We resume regular hours on Thursday, June 20.

To see the full  list of our 2013 Summer Reading Program events, check the 2013 Summer Reading Program page (always available under the “Services” tab at the top of this page).

Important 2013 Summer Reading Program dates to note:

• Children’s programs and the Teen Reading Contest both begin Saturday, June 22.
• The self-paced adult program begins Monday, June 17.
• Teen Poetry Contest entries are due Monday, July 1.
• The Summer Reading Program wrap-up Garden Party is Saturday, July 27.  The entire community is invited!

(Image courtesy of Jomphong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.)

If you live in Cranberry or Rockland townships (Venango County), stop by the library to sign up for your free card.  (Bring your Driver’s License or state-issued photo ID, and a piece of mail that shows your current address.)  The card entitles you to full library privileges, which includes borrowing books, DVDs, e-books, audiobooks, and magazines.  And be sure to sign up for our 2013 Summer Reading Program while you’re here.

The summer is a great time to take advantage of all the resources offered at the public library.  We hope to see you soon!

The theme for this year’s Adult Summer Reading Program is “Groundbreaking Reads.”  Anyone age 18 and older can participate in this self-paced program. Participants may read or listen to any book, fiction or non-fiction, and submit a brief review. There will be a weekly door prize drawing from reviews submitted each week.

Explore not only groundbreaking books but underground movements such as prohibition and resistance movements. Dig into other underground phenomena and activities like composting, caving, and archaeology. Suggested bibliographies are available at the Circulation Desk.

(Image courtesy of Feelart on FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Edited 6/1/13: The Spring Semi-Annual Used Book Sale is over.  We’ll be back with another sale this Fall.  Thank you very much for your support!

Edited 5/30/13: The Book Sale is winding down with half price books Thursday 5/30, and $1-a-Bag on Friday 5/31 and Saturday 6/1.  Stop in to pick up some super inexpensive books and support your library!

The Spring Semi-Annual Used Book Sale is open!  You can shop the sale during regular library hours: Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

We need volunteers to staff the sale during library hours through the end of May.  If you would like to help set up or staff the sale, please call the library at 432-5062.  We appreciate all the help we can get!

(Image from Don Shall via Flickr)

Did you know that Memorial Day originated in the late 1860s, in the years following the Civil War? It was first called Decoration Day, and did not become an official federal holiday until 1971. Click here to learn more about Memorial Day at History.com.

(Image courtesy of mikumistock on FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Mark your calendars!  Registration for 2013 Summer Reading Program opens on June 1.  To register, stop by the library.  The 2013 theme for children is “Dig Into Reading,” and the teen theme is “Beneath the Surface.”  Programs run from June 22 to July 30.

We have a number of programs scheduled for children of all ages, including:

• Tuesdays, 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM, all children under age 6
• Tuesdays, 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM, children ages 3 to 6 years
• Tuesdays, 1:00 PM  to 2:15 PM, children ages 6 to 8 years
• Tuesdays, 2:30 PM to 3:45 PM, children ages 9 to 12 years
• Saturdays, 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM, children under age 6
• Saturdays, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, children ages 6 to 12 years

Children’s Librarian Shannon Motter is also participating in a special Saturday story time at a local book store.  All ages are welcome to join local authors and Miss Shannon for a weekly story time, Saturdays at 11:00 AM at Neverending Stories.  Neverending Stories is located at 1252 Liberty Street, Lower Level in Franklin. The story time runs from June 22 until July 27, and is presented by Bossa Nova Café, Neverending Stories, and the Franklin Public Library.

Teens, ages 12 to 18, are invited to participate in two contests: a reading contest and a poetry contest.  Entry forms and reading logs will be available at the library and on our website beginning June 1.

• The Beneath the Surface reading contest runs from June 22 until August 11. Prizes will be award to all teens who complete their reading log correctly. The goal is reading 500 pages.
• Entries for the Beneath the Surface Poetry Contest must be submitted by July 1. Entry forms will be available June 1. The winners will receive a book with the winning entries.  Copies of the book will be viewable at the Franklin Library and Neverending Stories Bookstore.  All participants will be invited to read their poems at The Bridge Literary Arts Center’s Open Mic night on July 26 at 7:00 PM, at Bossa Nova Café. Contest is sponsored by the Franklin Public Library, Neverending Stories, and Seneca Printing Express.

For families, we are hosting a Monday Movie Madness.  We will show a family friendly movie beginning at 5:00 PM on June 24 and July 1, 8, 15, and 22. Free popcorn, snacks, and drinks!

The conclusion of Summer Read will be celebrated with a Garden Party on Saturday, July 27 from 3:00 PM  to 4:30 PM.  Everyone in the community is invited!  Come see the beautiful garden, made possible by Wyattville Garden Center, the Venango County Master Gardeners, and Summer Read participants!

There is lots going on this summer at your library! Remember to stop by and register for Summer Reading beginning June 1.  We hope to see you!

Edited: The Pastry Sale ended 5/6/2013.  Thank you all!

Purchase some pastries to support the library!   The Friends of the Library are hosting a spring fundraiser selling delicious goodies from Pastries by Andrea. They are great for Mother’s Day, graduation parties, and showers.

You can choose from Andrea’s delicious Baklava, Lady Locks, and Kolachi. Baklava (pictured, far left)  is a delicate phyllo, honey, and walnut pastry. Lady Locks (pictured, center) are tender filled cream horns. Kolachi (pictured, right) are long filled rolls, and you can choose apricot or nut filling. All can be frozen for up to two months.

Orders are due by Monday, May 6. Orders can be picked up at the library on Friday, May 10 between 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM.

Kolachi are $12, Baklava are $10 for 12 or $15 for 18, and Lady Locks are $12 for 18 – 20.

Download an order form or stop by the library to pick up an order form. Payment is due with your order. Please make checks payable to the Friends of Franklin Public Library. You can place your order one of three ways:

• Return your completed form and payment to the library.
• Mail your completed form and check to Friends of Franklin Public Library, 421 12th Street, Franklin, PA 16323 (but don’t delay!  Remember, orders are due by Monday, May 6).
• Call 814-657-8899.

Thank you for ordering pastries to support the library! You will not be disappointed.

• Franklin Public Library on Facebook — News from the library, library events, and fun stuff related to books, reading, technology, and e-books
• Franklin Public Library Teens on Facebook – News from the library’s teen librarian, Shannon Motter, teen programs, and useful and/or fun links for teens
• Friends of the Franklin Public Library on Facebook – News from our volunteer group, Friends’ events (they sponsor more events than you might realize), and information and news about library advocacy
• Library Newsletter — To receive an email alert when the monthly newsletter is available for viewing on the website, send an email to FranklinPL {at} FranklinLibrary {dot} org, with a subject line of “Subscribe to Newsletter” (and your name in the body of the email, please).
• RSS — If you use a feed reader, add our blog’s feed:  http://www.franklinlibrary.org/blog/feed/  (If you don’t what RSS is, try reading this article on USA.gov, What is RSS?)
• Event Calendar —  Keep your eye on the Calendar on our website.

And if you use Facebook, be sure to check out these other local profiles to keep up with events in Franklin, PA and surrounding areas.

• Oil City Library
• The Derrick and The News-Herald
• The Franklin YMCA
• YES Franklin (Young Entrepreneur’s Society)
• Explore Venango.com
• Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce
• Applefest
• Franklin, PA – Events/Marketing Office

Tell us in the comments, what is your favorite local Facebook page?

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   • In the Google search box, type define:word, changing word to whatever it is you want to define.  For example, to find the definition for bibliophile, type define:bibliophile and press enter.
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3. Check the weather and time for any city or zip code.
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4. Check flight status.
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5. Calculate numbers.
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There are even more features available in the Google search box; a complete list is available on Google’s Search Features page.

For helpful information about how to more effectively use Google to search the World Wide Web (Do I need quotes around this? Does capitalization matter? What does “I’m Feeling Lucky” mean?), visit Google’s Web Search Help Center.  We guarantee you’ll learn something new that will help you become a better Googler.

Let us know in the comments, do you have a favorite search trick?