"I'd like to thank the Academy..."

Yes, Oscar Night is almost here! The 81st Annual Academy Awards will be broadcast on ABC, beginning with the red carpet arrivals at 5 p.m.

Did you know all five Best Film Nominees were adapted from books?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
by Fitzgerald, F. Scott
The Conviction of Richard Nixon : The Untold Story of the Frost/Nixon Interviews
by James Reston ("Frost/Nixon")
The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts ("Milk")
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Q & A by Vikas Swarup ("Slumdog Millionaire")

The library has all five of these books in our collection, as well as many other books that eventually were turned into Oscar-winning films. Visit the library and check out our display for the Academy Awards in the main lobby, or email me for a complete list of titles in our collection. Happy Oscars!

Here We Go!

Pittsburgh's goin' to the Super Bowl!

To help pass the hours until Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, February 1st at 6 p.m., visit our display of Steeler "stuff" on the second floor of the library and read about all the Steeler greats - past and present. We've got Steeler DVDs too!

Check out the 2008-09 version of "Here We Go!" on YouTube!

Books on Screen program filled

The Books on Screen program is now filled with the maximum number of participants permitted by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. We are thrilled by the tremendous response to this book/film discussion series!

We have currently begun a waiting list for the program. Please consider visiting the Reference Desk on the second floor of the library to be placed on that list. If you have any questions regarding Books on Screen, please call 724-941-9430 ext. 327.

Books on Screen Program nearly filled

If you were considering signing up for our Books on Screen program to begin in February, please come into the library as soon as possible to do so! We only have room for four more participants before we reach the maximum permitted by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

In case you are not familiar with this very popular program, Books on Screen compares four acclaimed films and the literature that inspired them. This book discussion series begins in February 2009 at the library on Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Our discussions will be facilitated by David R. Shumway, Professor of English, and Literary and Cultural Studies at Carnegie Mellon University.

Visit the adult program page on our web site for more details about the books/film adaptations to be discussed as well as the program dates. If you have any questions, please call the Reference Department at 724-941-9430 ext. 327.

Trinity Bell Choir Performs!

Get into the festive spirit and come enjoy the Trinity Bell Choir as they perform their annual holiday concert at the Library this evening beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Join us for a relaxing hour of beautiful music and storytelling. Refreshments will be served after the performance.

Holiday Tree Raffle!

The Lexington Court Garden Club is offering a fully decorated Christmas tree for raffle. The tree is currently on display in the main lobby at the Library, decorated with the theme “A Nature Christmas Sparkle."

Tickets, available at the circulation desk, are $2.00 each. The drawing will be held on December 11, and the winner can pick up this beautiful tree to use this holiday season! Proceeds benefit the library and several other organizations.

The Challenge of Afghanistan

Earlier this month President George Bush announced that a Marine Battalion will be sent to Afghanistan rather than Iraq in November, to be followed by an Army combat brigade in January. The next day Congress is warned by chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen that sending more troops to Afghanistan will not guarantee victory. Concern is growing as the American people watch the United States death toll continue to rise in that country.

With his perspective on these recent events, Colonel Lew Irwin, U.S. Army Reserve, will speak at the Peters Township Public Library on Thursday, October 8 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Colonel Irwin recently returned from a tour of active duty in Afghanistan, during which he was responsible for creating and implementing a nation-wide reform of the Afghan National Police.

This program is part of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh International Series "Looking to the Future: the United States and the World." Please register in advance to attend the program at the Circulation desk or call 724.941.9430. An honorarium for our speaker was generously provided by a grant from VFW Post 764.