October 21, 2020 Best Books for Babies Diaper Drop Are you interested in receiving free diapers and a bundle of books for babies ages birth to 18 months? Join the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank on Saturday, October 24 for the “Best Books for Babies Diaper Drop.” About At this drive-up event, families with babies ages birth to 18 months will receive one box of diapers and a Best Books for Babies 2020 book bundle. Families may drive up to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Woods Run Parking Lot by entering onto Minott Street from Central Avenue. Follow signs and staff directors through the line to receive a book bundle and one case of diapers between sizes zero and three. Each family may select up to two sizes of diapers, but event hosts ask that each car represent only one family. Registration Registration is not required to attend this event. However, please note that this event is drive-up only, while supplies last. Walk-up participants will not be able to receive the diapers and book bundle. More Information For questions, contact the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh at 412.622.3114 or events@carnegielibrary.org. Share this flyer with your network.
July 17, 2020 Antiracist Dialogues for Action: Antiracist Out-of-School Time Programs Are you interested in learning, sharing knowledge, and working together with fellow changemakers to dismantle racism and injustice? Join ELIE Circle on August 12 for “Antiracist Dialogues for Action: Antiracist Out-of-School Time Programs.” About On August 12, ELIE Circle will hold the second virtual meeting of the Antiracist Dialogues for Action – convenings for out-of-school time educators (e.g., afterschool staff, librarians, teaching artists, researchers) to learn, share knowledge, and work together to dismantle racism and injustice. The dialogues consist of the following: a 30-minute presentation providing context, research, and historical perspectives on main dialogue topics; a 45-minute small group dialogue on a related subtopic for participants to a) share collective knowledge and b) work with other educators to determine goals and next steps; and a 15-minute closing and larger group share out. All dialogues are designed for educators which includes those that are working directly with young people in any capacity and those at out-of-school-time organizations without direct contact. These dialogues are categorized in two categories: Educators and Youth Work. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
June 17, 2020 Pittsburgh Families Invited to Receive Free Children’s Books Since the City of Pittsburgh’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library launch in February 2019, the program has grown to include over 3,200 local children and recently sent its 30,000th book. Thanks to funding received from the Hillman Family Foundation and McCauley Ministries, the program will continue to sustain and grow services in Pittsburgh. About the Program The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a free program for any child who lives in the City of Pittsburgh age zero to five to receive one book a month in the mail until their fifth birthday. When they turn five, they will have their own library of up to 60 books. The City of Pittsburgh’s program is affiliated with the national initiative started by music legend Dolly Parton. Participating children will begin receiving books through the U.S. Postal Services approximately eight weeks after the registration form has been received. Eligibility To be eligible for the program, preschoolers must: be a resident of the City of Pittsburgh, have a parent or guardian fill out an official registration form, and notify the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania of any address changes. Registration To sign up for this program, register your child(ren) online via the Imagination Library website! Interested in mailing in or submitting your registration in person? See their webpage for more details. More Information For any questions, please contact Tiffini Simoneaux at tiffini.simoneaux@pittsburghpa.gov or 412.255.2505. To view the booklist, visit the Imagination Library website.
March 16, 2020 Strategies for eLearning Days in the Wake of COVID-19 With many schools and learning centers closing for a period of time due to coronavirus (COVID-19), educators are utilizing technology to offer learning opportunities to students at home. Join the State Education Technology Directors Association (SETDA) on March 17 for their webinar to learn more about implementing “eLearning Days.” About In this webinar, presenters will provide essential resources for state, district, and school administrators and teachers as they prepare for eLearning Days in the wake of school closings related to the COVID-19 virus. Launched by SETDA with the support of AT&T, the SETDA Coalition for eLearning will compile and provide resources on eLearning for state education agencies and school districts at no cost. The Coalition will also support leaders and spark innovation around eLearning related to the COVID-19 virus, as well as inevitable inclement weather and other disruptive events. A school-based experience in eLearning Days will provide first-hand experience of planning and implementing eLearning Days. This webinar is suitable for kindergarten through high school teachers, librarians, and school and district leaders. Time for questions will be provided. Register To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
March 9, 2020 Interviews with Ms. Barb and Families at the Frank Sarris Library Prior to the start of the Washington County Focus Week (March 9 – 13, 2020), Trying Together visited staff, families, and young children at the Frank Sarris Public Library in Canonsburg for a reading of Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham.” At the event, library staff member Barbara Somma, aka Ms. Barb, led children and their caregivers through a series of activities, including fingerplays, dances, and a Dr. Seuss themed craft. The classroom included creative play items for the children as well, including a puppet show theater, “grocery market,” books, legos, and more. After the class, Trying Together had the opportunity to talk with Ms. Barb and two participating caregivers, Karen and Kim. Featured below are our questions and each interviewees’ responses. Interviews Barbara Somma, Class Teacher Barbara Somma, or as the children call her, “Ms. Barb,” brightens the day of each child and caregiver who attends her classes. Having a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Special Education under her belt, Ms. Barb spent the last 10 years as a dedicated staff member at the Frank Sarris Public Library. If you stop by the Library, you can catch Ms. Barb leading Storytime, Little Picassos, Wiggles and Giggles, and the Summer Reading Camp! Odds are, she will have a crowd of young children giggling and following her happily! What programming does Frank Sarris Library provide for young children and families? The Frank Sarris Library offers a plethora of programming for children and families! Monday through Friday, we have activities geared towards preschool level children like storytime, yoga storytime, art, and a class called Wiggles and Giggles that is focused on body movement. During the month of July, we also offer a Summer Reading Camp for children in Kindergarten through fourth grade that includes creative themes like Fairytale Science, Mysical Beasts, and Magic School. They’re all meant to spark each child’s imagination. We offer services all throughout the year though, including books for readers of all ages, creative “Grable Kits,” several e-resources, and more. How can caregivers make literacy experiences meaningful for their young children? I think by just reading to your children all of the time. Read for 20 minutes a day, every day with your children. As a mother of two, I would always read a couple books with them right before bed. It’s also important to get a library card! They’re free and the library has tons of free resources for young children and families. Why do you feel early childhood development is so important for young children? Early childhood development is the basis for everything a child needs in life! Children learn from meaningful experiences and repetition. As adults, we need to make sure we are providing the time and patience for those experiences! How do you see your role at the Frank Sarris Library supporting early childhood development in your community? I think my role is really important here at the Frank Sarris Library. We serve many families and it’s important that we provide children with safe places to go. All of the staff here at the Library serve as role models within the community. However, our Library is an untapped resource. There are so many services that community members could benefit from if they stopped by. Karen and Granddaughter Ellie How did you like today’s event? What piqued your interest in attending? Everything Ms. Barb does is truly amazing. I’ve been coming here for seven and a half years and I’ve brought all of my grandchildren. I was interested in attending because I wanted to make sure my grandchildren had social interactions with young children, and Ms. Barb allows the children to have these great social experiences! By coming here, my grandchildren have learned language concepts and vocabulary. Ms. Barb is so dynamic. She exudes engaging and creative energy in everything she does! What’s your favorite book to read to your child? Why? Ellie doesn’t have a favorite book, she really just loves to read! She is very into the alphabet right now! Kim and Grandson How did you like today’s event? What piqued your interest in attending? Ms. Barb is great! Attending this program is the best thing I have done with my grandson! We heard about the children’s programs here through word of mouth. We have been attending since he was about six months old. We love Ms. Barb’s music and freeze dancing! What’s your favorite book to read to your child? He loves reading Elmo and Mini Mouse right now! More Information This session was one of many free services that the Frank Sarris Public Library provides, with options available for learners of all ages. To learn more about their services, visit the Frank Sarris Public Library website! To learn more about the Washington County Focus Week, read our news post!
January 7, 2020 Storytime: Baby and Me | Homewood Join the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Homewood to sing, clap, and bounce along with your baby to action rhymes, stories, and songs. Songs help children develop listening skills and pay attention to the rhymes and rhythms of spoken language. This event is intended for children birth to 18 months and their caregivers. View the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh calendar to see alternate locations, dates, and times. More Information For questions, call the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Homewood Branch at 412.731.3080.
Storytime: Baby and Me | Homewood Join the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Homewood on January 11 to sing, clap, and bounce along with your baby to action rhymes, stories, and songs. Songs help children develop listening skills and pay attention to the rhymes and rhythms of spoken language. Take this weekend opportunity to take part in this playful opportunity. More Information For questions, call the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Homewood Branch at 412.731.3080.
January 3, 2020 Little Learners Children birth to 5 years old and their caregivers are invited to join the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – West End for “Little Learners” to laugh, discover, and explore with their child during this special playtime. Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their caregivers will make friends and use toys to learn about their world. Grown-ups will have a chance to chat with child development specialists and ask questions about caring for their little ones. View the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh calendar to see alternate locations, dates, and times. More Information For questions or more information, email westend@carnegielibrary.org or call 412.921.1717.
Storytime: Terrific Tales for Toddlers Children ages 18 months – 36 months and their caregivers are invited join the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Oakland for “Storytime: Terrific Tales for Toddlers” to get up and moving with stories, songs, rhymes, and silly fun! During the event, children will develop language and listening skills, as well as a love of reading. Children who enjoy being read to are more likely to want to learn to read themselves! View the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh calendar to see alternate locations, dates, and times. More Information For more information, email children@carnegielibrary.org or call 412.622.3122.
November 5, 2019 Free Play Day | PTLL 45th Anniversary Join the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library on November 9 to celebrate their 45th anniversary! About For 45 years, the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library (PTLL) has been fostering play and community in Pittsburgh. In celebration of their anniversary, PTLL is hosting a birthday party, featuring cupcakes, singing, and a day of free play for everyone! Everyone is invited, but participants are encouraged to RSVP. Registration To RSVP, visit the Facebook event page. More Information For questions, contact PTLL at 412.682.4430.
