"Faces of the Civil War" with Dr. Paul D. Newman

Commonwealth Speaker Dr. Paul Douglas Newman will discuss Pennsylvania's role in the fighting and lasting memory of the Civil War at the Peters Township Public Library on Thursday, July 30 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. The presentation will contrast the popular memory of the war with its messy and gruesome realities, as revealed by photographs. Newman will ask participants to compare the realities of the Civil War with 20th and 21st century conflicts and to debate its permeating themes. This program is free of charge and open to the public. Register at the library’s circulation desk or call 724.941.9430.

Dr. Paul Douglas Newman is Professor of Early American history at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where he has taught since 1995, being awarded the Phi Eta Sigma Teacher of the Year Award in 2002, and the Pi Lambda Theta Educator of the Year Award in 2003. Dr. Newman earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in history at the University of Kentucky, and his B.A. in history from York College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Newman is the Editor of Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies, and has served as a consultant for a number of public history projects including the Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Fort Ligonier, the Johnstown Flood National Memorial, the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, among others. Dr. Newman began offering Commonwealth Speakers lectures in 1998. He is the recipient of the History Channel’s 2008 “Save Our History” Teacher of the Year Award.

This presentation is a program of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, supported in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The Pennsylvania Humanities Council, a nonprofit organization, inspires individuals to enjoy and share a life of learning.

Downloadable audiobooks are here!

Our library has expanded our services with the addition of free downloadable audiobooks through a new digital media library. Patrons can check out and download titles anytime, anywhere by visiting the library home page and clicking on the green audiobook downloads graphic.

Library card holders may browse the collection of best-selling and classic titles. To check out, users will need a valid library card, a computer with an internet connection, and an email address. Once downloaded, digital titles can be enjoyed on the computer or transferred to a supported device, like an MP3 player. Many audio titles can also be burned to CD to enjoy in the car. At the end of the lending period, titles will automatically expire and are returned to the collection. There are never late fees or damaged materials.

“We are thrilled to offer our patrons another cost-saving use of their local library,” said Library Director Pier Lee. “With this free service, our busy patrons can listen to audiobooks while exercising on the trail, running errands in the car, or traveling on vacation over the summer months.”

Patrons will need to install free software, the OverDrive Media Console for audio titles, to use on a Windows operating system or Mac. The free and easy-to-use service is provided by the Peter Township Public library and powered by OverDrive, Inc, a leader in providing world-class infrastructure for downloading premium digital content.