Carnegie Carnegie offers partners for lifelong learning
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The 2020-2021 school year is here and it is certainly beginning differently than any of us would have envisioned. The mission of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, though, has not changed. We are still here to welcome, to inform, to entertain and to engage the members of our community and those in the region round about in their pursuit of lifelong learning.
We reopened our doors to the public on July 13, and have been gratified to see many of our regulars return, along with a number of new patrons who are browsing our stacks, using the computers and printing services and finding a comfortable place to study. We look forward to being a resource for students of all ages and their families as they navigate these uncharted waters of schooling in the time of covid-19.
Whether your family is homeschooling, going to cyber school, starting out the semester with online learning or in college, we have the resources to help you be successful. You can access our card catalog at CarnegieCarnegie.org. All of the public libraries in Allegheny County share their collections, so if we don’t have the item that you are looking for, you can order it for free from another library and have it delivered for pick up at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall.
If you have reluctant readers at home, the trick is helping them to find something that will picque their interests and get them started reading. Don’t worry so much about format or content. It is the act of reading, the pleasures of reading that you want to encourage!
We also offer Reader Advisory (RA) services at the library. Readers tells us what they are interested in, or what they like and we ask a few questions and find something that they will enjoy. Your library card unlocks another way to get RA services. Our Online Resources page gives you access to NoveList K-8 Plus, an online RA program. (Our website also has NoveList for teens and adults on the same website).
While you’re there, browse the other resources available. There’s a children’s, teen and adult section. They have databases, language-learning pages like Mango and Little Pim. EBSCO Learning Express has help for algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus along with a practice tests for many of the Advanced Placement Exams.
Be sure to check out free apps Libby, Hoopla and Flipster, all for use on your mobile phones, tablets or computers. Flipster allows you to borrow magazines. Libby offers ebooks, while Hoopla offers ebooks, audiobooks, TV programs and movies. You can download these apps from our website. While Libby operates like a traditional library with a finite number of copies to lend at a time, Hoopla has an unlimited number of copies that can be borrowed at the same time. This is perfect for book clubs where you need multiple copies at one time.
If you don’t have a computer or printer at home, we have computers that you can use at the library. We started a new program in August. To assist with remote learning, elementary, high school and college students may make up 50 copies per month for free.
We also loan hotspots to our Carnegie patrons for a week. A hotspot allows you to connect your phone, tablet or laptop to the internet wherever you are. We are happy to help you with your technology questions and offer one on one classes.
All of this information may seem a little overwhelming, but whether with navigating the catalog or with higher tech challenges, we’re here to help you. Check out our website at www.CarnegieCarnegie.org give us a call at 412-276-3456 x2. The library is open Monday through Saturday.
JoLynne Dougherty is the Youth Services Coordinator at the Carnegie Carnegie.