fools_newsletter_201.. - Oakmont Carnegie Library

A Newsletter by and for the Friends of The Oakmont Library
(affectionately known by the acronym “FOOL’s”)
700 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont, PA 15139 ~ 412-828-9532
Volume 19 . Spring 2013
Hello to the Friends Of the Oakmont Library,
If you are reading this, you are falling back on a method of communication that has been pushed aside by technology. Reading or
acquiring information today is mostly accomplished on a desktop, laptop or hand held device. You can do your banking or shopping without
leaving home. We no longer need to stand in line for Heinz Hall, Heinz Field or the Oakmont Bakery. Libraries are not immune from the
impact of this technology. A favorite or new book can be available instantly. You don’t have to go to the library to check it out, you can
download it onto your digital device in seconds. And the book will never be overdue, it goes away when your time is up.
So, how does a library compete? Before the internet, a library was all about books. Now, with the technology to acquire and read
a book so easy, the Oakmont Library must put the focus on meeting the expectations of the public. Our library embraces the technology
it competes with by offering free internet access to all. In a struggling economy where even an application for an entry level job must be
completed on line, this is a vital service. And, the Oakmont Library assists the community in the use of this digital literacy. The library staff not
only acts as guides to information, but trainers in obtaining the ability to do so for the untrained. The staff also takes over when the school
day is done, helping to instill the wonder of learning to our children.
As for visual enjoyment, the Oakmont Library will not put Netflix out of business, but has an impressive collection of full length
DVDs. And there is much more to offer in the building. The Oakmont Library strives to expand the learning and intellectual pursuits of those
who enter. It does so by not only being a space where information is found and ideas can flourish, live and grow but by being a center of civic
engagement. The large community room, with a sound system provided by the Friends of the Oakmont Library, exists to serve the public as
a gathering place that nurtures culture, learning and friendship. The neighborhood never had a room like this before the library expansion.
Now, on any given day, if you peek into this room you may see Yoga or Meditation classes, the Cookbook Club, the Fit Club, the Oakmont
Historical or Genealogy Societies, Pizza and Game day for children or Family-Friendly Movie Night. The internet can do much, but it can not
touch your life as does participating in the on-site programs of the Oakmont Library.
Among all of these programs, those offered to children and young adults are made possible by the Friends of the Oakmont Library.
It is through your annual donation that we are able to ensure that the Oakmont Library can offer programs that would not be
possible through budget. You are helping the Oakmont Library shape the minds of our children and those of generations to come, as well as
building community through real, interpersonal interaction.
Can the internet do that?
Joe Schweinberg
President of the FOOL’s
We are blessed in Allegheny County to have a consortium of libraries that provide service to residents of our various neighborhoods
and communities. The libraries are charged with providing a certain level of service throughout Allegheny County. What makes each library
unique, however, is that while libraries participate in County-wide efforts, they also make sure that what drives purchase of materials and
programming is the local community in which each library resides. We are fortunate to have the FOOL’s continue to underwrite the
programming that helps the Oakmont Carnegie Library provide unique and specialized services to our community.
With the rise in the usage of digital resources including the internet, the library staff spends more hands on time helping individuals
navigate online forms, resources and tools. In the recent past, answering a reference question meant helping someone find an answer. With the rise in digital tools such as E-readers, smart phones and digital tablets, we spend up to twenty minutes per person helping them
understand and navigate the new world that changing technology brings.
Beth Mellor
Librarian
Oakmont Library Board is deeply grateful to FOOL’s members for the contribution to the “Taste Of Two Towns” fundraising event last
year. The FOOLs contribution enabled the money from ticket sales to go directly into the library bank account to be used for the collection,
salaries, utilities, repairs, equipment, insurance and the many other expenses incurred by the library.
Joanne Brownlee
Library Board Member
Have you noticed the mailing label? We always wanted our newsletter to have your personal name and address on the label
but due to new postal regulations, that is no longer permissible. Therefore, a bar code replaces that personal touch.
Living Candy Land – 2012
One of the favorite activities for the holiday season at the
Library is the live version of the game Candyland. There were
approximately 180 people in attendance. Families registered online
and the event was sold out. Of course, it was free to the public. Tours
of 15 - 20 people went through the library every 15 minutes. Each
child met, and interacted with, a live character from the game and
received candy in each room.
Our tour guides were wonderful 6th grade students from Tenth
Street School. At the end of the tour, children got to meet Queen
Frostine, have some refreshments, and complete a holiday craft. As
a member of the FOOL’s, you made this program possible.
Our fantastic tour guides!
6th graders at Tenth Street School
Bridget, Kalen, Louisa, and Laura
“Lord Licorice”
Eric Mellor
“Princess Lolly”
Christine Garver
Vicki Federline
Helped with
program organization
and tour coordinator
“Mr. Mint ”
Sean Garver
“Queen Frostine”
Karen Crowell
Christine
“Lollipop Woods”
The Oakmont Carnegie Library now has access to the
Zinio Digital Magazine service.
The service provides:
Over 300 magazine titles will be available for patrons to enjoy.
- The magazines are all cover-to-cover and multi-access (no waiting!)
- Customers will need a library card in good standing to access the service.
- You just need to browse the collection, and make selections.
- After the first selection is made you create a Zinio.com viewer account (unrelated to their library card account).
- Once a magazine is in the customer’s Zinio.com viewer account the magazine will reside there until you opt
to remove it.
- Customers will receive an email notifying them whenever a new issue of a magazine they have selected
becomes available.
- Customers can view their magazine selection via a Zinio app for iOS (Apple) or Android devices, or using a Zinio
viewer for desktops and laptops.
Digital Magazines
Here is the link to our website where you can access the Zinio service:
http://www.oakmontlibrary.org/
And a step-by-step user’s guide to walk you through the process, if you’d like:
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/3975638/zinio-patron-user-guide?da=y
Holiday Book Giving
Again this year, members of the FOOL’s attended
the Hometown Light-up Night. This activity began
in 2003 with our goal to give children a free book
so they can sit and read with their families.
Over the course of 9 years, our
members have helped give away
Over 2000 books.
Valentine’s Day at the Library
The children attended this event with their parents/
caregiver. A movie, craft, snacks plus a free book was
available for the children. Once again, you helped to
support this program and make it available without a
cost to the families.
Meet Ms. Sam Sestak - A
home grown teen author
Imagine being in sixth grade and sitting in English class. You know what the teacher is talking about;
in fact, you know all of this information. What do you do? Talk to your friend sitting across from you
and risk getting in trouble or do you doodle on your paper or do you do something constructive. Well,
Sam Sestak found something constructive and interesting to do-she began to write short stories (in
the back of her English book no less). Her friends liked her
stories and the more they told her how good they were, the
more she wrote. This was the beginning of the writing career
of a young lady from Oakmont.
The only child of Joe and Lynn Sestak, Sam was born and
raised in Oakmont and attended Riverview Schools. While
in high school, she played the drums in the band and was a
soccer player for the Twin-Boros team. She graduated
in 2012 and attends Kent State University where she is
majoring in zoology. Her goal besides writing is to work with
animals in one of her favorite places, either Yellowstone or
Yosemite National Park.
Sam’s first story was about wolves, her favorite animal. She tried to get it
published but was told it was too short. So what do you do, make it longer.
She added werewolves and involved people in the story. This story evolved
in her first novel, Darkness Obliged. Now that she finished her novel how
does she get it published? Sam looked for a good publisher who didn’t
cost an absurd amount of money and ended up finding Author House, a
self-publishing firm. After some negotiation and editing, she was able to get
it published her junior year of high school.
Her style of writing is a little different than most novels. Sam has the
narrator speaking to the reader. When asked why this style, she replied
that she wanted the reader to think and try to remember if they had ever
experienced anything like the storyline.
A short excerpt from the book explains her theme:
Imagine this: you, living with your homicidal cousin,
the “little kid”, and your aunt, get chased out into a forest and
knocked out just towake up in a new world, with more than
enough surprises. That’s what happens to me, Xylina Ulrica,
a not-so-average 17-year-old,whisked off to a new world,
filled with surprises, creatures beyondmy belief, and a secret
to my life.
Sam is not done with this story; her sequel Darkness Inside is finished and ready to be published.
At this time she has at least 20 ideas for potential novels.
This novel is available at the Oakmont Carnegie Library and for purchase on Amazon.
Books for Babies
Reading to babies introduces parents/caregivers to the importance of
reading. It does not mean you should be teaching babies to read but reading
aloud does becomes a natural progression in the development of language
skills. The baby will not understand your words, but hearing your voice
stimulates an interest in sounds and helps the child develop good listening
skills. The child will also be fascinated by pictures with bright colors, so get
plenty of board and picture books. Literacy development begins at birth and
is closely linked to a baby’s earliest experiences with books and stories.
Babies need stimuli. Having a parent/caregiver read a story and having the
child hear the expression in your voice as you become the friendly rabbit
telling the story or any other character in the book, becomes a time of positive
interaction between babies and partent/caregiver. Babies instinctively orient to faces and would rather
listen to speech or singing than any other kind of sound.
Parents are presented with a Books for Babies kit containing a board book for baby, baby’s first
library card, and a variety of brochures with reading tips and early literacy information from nationally
recognized educational organizations. The FOOL’s believe that this is an excellent start for the new
citizens of our community and are willing supply the funds for this project.
2013 AWARD WINNERS FOR CHIDREN
The 2013 Caldecott Medal winner is This Is Not My Hat, written and illustrated by
Jon Klassen, published by Candlewick Press. In this humorous tale, a tiny fish
knows it is wrong to steal a hat but it fits him just right. But the big fish wants his
hat back. Opposing narratives and subtle cues compel readers to follow the fish
and imagine the consequence.
The 2013 Newbery Medal winner is The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.
Ivan, the Mighty Silverback, comes to life through the gorilla’s own distinct narrative
voice, which is filled with humor, deep emotion and thought-provoking insights into
the nature of friendship, hope and humanity.
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards
This award is given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators
of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African
American culture and universal human values..
2013 Author Award Winner is Andrea Davis Pinkney, author of Hand in Hand: Ten Black
Men Who Changed America. This volume is a collective biography of ten well-known
African American men who dramatically changed history. In her brief accounts of 10
black men — Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, W. E. B. Du Bois, Booker T.
Washington, A. Philip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther
King Jr., Malcolm X and Barack Obama — Pinkney draws lessons aimed at showing
ways how black men with challenges as great as, if not greater than, those young black
men face today, beat the odds and used their talents to help others.
2012 Membership Roster
(as of March 12, 2013)
The Directors, Membership, and Staff thank all who have contributed to
the Friends Of The Oakmont Library
Harold S. Adams
Babs Alcorn
Bob & Ruth Alcorn
Marilyn Alexander
Frank & Robin Almendinger
Dixie & Sam Anderson
Nancy & Tom Angerman
Ann Baila
Bill & Charlotte Bandi
Annamae Beardshall
Jan & Jim Beiber
George Bender
Maureen & Leo Bidula
Ms. Margaret Bierly
Patricia V. Black
Cathy & Frank Bonaroti
Louis Bosser
Brigitte & Lou Bouchat
Richard A. Boulden
August Brancati
Carol Brand
Bob & Paula Brison
Jim & Adeline Brown
Richard Brown
Joanne and Dave Brownlee
Jim & Carol Broz
Barbara Burgman
Burket-Truby Funeral Home, Inc
Jennifer Burnell
Dan & Carol Burton
Kimberly A. Butler
Donald Dominic Buzzelli
Paula A. Calabrese
Ms. Emma Chew
Richard & Natalie Cichoski
William P. & Paulette Coffman
Eileen Colianni
Patrick & Fran Connolly
Eric H. & Lisa Cooper Jensen
Martha M. Carson
Charles & Denise Croyle
Aimee S. Cupelli
Rose Curran
Carol Bluestone & Lori Curry
Carolyn Czapor
Bill & Judy Deasy
Janet E. Delchambre
Mary G. DiDiano
Christine Dietrick
Evelyn Doelfel
Paula M. Doelfel
Robert & Patricia Doman
Norma Dowd
Mr. & Mrs. William Drew
Mary Lou Dunlay
Darleen S. Eden
Wallace Edsall
Sue & Chuck Erdeljac
Ann Eves
Mr. & Mrs. Fredrick R. Favo
Judy Ferguson
Lois A. Flowers
Dr. H. F. Flynn
Kevin L. Flynn DMD
Jane W. Foster
Sue Goodwin & Vic Friday
Tom & Cindy Gaughan
Jan & Frank Genovese
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Gentilcore
Barbara A. Giarrusso
Ralph & Dottie Gilbert
Aime Girard
Thomas Gonano
Mike & Tracy Gourley
Mathew & Lucy Gregory
Alexandra, Michael & Corey Gregory
Terry & Lynne Griffin
Dorothy M. Grubbs
Robert & Joan Gundersen
Dave & Maureen Hanekamp
Wayne & Barbara Harris
Quentin L. Hartwig
Bill Haus
Michael & Leslie Heilman
Paul Herrle
Bill & Joanne Hetrick
Lois A. Hlavac
Loren Holt
Shirley & Steve Hoops
Erin Howell
Chris & Wendy Hudack
Marguerite Iole
John & Karen Jacobs
Paula Jesion
Glenda Jean Kamp
Kathleen Kefalos
Sue & Rich Kelly
Helen Kendall
Allan R. Kennedy
Joe Kensinger
Judith D. Kern
Maureen Ketterer
Biane Kidwell
Pamela M. Kimmel
Phyllis Klara
Ralph Klug
Rodger & Carol Knapp
Rick & Pam Knapp
Mark & Ginny Koenig
Ethel Kornuchuck
Barbara & Kevin Koszka
Marjorie Kuhn
Patricia Lance
Membership Roster continued....
Angela Lascola
Clete & Marianne Lee
Ruth H. Leinhos
Irene Lobb
Elaina Lowe
Arlene M. Malky
Linda Manzari
Barbara Marcus
Chris & Sue Martin
Jason Mastrocesare
Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence W. Mayer
Kathy & Bill McCall
Merrill & Maria McCrady
Bill & Jan McGrath
William & Susan McHenry
David McKinley
Mary Lou & Ish McLaughlin
Jack & Shannon Meyers
Bernice Middlemas
Tim & Kathy Milberger
Mary Molyneaux
Mary Elizabeth Moore
Mary Moore
Jay Moser
Joan & Rich Munion
Judy & John Murray
Margo Naus
Michael & Janeann Niemiec
Ms. Dorothy Nixon
Barbara Nolte
John and Lillian Nunlist
Steve Obenreder
Thomas J. Obrien
Kennneth F. Opal
John & Audrey Page
Val Parise
Janet E. Parkins
Barbara Patchan
Tom & Peggy Patterson
Bryan Peffer
Rosemary Portera
Ross & Suzanne Potter
Dorothy Pronio
Vince & Dolly Provenza
N. C. Radcliffe
Robert & Leslie Rametta
Bill & Judy Reed
Paula Reid
Bonnie Repasky
Jane Ries
James & Susan Ritchie
J. Franklin Roach
Deborah Robinson
Paul & Barbara Rocchini
The Rodewalds
Mrs. Jean Rodman
Margaret Roll
Carole Roney
Ruth C. Rupert
Joan Russell
Rich & Sandy Savinda
August & Eleanor Savio
George & Frances Saxon
Ed & Laurie Saxon
Ed & Cherie Scatena
Dr. Melvin Schiff
Joseph & Maureen Schiffgens
Dick & Joan Schneider
Joseph C. Schweinberg
Diane & Thomas Schorr
Mr. James Seel
George Semencar
Anne B. Shearon
Fred & Diane Shields
Bob & Jan Shoop
Jeanne Siska
Mrs. Karen E. Smith
Maggie Snook
Ed & Kathryn Snyder
Stan & Joan Sofish
Mary E. Stapko
Bob & Joan Stewart
Dr. & Mrs. Donald A. Stoner
Abraham Sudilovsky M.D.
Rachel & Lowell Swarts
Jim & Karen Sweetland
Carol Swift
Rosa & Amy Szalinski
Mary Eleanore Szwedko-Rose
Mr. & Mrs. W.S. Taylor
We have made every effort to present the list of donors as
accurately and completely as possible. If any errors have occurred,
we apologize most sincerely.
Mary Lloyd & George Thompson
Russ & Jan Truby
Florence R. Truby
Gladys & Adam Vayda
Vera & Dominick Viale
Nancy Voss
Chick Wagner
Robert R. & Pat Walsh
Dave & Cathy Watters
William & Laura Wengerd
Pete Wetmore
Bob & Dawn Whyte
Richard A. & Nancy Lee Williams
Marian & Robert Williams
Dick & Lee Wilson
Judy & Brianna Wise
Dottie Wolslayer
The Worsham Family
Evelyn & Jerome Wrzosek
Bill & Dianna Wyrick
Mary Ann Yingling
John & Rita Young
Jeffrey B. & Carol S. Young
Dolores L. Zangrille
Jean Zatlin
Bob & Cheryl Zentgraf
Richard & Ruth Zoller
Friends Of The Oakmont Library
P.O. Box 432
Oakmont, PA 15139
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
OAKMONT, PA
PERMIT NO.3
ECRWSS
Current Resident
Presorted Carrier Route
Oakmont, PA 15139
Summer Reading at the
Oakmont Library - 2012
Summer reading has something to offer children and their families
The Summer Reading Program was kicked off with a visit from Dennis Bowman and his
dummy, Chester Drawers.
There were SO many fun interactive programs to choose from for every
member of the family to enjoy! Kids LOVED our “Afternoon Adventures”
program, raffles, crafting programs and our delicious summer treats.
Thanks to the FOOL’s financial support of the program, it was a
great success. We are anxiously waiting for the beginning of the 2013
Summer Reading Program.
The Summer Reading Program scheduled for June 2013 will be better than ever
according to Karen Crowell, Youth Services Librarian. Kick-off at the Oakmont
Library will be on Saturday, June 8th. The summer reading themed
sessions will include “ “Underground Animals”, “Gardens”, “Under
the Sea”, “Bugs and Insects”, and “Digging into Reading (trucks,
archeology etc.)”. As for young adults, the main theme is “Beneath
the Surface” and adults will be involved in “Ground breaking Reads”.
Check our website, www.oakmontlibrary.org, for additional information.