Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport to celebrate National Library Week

Several special events are planned for the national celebration.

By COLETTE FUNCHES
McKeesport Community Newsroom

The Carnegie Library of McKeesport will take part in the National Library Week celebration, which kicks off Sunday through April 25.

“It is a week to celebrate the libraries in our nation. The event began as a joint initiative between the American Library Association and the National Book Commission and is celebrated nationally from Maine to California to show that libraries are of great value to a community,” said library director Michael Chirichella. “All of the libraries in our area are planning activities.

“I want the people who come to our library to feel that they have a reason to celebrate us and their community. I want people to know that the library is a nice place. We have a lot to offer the community.”

The week begins at 10 a.m. Monday with a free pancake breakfast. Crafts will be available for children and adults. Monday is also Free Print Day. Patrons will be able to print for free up to seven black and white pages and two pages with color.

On Tuesday, the movie “Song Sung Blue” will be screened at 11 a.m. for adults and “The SpongeBob Movie” at 3 p.m. for families.

Chirichella’s favorite library activity is Wise Walk. “Here you can walk with friendly walkers and see old time McKeesporters,” he said. “You can get to know the whole history of the town from them.”

The walk starts at 2:30 p.m. at the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center in Renzie Park. Refreshments will be provided.

Patron Appreciation Day will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Wednesday with Lunch on the Lawn and Family Game Night.

“I want to start game night with the ‘Family Feud’ game. It is a time of bonding with family and friends. We try to get the community to come together and enjoy our resources,” said Angela Ruccio, the library’s children’s program coordinator.

On Thursday, the library will celebrate with National Picnic Day at 11 a.m. at the White Oak branch and 4 p.m. at the Duquesne branch. Patrons should bring a blanket.

Also on Thursday at the McKeesport Library, the Latterman Family Health Center- UPMC will hold Tick-Talk, a discussion about how to prevent and manage Lyme disease at 11 a.m. Magician Chuck Caputo returns with his popular magic show at 5 p.m.

The raffle winner be announced Friday for a spectator’s chair stuffed with memorabilia from local sports teams such as a Steelers’ lunch bag, a football, a micro fleece blanket and T-shirts. Raffle tickets are available up to the drawing. One ticket is $2 and three tickets are $5. Grandma’s Kitchen will serve up delectable dishes made from their own recipes at 2 p.m.

On April 25, Earth Day will be celebrated with a neighborhood cleanup at 10 a.m.

“I’m most excited about celebrating Earth Day. We will take a group of teens out to go through the neighborhood and pick up litter. It makes a difference in the community,” Chirichella said.

Following the cleanup, they will have karaoke and a pizza party to thank volunteers.

“National Library Week is important to me because the library is for the people,” library information specialist Kyle Nelson said. “I’ve learned to put service before self. I like to complete the needs of the people. We must meet those needs. It is very rewarding.”

“Everything is free. It is our gift to the community,” Chirichella added.

The McKeesport Library is located at 1507 Library St. in McKeesport. Call 412-6720625 for more information.

Colette Funches resides in McKeesport. She is a member of Tube City Writers, a program of the McKeesport Community Newsroom.