News

What does moving to “yellow phase” mean for our library?

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Library Director Myra R. Oleynik sent out the following message on Thursday, May 14, 2020:

Dear PT Library Community,
It’s been 9 weeks since we had to close our doors to the public, and we sure do miss you! As Washington County moves to the “yellow phase” on Friday, May 15, this is what you need to know right now about the Peters Township Public Library:

The library WILL NOT reopen to the public on Friday. A limited number of staff are the only ones who are permitted to return to the library at this time. They will begin to prepare the building for new limited library services to the public. Once we receive approval from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, we plan to gradually offer curbside service and accept library returns. All returned materials will be quarantined.

There will be changes in daily operations. When we open, library hours will be limited. We will be abiding by federal, state, and local health guidelines to keep our staff and community safe. The outdoor book drop is closed. We cannot accept book donations.

The due date for all items currently checked out is June 30, 2020. This will allow extra time for you to return items during our limited open hours. 

All WAGGIN library cards have been renewed to December 31, 2020. If you have any questions about your library card, email ewolf@ptlibrary.org.

At the moment, we are offering only virtual programs. We will announce these programs through our library newsletter (subscribe here), on the library Events Calendar, and the Peters Township Public Library Facebook page. Visit the library’s YouTube Channel for playlists which include all of our virtual programming.

Coming Soon! Plans are also underway for our new ReaderZone app to keep your kiddos reading this summer!

Please check your email for further updates. We appreciate your patience while we await these guidelines from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries and look forward to safely serving you soon. Stay calm. Stay safe. Stay tuned.

Myra R. Oleynik
Library Director

FAQ during the PT Library Covid-19 Closure

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UPDATED Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.

From Library Director, Myra R. Oleynik

In anticipation of Governor Wolf’s most recent announcement that brings Washington County to the Yellow Phase, Peters Township Public Library has been carefully reviewing procedures for phasing in safe access to very limited public services.

Any plans will include precautions to create a safe environment for staff and patrons that adhere to local, state, and federal guidelines. These precautions would include the use of personal protective wear, social distancing, and quarantining returned materials.

We appreciate your patience while we work on the details for entering the Yellow Phase. Please check your email in the coming weeks or visit our website for important updates and details about any limited services we are able to offer you.   Stay calm. Stay safe. Stay tuned.  

Here is what we know for today, April 3, 2020.

How long will the library be closed? The library is closed until further notice. We will advise you of an open date as soon as we have that information.

Can you hand me a book at the door?  No. To ensure the health and safety of our staff and community, we are complying with a state directive to suspend all direct in-person services. 

When will programs and classes resume? We do not have that information at this time. It depends on when the library will reopen to the public. Visit us at ptlibrary.org for updates or follow us on Facebook and on Instagram .

I am getting email notices about overdue books and fines. What’s should I do? Please disregard those emails for now. No fines will be charged for overdue items during this emergency closure.

Should I return my materials to the outdoor Book Drop? No. The Book Drop is closed. Please keep all items until the library reopens. Please do not leave anything outside the building.

What happens to the books I have on hold? All items currently on the hold shelf will remain there until the library reopens. You will be given additional time to pick them up.

Can I place new requests to hold items for when you reopen?  We ask that you please refrain from placing new hold requests at this time. There is no library staff in the building to gather new hold requests.

Are you answering the library phone number?  You can call 724.941.9430 and press #4 to leave a message. A staff member will return your call as soon as possible.

What if I’m having a problem with library e-resources?     Email Ed Wolf directly at EWolf@PT-Library.org.

How can I access library resources from home? Visit  the library website to access online resources. Go to the Resources bar at the top of the page. The drop down menu helps you to navigate to Books & Audiobooks, Magazines & Newspapers, and Music & Movies. You can also link to a complete A to Z list of all resources and browse to see what is available.

What about my tax appointment? AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Sites Service has been suspended until further notice. AARP tax volunteers will contact you regarding rescheduling once it is determined when the library will reopen.

How do I get tax forms? Click here for Federal tax forms, instructions and publications. Click here for PA Department of Revenue forms and publications.

Stay home. Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Hogwarts Digital Escape Room

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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

Links to Coronavirus Resources

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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.

This week Feb. 16 to 22

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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

This Week Dec. 16 to 21

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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.