Hooray for Summer Reading!

Here are two of our prize winners from our Summer Reading Club weekly raffle! Congratulations to you both! Keep reading!

It's a Cool New Book! Creative Costumes

We love to recycle and we love costumes! I've heard from lots of camp counselors, daycare educators, and other teachers that they are really concentrating on reusing and recycling this summer. This book has lots of ideas for reusing common items (some of which you could practically pop right into the recycling bin when you are done) into costumes to become knights, dragons, princesses, and more!

Click here to reserve Creative Costumes by Dawn Brend

Save the date for the Beginning with Books Early Literacy Conference

Our friends at Beginning with Books are hosting an Early Literacy Conference on September 26, 2008. Below is the information they want you to have!



Featured Speaker
Mary Renck Jalongo, Ph. D.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Featured Author/Illustrator
Candace Fleming
Award Winning Children’s Author


September 26, 2008

at Community College of Allegheny County North Campus

Experience a full day of learning about the latest research and best practices in early literacy.

Please contact Barbara Stolarz at Beginning with Books at 412-361-8560
or stolarzb@mybwb.org
You may also visit our Web site at www.beginningwithbooks.org

Act 48 and State Professional Development Hours Available

Looking for a good prank?

Apparently someone who frequents the Children's Department has learned how to make the computer display upside down! I went over to log in the computer for the day and had to stand on my head to make it work! Luckily my friend Larry and Mark from the Help Desk had the answer - to fix it, you press Ctrl+Alt+Up. Just that easy!

Ctrl+Alt+Down arrrow will display your whole monitor upside down. Have fun!

Spread Your Wings: A family program with curriculum-related concepts

Spread Your Wings is a series of programs which will encourage the family flight along the learning curve. Each program will feature stories, activities and exploration into curriculum-related concepts.

These will be held on selected Thursdays at 6:30-7:30 pm.


June 19th: In the Garden
(science)

June 26th: Comparatively Speaking
(mathematics)

July 10th: We're having a Field Day!
(Physical and health concerns)

July 17th: Over the Hills and Far Away
(Social Studies)

July 24th: Express yourself!
(Creative Arts)

Next Monday morning Baby Lapsit is June 23!

Day: Monday
Date: June 23
Time: 10:30AM
Come bounce with us!

Children's Librarians & Children's Authors: Megan McDonald

Storypockets looks at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s rich tradition of author-librarians. Our previous installments featured Sorche Nic Leodhas, Laura Cathon, Margaret Hodges, Elva S. Smith, and Elizabeth Sechrist. This week we focus on Megan McDonald.

Megan McDonald was a children's librarian in the Children's Department of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh from 1986 to 1990. Her first book, Is this a House for Hermit Crab, grew from a tale she created for her storytime audiences.

Pittsburgh history is a theme of several of Megan's books, including The Bridge to Nowhere, and The Potato Man.

Megan's books have won numerous awards, including Carolyn W. Field Award, 1993, for The Great Pumpkin Switch.

Flat Stanley is all grown up.

Today I got to meet Flat Stanley and his young gentleman. I know it's not the same, but I did get to hear the story and thought that you should, too! Here's the story as dictated to me:

"He started off as a little boy. Then he got older as he was gone. and became Jones. And then he got a photo. There. That's it."

The Jones that Flat Stanley became? Indiana! I still haven't seen the latest movie! :)

Next Monday morning Baby Lapsit is June 16!

Day: Monday

Date: June 16

Time: 10:30AM

Come bounce with us!

Whoa! We got nominated for a Parent's Pick Award!

That's so cool!

Until June 30, parents can vote in all sorts of categories at Parent's Picks 2008. Our Children's Department has been nominated for Best Library for Little Kids, Best Library for Big Kids, and our Teen Department has been nominated for Best Library for Teens!

A great big Thank You to whomever nominated us!

Now go and vote for us!

Welcome our new interns Kelly and Amy!

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has the distinction of being the first training center for Children's Librarians in the US. The program later moved to the University of Pittsburgh (just up the street!) but I like to think that we continue the tradition today. Our department participates in mentoring library school students and helping them develop their skills in librarianship. There's nothing like on the job training from experienced professionals! (a personal thank you from me to Miss Kathy and Miss Laurel who mentored me when I was an intern here!)

Welcome Kelly and Amy!

Children's Librarians and Children's Authors: Elizabeth Sechrist

Storypockets looks at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s rich tradition of author-librarians. Our previous installments featured Sorche Nic Leodhas, Laura Cathon, Margaret Hodges, and Elva S. Smith. This week, we focus on Elizabeth Sechrist.

Elizabeth Sechrist (1903-1991) was assistant children’s librarian at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in the mid-1920s. She wrote fiction and nonfiction for adults and children. She was also an editor, compiling collections of poems and folktales.

Next week, Storypockets features author-librarian Megan McDonald.

Welcome to another Miss Debbie!

Hey everybody! I want to introduce you to Miss Debbie! Yes, another Miss Debbie (and they're both great)! You'll see her here at the library, helping you with reference questions and even offering some programs.

Come on in and say hello!

We got the summer Citiparks Magazine!!

It's here, people!

Come and get it!

Children's Librarians & Children's Authors: Margaret Hodges

Storypockets looks at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s rich tradition of author-librarians. Our previous installments featured Sorche Nic Leodhas, Laura Cathon and Elva S. Smith. This week, we focus on Margaret Hodges.

Margaret Hodges (1911-2005) was a children’s librarian at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 1953-1964. She was an expert storyteller and respected scholar. Her books won numerous awards, including the Carolyn Field Award for Saint George and the Dragon.

Illustrator Trina Schart Hyman worked an image of Margaret Hodges and her husband Fletcher into the illustrations for The Kitchen Knight. See them on the final page, talking with Sir Gareth’s companion.

Next week, Storypockets features author-librarian Elizabeth Sechrist.