Virtual Programming galore!

We're super excited to offer a plethora of virtual programming this summer! 

There's bound to be something for everyone.

For the most updated schedule, click HERE to access our eventkeeper

Click HERE for a PDF flyer of ALL our summer programs.

Below is list of some of the amazing virtual programs for children and their families happening this summer:

Classic Chapters—Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — Saturdays, June 13—August 29 @ 1:30 pm
Join Ms. Dani for a special new video series where we'll explore children's classics one chapter at a time! This summer, we'll be reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Watch for a new video on our Facebook page and YouTube channel every week with a new chapter.

VIRTUAL Fairy Tale STEAM—Videos & Make-n-Takes— Mondays, June 15—August 17 @ 1:30 pm
Join Ms. Dani on our Facebook page and YouTube channel for a story and video STEAM challenge based on fairy tales and folklore. Take-home kits will be available at the Library that week (while supplies last). To reserve your kit, please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net
     June 15—Jack and the Beanstalk need a parachute!
     June 22– Rapunzel needs to get out of her tower!
     June 29—Gingerbread Man needs a boat!
     July 6—The Three Bill Goats Gruff need a bridge!
     July 13—Goldilocks wants to build a new bed!
     July 20—Robin Hood needs a new bow & arrow!
     July 27—Cinderella needs a new carriage!
     August 3—Build your own dragon!
     August 10—Musical Instruments from folklore!
     August 17—Flying & more super powers!

Virtual PJ Family Storytime on Facebook LIVE—Mondays, June 15, July 6 & August 3 @ 7:00 pm
Join Ms. Dani on our Facebook page* for stories, songs, and a fun craft activity that the whole family can enjoy! Take-home kits will be available the week of storytime (while supplies last). To reserve your kit, please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net 
     June 15—Racing folklore from around the world!
     July 6—Three Little Somethings
     August 3—Fairies & Gnomes

Rhyme Time Tuesdays —Tuesdays, June 16—August 18 @ 1:30 pm
Check out our Facebook page and YouTube channel every Tuesday for videos filled with favorite rhymes, songs, and fingerplays for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers! Watch these videos when they premiere or whenever works best for you!

Wonderful Wednesdays: Facebook LIVE virtual Family Storytime—Wednesdays, June 17—August 12 @ 1:30 pm
Join Ms. Dani on our Facebook page* for stories, songs, and a fun craft activity that the whole family can enjoy! Take-home kits will be available the week of storytime (while supplies last). To reserve your kit, please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Virtual Tail Waggin’ Tutors — Wednesday, June 17 @ 6:00 pm
Practice your reading skills with trained therapy dogs on Zoom! Please select a short book or story to read ahead of time. Recommended for children ages 5 and up. Registration required to receive Zoom invite. To register, please email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Book Party Fridays — Fridays, June 19—August 21 @ 1:30 pm
Not sure what to read next? Join us on our Facebook page for virtual reader’s advisory! Each week will feature a theme of materials — new stuff, shelf discoveries, staff favorites, and more!

Sharing Sundays — Sundays, June 21—August 30
Make sure to join our special Facebook group — Pleasant Hills Library SRC Imagine Your Story – to share in the fun that is Summer Reading! Every Sunday we’ll highlight our favorite pictures, videos, and more from our group and around the web!

*You do NOT need a Facebook account to view our live events! You can view them by visiting our Facebook page: facebook.com/pleasanthillslibrary

We have outdoor programs scheduled for August! Check them out below:

Bug Hunt & Nature Hike @ Pleasant Hills Arboretum — Saturday, August 1 @ 10 am
Join Chad Gore, local entomologist, at the Arboretum to learn and search for specific bugs while enjoying a nature hike! Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes! Masks are suggested. The Pleasant Hills Arboretum is located at 181 West Bruceton Road. All ages program—weather permitting! Registration requested. To register please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Campfire @ Round Hill Park with the Allegheny County Park Rangers — Tuesday, August 4 @ 7:30 pm
Join Park Rangers at the Harmony House Shelter inside Round Hill Park for an awesome campfire with a presentation about nocturnal animals—complete with s’mores! Round Hill Park is located at 651 Round Hill Rd, Elizabeth, PA 15037. The Harmony House Shelter is the last shelter on the main road. Family program—weather permitting. Registration is highly limited! To register please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Bird Walk @ Round Hill Park with the Allegheny County Park Rangers — Wednesday, August 19 @ 2:00 pm
Join Park Rangers at the Harmony House Shelter inside Round Hill Park for a bird nature walk! Round Hill Park is located at 651 Round Hill Rd, Elizabeth, PA 15037. The Harmony House Shelter is the last shelter on the main road. Family program—weather permitting. Registration is highly limited! To register please call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Call the Library at 412-655-2424 or email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net 

Imagine Your Story Online Summer Reading Club!!!

Summer Reading Club is going VIRTUAL this year!

June 14 – August 31, 2020

In response to our ever changing world and in an effort to keep our patrons and staff safe and engaged, the Pleasant Hills Library is excited to be offering virtual programming AND a virtual summer reading club.

Pleasant Hills Library is excited to offer a virtual summer reading club for ALL AGES using Beanstack! Register your entire family using either a web browser or the Beanstack Tracker app (available to download for FREE via Google Play or the Apple App Store). When you register, make sure you select “Pleasant Hills Public Library” as the library you visit most often (this question determines which one of the Allegheny County Library’s program you will participate in). You can also call the Pleasant Hills Library at 412-655-2424 and our staff will register your family for you! Registration is open now but you won’t be able to log until June 14.

This year our Summer Reading Club will run a bit differently than it has in the past. Everyone, regardless of age and reading ability, will keep track of the time spent reading and/or listening. Log the time you spend reading and/or listening every week in Beanstack, starting June 14 and running through August 31, to be entered into weekly drawings for electronic gift cards! Read one hour each week for one entry! Read two hours each week for two entries! You decide when to log – do it once a week or every day – it’s up to you! Unfortunately you won’t be able to get more than two entries based on time spent reading each week BUT you can earn more entries by completing various activity badges! This year we’re offering a huge variety of activity badges that challenge you to imagine, connect, create, explore and more! Each time you complete an activity badge, you earn another entry into that week’s drawings!

So how does this work for children who aren’t reading yet? They will keep track of and be rewarded for listening! Older children and adults who read aloud to younger children can keep track of and be rewarded for the time spent reading aloud as well as time they read to themselves! Prefer audiobooks? No problem! Keep track of the time you spend listening and get rewarded! Are you listening to an audiobook as a family? Everyone gets to log that time! We want everyone to enjoy reading and be rewarded for their efforts, whether they are reading solo or with their family!

If you cannot access Beanstack, or prefer non-digital means of participation, please call the Pleasant Hills Library at 412-655-2424 and our staff will happily help you register, log, and participate in all the fun!

We’re excited to help you Imagine Your Story during our 2020 Summer Reading Club!

Questions? Call the Library at 412-655-2424 OR email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net

Teach Your Children Well

There's a lot going on in the world right now and it can be hard to find the right words to talk about it all. Even though it's hard, these conversations are extremely important and it's never too early to start! Luckily, many author's have written books that can help start these invaluable conversations about  race, racism, and activism. 

Here are a few booklists for children of all ages that are worth checking out! 

While the Library remains closed, it may be hard to get some of these titles right away. Many, although not all, are available as eBooks. Some are also available as audiobooks. To see if a title you are interested in reading is available, search by title in Libby or Hoopla. 

Charis Book & More, an independent bookstore located in Decatur, GA, published a very helpful bookslist of titles for white children and teens to learn more about undoing racism and white supremacy. That list can be found HERE!

The Conscious Kid, an education, research, and policy organization dedicated to reducing bias and promoting positive identity in youth, curated an extensive list of books for children and teens to develop anti-racist thought patterns and activist skills. Click HERE to check out this list.

Colours of Us, a website devoted to promoting multicultural children's books and toys, publishes a monthly list of new multicultural titles (Click HERE to see May 2020). They also post themed lists on various subjects and specific cultures.  Click HERE to look through the list on racism and discrimination.

The Coretta Scott King Award is given to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciate of African American culture and universal human values. Common Sense Media, a trusted rating website, curated a list of some of the more recent winners. Click HERE to access that list.

If you would like help navigating our eResources, please email Ms. Dani at danylod@einetwork.net or the Library at pleasanthhills@einetwork.net