The Public Library for Union County

Diet, nutrition and fitness will be the focus of the Libraries for Health Expo slated for 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 at The Public Library for Union County.

This all-age event will feature something for the entire family with story time, child fingerprinting by the Buffalo Valley Regional Police and live demonstrations including cooking, yoga and Tai Chi.

Evangelical Community Hospital will provide body composition screenings which include body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentages. A registered dietician will be available for risk counseling.

Geisinger Health System will be offering blood pressure screenings through the Lewisburg community practice clinic and cancer screening information in conjunction with the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Center. Through a grant from Kohl’s Cares for Kids, Geisinger will also sponsor children’s activities, including Nintendo Wii Fitness and a raffle for a children’s bicycle and helmet.

The Special Olympics from Union and Northumberland counties will be showing off their Bocce ball skills, while the Penn State Extension will be offering healthy cooking demonstrations, with a special focus on diabetes. For children, the Extension will offer “Color My Plate” activities.

The Union-Snyder Community Action Agency will offer information on providing healthy food for families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the WIC program, a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children.

Along with the live demonstrations there will also be health and wellness information and representatives from area organizations including the Union-Snyder Agency on Aging, Inc., Donald Heiter Community Center, Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA, the Girl Scouts and more. An additional raffle of a healthy foods basket, donated by the Natural Food and Garden Store, Ltd. will also be held.

The Libraries for Health Expo is a project of the Union County Library System—The Public Library for Union County, Lewisburg; Herr Memorial Library, Mifflinburg; and the West End Library, Laurelton—in conjunction with the Union-Snyder Agency on Aging, Inc., Evangelical Community Hospital, Geisinger Health System, and the Penn State Extension. The Libraries for Health group was formed in 2010 to improve and expand health materials in the libraries’ collections through a $20,000 LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) grant received by the library system.

For more information on the Libraries for Health Expo, visit the library at 255 Reitz Blvd., Lewisburg or call 570-523-1172.

The tickets for the 23rd annual Flowers & Fantasy charity auction are sold out! However, tickets for the iPad2 raffle are still available. Cost is $5 each or 5 for $20. The winning ticket will be drawn during the auction; however, you need not be present to win!

Pennsylvania birth and death records can now be searched for online. Birth records from 1906 only are available; and death records from 1906-1961 are available. Go to Find an Answer in the left-hand margin and select Genealogy and Local History.

The Public Library for Union County will be hosting its 23rd annual auction, Flowers & Fantasy, on Saturday, March 17 in the Terrace Room at the Langone Center on the campus of Bucknell University.This fundraising event will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will feature complimentary wine and beer, a deluxe dinner buffet and both silent and live auctions.

Tickets are $50 each and will be available for purchase on March 1. All proceeds from this event will be used to augment the collection of book and materials available for the community to borrow.

In conjunction with the auction, the Public Library for Union County is also selling raffle tickets for a 32GB iPad2 with WiFi and built-in camera. The winning ticket will be drawn during the auction; however, you do not need to be present to win. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and may be purchased at the library’s circulation desk.

For more information on the annual auction or the iPad2 raffle, stop by the library at 255 Reitz Blvd., Lewisburg or call 570-523-1172.

The Union County libraries offer downloadable audiobooks and eBooks for people on the go, like you!   The libraries downloading site listentobooks.org is now called eBranch2Go.  The name has changed but all the easy-to-use features remain the same.  To borrow audiobooks and eBooks online, you will need a library card from one of the member libraries – the Public Library for Union County, the Herr Memorial Library and the West End Library.  Some devices require free software before you download an audiobook or eBook (available at eBranch2Go).   Information about downloading audiobooks and eBooks and about compatible devices is available on the site.  Go to Getting Started for more information or call the Public Library for Union County at 523-1172.

If you have a new eReader, you will want to visit your library’s web site to borrow eBooks for your device.  Click on the New eBooks and Audiobooks link in the Navigation Bar to take you to listentobooks.org.  You will need a library card from one of the member libraries in the Union County Library System – the Public Library for Union County, the Herr Memorial Library and the West End Library.   Some devices require free software before you download an eBook (available at listentobooks.org).   Information about downloading eBooks and about compatible devices is available on the site.  Go to Getting Started for more information or call the Public Library for Union County at 523-1172.

Looking for a free, reliable resource for information?  What could be more trustworthy than the World Book Encyclopedia?  Get the right facts, fast with World Book Online.  You’ll find thousands of articles, interactive maps, multimedia, reviewed Web sites and more.  Separate interfaces for preschoolers, elementary students, middle and high school students, adults and Spanish language learners make it the primary resource for all ages.  Connect to World Book Online from the library’s Online Resources page.

Looking for a unique stocking stuffer?  The Public Library for Union County is selling Sheetz Fundraiser booklets, containing $25 worth of coupons for a variety of food items, for $10.   Gift certificates for the 23rd Annual Action – Flowers & Fantasy – March 17, 2012 are also available.   A $50 certificate can be redeemed at the library for one auction ticket after Thursday, March 1.

The three member libraries of the Union County Library System -  Public Library for Union County, Lewisburg;  Herr Memorial Library, Mifflinburg; and West End Library, Laurelton – will be closed on Thanksgiving  Day, Thursday, November 24th.   Herr Memorial Library will be CLOSING at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23rd.
Books may be returned that day in the book drops provided at each of the libraries.  The Public Library for Union County also has an AV drop where movies, music and audiobooks may be returned.
Patrons who have created an online account may renew books online.
Have a question?   Need homework help?   Chat with a live librarian at Ask Here PA, Pennsylvania’s 24/7 reference service for fast answers to your questions.   Click on: Ask a Librarian for help.

Over 2,000 books will be available at a 3 day book sale scheduled for  Wednesday, Nov. 16 — 9:30 to 7:30; Thursday, Nov. 17 — 9:30 to 7:30 and Friday, Nov. 18 — 9:30 to 5:00.   The sale will be held in the Community Room at the Public Library for Union County.

Hardcover, paperback and audiobooks will be available, as well as, 500 vintage books (1940 and earlier).   Special sections will be devoted to Pennsylvania and to Civil War materials.  Many children’s books, as well as CDs and DVDs will be included.

All books are price individually.