THE CORNER OF BALPH AND TEECE
Spring 2015
Volume 1, Issue 1
Inside this issue:
Number One
Sam
2
Fancy Nancy
Tea Party
2
Summer
Reading
2
Friday Classic 3
Movie Matinee
Calling all
Writers
3
Book Review
3
Events
Calendar
4
Welcome to The Corner of Balph and Teece!
Amanda Bayne Balph and Jane Bayne Teece donated four
acres of land and one of their homes to serve as a library
and park for the residents of Bellevue. They named their
bequest Andrew Bayne Memorial Library and Park to
honor their father. After the dedication, the streets bounding the area were renamed Balph and Teece in their
honor. And now, we are naming the Library’s quarterly
newsletter for them as well!
From events, to
announcements, to book recommendations, be sure to
give our newsletter a quick read to get all the latest news
from Bayne Library.
Ellen Goodman, Director
[email protected]
Genre Spotlight: Dystopian Fiction
The last installment of The Hunger Games is due out later this
year. Owing in part to the trilogy’s phenomenal success, the past
couple years have seen a surge in the dystopian fiction’s
popularity.
The genre focuses on a future society mired in oppression, class
inequality, disaster, and/or disease. Masterpieces like 1984 by George Orwell, Brave
New World by Aldous Huxley, and A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess are classics of the genre. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Infinte Jest by David
Foster Wallace, and The Road by Cormac McCarthy are fine examples from the more
recent past. New titles like The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, Station Eleven by Emily
St. John Mandel, and Lockdown by Dixon Block are getting a lot of critical acclaim and
popular interest
What’s the genre’s popularity may say about the current state of affairs, we’ll let the
reader decide, but hopefully you’ll be prepared to enjoy its popularity after reading
some of these titles.
NUMBER ONE SAM
This year’s
Pennsylvania
One Book
Every Young Child
selection is
Stop by Bayne Library with your child and read this delightfully
written and illustrated book that tells the story of race car driving Sam. Find out what happens when Sam, who usually finishes first in every race, does not. After you’ve finished reading the book together, you can try out some of the activities in
the take home “Mini Activity Guide”. It is full of great ideas for
promoting early childhood literacy and good old family fun!
Number One Sam will be on display during all of April, so race
in to Bayne Library and read it with someone you love. Then
you’ll both be winners.
WHY BE PLAIN WHEN YOU CAN BE FANCY?
This is the mantra of the title character in the “Fancy Nancy” children’s
book series created by Jane O’Connor. Nancy is the kind of girl who loves
pink and purple, wears fancy sun glasses even while it’s raining, and likes
to use fancy sounding French words whenever possible. But don’t be misled; while Nancy embraces all things fancy, she is no shrinking violet.
Some of her adventures include taking a stand against the class bully in
“Fancy Nancy and the Mean Girl” and convincing her family and classmates to embrace recycling in “Fancy Nancy Every Day is Earth Day”.
Fancy Nancy Tea Party
Sunday, May 17th
from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
So break out those feather boas and sparkling tiaras, because Bayne Library is hosting a Fancy Nancy Tea Party on Sunday, May 17th from
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. We will hear some of our favorite Fancy Nancy books
read by some of our fancy librarians, make some very fanciful crafts, learn
some French words, and of course, partake in some fancy foods (pinkies
up please). This program is open to children ages 4 and up when accompanied by an adult. Space is limited, so please make your
reservation early. You can call the library at 412-766-7447 or e-mail us at
www.baynelibrary.org
HANG ON TO YOUR CAPES AND GET
OUT YOUR MASKS EVERYBODY!
We are SUPER excited about Summer Reading this year,
because our theme is “Every Hero Has a Story.” We will be
conducting our traditional summer reading activities including
summer reading logs for all ages. These logs can be turned in for
some great prizes. We will be hosting some special events
including a Super Hero Academy event, and many of our story
times will have a superhero theme this summer. Come and learn
the super power of how to disappear into a good book!
Page 2
Summer Reading
registration will begin on
Monday, June 8th.
The Corner of Balph and Teece
FRIDAY CLASSIC MOVIE MATINEE
Everyone is invited to our 2nd floor Conference Room every Friday at
1:00 p.m. On these special afternoons, we’ll be showing some of the
best classic movies Hollywood has to offer.
During the month of April, Humphrey Bogart will take center stage. In
May, all of our movies are coming from the year 1951. Throughout the
month of June, you will be treated to four of the best movie musicals of
all time. Be sure to check our website for details about what will be
showing!
Oh, and there will be popcorn!
CALLING ALL WRITERS
Writer’s Group:
Please join us for our Writer’s Group on the second Monday of every month at
4:30pm. We meet in the upstairs conference room and share writing samples and
projects we are working on. The group then offers feedback to improve each other’s
writing. All skill levels and writing genres are welcomed. Then on the fourth Monday at
4:30pm, we convene again for our Writer’s lab where our group views interviews and
lectures from authors. Afterward, we discuss writing styles and inspirations. Join us
and be inspired to put pen to page.
2nd Monday of
the month at
4:30pm
Writer’s Lab:
4th Monday of
the month at
4:30pm.
BOOK REVIEW BY ANNA JEAN PATALANO
I really love the book The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson because it is such
an interesting book! A virus has killed everyone over 12 years of age and a girl
named Lisa and her little brother Todd have to rob places and protect their house
from gangs. One day Lisa decides to form a militia wih the other children on Grand
Street. Everyone joins, and Lisa decides to give every house an alarm system. One
day, an alarm actually goes off, but most of the militia is too afraid to come.
One night, Lisa is bicycling and sees a farm. But it will take 10 trips by bike to bring
back all the food there. So she rides home and learns to drive her parents` car. She
can do many useful things with the car, so she has each child bring her a gasoline
can and a set of car keys. While driving one day, Lisa sees the deserted high
school and gets an idea. After only 1 week, the children of Grand Street are moving
in!
I think that The Girl Who Owned a City is a very good book and you should
definitely read it!
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 3
ANDREW BAYNE
MEMORIAL LIBRARY
34 N. Balph Ave.
Pittsburgh PA 15202
baynelibrary,org
412-766-7447
[email protected]
Did you know Tuesday, April 21st is National Library Worker’s Day? Libraries around the
country give millions of Americans the knowledge and information they need to live, learn and work
in the 21st century. National Library Workers' Day recognizes the unique contributions that library
workers make to help people find the information they need for learning and working, as well as for
recreational purposes. So, if you happen to be in the Library on Tuesday, April 21 st, stop by the
front desk and give your Library Clerk one of your best smiles! We love to see people smile.
Events Calendar
For Children
Storytime
Thursday
11:00 am-12:00 pm
Baby Lapsit
Special Events
For Adults
Senior Coffee
Monday and Wednesday
Sunday, May 17th
2:00 pm-3:00pm
8:30 am-10:00 am
Summer Reading Registration
Friday
Movie Matinees
10:30 am-11:30 am
Friday
Sleepytime Storytime
Fancy Nancy Tea Party
1:00 pm
Begins Monday June 8th and continues
all summer!
Summer Concerts
3rd Wednesdays
Yoga in the Park
Neil Denem
7:00 pm-8:00 pm
Saturdays Starting May 2nd
Wednesday, June 17th
10:00 am-11:00am
7:00 pm-8:00pm
Saturday Storytime
Please note: there is $5.00/session fee
1st Saturdays
10:30 am –11:30 am
Writer’s Group/Writer’s Lab
2nd Mondays/4th Mondays
4:30pm-6:00pm
Computer Tutor
By appointment
Summer Movies
The Boxtrolls
Wednesday, June 24th
After dark