July Happenings

Greetings! Summer is officially here! Find some time to relax, kick back with a good book, come to a program, and maybe even win prizes! How so? Try our Adult Summer Reading BINGO! Complete reading goals on a BINGO board to earn entries for a raffle drawing. Click for a digital board or pick up a print copy at the Library. Return your completed BINGO board to the Library by August 24. Happy summer, and happy reading!

Library schedule in celebration of Independence Day:

Wed, July 3: Closing at 5pm

Thu, July 4: CLOSED

Our Books & Bubbly revival was a sparkling success! Many thanks to the local restaurants, businesses, and friends of the Library who provided tasty treats, beverages, and raffle prizes for the event: Barrett Township Historical Society, Barley Creek, Broken Willow Winery, Capri Pizza, Cook's Corner, Daily Bread Bakeshop, Dutch Hill Preserves, Fairway Grille, The Friendly Community Center, Frogtown Chophouse, Jim & Carol Hillestad, John James, Lewis' Supermarket, The Local Book Club, Mountainhome Diner, Paradise Historical Society, Pocono Cheesecake Factory, Pourhouse, Rotary of the Pocono Mountains, John Seese, and Skytop Lodge. Thanks to all of you who joined us for a fun and festive evening to support the Library!

LOL Comedy Night! On Saturday, August 10th, the Barrett Paradise Friendly Library will host our 2024 LOL Comedy Night at Buck Hill Falls’ Tennis Tea. This Library fundraiser includes dinner, a live auction, a silent auction, and a hilarious evening of entertainment with comedians from New York City (arranged by Carla Johnston). Dinner & Show: $100/person. Show Only: $60/person. We'll start taking reservations on Mon, July 8. Call or stop by the Library (570-595-7171), or look for online registration info in your email and on our website.

Stop by the Library's table at the Rotary's Concert in the Park on Tue, July 9, 4:30-8:30pm! Spin & win library prizes, sign up for a library card, and more! For information about the event please visit the Rotary's website at https://www.rotarypoconos.com/concert-in-the-park

Special Program! Monday, July 15, 1pm: Best-selling author Jo Piazza can talk to you about writing anything. Join Jo as she leads a creative writing session at Barrett Paradise Friendly Library. Bring a notebook, your favorite writing instrument and an open mind! Even if you're not a writer, Jo's insights into the writing process will inform and entertain you. An informal Q and A will follow. The Buck Hill Art Association has generously arranged this program for the Library. Please register in advance.

Pocono Mountains Music Festival "Pocono Page Turners," Wed, July 24, 5pm at the Barrett Administrative & Recreation Complex (BARC): PMMF partners WVIA for a Jazz themed book club event! Jazz historian and author, Loren Schoenberg, takes us through the jazz age with his book, The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Jazz, sharing scenes from the WVIA documentary "WHAM Re-Bop-Boom-Bam: The Swing Jazz of Eddie Durham. WVIA filmmaker Kris Hendrickson will also be on hand for the discussion and Q&A. Admission is free. Register online: https://www.poconofest.org/ (click on the "tickets" button and select this event). Instead of our regular July library book clubs, we're encouraging everyone to attend this event!

The whimsical art of renowned illustrator Brian Ajhar is now on display in the Weiler Family Community Room. His fanciful, humorous characters are sure to bring smiles to all who gaze upon them. Brian's work will be on display through July.

Starstruck! The Barrett Township Historical Society display case is currently hosting memorabilia from the Pocono Playhouse. Photos of celebrities who appeared in the productions, Playbills, and articles give a glimpse of our very own “Broadway in the Poconos.” Stars of long ago like Kitty Carlisle, Hans Conried, George Gobel, Gloria Swanson, and many others graced the stage beginning in the 1940s.

The month of July is bursting with programs for all ages, from storytimes, a Swiftie party, and an illustration class for youth, to yoga and an invasive plant presentation for adults, and more! For details, descriptions, and lists of upcoming programs, follow these links: Adult Programs; Youth Programs. Check our Facebook page www.facebook.com/BPFLibrary and web calendar www.barrettlibrary.org/events/ for additional programs, posts, and opportunities.

There are always new sparkling bargains to be found on our costume jewelry sale table. Get more bling for your buck! Then check out our Book Sale Corner. We have an abundance of items that have been trimmed from the collection and we will continue adding more as we work our way through the Library! Bag Sale: All items (books, audiobooks, DVDs) $5 a bag. Need a sturdy bag for all your purchases? We have tote bags for sale, too (scroll to see photo below). All proceeds benefit Library services.

Visit our website for updates and digital resources: www.barrettlibrary.org.

Read often and visit your Library!

Mary Ann Lewis

Library Director

Currently reading The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza.

Library Hours:

Mon, Wed: 10am – 8pm
Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat: 10am – 5pm

Computer Use

Call the Library to request an appointment to use a computer, or just stop in--walk-ins are welcome.
Prints and copies: $0.25 per page for black & white; $0.50 per page for color.

Online library card sign up!

You can now register for a library card on our catalog home page. Scroll to the botttom and click Request Library Card. Or feel free to call the Library or stop in to register for a card.

Also, if you have a library card but the number starts with "P," you can request a new 14-digit card using this form, or call/stop in to update.

Costume Jewelry Donations

Cleaning and organizing? If you come across old or unused costume jewelry please consider donating it to the Library. The jewelry will be put out for sale at the Library. All proceeds support Library programs and services. We appreciate your support!

Searchable History Project

Interested in local history? Our Searchable History Project is in the process of digitizing materials in three local history collections, beginning with items from the Buck Hill Falls community. The items that have been digitized are now available online, so you can view and explore the collection. So far, there are over 200 images from the early 1900s (many of the Cottages) and Buck Hill Breeze issues from the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s. The archives web site and the project are a work in progress; come back often to see what's been added. You can go directly to the site at https://barrettlibrary.catalogaccess.com, or look for the Searchable History link on the Library’s main web site: www.barrettlibrary.org.

Brainfuse

Brainfuse provides support for learners of all ages, with an emphasis on assisting students in grades K-12. The Homework HelpNow service is staffed by professional tutors with expertise in all K-12 subjects. Online tutoring is available from 2 pm to 10 pm, seven days a week, to anyone with a library card. A Writers Lab allows students to receive live support with writing, or upload documents and receive feedback from experienced tutors. The platform also features: Practice tests and preparation for exams, including the SAT, ACT, ASVAB, GRE, GMAT and others; a 24/7 Question Center – students submit questions that are answered within 24 hours; support for students studying a foreign language; and more! Brainfuse also has support for adult learning, including preparing for the GED, career based exams, and help with writing resumes and preparing for interviews.

Hoopla!

Download ebooks, audiobooks, movies, and music! You can borrow six items per month. If you haven't made an account with Hoopla yet, here's how (you will need your 14-digit library card number to create an account):

Go to www.hoopladigital.com.
Click on “Get Started Today,” located at the upper middle of the page to set up your account.
Follow the prompts to register.
After registering, download app onto your smart device and log in with new account information (You can also set up an account through the app).

Libby e-books, Audio-books, & Digital Magazines

Libby/OverDrive e-books: Download and enjoy e-books on your computer or portable device. The collection includes fiction and nonfiction e-books for all ages. Libby also offers audio-books and magazines. Click here or look for the link on the Library’s web page (www.barrettlibrary.org). This will take you to the Easton Library District Libby/Overdrive page. Search for titles or browse the collections. Click “Borrow” on a title, then select Barrett Paradise Friendly Library from the drop-down menu. Then enter your library card number (14-digit barcode with no spaces or dashes) and your PIN* (same PIN you use for our online catalog, the last 4 digits of your phone number, unless you changed it). Next, select Download (choose format) or Read (in your browser) and follow the prompts. If you use a mobile device (smart phone, tablet), OverDrive will prompt you to download the Libby app. If you already use Libby, you can add your Barrett Paradise Friendly Library account.

Free Library of Philadelphia

Any resident of Pennsylvania can get a library card from the Free Library of Philadelphia! With your new library card number, you can access their many digital media platforms, including OverDrive. To get your library card, go to https://catalog.freelibrary.org/MyResearch/register. Click "Online" under "How to get a card?" and follow the instructions. Then browse all the digital media databases Free Library of Philadelphia has to offer! There are tens of thousands e-books, audiobooks, and more!

Name a Shelf at

Barrett Paradise Friendly Library

Something to think about: Name a Shelf at the Barrett Paradise Friendly Library! Please consider "buying" a shelf to honor an individual or an event. Your gift of $100 buys a nameplate attached to a small shelf in the Library. A gift of $1000 buys an entire section of shelves (3-6 shelves). Stop by the Library to fill out a form, or follow this link to submit a form online.

Curbside Pickup Service!

Yes, we still offer Curbside Pickup Service! Just call the library and let us know which books, audiobooks, magazines, and DVDs you want. We’ll arrange a time for you to come to the library and deliver them right to your car. Not sure what you want? Browse our online catalog (https://bpfl.sparkpa.org) or let us know what you like and we’ll make some suggestions.

The Board of Trustees of the Barrett Paradise Friendly Library meets on the 4th Monday of the month at 5:30 pm at the Library. The Board meets every month except December. Board meetings are open to the public.

NOTE: There will be no meeting in July.

Barrett Paradise Friendly Library | (570)-595-7171 | www.barrettlibrary.org/

Our Mission: To strengthen our community, the Library connects people with ideas, experiences, and each other, and inspires them to dream and succeed as lifelong learners.