Spark joy, socialize and learn new skills at your local library branch

by Pittsburgh Senior News

Allegheny County libraries are a treasured local resource that are designed to spark joy and make reading accessible, exciting and attainable for everyone. Here are some easy ways to engage with your local branch, followed by some upcoming programs and events that are free and open to the public.

Join a book club: These monthly book clubs cover all popular genres, from mystery books to cookbooks.

Check out the recommended books lists: Beyond the titles that everyone seems to be talking about, local librarians offer staff picks that you may not otherwise know about or have heard of.

Get personalized recommendations: Don’t know where to start? Ask a librarian! Let them know your reading preferences and they can help find the best literary matches for you.

A Sampling of Programs and Events Happening at Allegheny County Libraries

Senior Day

Second Tuesday of every month | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wilkinsburg Public Library Auditorium

All seniors are welcome. Light exercise, craft, speaker, free lunch. Something different is planned every month.

wilkinsburglibrary.org

Cook Club for Adults

Third Thursday of every month | 5 – 5:45 p.m.

Scott Township Public Library

Cook Club is for any adult interested in home cooking and recipes. Each month there will be a new recipe to make and take home. Registration is required.

scottlibrary.org

Bingo

Third Thursday of every month | 2 p.m.

Brentwood Library

Come to play bingo, mingle, win small prizes and enjoy light refreshments. No registration required.

brentwoodpubliclibrary.org

Evening Writers Café

Third Thursday of every month | 6 – 8 p.m.

Castle Shannon Library

New and seasoned creative writers are welcome. Each gathering will include a brief discussion on narrative craft, time for sharing, and time for writing.

castleshannonlibrary.org

Fiber Craft Friday

First Friday of every month, 1 –3 p.m.

Scott Township Public Library

Staff demonstrations and lessons are followed by self-directed sip and stitch time for your own work in progress. Registration is requested for beginner lessons but is not required if you are bringing your own project.

scottlibrary.org

Cut the Cable Cord

Tuesday, March 25 | 6:30 p.m.

Western Allegheny Community Library

Learn about entertainment alternatives to cable, including streaming services and on-demand viewing, and how they can save you thousands of dollars, as well as time wasted watching commercials. westernalleghenylibrary.org

Author Talk: Michael Haritan

Tuesday, April 1 | 6:30 p.m.

Cooper-Siegel Community Library

Join in an evening of insight and education about the 1986 nuclear powerplant accident in Ukraine with author Michael Haritan. Chernobyl: Aftermath of the World’s Greatest Disaster focuses on Chernobyl’s Exclusion Zone: the survivors, those still living there, and the children still affected by this devastating nuclear disaster. Stop in the library the week before and after the event where some of the book’s 400+ photographs will be on display.

coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org

South Hills Model Railroad Club Track Display

Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall

See an amazing room-sized model railroad track display, courtesy of the South Hills Model Railroad Club. Featuring homes, businesses, landscape features and a carnival, this fully operational track creates its own tiny world to explore.

carnegielibrary.org

Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt Lecture featuring Kelvin Watson, Executive Director, Las Vegas-Clarke County Library District

Tuesday, April 8 | 6 p.m.

CLP – Main (Oakland), Lecture Hall

Regarded as one of the most highly respected thought leaders in the library industry, Kelvin Watson has brought innovative, award-winning leadership to Nevada’s largest library system. A Q&A and reception will follow. Registration encouraged.

carnegielibrary.org

Pittsburgh Historic Ballparks

Thursday, April 10 | 6 p.m.

Northland Public Library

Mark Fatla, author of Pittsburgh’s Historic Ballparks, chronicles the nine ballparks that hosted major league baseball in Pittsburgh between 1876 and the present. Historic photographs illustrate design and construction phases, the major changes as parks expanded and aged, and eventually their demolition.

northlandlandlibrary.org

Current Frauds and Scams

Tuesday, April 15 | 6:30 p.m.

Western Allegheny Community Library

Scammers are constantly updating their tactics and getting more creative on who they target and how. Stay informed by learning what to look out for with Felicia Trovato, Outreach Specialist of the FBI, Pittsburgh Division.

westernalleghenylibrary.org

Healthy Aging

Wednesday, April 16 | 3 p.m.

Bridgeville Public Library

Learn about the important roles that nutrition, exercise and mental wellbeing play in maintaining a healthy lifestyle as we age.

bridgevillelibrary.org

Community Scan Days

CLP – Beechview| April 5, 1 – 4 p.m.

CLP – Hazelwood | April 12, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

CLP – Allegheny | April 23, 4 – 7 p.m.

CLP – Downtown | April 26, 1 – 4 p.m.

CLP – Lawrenceville | May 3, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CLP – Woods Run | May 10, 1 – 4 p.m.

CLP – Squirrel Hill | May 14, 4 – 7 p.m.

CLP – East Liberty | May 17, noon – 4 p.m.

CLP – Mt. Washington | May 24, 1 – 4 p.m.

Digitize your old photographs, documents and slides for free. Appointments are 40 minutes long, with a limit of 10 items. Bring your own storage, such as a flash drive or portable hard drive. The last half of each event will be reserved for drop-in sessions with a limit of five items.

carnegielibrary.org