Loving the libraries
After running around for parties, shopping and other holiday events, winter seems to be the perfect time to slow down and curl up with a good book. “A lot of people are coming in for books and they’re excited to have time to read and relax,’ said Christy Fusco, head librarian at Uniontown Public Library.
That’s not to say libraries aren’t busy throughout the year.
Debbie Tidholm, president of the board of directors for Frazier Community Library in Perryopolis, said while there are fewer patrons in the summer because of vacations, “We have good readership from September through May.’
Yet, in a time when days are cold and nights are long, there are many people who would rather stay indoors and do a little reading.
Edward Goyda, director of Brownsville Free Public Library, said, “You get a good book and you don’t have to deal with the weather.’
Shirley Renaldi, library supervisor and bookkeeper at German-Masontown Public Library in Masontown, said this time of year patrons include students who are coming in for research as well as people who simply enjoy reading. Libraries are ready with research materials in addition to newspapers, classics and bestsellers for people who enjoy a good read. Some are offering book clubs as well as storytime for children.
No matter the day, no matter the time – books can offer an escape from everyday life and a chance for adventure.
Phyllis Smith, a volunteer at Smithfield Library and a self-proclaimed “book-aholic,” said, “I say every day’s a good day to read.’
The following is a look at area libraries and what they’re offering to patrons.
Brownfield Community Public Library, 291 Banning Road, Dawson. Volunteer Helen Guest said the library offers storytime for children one Saturday a month with the next event from 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 20. Meanwhile, Brownfield’s adult patrons read a variety of books, enjoying authors who range from Danielle Steele to James Patterson to Mitch Albom.
“Some like non-fiction. Some like fiction. Some like historical books. Some like political – you name it, we read it,’ said Guest, who noted that although the library is small, it is able to get most books requested through the inter-loan system – used by most local libraries. “If there’s a book you need and we don’t have it, we can usually get it within a short period of time,’ she added.
For more information, call the library at 724-529-2930.
Brownsville Free Public Library, 100 Seneca St., Brownsville. Director Edward Goyda said many of the patrons enjoy reading books by best-selling authors James Patterson and Janet Evanovich. The library will offer a program for children at noon Saturday, March 3, to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss.
“Dr. Seuss is a classic and this will introduce many children to the books. And we’ll have older kids – high school students – reading to younger kids. That usually works very well,’ Goyda said.
People who would like to participate in the Seuss program are asked to call ahead so the library knows how many to anticipate, but anyone is invited to drop by. Brownsville also offers a summer reading program for youths of elementary school age. For more information, call the library at 724-785-7272.
Carnegie Free Public Library, 299 S. Pittsburgh St., Connellsville. Beverley Motycka, inter-loan librarian, said students are beginning to do research for term papers while regular patrons are coming to read bestsellers by authors such as Robin Cook, Danielle Steele, Kay Hooper, Nelson DeMille and David Baldacci. In fact, Baldacci’s book “The Christmas Train,’ which includes a reference to Connellsville, was particularly popular over the holidays.
The library offers a storytime for preschoolers every Wednesday at 11 a.m. through May that includes the opportunity to do a craft. There’s also a summer reading program for youths and a monthly book sale.
Asked what people like about winter reading, Motycka said, “For me, there’s nothing on television to watch anyway. I read 100 books last year. I’ve already read two so far this year. I like to keep up with reading and I like to see what everybody else is reading to see if I can read it first so I can give them an answer if they have a question.’
For more information, call the library at 724-628-5636.
Dunbar Community Library, 60 Connellsville St., Dunbar. Secretary Peggy Rankin reported the library offers a weekly storytime for preschoolers that should start up again in early February.
“The kids seem to have a ball. The mothers read them a story. They have a snack and do a craft,’ said Rankin, who reported that storytime usually attracts between eight and 12 children.
The library also offers a summer reading program for children through junior high age in July and August. Volunteer Colleen Rodney said that favorite authors among the adult patrons include Danielle Steele, Sandra Brown and Stephen King. For more information, call the library at 724-277-4775.
Frazier Community Library, 403 W. Constitution St., Perryopolis. Debbie Tidholm, president of the board of directors, reported the library operates a book club for adults on the fourth Monday of the month at 7 p.m. This month’s selection is “The Women of Troy Hill’ by Clare Ansberry, a story about a Pittsburgh neighborhood written by a Wall Street Journal reporter. The book club attracts anywhere from five to 12 people a month and is open to everyone.
Tidholm said the book club members enjoy reading and each other’s company.
“I think it’s the camaraderie – getting together and doing something you enjoy and giving your opinions on something you’ve read and seeing what others think of the book – how it’s impacted them or affected their lives,’ she said.
She said the club offers a variety of books. Some of the selections come from the Norwin Public Library in Westmoreland County, which participates in the PALS (People Able to Lend Support) program sponsored by Highmark.
Frazier also offers a storytime for children one Saturday a month with the date announced a couple of weeks in advance. The children enjoy a story, craft and a snack. Sometimes there’s a guest such as Raggedy Ann, Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.
Frazier Community Library shares space with the library in the Frazier Middle High School, opening at 3 p.m. at the close of the school day.
“It’s a wonderful arrangement for us and the community,’ said Tidholm. “Students are able to come in. Community members are able to come in and have access to the materials. It’s a very good working relationship.’
For more information, call the library at 724-736-8480.
German-Masontown Public Library, 9 S. Washington St., Masontown. Shirley Renaldi, library supervisor and bookkeeper, said many library patrons come in to read newspapers.
“And a lot of them like to read bestsellers – mainly (John) Grisham and Nora Roberts. They also like Janette Oak and Beverly Lewis – that’s some of their favorites,’ she said.
The library offers a storytime for preschool children year-round from noon to 1 p.m. every other Wednesday. Throughout the school year, the program is operated by two retired school teachers – Donna Parish, who worked at All Saints School, and Judy Bogozi, who worked in the Albert Gallatin School District.
“They’re really good with the kids. They do crafts with them and make them participate,’ said Renaldi.
Others take over storytime for the summer. The library also offers a summer reading program for school-age children. For more information, call the library at 724-583-7030.
Point Marion Library, 300 Ontario Ave., Point Marion. Library clerk Joyce Dills said patrons like to read authors ranging from James Patterson to Nora Roberts to Sue Grafton. The library also has a good selection of audio books.
Asked about reading in the winter, Dills said, “It takes away the gloom of the cold weather when you lose yourself in a good book. It relaxes me to read.’
The library will offer a children’s story time in the future with board member Jo Watts. Times will be announced later. In the past, the library offered a book fair in conjunction with the Point Marion Regatta and a summer reading program for children. For more information, call the library at 724-725-9553.
Republic Library, DeGregory Circle, Republic. The Herald-Standard was unable to reach library staff. For more information, call the library at 724-246-0404.
Smithfield Library, 14 Water St., Smithfield. Librarian Jean Kennedy reports Smithfield is going into its third year of operating The Reading Circle, a monthly reading club for adults.
The Reading Circle is a spin-off from a program operated through a grant from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. The participants decided to continue their own program, which now has about 20 members. New members are always welcome to the club, which meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Books come from the Norwin Public Library’s PALS program. This month’s selection is “Foul Matter’ by Martha Grimes.
Kennedy said, “I cannot believe a group of people can read the same book and get so many different ideas. Once they pick it apart, I can’t think of a paragraph or sentence that hasn’t been analyzed. I’m amazed.
“Last year, we opted not to meet in December and January and they complained when they came back. This year we didn’t even consider taking off. The last meeting was Dec. 27 – that’s how serious these people are about their reading.’
Library volunteer Phyllis Smith said she enjoys the Reading Circle because “I get to read a diversified group of authors that I probably wouldn’t read otherwise. It’s especially helpful for senior citizens on a fixed income because you don’t have to buy the book. It’s on loan to us.’
Smithfield Library, which is located in the borough building, also offers a children’s storytime that starts in the spring and a summer reading program for both children and youths. The latter includes a reading contest. In the winter, patrons include many students and their parents looking for material for school projects as well as people who enjoy audio books and serious readers.
Kennedy said of them, “No matter what they do, they find time to read.’
For more information, call the library at 724-569-1777.
Uniontown Public Library, 24 Jefferson St., Uniontown. Head librarian Christy Fusco said Uniontown is going into its third year with its book club, The Bookworms, which evolved from a program that started as a senior project by volunteer Katie Fitzsimmons, then a student at Uniontown Area High School.
The Bookworms, a club for adults, meets the last Tuesday of the month at 11 a.m. and is a part of Norwin’s PALS program. The club currently has about 20 members and is open to anyone. Sometimes there are guest speakers, such as members of Third Presbyterian Church’s quilting club, while club member Barbara Shoemaker has been a regular December speaker as she reads her favorite poem “A Cup of Christmas Tea.’ Members take turns bringing a snack for everyone.
Currently, the club is reading “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency’ by Alexander McCall Smith but Fusco noted they have read a variety of fiction and non-fiction.
“It’s a wide selection, not in any specific vein, and there are Pittsburgh authors or stories set in Pittsburgh. I really like that we come together and talk about the books we read but it’s also an opportunity to talk about other books we have read,’ said Fusco, noting that people also share their own personal experiences.
Uniontown also offers a family craft night from 6:30 to 7:30 on the third Monday of each month and a children’s art club from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the first Monday of the month. Participants must call to register for the art club but can just drop in for family craft night.
The library is gearing up for its annual spring reading competition for junior high school students (grades six, seven and eight), which will be held April 26 at St. John Byzantine Catholic Church’s former school. The library’s Web page has the reading list.
Fusco said the friends group also hopes to have a spring cooking class luncheon and the library will operate its summer reading program once again.
For more information, call the library at 724-437-1165 or visit the Web site at www.uniontownlib.org.