The Cooper-Siegel Community Library and its Sharpsburg branch offer a variety of programming for visitors of all ages.
To view a complete list of offerings, visit coopersiegel.librarycalendar.com. Events at both libraries are listed and can be viewed according to age group and location.
Registration is required for most programs as space is limited and some programs fill up quickly. In some cases, drop-ins are welcome as space permits.
Registration through the online calendar is encouraged when possible so staff members can plan accordingly. To register by phone, call the respective libraries at 412-828-9520 for Cooper-Siegel and 412-781-0783 for the Sharpsburg branch.
Regular operating hours at Cooper-Siegel Community Library, 403 Fox Chapel Road in Fox Chapel, are from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Regular operating hours at Sharpsburg Community Library, 1212 Main St., are from 1 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays; the branch is closed on Sundays. Parking is available at the library and the 13th Street Municipal Lot, which is metered. The library is accessible via Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s 91 and 1 bus routes — get off at 13th Street.
Pickup lockers, where library patrons can get items they’ve placed on hold, are located behind Jersey Mike’s at 171 Freeport Road in Blawnox or outside Sharpsburg Community Library. The lockers were funded by the Allegheny Regional Asset District through its Transformative Community Library Fund grant program.
Both libraries will be closed for the July 4 holiday.
Here are some upcoming events:
Cooper-Siegel Community Library
Kids
• Wiggle Storytime: 10:15 to 11 a.m. July 7, 21 and 28
Get up and get moving during our toddler and preschool storytime for children 2 to 5 and their caregivers. This interactive storytime features books, fingerplays, bounces, scarves, shakers and a parachute. Registration is required, but drop-ins are welcome as space permits.
• Teddy Bear Picnic: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 14
Bring your teddy bear or favorite stuffed animal for a special storytime with activities and snacks. Feel free to bring a blanket and snack for your family. Teddy Grahams and juice will be provided. For ages birth to age 8 with their caregivers. The program will be held in the Welcome Garden but will move indoors in the event of bad weather. There will be crafts and other activities throughout the library. Registration is required.
• Can You Plant a Pizza (grades 3-12): 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. July 16
Kids and teens in grades 3-12 are welcome to plant their own pizza garden. In this presentation by the Allegheny Land Trust, participants will learn about the origins of pizza ingredients before making and enjoying “pizza on a stick.” Registration is required.
• Intro to Archaeology (7 and older): 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. July 28
Using hands-on tools and replicas of artifacts, participants will learn how archaeology pieces together clues about people of the past. Registration is required.
Teens
• Makerspace Walk-in Hours (also open to adults): 3 to 5 p.m. every Thursday
Teens 12 to 18 and adults can drop in at these times on Thursdays in May to learn how the Makerspace works and what it has to offer.
Adults
• Crafts ’n Things (also open to teens): 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 2, 9, 16 and 30; Aug. 6
Teens 12 and older and adults are welcome to hang out with a group of crafters and work on their own project. All crafts are welcome. Have a crafting question? Stop by and ask the veteran crafters. Finn, our crafting librarian, can assist on multiple types of crafting such as crochet, cross stitch, embroidery and sewing. Registration is required, but drop-ins are welcome as space permits.
• Simple Movement Through Somatics: 10:30 a.m. to noon Mondays through Aug. 31
Join certified personal trainer Tom Capriotti for a one-hour somatics session. Somatics engages the nervous system in an active learning process that consists of slow, focused and intentional movements. It teaches the nervous system how to release chronic muscle tension, loosening joints and relieving tightness. Somatics also explores how the body holds and expresses painful experiences, applying mind-body healing to aid with trauma recovery. This class requires the ability to get up and down from the floor without assistance. Bring a yoga mat and a water bottle. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Registration is required.
• Plays Off the Stage: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 21
Join us for an evening of play-reading. No acting experience necessary. If you like theater, the English language and spending an hour with other humans, this monthly group is for you. Newcomers are welcome. In July, we will finish reading the comedy “Charley’s Aunt” by Brandon Thomas. Registration is required.
Sharpsburg Community Library
All ages
• Spotted Lanternfly Invasion Archive (grade 3 through adults): 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 29
Join certified Master Naturalist Melanie Linn Gutowski to learn about citizen science, the history of the spotted lanternfly in our area and the specifics of the Spotted Lanternfly Invasion Archive. After a brief presentation, we will go outside in the area near the library to collect specimens, examine them and prepare submissions to the project. The archive is a project designed to combine community engagement with the creation of a historical record of an invasive species. Participants collect samples of spotted lanternflies from various locations in the U.S. Samples are then studied to understand genetic, morphological and metabolic traits of the species as they change in our environments. Elementary-age scientists should be accompanied by an adult. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Registration is required.
Kids
• Little Hands Pre-K Storytime: 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. every Tuesday
This arts-integration storytime will include stories and a hands-on developmentally appropriate art activity. May’s weekly themes: sunshine, May 5; butterflies, May 12; and mindfulness and yoga, May 19. Register for any session of interest. Registration is required, but drop-ins are accepted as space permits.
• Maker Monday (grades K-5): 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. July 6, Aug. 3 and 10
This program rotates content with some weeks being more arts focused and other weeks being more science-focused. On July 6, participants will learn about different dinosaurs and how they got their names. After mastering the characteristics of various dinosaurs, you will create and name your own and illustrate it for a book of Sharpsburg-born dinosaurs. Upcoming events include Unearth a Dino Shrinky Dink on Aug. 3 and Unearth a Giant Dinosaur on Aug. 10. Registration is required, but drop-ins are welcome as space permits.
• Read With Mishka the Therapy Dog (grades Pre-K to 6): 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 11, Aug. 1 and Sept. 5
Join Mishka, a certified therapy dog, and her handler, Ms. Alejandra, visit the library on the first Saturday of each month (The July date differs because of the holiday.). Children will take turns reading aloud to Mishka; all levels of readers are welcome, from those just learning to expert readers. Pre-K children are welcome with an accompanying adult. Registration is required, but drop-ins are welcome as space permits.
• Dead Trees Are Alive! (grades 1-5): 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. July 29
Unearth a story of what creepy crawlers live in dead trees through a hands-on investigation of life in dead wood with Tree Pittsburgh. You’ll also learn what makes up the FBI of Decomposition with the guidance of a science educator. All supplies will be provided. Registration is required.
Teens
• Teen Scene: 4 to 6 p.m. every Wednesday
Hang out with friends, play video games and board games, and participate in a designated activity during this two-hour block of time. The first hour is project time, the second hour is gaming time. Participate however you want. Upcoming activities include: July 1, vision boards; July 8, Mario Kart; July 15, air dry “ancient” pottery; July 22, Shrinky Dink keychains; and July 29, community service project to make cat toys for the pet pantry. Registration is required, but drop-ins are welcome as space permits.
• Magic the Gathering Commander League: Noon to 2 p.m. July 11
Join former professional Magic the Gathering player Mike Patnik for this Commander League. Beginners and experienced players are welcome. We will have decks available for players to use, but participants are welcome to bring their own decks. Registration is required, but drop-ins are welcome as space permits.
Adults
• Stitch Social: 6 to 7 p.m. July 8
Stitch a project and new friendships on the second Wednesday of each month. Bring your fiber arts projects such as knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, etc., and socialize, skill share and relax for an hour. Bring your own crafting supplies. Registration is required.
• Game Night: 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 13
Suffering from board-om? Get your game on at the library, which has a selection of curated board and card games for you to play on the second Monday on each month. We’ll vote what to play at the beginning of the session. If we have a large group, multiple different games may be happening simultaneously. Registration is required.
• The Life of a Civil War Soldier: 6 to 7 p.m. July 15
Join Tim Neff, director of museum and education at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, for a presentation about the life of a Civil War soldier. The American Civil War lasted a little over four years, but its place as the deadliest in American history and its cultural significance makes it one of the most studied and iconic military conflicts. The presentation will focus on the life of a real local soldier through the equipment they carried and experiences they went through. Documents, photos, and artifacts will bring the soldier’s story to life. Audience members will have an opportunity to examine artifacts and documents throughout the presentation. Registration is required.