Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road, McCandless, is the second largest library in Allegheny County.
The library serves five communities — Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, McCandless, Marshall and Ross — but is open to everyone.
Northland’s summer operating hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and closed on Sundays.
The library will be closed on Sept. 7 for Labor Day.
Visit northlandlibrary.org for a full calendar of events, activities and ongoing groups and to register for programs.
To contact the library, call 412-366-8100 or email northland@northlandlibrary.org.
Summer reading program still going strong
Patrons of all ages are invited to participate in Northland Public Library’s summer reading fun. Registration runs through July 31.
The theme this year is Plant a Seed, Read.
Children 18 and younger are welcome to stop in and pick up a game board or download one from home.
Everyone can read at their own pace and get raffle tickets for prizes. In-library activities include weekly crafts, contests and more. There also will be programs each week for all ages, and some will require registration.
For a printable list or a color-coded calendar of the summer reading programs, visit northlandlibrary.org/ children-teen/summer-reading.
To register, sign up online or by stopping at the Children and Teen Services Desk.
Adults are invited to participate in Bookshelf Bingo through Aug. 31, where you mark a square for each book read and get a chance to win $25 gift card every two weeks, plus one of three grand prizes at the end of summer.
To register, visit ReadSquared at northlandlibrary.read squared.com.
Bingo categories with links to suggested reads can be found at northlandlibrary.org/adults/adult-summer-reading and also on ReadSquared.
Check the Bookshelf Bingo display on the second floor for printed book lists and bingo cards, as well as book picks.
All reading program participants are invited to an End of Summer Reading Event from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 6.
There will be a petting zoo, icy treats, crafts and more.
No registration is required.
Needed supplies listed on Amazon
Did you know Northland Public Library has an Amazon Wish List?
Community members are welcome to donate items on the list at tinyurl.com/2nfnr6z8, and they can be delivered directly to the library.
Among the items on the wish list are playthings and crafting supplies for the Children’s Department; books for the Next Chapter Book Club, which offers a welcoming space for adults and teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities; kitchen items for the Cookbook Club; paper for the patron newsletter; coffee for adult programs; office supplies; storage containers; and sign holders and easels.
American Girl doll event to explore 1930s
Children 7 to 12 are invited to learn about the Great Depression through the eyes of Kit Kittredge, an American Girl doll, during a special program from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. July 30.
Margaret Mildred “Kit” Kittredge is the seventh historical character in the American Girl series of books written by Valerie Tripp.
Released in 2000, the doll was part of the BeForever collection.
Participants will get to meet the historical doll and will learn more about the 1930s through food, crafts and activities.
Registration is required.
Teens invited to colorful aviary program
The National Aviary will present “Brilliant Birds” from 1 to 2 p.m. July 23 for teens 12 to 18.
The interactive program, complete with live animals, will unlock the hidden world of avian color and adaptation.
The presentation will explore the showcase the lives of birds — from ultraviolet vision to feather pigments — and how their fascinating features help them thrive.
Through hands-on exploration and real-world connections, attendees will learn how color plays a powerful role in survival, communication and the search for food and mates.
Registration is required.
Program to examine Bigfoot, UFO link
Stan Gordon, who has researched mysterious events since 1959, will present a program for adults on the “Strange Aspects of the Elusive Bigfoot” from 1 to 2 p.m. July 25.
Gordon began investigating reports of Bigfoot sightings in Pennsylvania in the late 1960s.
Since then, he has interviewed hundreds of witnesses who claim to have encountered these strange hairy creatures.
He will share some of the strangest cases, including incidents involving Bigfoot and UFOs seen together, trails of Bigfoot tracks that stop with no explanation, mysterious orbs of light associated with Bigfoot activity and possible government interest in these incidents.
Gordon was trained as an electronics technician, specialized in radio communications and worked in the electronics sales field for over 40 years.
He has been researching UFO sightings, Bigfoot encounters and other mysterious events in Pennsylvania since 1959.
To learn more about his work, visit stangordon.info.
Registration is required.
Murder-mystery fundraiser set for September
Two sessions of “Murder at the Speakeasy,” a murder- mystery fundraiser benefiting Northland Public Library, is planned from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 4 and 5 at the library.
This interactive event, held during September’s Love Your Library campaign, is for patrons 21 and older.
Each session can only accommodate 125 participants.
Attendees will enjoy sips, sweets and suspense while solving an original mystery developed by Northland’s Adult Services librarians.
Light appetizers, coffee and desserts are included in the ticket price.
Wine by the glass and beer will be available for $5 each.
General admission tickets are $35 per person.
A Supporting Sponsor ticket option also is available for $50, which includes general admission, one alcoholic drink ticket and name recognition in the event program.
Tickets go on sale Aug. 1.
Early purchase is recommended because the event has sold out in the past.
Tickets are not refundable, but they can be transferred to someone else if your plans change.
Sponsorship opportunities are available now at levels ranging from $250 to $2,000.
To view the level benefits and to purchase a sponsorship online, visit tinyurl.com/2t7h8u2j.
For additional details or to purchase a sponsorship via check, contact Alexis McKinley, director of the Northland Public Library Foundation, at 412-366-8100, ext. 104, or mckinleya@northlandlibrary.org.
Children’s Gala has rainforest theme
The Children’s Gala 2026: A Rainforest Adventure is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 19 at the library.
The library closes early for this special evening filled with fun and wonder for families with young children.
Activities will include strolling book characters, games, live entertainment, raffles, face painting, balloon artists, food, photo-opportunity areas and more.
Tickets are $25 per person and will go on sale July 15.
Last year’s Under the Sea event welcomed a sold-out crowd of more than 350 guests.
For details and sponsorship opportunities ranging from $250 to $1,000, visit northlandlibrary.org/childrens-gala or contact Alexis McKinley, director of the Northland Public Library Foundation, at 412-366-8100, ext. 104, or mckinleya@northlandlibrary.org.