Happy National ..... Month

There are many joys to be found in working at a library, but on days like today I especially enjoy my job. As we speak I am cataloging the 2011 Chase's Calendar of Events book to be placed in our Reference collection.

As I imagine most normal people would, you might be wondering why such a seemingly simple activity would provide so much joy. Well, my joy stems from giving in to the urge to see what holidays (silly or serious) loom on the horizon for November. For instance, who knew that November was National Pomegranate Month? Or Peanut Butter Lovers' Month? Oh, and to all our Banana Pudding lovers, November is your month too! On a more serious note, it is also an awareness month for several health issues such as Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, and lung cancer.

However, the best celebrations naturally return our thoughts to the library. So during the Month of November we hope you will take the time to celebrate:

National Authors' Day (Nov. 1) - adopted by the General Federation of Women's Club in 1929, National Author's Day was created with the intent to "not only show patriotism, loyalty, and appreciation of the men and women who have made American literature possible, but would also encourage and inspire others to give of themselves in making a better America."

National Family Literacy Day (Nov. 1)

National Lifewriting Month (Nov. 1-30) - "An opportunity to celebrate ourselves and our families by committing our life stories to writing. Preserving our autobiographies in writing allows us to know ourselves better and to share our stories with future generations."

Fun or serious, holidays provide us with an excuse to pause in our day to remember, learn, be aware or just laugh. So, in these last days of October we hope you will take a moment to appreciate a Bat. Yes, you read that right. October is Bat Appreciation Month.

National Gaming Day @ the Ligonier Valley Library

Looking for a place to hang out and have fun with your friends or family? On Saturday, November 13, hundreds of libraries across the country will showcase gaming programs and services in support of National Gaming Day @ Your Library. The Ligonier Valley Library has joined forces with Norm and Robbie Flam of the Toy Soldier Gallery to present a full day of table top strategy games and classes at the library.

National Gaming Day provides the perfect opportunity for beginners and inexperienced players to learn about the games and test their skills against opponents with similar expertise. Participants compete against each other using armies of miniature scale figurines. The rules of each game describe how to move the miniatures around the game surface to simulate combat.

Games will include Flames of War™, a World War II miniatures game, and Warhammer 40,000™, a futuristic science fiction game. A painting class will instruct players on the proper techniques used to paint the miniature scale figurines used in the games.

All miniatures needed for the games will be provided during the event. There is no charge to play the games, but a small materials fee will be charged for the painting class. Participants must register by calling Norm Flam at the Toy Soldier Gallery (724-238-0324).

Winning Window Display

Another Fort Ligonier Days has come and gone, but this year included a happy note for the Library and the Pennsylvania Room. Both the Staff and Friends of the Pennsylvania Room each participated in the 2010 Fort Ligonier Days Window Display contest. The theme this year was "Community Spirit Past and Present."

The Friends of the Pennsylvania Room's window took 1st Place! The window is titled, "Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmetic: One-Room Schools of Ligonier,"and is on display at The Frame Place. (The Frame Place is located at 110 N. Market Street in Ligonier.)

"The American Chestnut: Lost Giant of our Past" was put together by Pennsylvania Room staff and is showcased outside in one of the library's display windows. The exhibit will remain in the window until the end of October.

We hope you'll stop by and view our windows. All together there were a total of four participants in the contest. In addition to our two displays, the Ligonier Valley Historical Society and the Toy Box each did a window. The Historical Society's "Scouting" display took 2nd Place and is located in the On the Diamond Antiques store window. The Toy Box's "Community Spirit is on the Diamond" took 3rd Place and can be found in their store window.

Fort Ligonier Days Festival Weekend Is Here!!!

Fort Ligonier Days is October 8, 9 & 10.

Ligonier Valley Library will be closed from 4:30 pm on Thursday, October 7 until 10:00 am on Monday, October 11.

Soon our little town will be crowded with people from all over, who will be shopping and eating and enjoying the various things that make this weekend so great. All around town, you will be able to hear the booms and bangs of reenactors at Fort Ligonier; listen to music on the Diamond (and various other places around town); and did I mention all the wonderful food??? Oh! And let us not forgot the Parade on Saturday.

While some residents revel in the various activities, others board up their windows and hide. Before you board up and hide, you may want to check your supply of library books and/or movies. If you find your supply lacking, then you'll need to stop by the library before 4:30 pm on Thursday, October 7, as the library will be closed over the Fort Ligonier Days weekend.

Library doors will re-open at 10:00 am on Monday, October 11.

Enjoy a fun & safe festival weekend!

From the staff of the Ligonier Valley Library