Commonwealth Libraries, in conjunction with HSLC/Access PA, the POWER Library and ProQuest, just announced that SIRS Discoverer, an award-winning general reference resource for beginning learners and researchers in grades 1-9, is once again part of the POWER Library suite of Databases and resources, beginning today, October 8, 2010 and continuing through the end of December, 2011 (i.e. for the next 15 months.)

SIRS Discoverer includes carefully selected full-text articles and images from more than 1,900 domestic and international newspapers, magazines, and government documents, along with 9,000+ educational weblinks via the integrated Discoverer WebFind content set. And, more than 29,000 graphics, photos, maps, and charts are available.

Discoverer also offers supplemental curriculum and learning materials, including an educator’s guide, middle- and elementary-level student workbooks, citation guidelines, research strategy worksheets, and more. To access SIRS Discoverer, click the POWER Library button on the left-hand column of our page. If you’re in the library, no authentication is needed. If you’re using POWER Library from outside the library building (or on our wireless connection) you’ll be asked to log in with the POWER code from your library card plus your 8-digit library card number.

Will Hillenbrand, the illustrator of “What a Treasure!,” is doing a program in the Children’s Room on May 10th, 2010 at 10 a.m. It is an honor to have this very talented illustrator at MPL and we want to draw attention to this special event.

Pennsylvania has a program where one book is selected each year to be presented to children in public libraries and preschools all over the Commonwealth. This year Meadville was one of the libraries to receive an author visit and program.

This special event is open to the public and we hope you and your family can join us.

As of Monday, November 30th, the library’s hours of operation will be changing, due to recent state funding cuts. The hours will be as follows:

• Monday – Thursday: 9 AM to 8 PM
• Friday & Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM
• Sunday: Closed

Meadville Public Library will host an all day event this Saturday, October 24th, celebrating the Federal Writers Project of the 1930′s. Linda Bills, director of Pelletier Library at Allegheny College received an N.E.H. Grant to do the program “Soul of a People: The Federal Writers Project.” One aspect of the grant is a community celebration involving organizations outside the college.

Events include:

• an exhibit of clothes from the 1930′s from the Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum, in the Fiction Department. There will also be a selection of hats popular in the 30′s for people to try on.
• 1930′s movie clips will be running in the Children’s Room theater.
• Children’s board games from the 30′s will be featured in the Children’s Room, including Monopoly & Scrabble. Outdoor games will be featured in the side yard of the library, weather permitting. There will also be a “guess the hobo signs” game.
• The Main Floor will feature 1930′s radio programs and an exhibit on the Federal Writer’s Project. If there are volunteers, exhibits on local organizations and businesses in the 30′s will be featured as well.

For more info on the Soul of the People grant program: http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/programming/soulpeople/index.cfm

Wikipedia page on the Federal Writer’s Project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Writers’_Project

The Meadville Public Library announces today that purchases for new materials have been suspended until a new budget is passed in Harrisburg.

John Brice, Executive Director of the Meadville Public Library commented on the decision: “We normally receive our state funding in January. However, due to the lack of a state budget that funding may or may not happen. In order to make sure we have enough operating cash available in January we are temporarily suspending purchases of new books and materials until then.”

The suspension on book purchases will begin on September 1, 2009 and will continue until the State passes a budget. All materials ordered before the suspension will be received and catalogued. Books purchased with Patrons Drive funds and Memorial gifts will not be suspended.