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Peters Township Public Library Logo
  • Catalog
  • Account
  • Donate
  • Home
  • Using the Library
    • Library Cards
    • Donations
    • Library Materials/Services
    • Library-Sponsored Clubs
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    • Tweens
    • Teens
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News

Hogwarts Digital Escape Room

April 3, 2020 by Carrie Weaver

Updated July 22, 2020

On the afternoon of March 19, 2020, we shared the Hogwarts Digital Escape Room created by Youth Services Librarian Sydney Krawiec on the library’s Facebook page. Little did we know that over the next two weeks, the game would be played by 225,000 users from 22 countries across the globe including Australia, New Zealand, India, Germany, South Africa, Italy, and more. It has been translated into 7 different languages: Italian, Basque, Spanish, French-Canadian, Hrvatski, Dutch, and French.

When the library closed its doors at noon on Saturday, March 14, the Super Heroes Escape Room planned for that day was canceled. Ms. Sydney “really wanted to be able to offer an online alternative that families and friends could still work on together from their homes.” She didn’t want to use the puzzles planned for the Super Heroes Escape Room because she plans to hold that escape room once the library reopens. Instead, she went back to two previously created Harry Potter-themed escape rooms held in the library and modified those puzzles to create a new virtual escape room.

The Hogwarts Digital Escape Room is suitable for all ages, and you don’t necessarily have to be a Harry Potter super-fan. Taking about 15 minutes to play, the game draws on math and critical thinking skills to solve 3 puzzles. Many educators have shared the escape room with their students as part of a daily lesson plan.  Families have used the game as part of virtual birthday party celebrations. Public libraries continue to share the link to the escape room on their Facebook pages, bringing new followers to the Peters Township Public Library website and Facebook page.

Through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Library Association and PA Forward, Ms. Sydney prepared a tutorial to walk viewers through the steps to create a virtual escape room using Google Forms.  As of today, the video has over 28,000 views and can be seen on the library’s YouTube Channel.

Press coverage of the Hogwarts Digital Escape Room includes:

Librarians turned Google Forms into the unlikely platform for virtual escape rooms
Aliya Chaudhry, The Verge

Test Your Wizarding Skills With This Free Hogwarts Digital Escape Room
Grant Rindner, The Oprah Magazine

Peters library’s Hogwarts Escape Room a big hit around the world
Deana Carpenter, Post-Gazette

Digital Escape Rooms and Other Online Programming: Libraries adapt quickly for COVID-19
Anne Ford, American Libraries

Pennsylvania Library Creates A Hogwarts Digital Escape Room
Emily Stochl, Book Riot

Harry Potter Fans Can Test Their Wizarding World Knowledge with This Virtual Escape Room
Isabel Garcia, House Beautiful

You Can Virtually Apparate to Hogwarts (and Beyond) In This Harry Potter-Themed Escape Room
Nicoletta Richardson, Apartment Therapy

Calling All Wizards! You Can Do a Virtual Harry Potter Escape Room For Free
Murphy Moroney, Popsugar

More than books: How Pa.’s libraries are connecting with communities during coronavirus shutdowns
Hannah McDonald, Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Filed Under: Adults, All Ages, Gaming, News, Teens

Links to Coronavirus Resources

March 13, 2020 by Carrie Weaver

As a public library, the biggest role we can play in response to the emerging COVID-19 threat is sharing trusted sources of information with you.

Below are a list of links we believe will be helpful to you.

  • The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) summary on COVID-19 is being updated constantly 

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) has complied a page of myth busting questions and answers regarding the COVID-19 virus

  • For information about COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, visit the PA Department of Health Coronavirus web page

  • This press release from the Allegheny County Health Department provides you their guidance and recommendations locally. For more information on COVID-19, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/coronavirus . If you are not a subscriber to Allegheny Alerts, you can create an account at www.alleghenycounty.us/alerts and subscribe for COVID-19 alerts under the categories of Health Department/Health & Environment. ACHD provides a daily update at 11:00 a.m. via Allegheny Alerts and additional notifications as information becomes available.

  • There is some information available on the Washington County Public Safety Department COVID-19 Information web page.

  • NewsGuard has compiled a list of sources that have advanced inaccurate information about the coronavirus.

  • For information about our area, visit the Peters Township Municipal website

  • For information about the Peters Township School District, visit their PT Health News webpage

Filed Under: Adults, All Ages, Announcements, News, Teens

This week Feb. 16 to 22

February 16, 2020 by Carrie Weaver

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
CLIMBING YOUR FAMILY TREE
Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 10:00 to 11:00 am
READ MORE

STAMP CLUB
Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
READ MORE

DEVICES & APPS 101
Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 9:00 to 10:30 am
READ MORE

AFTERNOON BOOK CLUB FOR ADULTS
Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm
READ MORE

A WELL-READ MYSTERY – Two Sessions!
Thursday, Feb. 20 from 6:00 to 6:30 pm
READ MORE
Thursday, Feb. 20 from 6:30 to 7:00 pm
READ MORE

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN
WQED WRITERS CONTEST
Sunday, Feb. 16 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm
READ MORE

CHESS WITH A CHAMPION
Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm
READ MORE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GIZMO
Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10:00 to 10:45 am
READ MORE

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS
GAMERS UNITE
Friday, Feb. 21 from 3:00 to 4:45 pm
READ MORE

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

This Week Dec. 16 to 21

December 16, 2019 by Carrie Weaver

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

KNIT AND CROCHET CLUB
Monday, Dec. 16 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm
READ MORE

INTRO TO EXCEL (LAB)
Monday, Dec. 16 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm
READ MORE

CLIMBING YOUR FAMILY TREE
Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 10:00 to 11:00 am
READ MORE

COUPON CLUB
Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm
READ MORE

STAMP CLUB
Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
READ MORE

DEVICES & APPS 101
Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 9:00 to 10:30 am
READ MORE

AFTERNOON BOOK CLUB
Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm
READ MORE

SPANISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE
Saturday, Dec. 21 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm
READ MORE

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN

EDIBLE HOLIDAY TREATS
Monday, Dec. 16 from 6:30 to 5:15 pm
REGISTRATION CLOSED. PROGRAM FILLED.

CHESS WITH A CHAMPION
Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm
READ MORE

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 pm
READ MORE

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS

CHRISTMAS COOKIE DECORATING
Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm
READ MORE

TEEN YULE BALL BINGO
Thursday, Dec. 19 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm
READ MORE

DIY HOLIDAY GLASS ETCHING
Friday, Dec. 20 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm
READ MORE

For a complete list of all library programs,
visit our searchable event calendar.

Filed Under: Adults, All Ages, Announcements, Arts and Crafts, Book Clubs, Children, Clubs, Computers, Holidays, Movies, News, Teens

Conquer the Clutter!

December 16, 2019 by Carrie Weaver

Are you one of the 52% of people who feel they live in a cluttered home? A study by Wakefield Research found that 91 percent of Americans have trouble getting rid of gifts, family heirlooms, or clothes they don’t wear often because it makes them feel guilty.

If you plan to make 2020 your year to conquer clutter, register to attend Get Organized for Good at the Peters Township Public Library on Saturday, January 25 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Certified Professional Organizer and President of Discovering Organizing Jill Yesko will provide step-by-step de-cluttering and organization instruction. Jill will share Pittsburgh resources for recycling, selling, and donating your household items, as well as sure-fire methods to simplify your home. Register for this free program online or call 724.941.9430 #1.

Jill Yesko is CPO®, CPPO, Senior Move Manager, and Founder and President of Discovering Organizing. Yesko has been organizing professionally since 2003. Her prior experience in Social Work and executive-level Human Resource management has uniquely qualified her to work with individuals that require resources, compassion, and experienced guidance to overcome their organizing challenges and create a simple life.

Filed Under: Adults, Announcements, News

Small Business Saturday

November 24, 2019 by Carrie Weaver

The library is proud to be a member of the Peters Township community, and it has been exciting to watch small businesses in our neighborhood flourish.

When you shop at a small business, you not only support our local economy but also promote thriving communities across the country. In fact, for every dollar you spend to SHOP SMALL, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community.*

As an extra incentive to Shop Small, make a purchase at any of the local businesses listed below on Saturday, Nov. 30. Stop by the Library Services Desk by Monday, Dec. 2 and show your receipt. We will give you a raffle ticket for a chance to win an exciting PLAY LOCAL basket! The basket includes:

  • $100 gift card and more from Capstone Grill
  • $25 gift card to V&V Scratch Kitchen
  • $25 gift card to Regal Cinemas
  • Gift Certificate to Escape Room South for 2 spots in a single session
  • $20 gift certificate to Grande Italian Restaurant
  • 2 Tickets to attend the Washington Symphony Orchestra’s concert on Sunday, March 1, 3:00 pm “The Beauty of the Beasts”
  • A voucher for two tickets to a performance at Little Lake Theatre

Shop Small at these local neighborhood businesses on Saturday, Nov. 30 to participate in our PLAY LOCAL raffle!

  • Bloom Market – 15% off everything in the store.
  • Bombash & Earley – 30% off Store-wide Sale. First 25 customers receive a FREE Elf Bath Bomb. One lucky shopper receives our secret Santa Bath Bomb and enjoy 50% off their entire purchase.
  • BioVitale Massage
  • The Buttercup and Thistle Soap Shop – 10% off your purchase
  • The Eye Gallery
  • Heisler’s Market
  • It’s New to Me Consignment Furniture and Accesssories
  • Lakeview Yoga
  • Louie Prior Upcycled Jewelry – 10% off your purchase
  • Parea Gyros – 10 % off all items.
  • Salt of the Earth – Spend $100 and receive a $30 Salt Cave Session. Purchase a Three Session Sampler for $ 50.00. Save $25.  Purchase a Full Body Hot Stone Massage (performed in a private room in the salt cave)  –  Priced at $225 for $195.   Secret In Store Specials!
  • Victoria’s Fudge-a-Licious – 10% off your purchase
  • Vintage to Vogue Boutique – 30% off Christmas and 20% off Apparel and Fashion Accessories.

Thanks for shopping small and supporting our local community!

*The statistic cited is an estimate based on calculations using data on small businesses with under 100 employees from the U.S. Small Business Administration, as reported in the 2018 Small Business Economic Impact Study conducted by Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI) on behalf of American Express.

Filed Under: Adults, All Ages, Holidays, News, Teens

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Hours

Monday - Thursday: 10 am to 6 pm
Friday: 10 am to 4 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 1 pm
Sunday: Closed

Address

616 E. McMurray Road
McMurray, Pennsylvania 15317

Phone

724.941.9430

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