Year in Volunteering – 2016
There’s no way one blog post can capture the scope and scale of the work that CLP volunteers do (The final numbers aren’t in yet, but to-date, volunteers have contributed more than 34,000 hours to CLP in 2016!), but this post is meant to be an overview of the work they do to make our library, and indeed, our community, stronger. If you’ve ever wondered about how we’re able to accomplish so much, this is a reminder that our community has a lot to do with it!
Let’s Talk About Race
Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester was not only an eye-opener, but a moving account of how we can bring up the discussion of race among children. With children being teased in school because of the color of their skin, and even adults being singled out for being a minority, it’s important that we all dig deep inside to understand that our differences shouldn’t set us apart, but bring us together.
Best of BARD: November 2016
Picoult and Sandford head the top two positions in the Top Five this month, and I believe we have a Best of first – the list is held down by … Continued
Innovation Week: Now It’s Your Turn
We’re all creative. We’re all innovators. We might be out of practice or out of the habit of thinking outside the box, but we all have that capability. Hopefully some of the projects we featured this week will excite and inspire you to create, learn and share new experiences with family members and friends, both inside and outside the Library.
Innovation Week: What’s a Synthesizer?
Good news for lovers of electronic music: starting in mid-January, library users will be able to check out a number of music gadgets from the Music, Film & Audio Department at CLP – Main. Included in this new pilot collection will be synthesizers (both analog and digital), effects pedals, sequencers, portable recording devices and more. Our ultimate goal is to lower barriers to musical exploration by placing electronic music gadgets and gear into the hands of anyone who would like to innovate, create, invent and learn.
Innovation Week: Sharing the Delights of Old Books
In the Collection, Preservation & Access Department, we are delighted daily by the craftsmanship and the intricate details of the art of bookbinding. But all these delights have been confined to our little attic lab. So how can we share them with you, our patrons? Recently, CP&A applied for and was awarded a 2016 Innovation Grant with the goal to create an online and in-person exhibit that shares some elements of historic bookbinding found in CLP’s collection.
Innovation Week: Play and Learn with Virtual Reality in the Library!
For my Innovation Grant, Virtual Discover, I was able to purchase virtual reality equipment to help introduce patrons and staff to its magic. I wanted to offer a new and exciting tool for learning and developing skills, exploring places like our solar system and oceans, and getting people excited for the future.
Holiday Music from eCLP
It can be a drag trying to find music to spice up your holiday party or family gathering. So many compilations seem like they have either been overdone or don’t … Continued
The Power of Play
Along with the other early learning activities–singing, writing, reading and talking, playing helps children build early literacy skills and is the foundation for school readiness.
Innovation Week: Catalyzing Innovation
As library workers, we like to talk about Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh as a space where new ideas are born. Every book, every program, every learning experience has the potential to spark someone’s imagination and create something new. We’re proud to be a platform for your creativity and efforts to keep learning.