In honor of Memorial Day, The Osterhout Free Library will be closed on Saturday, May 27th and Monday, May May 29th.

Please take this time to remember our armed forces and their service to our country.



For more information on Memorial Day or the armed forces please check out the library catalog at http://www.lucasatyourservice.org or
The History Channel's article on it at http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/memorial/memorial.html

Fine Arts Fiesta

Look for your favorite Youth Services Librarians at Fine Arts Fiesta in downtown Wilkes-Barre May 18-21st. We'll be reading stories each day! Join the all the fun of this great cultural festival!

For more information on The Fine Arts Fiesta take a look at their website at http://www.fineartsfiesta.org/.

Special Family Storytime

For the first time ever, Pennsylvania has selected "Once Book for Every Young Child" to highlight the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers.

This year's book selection is Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse a picture book by Pennsylvania author Lindsay Barrett George.

In celebration of this book join as for a fun evening of crafts, puppets and songs. Each family attending will recieve a copy of the book Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse to keep and enjoy.

The story time is Monday, April 17, 2006 at 6:30-7:30 p.m.

This is a free event but please call the Youth Services Department at 823-0156 ext. 217 to register.

For more information and resources on the "One Book Every Young Child" please visit their website at http://paonebook.com/.

History Alive

With our friends from the Wilkes University History Club come take a visual tour through history from a child's perspective.

April 22- Meet a Civil War solider
April 29- Learn about the local Native American Tribes
May 6- Celebrate Rosa Parks

All events are from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the Youth Services Department of the Osterhout Free Library.

Space is limited so please call to register at 823-0156 ext. 217.

The Osterhout Free Library will be open 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 14, 2006.

The Library's Branches will be closed on this day.

Happy Holidays from the Staff of the Youth Services Department.

Check out our OPAC your Easter or Passover books!

Read to a Dog

Ever wonder if dogs really listen when you talk to them? The Osterhout Free Library Youth Services Department proudly presents the beloved Read-to-a-Dog Program. Sign up today to read to a certified therapy dog on Saturday April 1, 2006 at 10:00-11:00 a.m. This is a very popular program so please register at 823-0156 ext. 217.

Join the fun with our furry friends and you won't regret it!

Toddler Story time

Sign ups are coming! The time is near to sign up for the next set of story times for toddlers ages 2-3 1/2 years old. Please call the Youth Services Department on Monday, March 27, 2006 starting at 8:30 a.m. to register.

There are three different times to choose from:
-Tuesdays, April 4-25 from 10:00-10:30 a.m.
-Tuesdays, April 4-25 from 11:00-11:30 a.m.
-Saturdays, April 8-29 from 10:00-10:30 a.m.

Spring is almost here!

Come celebrate the new season by making a Spring Craft on Saturday, March 18, 2006 @ 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Youth Services Department.

There is no charge for this activity and no sign ups needed! It is open to all children ages 5-12 in age.

The Luck of the Irish

Come join the fun in downtown Wilkes-Barre this weekend as the St. Patrick's Day Parade marches through town! The parade starts at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday March 12th.

Make sure to keep an eye out for the Osterhout Free Library float to get your golden ticket redeemable for prizes! Don't forget to wear your green!

For more information on St. Patrick check out these books:
Patrick : patron saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola.

St. Patrick's Day by Janet Riehecky

St. Patrick's Day by Joyce K. Kessel

Or for some Irish Folklore check out:
Jamie O'Rourke and the big potato : an Irish folktale retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola.

Jamie O'Rourke and the pooka by Tomie dePaola

A pot o' gold : a treasury of Irish stories, poetry, folklore, and (of course) blarney selected and adapted by Kathleen Krull ;

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Celebrate the life of the beloved children's author, Theodor Seuss Geisel on Thursday, March 2, 2006 by reading one of his many books.

Take a look at the catalog online to check out your favorite, whether it be The Cat and The Hat, Horton Hears a Who, Green Eggs and Ham or one of the many others!

For a complete history of his phenomenal career take a peek any of the following books:

The boy on Fairfield Street : how Ted Geisel grew up to become Dr. Seuss by Kathleen Krull

Dr. Seuss by Mae Woods

The Seuss, the whole Seuss, and nothing but the Seuss : a visual biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel by Charles D. Cohen.

Also take a visit to the website dedicated to the man himself at http://www.seussville.com/

Story Time

Infant Story Time for children birth to two years old will start Wednesday March 8, 2006 and will run every Wednesday till March 29, 2006. There will be two time sessions to choose from: 10:00- 10:30 a.m. OR 11:00- 11:30 a.m.

Call to register on Monday, February 27, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. This is a very popular program and fills up fast!

New Books

Come check out our new books that arrived just in time for Valentine's Day:



Happy Valentine's Day, Dolores by Barbara Samuels.
Dolores has agreed to stop "borrowing" things from her older sister Faye's dresser, but then she discovers a special Valentine's Day necklace there.










Marly's ghost : a remix of Charles Dickens's A Christmas carol by David Levithan
The spirit of Ben's girlfriend Marly returns with three other ghosts to haunt him with a painful journey though Valentine's Days past, present, and future.





The Unsigned Valentine by Johanna Hurwitz
In early twentieth-century Vermont, sixteen-year-old Emma confides in her diary both her hopes of becoming a farmer's wife one day and her frustrations with her parents' belief that she is too young to be courted by the handsome Cole Berry.

Free Book Distributions

Here are the upcoming dates for Reading Is Fundamental Free Book Distributions at your local branch libraries of the Osterhout Free Library. Book distributions are provided by the Friends of the Osterhout Free Library and the Reading Is Fundamental Organization.

All children in grades K-6th are invited to attend one distribution to recieve a free book.

Plains Township Branch: Monday, January 23, 2006 2:30- 5:00 p.m.

126 North Main St. Plains

North Branch: Monday, January 23, 2006 3:00-5:00 p.m.

235 George Avenue, Parsons Section Wilkes-Barre

South Branch: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 3:00- 5:00 p.m.

2 Airy Street Wilkes-Barre

Osterhout Free Library: Saturday, January 25, 2006 2:00- 4:00 p.m.

71 South Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre

Upcoming Programs

Is cabin fever setting in? Looking for something to do during the long cold winter months? Look no further!






Preschool Storytime (ages 3½-5)
Wednesdays, February 1-22 from 10:45-11:30 a.m.
Wednesdays, February 1-22 from 2:00-2:45 p.m.
Saturdays, February 4-25 from 10:00-10:45 a.m.
*Register beginning Monday, January 23 at 8:30 a.m.


Infant Storytime (ages birth-2)
Wednesdays, March 8-29 from 10:00-10:30 a.m.
Wednesdays, March 8-29 from 11:00-11:30 a.m.
*Register beginning Monday, February 27 at 8:30 a.m.

Hey Everyone!
The Osterhout Free Library is providing computer workshops for children ages 6-11 and teens ages 11-18 this Spring. We will have computer activities including internet.

The Classes are as follows:
Ages 6-11:
January 14th, February 18th, and March 11th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Ages 11-18:
January 28th, February 25th, and March 18th from 11:00 to 12:00 p.m.

Please call 823-0156 ex. 217 to sign-up for any of these activities or to suggest some of your own.

The Computer Workshops are funded by Verizon Reads Grant and the Rotary Reads Grant.

Come meet some of the stars of the

Disney on Ice Jungle Adventures!

Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.

in the Youth Services Department.
Please call 823-0156 Ext. 217 if you would like

to attend this very special program.

Performers of the upcoming Disney on Ice

Production of Jungle Adventures at the Wachovia Area

will be visiting the Osterhout Free Library

to meet and read to children.

The show features beloved characters from Disney films

The Jungle Book, Tarzan and The Lion King.

Happy Holiday

Happy Holidays!

The Librarians of the Youth Services Department want to wish you and your families a happy and safe holiday season.

Please note:
The library will be closed on Saturday, Decemeber 24th and Monday, December 26th for the holidays.

We will be open Tuesday, December 27th through Friday, December 31st 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The library will be closed on Saturday, December 31st and Monday, January 2nd for the New Year's Holiday.

Come visit us and check some of the new books for the season! There's something for everyone! Remember that a library card is always a great last minute gift!

Snow Day!

Happy Snow Day!

The Osterhout Free Library will open at noon today Friday December 09, 2005 because of the snow.

Enjoy your snow day and stop by the library for some fun book about snow and the winter season.Check the catalog here.

Anime and CosPlay Meetings

The monthly Anime Club Meeting will be Saturday December 17, 2005 at 2:00-3:30 p.m. Join others to discuss your favorite anime characters, artists and authors. New members are always welcome!

The new club CosPlay will hold it's initial meeting on Saturday December 17, 2005 at 3:30-4:45 p.m. CosPlay was formed from members of the Anime Club. Attending members are welcome to dress as their favorite anime characters but not required. Club activities will include creating costumes and discussion.

Attendance to both meetings are welcome but not required. Both meetings will be held in the Youth Services Department meeting room. To register or for more information contact the Youth Services Department at 823-0156 ext. 217.

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

The Osterhout Free Library will be closing at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23rd and will remaind closed on Thursday, November 24th in honor of Thanksgiving.

We will re-open on Friday, November 25th at 8:30 a.m. with regular hours.

Check out the History of Thanksgiving at The History Channel.com and The Library of Congress.

For some facts about Thanksgiving check out the Census Bureau. For example did you know that the typical American ate 13.7 pounds of turkey in 2003, a large portion of which was from the beloved Thanksgiving feast.

Click on the picture to investigate the first Thanksgiving!

Poetry Workshop

The Osterhout Free Library invited students in grades 7-11 to particpiate in a three part poetry writing workshop. Students will have a chance to have their works performed and published online.

The workshop will be held Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. November 22, November 29 and December 6.

Jim Warner will be the workshop leader.

Refreshments will be served and materials will be provided.

For more information or to register, please contact the Youth Services Staff at the Osterhout Free library at 823-0156 EXT. 217.

The workshops are sponsored by the Luzerne County Library System through an LSTA grant.