Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Learn to be a tourist in “The Burgh”

From National Geographic Traveler to Forbes.com, Pittsburgh has been named one of the best places in the world to visit. CBS This Morning recently touted Pittsburgh as one of the "six places you wouldn't think to visit, but should in 2014!"

The Peters Township Public Library welcomes Tinsy Labrie, Vice President of Marketing for VisitPITTSBURGH, on Saturday, April 26 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. to provide insight on how to be a tourist in “The Burgh” at The Best Vacation…A Staycation in Your Own Neighborhood. In her presentation, Ms. Labrie will highlight historic sites like the Duquesne Incline, Fort Pitt Museum, Heinz History Center, along with family attractions including the Zoo, Science Center, National Aviary and more. You will learn about family fun, tours and sightseeing, outdoor adventure, museums, performing and visual arts and other activities. There will be giveaways at the program. Register to attend by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724-941-9430.

VisitPITTSBURGH is the official tourism promotion agency for Allegheny County. Labrie has been promoting and packaging Pittsburgh as a leisure travel destination for 15 years.

Artist Robert Qualters to discuss his life and paintings

Iconic Pittsburgh artist Robert Qualters will visit the Peters Township Public Library on Monday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. Qualters will talk about his life as an artist, especially in light of the current retrospective of his unique work at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, which runs through April 20. The exhibit was curated by Vicky A. Clark, who also wrote the new book featured in his discussion: Robert Qualters: Autobiographical Mythologies. Registration is requested to attend this event by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430. A book signing will follow the program and light refreshments will be served.

Qualters, who celebrated his 80th birthday in March, has a style familiar to many Pittsburghers. His paintings feature our local landscapes, neighborhoods, and amusement parks in bold colors annotated with text around the borders of the work. He has had more than 30 solo shows in galleries and museums in the region, including the Carnegie Museum of Art, and has created more than two dozen public murals and site-specific installations, including commissions from Mercy Hospital, Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, Three Rivers Arts Festival, and Oxford Development. He has also created more than a dozen murals with Pittsburgh high school students.

Qualters holds a BFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts, and an MFA from Syracuse University. He has taught painting at the State University of New York, Oswego; University of Pittsburgh; Carlow College; Slippery Rock State University; Indiana University of PA; West Virginia University; and Carnegie Mellon University. He has also been artist-in-residence at the Pittsburgh High School for Creative and Performing Arts.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

The ABC’s of Selling Online

Would you like to sell your product online, but aren’t sure how to begin? Take the first step by attending the ABC’s of Selling Online on Wednesday, March 26 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Peters Township Public Library. This free program is for business owners with specific products and services in mind as well as for individuals interested in selling online. To attend email programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430.

Presented by Robert Stein, Director of Information Technology for the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence at University of Pittsburgh, The ABC’s of Selling Online is not a technical program. Rather it is a business program with practical information on entering the world of e-commerce. Proper preparation before taking the plunge into e-commerce can make the difference between success and failure. While many companies have moved into online sales, thousands of Web sites shut down each year due to a lack of planning or poor planning. Topics covered will include determining what kind of online business to start, tools for building a Web site, selecting payment processing methods, and optimizing your Web site on search engines.

Robert Stein is a nationally renowned innovator and advisor in the technology industry. He founded Active Network, Inc. (activewin.com), an Internet portal providing Microsoft news, and has developed an extensive knowledge of operating and information systems. A recipient of Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professional Award, for which the company selects only 1000 IT experts worldwide, Stein is experienced in improving project management, assessing costs, and creating enterprise-wide integrated information systems. He holds Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in information systems from the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business.

This program is offered to the community by the Peters Township Public Library, University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center, and Peters Township Chamber of Commerce. It is a PA Forward/Pennsylvania Libraries Financial Literacy program initiative - helping persons learn skills to improve their financial literacy.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Write On Kids contest on Saturday, March 1

Is your child a great, little story teller with drawings proudly displayed in your home? Share his/her talents in the 5th annual PBS Write On Kids writing contest on Saturday, March 1 from 11:00 am to 12 noon at the Peters Township Public Library.

The Children’s Department is partnering with WQED-TV to host this event, which encourages students in grades K-3 to write and illustrate their own original masterpiece for the chance to win some great prizes compliments of WQED-TV. During the program, children will write a story, make revisions, create illustrations and prepare to submit them to the Write On Kids completion.

Registration requested to attend this program. Register by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org, call 724.941.9430, or visit the Children’s Department. For more information about the Write On Kids contest, visit writeonkids.org.

GO Green Club hosts “Green Wednesdays” film series

The Peters Township Public Library GO Green Club will kick off a new “Green Wednesdays” Film Series at the library on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. with a free screening of Carbon Nation, a feature length documentary about climate change solutions.

The club will host screenings of environmentally-focused films at 7:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of March, April, May and June in the Reading Room on the second floor of the library. Light organic refreshments will be served. Registration is requested to attend any of the screenings by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430.

Scheduled films include:

Carbon Nation (2011) on Wednesday, March 5. Even if you doubt the severity of the impact of climate change or just don't buy it at all, this compelling and relevant film illustrates how SOLUTIONS to climate change also address other social, economic and national security issues.

Trashed-No Place for Waste (2012) on Wednesday, April 2. With the participation of Jeremy Irons, the film looks at the risks to the food chain and the environment through pollution of our air, land and sea by waste.

Switch (2012) on Wednesday, May 7. Every energy resource — fossil, nuclear and renewable — is undergoing profound changes. And overall, we're gradually shifting from coal and oil to the energies of tomorrow. But rather than advocate for how it should happen, Switch travels the world to discover how it most likely will happen.

Chasing Ice (2012) on Wednesday, June 4. Chasing Ice is the story of one man’s mission to change the tide of history by gathering undeniable evidence of climate change. Using time-lapse cameras, his videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate.

The library’s GO Green Club’s mission is to provide the community with educational resources through programs, library materials, and volunteer activities to help create a more environmentally- friendly and responsible lifestyle. For more information about the film series or the club, email ptplgogreenclub@gmail.com.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

National Security Challenges in 2014 and Beyond

The Peters Township Public Library in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh presents "National Security Challenges in 2014 and Beyond" on Tuesday, January 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the library. The program will feature panelists from the U.S. Army War College Eisenhower Series College Program.

Register to attend this free program online, visit the circulation desk, or call 724.941.9430.

The nature of national security has become increasingly more complicated in 2014 and includes issues ranging from nuclear proliferation to the influence of culture on conflict. Senior Officers representing the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps will brief the audience on a variety of national security issues including the growth of nuclear weapons, the influence of religious issues and conflicts on joint operations, the responsibility to protect doctrine and the challenge it poses to upholding sovereignty, the future of the United States’ position in the Middle East, and the war against Al Quada. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

McMurray Veterans of Foreign Wars POST 764 is generously providing support for the 2014 International Program Series.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Finding Healh Care through the Health Insurance Marketplace

Hear key facts about the new health insurance options at Finding Health Care through the Health Insurance Marketplace on Tuesday, January 21 from 7-8:00 p.m. or Thursday, February 20 from 7-8:00 p.m. at the Peters Township Public Library. Register online to attend either the January 21 session or the February 20 session. You may also register at the circulation desk or call 724.941.9430.

Christina Livingston, Outreach & Enrollment Specialist, Cornerstone Care, Washington, PA, will present information to better enable you to find a quality health insurance plan that meets your needs and budget. A variety of topics to help you navigate the Health Exchange will be discussed including: “What Determines Health Insurance Premiums”, “What Qualifies Individuals and Families for Advanced Premium Tax Cuts, and Cost Sharing Reductions”. Ms. Livingston will also explain the differences between the 5 plan categories available – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Catastrophic – and how a geographic area impacts the plans. Information about penalties for non-compliance will also be explained. Following the program, Livingston will remain to answer questions and arrange for individual appointments at Cornerstone Care for those who request a private consult.

Cornerstone Care is a non- profit Community Health Center and one of the Certified Appointment Counselors ready to help Pennsylvania Libraries reach out to their patrons and their communities to apply for health insurance on the www.healthcare.gov website.

Peters Township Public Library, along with other libraries statewide, is powering Pennsylvania’s future by helping persons improve their health literacy and manage their own and their family’s well-being, empowered to be effective partners with their healthcare providers, and live longer, more productive lives.