qualify for an assistance program or need help discussing the costs of Medicare, you will be able to schedule an appointment with Thomas after her presentation. Click here to register or learn more.

Health Literacy is one of the five literacies in the PA Forward Star Program. Peters Township Public Library is a Gold Star Library and regularly integrates the five literacies into its programming curriculum.

Filed Under: News

RLEL 2022: Thank You!

August 20, 2022 by Sydney Krawiec

On Saturday, August 6, over 300 community members joined us at PTPL to meet and greet local authors. Visitors also had the opportunity to visit local food trucks and talk with library staff. This was the 3rd year the library hosted Read Local/Eat Local (2018, 2019, 2022), and visitors received entries to an “All Things Local” raffle basket for every author they visited. Thank you to The Foundation, staff, volunteers, and authors who made this event a success! To see a full list of the authors and food trucks, please visit our previous post about the event.

 

The event started with JD Barker at 10 am. JD spoke about his transition from being an Indie author to co-writing books with James Patterson.
Visitors were greeted by library staff who were giving out canvas bags and raffle cards for visiting authors.
The weather cooperated but all authors and their books were protected under the event tents that The PT Library Foundation sponsored for the event.
Congrats to our “All Things Local” raffle winner who visited every author at the event. Over 300 people attended the event.

We look forward to our next RLEL!

If you are a local author and are interested in participating in future events, please complete this short form, and we can contact you when the application process begins again!

Filed Under: News

Read Local/Eat Local returns to PT Library

June 23, 2022 by Lacey Love

The Peters Township Public Library will host 22 local authors at its 3rd Read Local/Eat Local in a new format for 2022. On Saturday, August 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the public is invited to visit the library for an entirely outdoor event in the library parking lot. The library encourages the community to read books by Pennsylvania authors representing all genres for all age groups. No registration is required to attend.

The twenty-two authors featured will include writers of several formats, including short stories, fiction, nonfiction, and children’s picture books. Authors participating include:

Robin Acton
Sarah Addis
Barbara Brutt
Rossilynne Culgan
Annette Dashofy
Abigail Drake
Fifth Avenue Writers
Kit Frick
Lisa Grazan
Anna Harsh
J.V. Hilliard Author Cancelled
Annette Hostoffer
Carole Lynn Jones
Thomas Mainwaring
Nancy McCabe 
Liz Milliron
Chris Posti
Linda Rettstatt
Chris Rodell
Nellie Steele
Cori Wamsley
Thomas White

J.D. Barker

Kicking off the event at 10:00 a.m. will be a talk by J.D. Barker. He is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including Dracul and The Fourth Monkey. His latest with James Patterson, Death of the Black Widow, was released earlier this spring. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for film and television. Barker will sign books after his talk, with select titles available for purchase through Riverstone Books. No registration is required to attend.

Plan to Eat Local while at this free event or passing through the area. Three food trucks – Johnny’s Seafood Shack, Wooden Peel Pizza, and Millie’s Homemade – will be in the library parking lot with refreshments for sale from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Concluding the event at 1:15 p.m., a representative from Riverstone Books will offer tips to current and aspiring authors. Hear ideas on how to market your books and work with an independent bookseller. You must register to attend this presentation. Register at ptlib.org/riverstone.

For more information about Read Local/Eat Local, call the library at 724.941.9430 ext. 3260 or email ptlib@pt-library.org.

 

Are you interested in being a future Read Local/Eat Local author? Complete this short form to share your interest with the event organizers for next time!

Filed Under: Adults, All Ages, Announcements, Book Clubs, Children, News, Teens

Experience Kits Are Now Available

June 16, 2022 by Lacey Love

Thanks to our partnership with the Heinz Center Affiliates Program and other Allegheny County libraries, the Peters Township Public Library can offer FREE ADMISSION for up to four people to several museums and historical sites around Pittsburgh! Each pass has virtual access to educational information, itinerary ideas, and other fun content.

Our kits this year include: 

~ Duncan & Miller Glass Museum

~ Heinz History Center (includes admission to Fort Pitt Museum and Meadowcroft Rockshelter)

~ Historic Fort Steuben

~ Merrick Art Gallery (Pass used instead of suggested donation; check with the site about ticketed events.)

~ Old Economy Village

~ Somerset Historical Center

~ West Overton Village Museum & Distillery

 

The Heinz Affiliates Program Memberships for Washington County are paid for by “Share the Love” funding from Budd Baer Subaru.

Peters Township Public Library cardholders can place a hold on an Experience Kit by searching for “museum pass” in the WAGGIN catalog at waggin.polarislibrary.com. Kits can be picked up at the library and are loaned to you for seven days. 

Using the Peters Township Public Library Experience Kit program, visit THREE different museum sites before October 31, 2022, and be entered to win a prize! Visit https://forms.gle/wFjGXMvSh1LMfN4w6 for more information and to complete the raffle form.

Learn more about each of the museums/historical sites participating in 2022!

Duncan & Miller Glass Museum

Before the Pittsburgh area became known for its steel, it was once known as the glass manufacturing center of our country. Opened in 1893, the Duncan & Miller Glass Company became famous for its workers’ skills, the artistry of designs, and the glass colors. The National Duncan Glass Society was formed in 1975 to keep alive the history of glass companies, study their impact on the region’s economic development, and celebrate the men and women who made it possible.

Fort Pitt Museum

The Fort Pitt Museum tells the story of Western Pennsylvania’s vital role during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. Through interactive exhibits, life-like historical figures, and artifacts, visitors can discover the vital role that our region played in shaping the country.

Senator John Heinz History Center

The Heinz History Center is one of Pittsburgh’s oldest cultural organizations. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum contains six floors of long-term and changing exhibits with hands-on activities and many events and programs.

Historic Fort Steuben

Historic Fort Steuben was built in 1786 by the First American Regiment to protect surveyors who the Continental Congress had sent to map the Northwest Territory. Visitors can tour the reconstructed fort to see the soldiers’ quarters, guardhouse, hospital, commissary, and the Federal Land Office. Historic Fort Steuben’s many exhibits, tours, and events tell the story of the daily life of the men who helped open the territories to settlement.

Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village

Meadowcroft, a National Historic Landmark, offers a variety of tours and educational experiences. Investigate archeology and the prehistoric people who lived in the area 19,000 years ago; travel 400 years into the past to explore a re-created 16th-century Indian village; explore an 18th-century frontier trading post; visit a 19th-century rural village while learning from re-enactors; and more!

Old Economy Village

Old Economy Village tells the fascinating story of the Harmony Society, a 19th-century religious community. Visitors can tour the Visitor Center and many of the settlement’s buildings, such as the George Rapp House, Carriage House, Mechanics Building, Wine Cellar, Store, Post Office, Baker House, Bake Oven, Community Kitchen, Cabinet Shop, Blacksmith Shop, and Granary. In these buildings, visitors can observe artifacts on display and learn about the daily life of the Harmonists.

Somerset Historical Center

The Somerset Historical Center is a 150-acre rural history museum that preserves the history of life in southwestern PA through a wide range of exhibits, workshops, and educational programs. At the Visitor Center, learn the stories of the people through objects of everyday frontier life. Visitors can see a 1770’s farmstead on the grounds with sparse furnishings, a more permanent 1830’s farmstead, an early 19th century covered bridge, a cider press, and a maple sugar camp from 1860.

The center offers workshops on traditional skilled crafts and trades, like cottage craft coopering, tinsmithing, decorating Pysanky eggs, blacksmithing, rug hooking, and folk toy making.

West Overton Village Museum & Distillery

West Overton Village is the only pre-Civil War village intact in Pennsylvania. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a stop on the American Whiskey Trail. The Village represents the transformation of American culture from an agrarian society with the production of the coverlets and the distilling operation to a more industrial society with the excavation of coal and ultimately the production of coke, a necessary ingredient for steel.

Merrick Art Gallery

The Merrick is home to a collection of French, German, English, and American paintings from the 18th and 19th Century, featuring examples of romantic, realistic, and impressionistic art by prominent American and European artists. In addition, a piano played by the composer, Stephen Foster, is on display.

Filed Under: Adults, All Ages, Announcements, News

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McMurray, Pennsylvania 15317

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