Revel Pittsburgh

As an increasing number of our local residents reach retirement age and beyond, we've become more aware of the challenges and opportunities of aging.  A recent study shows that 79% of online older adults are using the internet for health related information.

In response to this increasing interest and need among older adults and their loved ones for safe and reliable online resources, Revel Pittsburgh was created in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh Citiparks.

Revel is a free website (http://revelpittsburgh.com/) which connects older adults and their loved ones with local tools and resources for healthy aging in a fun and meaningful way.

Additionally, Revel offers free educational sessions to encourage active, healthy living. Topics for these lively discussions include aging in place and safe online health  resources.

For more information on Revel or to arrange a discussion with your community group, contact Scott Wolovich at scott [at] moringaliving.com or (412) 855-7433.

Storytelling as a Means of Communication

Engaging adults with dementia can sometimes be a difficult and frustrating experience; a new storytelling initiative, however, called TimeSlips seeks to “[replace] the pressure to remember with the freedom to imagine.” TimeSlips operates under the premise that storytelling can be therapeutic.

Participants in a storytelling session generally sit in a circle, view a photograph, and then create a story revolving around that picture. This according to NPR “gives people who don’t communicate well a chance to communicate.” It allows people with dementia, NPR reports, “a low-stress way to communicate, one that [does] not rely on memories.”

To read more, visit: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/14/152442084/alzheimers-patients-turn-to-stories-instead-of-memories

To find more information on the TimeSlips program, visit: http://www.timeslips.org/

For more resources linking memory and the arts check out the Alzheimer's Poetry Project (http://www.alzpoetry.com/) and Music & Memory (http://www.musicandmemory.org/)

Free Financial Lecture Series

Would your library like an opportunity to improve financial literacy in your community?

The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants is offering a free financial lecture series aimed at helping library patrons address their money concerns.

Programs can be customized to suit the financial questions in your community, though typical, already-established programs include:

• Saving for Retirement—Learn about all of your retirement savings options plus how to calculate how much you will need to save and costs to consider
• Year-end Tax Preparation—Let a CPA tell you what paperwork you need to bring your tax preparer, which new credits to take advantage of and how to avoid refund loan scams.
• Budgeting—Get tips on how to establish financial priorities, start an emergency fund and make your dollars go further.
• Debt—Discover the difference between good debt and bad debt, learn how to pay down your debt and keep your credit score intact.

Registration is required of library patrons (if registration is less than 10 people one week prior to the program date, the PICPA reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the program).

If your library is interested in hosting one or more of these lecture presentations please contact Mary G. Bachorski or Paul E. Block:

Mary G. BachorskiCo-Chair Community Involvement and Social Responsibility Committee
412-391-2920 Ext 136
mbachorski@hrrcpa.com

Paul E. BlockCo-Chair Community Involvement and Social Responsibility Committee
412-315-6324
Paul.Block@ParenteBeard.com

LIFE Pittsburgh | Outreach Programs

If your library serves one or more of the following communities, LIFE Pittsburgh invites you to collaborate with them for older adult programming.  LIFE Pittsburgh offers a variety of free outreach programs related to health education and social activities that can be tailored to meet the needs of the audience.  Minimum pre-registration is 4 people. [View flyer with program options.] [View LIFE Pittsburgh brochure.]

For more information or to schedule a program, contact Danielle Bodnar, BSN-Enrollment Specialist at 412.325.4222 or dbodnar@lifepittsburgh.org.

About LIFE Pittsburgh: LIFE Pittsburgh provides home care, health care and adult day care at no cost to qualified older adults who wish to remain independent in their own homes. A community-based alternative to nursing home care and assisted living, through the LIFE Pittsburgh program, frail older adults can remain in their own home and receive a coordinated plan of care that enables them to maintain their independence and enjoy a safe and active life in the community.  www.lifepittsburgh.org

15082    Sturgeon
15086    Warrendale
15090    Wexford
15091    Wildwood
15101    Allison Park
15106    Carnegie
15108    Coraopolis
15116    Glenshaw
15126    Imperial
15127    Ingomar
15136    McKees Rocks
15142    Presto
15143    Sewickley
15201    Arsenal
15202    Bellevue
15203    Carson
15204    Corliss
15205    Crafton
15209    Millvale
15210    Mt. Oliver
15211    Mt. Washington
15212    Allegheny, North Side
15213    Oakland
15214    Observatory, North Side
15216    South Hills
15219    Union Trust, Uptown
15220    Green Tree, Wabash
15222    Gateway Center, Downtown
15223    Etna
15224    Bloomfield
15225    Neville Island
15226    Brookline
15228    Mt. Lebanon
15229    West View
15233    Kilbuck
15237    McKnight
15241    Upper St. Clair
15243    Mt. Lebanon

Evolution of Libraries: Alternative Collections

The library is the heart beat of our community. An essential community space, it's where people go for information, camraderie, and new experiences. As libraries continue to embrace the idea of library as agora, or essential third space, entreprenurial librarians around the country are pushing the boundaries of what library collections look like, contain, and even how the library space is used.

Alternative Library Collections was a fascinating session during the 2012 PLA Conference in Philadelphia; librarians from around the country shared information about the acquisitions, maintenence, and use of collections ranging from seed libraries to guitar libraries. Check out this article about how alterna-libraries are sharing space with traditional libraries, and creating an expanded customer base as a result!

http://www.shareable.net/blog/libraries-become-centers-for-sharing

Knit & Crochet Festival

The 8th Annual Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival which will be February 10, 11, 12, 2012 at the Four Points Sheraton, North, Mars, PA 16046.  Knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, dyers, and yarn enthusiasts are encouraged to attend! Several area libraries have active knitting groups, including William E. Anderson Library of Penn Hills, Sewickley Public Library, Northland Public Library, and Cooper Siegel Library. Is this something your library might be interested in hosting? Visit the festival to get ideas and inspiration!

e-Reader Central!

This Do-It-Yourself idea was shared by the folks at the Whitehall Library. They have put together an interactive program to help library patrons learn how to use their e-readers and better utilize the growing collection of e-resources in area libraries. Events happen during Technology Open Houses at the library and draw on the tech savvy expertise of area teens to teach the ins and outs of e-reader technology. Printed handouts, like e-reader comparisons and step by step downloading directions are available to patrons at anytime.  Visit the Whitehall Library's website to learn more: http://www.whitehallpubliclibrary.org/