Jan Techau, Director of Carnegie Europe

The library continues its eight year partnership with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and welcomes Jan Techau, Director of Carnegie Europe, to discuss The Future of the EU – the Three Revolutions Europe Needs on Wednesday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the library.

The McMurray Veterans of Foreign Wars POST 764 is providing support for the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh 2011-12 program series. Register for this event online or call 724.941.9430.

Techau will speak about the sovereign debt crisis that has gripped the eurozone over the past year and has posed a mortal threat to the future of the European Union as a political and economic bloc. As countries like Greece teeter on the brink of collapse, political wrangling over a bailout has exposed divisions in the 27-member union. However, even before the eurozone crisis, Europe was facing decline. While its social stability, economic strength, and political influence may still be strong, the “old world” is rapidly losing ground as new powers in Asia and elsewhere increasingly flex their muscles on the world stage.

Jan Techau is director of Carnegie Europe, the European centre of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He is a noted expert on EU integration and foreign policy, transatlantic affairs, and German foreign and security policy. Techau served at the NATO Defense College’s Research Division from February 2010 until March 2011. He was director of the Alfred von Oppenheim Center for European Policy Studies at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin between 2006 and 2010 and from 2001 to 2006 he served at the German Ministry of Defense’s Press and Information Department.

Techau is an associate scholar at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and an associate fellow at both the German Council on Foreign Relations and at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS). He is a regular contributor to German and international news media such as the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Bloomberg, Deutschlandradio, and Irish Times.

Author Visit: Robert J. Gangewere

Robert J. Gangewere will discuss his new book Palace of Culture: Andrew Carnegie’s Museums and Library in Pittsburgh at the Peters Township Public Library on Tuesday, March 27 at 7:00 p.m. A book signing will follow the program. To attend, register online, visit the circulation desk, or call 724.941.9430.

Believing that education and culture were not just for the wealthy, Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie Institute in 1896, which included a music hall, art museum and science museum. Today, his cultural institution has expanded to include a library, music hall, natural history museum, art museum, science center, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Carnegie International art exhibition.

In this first history of The Carnegie Museums and Library of Pittsburgh, Gangewere details the political turmoil, budgetary constraints, and cultural tides that have influenced the caretakers and the collections. He profiles the benefactors, trustees, directors, and administrators who have stewarded the collections through the years and provided individual histories of the library, music hall, museums, and science center.

Gangewere is a former editor of Carnegie Magazine and adjunct professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University. He is the author or editor of several books, including The Bridges of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and The Exploited Eden: Literature on the American Environment.

Program to assist with starting a new business

Starting a small business can be an exciting and challenging adventure. To help you in launching your new business, the Peters Township Public Library is partnering with the Peters Township Chamber of Commerce and the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center to present “The Mechanics of Starting a Small Business.” This free program will be offered at the library on Thursday, March 8 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Presenters for this event will be Lindsey Biddle, Management Consultant, University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center; Jonathan Higie, Attorney, Peacock Keller Law Firm; and Edward Nemeth, Senior Loan Officer, Washington County Council on Economic Development.

Attend this event to learn about financing and business structures, how to access helpful resources and to understand the forms necessary for establishing your successful business. As space is limited, reservations are requested. Register online, at the circulation desk, or call 724.941.9430 by Tuesday, March 6 to reserve your space.

AARP tax help available beginning Feb. 9

In partnership with the AARP, tax assistance will be available at the Peters Township Public Library each Thursdays beginning February 9 through April 12. AARP Tax-Aides will provide this free service to help low and moderate income taxpayers who are age 60 years and older.

Appointments may be scheduled by calling 724-941-9430 or by visiting the library circulation desk. At the time of registration, the library will provide you a list of the forms eligible for preparation by the AARP Tax-Aide consultant, as well as a list of items you will need to bring when you arrive for your personal tax preparation session. It is recommended you visit the library to pick up both of the lists before your scheduled appointment.

As a community service, the library participates with the IRS and Pennsylvania Department of Revenue to provide both Federal and State Tax forms for library patrons. As forms arrive, they are added to the tax display on the second floor of the library. If a desired form is not available, individuals with a valid Peters Township Public Library card may access library computers for tax forms and publications. Printing charges are $.15 per page to cover library costs. To access federal forms, visit www.irs.gov and to access state forms, visit www.revenue.state.pa.us. For help with federal tax questions please call 1-800-829-1040; for help with federal tax forms and publications please call 1-800-829-4059. For help with state tax questions please call 1-717-787-8201.

The Gallery Photography Exhibit

The Peters Township High School Photography Classes will exhibit their work in the main lobby of the Peters Township Public Library from February 23 through March 8 during library hours. "The Gallery" is a display of hundreds of student photographs from the classes and club at the high school. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, February 23 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

FAFSA Completion Session for College-Bound Students and Parents

The Peters Township Public Library will offer a free FAFSA Completion Session on Saturday, February 18 at 10:30 a.m. in the first floor Meeting Room. This workshop, for college-bound and seniors and their parents, provides the opportunity to get personalized help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the chance to ask questions related to the financial aid process.

Session information will be provided by Jayeann Harr, Higher Education Access Partner of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Preregistration is required for this program online, call 724.941.9430, or visit the library circulation desk.

The deadline for submitting the FAFSA to determine eligibility for a need-based Pennsylvania State Grant is May 1 or August 1 for first-time students entering programs of study at community colleges, business, trade or technical schools, and hospital schools of nursing. Families should submit their FAFSA as early as possible after January 1 to ensure meeting earlier financial aid deadlines that may be required by selected schools.

The FAFSA is used to determine if students qualify for almost all forms of need-based financial assistance, including the Pennsylvania State Grant, Federal Pell Grant, many scholarships, work-study programs, many school-based awards, and low-cost federal student loans.

Last year, 98% of all applicants completed the FAFSA online which provides for faster and more accurate results. A new feature this year will allow tax filers to have their IRS data automatically populate certain FAFSA questions, making the process easier. Families are advised to be cautious of online FAFSA sites that require a fee to complete the free application, as help is available through PHEAA staff and the U.S. government at no charge.

Learn the ins and outs of online banking

According to a recent survey, 73 percent of online households – 58 percent of all U.S. households – reported paying a bill online at a biller or bank website in the last month.* Have you hesitated becoming part of this trend and would like to learn more?

The Peters Township Public Library will host Kristen Painter, Branch Manager, Washington Financial Bank/Valley Brook, who will discuss how online banking makes it easy and convenient to check account activity, transfer funds, and pay bills. Learn how to easily navigate these features on Tuesday, February 7 from 7 – 8:45 p.m. The fee for this program is $5 and advance registration is required at the library circulation desk.

Kristen Painter has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, the Pennsylvania Bankers Association School of Banking and Leadership Washington County.