Library Programs and Events
Food Bank Donations
As Thanksgiving and the holiday season approaches, we are reminded that many people are hungry and do not have enough to eat. Non-perishable food items are being accepted at the Library during regular business hours. They will benefit the Westmoreland County Food Bank. Place the food in the box near the Circulation Desk. Thank you for thinking of the less fortunate!
Thanksgiving Day Closure
The Library will be closed Thursday, November 28, 2019, for the celebration of Thanksgiving Day.
Holiday Boutique
The Friends of Monessen Public Library & Cultural Center are holding their annual Holiday Boutique sale through mid-December. Come find unique holiday items and decorations at fantastic prices!
Free Adult Education Classes
PA Career Link and the Westmoreland Library Network are partnering with Intermediate Unit 1 to provide free adult education classes at the Library on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 PM to 3:30 PM. The classes are structured to improve reading, writing, and math skills necessary for the GED exams, post-secondary entrance exams and for obtaining jobs.
Job Corps Visit
A Jobs Corps representative will be at the Library on Thursday, November 14, 2019, from 10 AM to Noon. If you are interested, please contact Cherie at 412-773-3259. The mission of the Job Corps is to help young adults attain the necessary skills for employment or further education.
Book Club
The Library Book Club meets on the second Thursday of each month (Thursday, November 14, 2019.) New members welcome. November’s book will be “O, Pioneers” by Willa Cather. To join the group, call the Library and have a copy of the book reserved for you!
Cookies with a Cop
The Monessen Police Department has partnered with the Library in a new venture! On the third Monday of each month, at 6 PM, a policeperson will visit and do Storytime. The officer will provide safety tips and answer any questions. For November, the date is November 18, 2019.
Mon Valley Genealogy Forum
The Mon Valley Genealogy Forum will meet on Monday, November 19, 2019, at 5:30 PM. New members welcome. Light refreshments will be served. The group will discuss genealogy in the news and showcase interesting websites.
Enjoy Coupon Books
Pick up a copy of the new Enjoy Coupon Books at the Circulation Desk for a donation of $30. It will provide big savings at a variety of local establishments.
Library Fund Campaign
The Library is mailing letters for the annual fund appeal asking for monetary donations to assist the Library in the coming year. Please be as generous as possible. The Library is the Jewel of Monessen and a place that has become the community meeting area. The Library provides many services to the community and surrounding area. Visit the Library today and see what we do!
MPL Board of Trustees
Public is welcome at all board meetings. Second Wednesday of the month at 5:15 PM.
Ongoing Programs
Many groups and organizations meet at Monessen Public Library & Cultural Center each month, including:
- Black Diamonds
- Highmark
- Mon Valley Genealogy Forum
- Overeaters Anonymous
- NAR-ANON (for those affected by drug use in a family member or friend)
Memorial Book Program
Monessen Public Library & Cultural Center wants to remind friends and patrons of the library’s memorial and remembrance program.
A book can provide a lasting tribute to the memory of a loved one or provide a unique way to honor special events such as birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, or other special occasions. Your tax deductible gift to the library will not only be a lasting memorial, but will also bring enjoyment and knowledge to the community. The Library also does pet memorial books for the loss of a furry family member.
Each gift book will have a special bookplate which gives the name of the person to whom the book is dedicated and the name of the donor. The library will also send a letter to the person being honored or the surviving family.
Donors may suggest a specific title or have the librarian choose a title in a designated subject area. New and popular fiction provides an excellent source for the deceased being remembered through maximum circulations of the item. The minimum donation for a memorial book is $25.00, through which the library chooses a book. For a $30.00 or more donation, the patron may choose a specific subject.
Monessen Library App
The Monessen Public Library now has an APP for your phone! To download the APP, Android users should use “Play Store” and IPhone users should use the “IStore”. Search for “Monessen Public Library.” If you have any questions please call the library at 724-684-4750.
Social Media
Monessen Library is expanding our social media presence! Check us out on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!
Ancestry.com
The Library has a subscription to Ancestry.com for use in genealogical research. It is the largest genealogy company in the world and operates a network of genealogical, historical record and genetic genealogy websites. The company claims to provide access to approximately 16 billion historical records, and have over 2 million paying subscribers and, as of February 2018, more than seven million AncestryDNA customers. The company also claims that its user-generated content tallies to more than 70 million family trees, and that subscribers have added more than 200 million photographs, scanned documents, and written stories. The database is only available in the Library.
Here is a partial list of some services that Monessen Public Library & Cultural Center can offer you:
- Photocopying
- Faxing
- Meeting room space
- DVD rentals
- Audio books
- Large print books
- Free computer access
- Magazines
- National and local newspapers
- Study areas
- Comfortable reading spaces
- Tutoring room
- Genealogy
- Adult programs
- Children’s programming
- Cultural events
- E-books
- Interlibrary loan service to request materials from other libraries
- Community center to interact with others