August Library News
2026
The upcoming period is known as the Dog Days of Summer, and we have a curated selection of dog-themed DVDs. Whether you are traveling, relaxing poolside, or enjoying leisure time on your balcony with a cold glass of lemonade, a book provides excellent companionship. We particularly recommend our audiobooks, which can be conveniently streamed from your device. Libby and hoopla are excellent platforms to consider. For those who prefer not to worry about device battery life, Playaways present an ideal alternative—they are compact, battery-operated devices pre-loaded with audiobooks, equipped with headphone ports and speaker compatibility, making them suitable for listening while in transit.
Remember to include your library resources in your back-to-school preparations. We offer a comprehensive selection of electronic resources to assist you, including live tutoring services through Brainfuse, standardized test preparation materials, and research databases suitable for all grade levels. These tools are designed to support students in their assignments.
Be sure to visit your library for additional activities and events. And keep an eye out for our August updates—our blog will be full of news and exciting activities all month long!
New August Museum Passes
Admission is free! Enjoy an unforgettable experience of art and culture with your library card. Parkland Community Library has collaborated with several distinguished museums in the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, and New York City to provide library patrons and their families with exclusive access to educational experiences. We are pleased to offer unique museum passes, presenting an exceptional opportunity to explore the rich cultural heritage preserved within these esteemed institutions. These passes grant access to a diverse array of art, history, and innovation, enabling visitors to engage with compelling exhibitions and displays. We encourage you to take advantage of this promotional opportunity to experience the cultural and educational offerings of our local museums.
Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia, PA) – Details & Availability
Michener Art Museum (Doylestown, PA) – Details & Availability
Coming Soon
Mercer Museum (Doylestown, PA) – Details & Availability
Note: Fonthill Castle is not included.
Significant August Dates & Featured Events
Saturday, August 8: Summer Reading Club Ends.
Please return your paper reading logs by August 8 by 4pm. Logs will not be accepted after this date. Raffle winners will be chosen and notified at the beginning of the following week. All prizes (tiered and raffle) must be picked up no later than 3pm on August 15. Prizes must be picked up in person. Parkland Community Library will not mail any prizes.
Saturday, August 15: Closing Party & The Good Dinosaur movie showing:
Details on our events calendar.
Now-August 31 Passport Program:
Dig Into Lehigh Carbon Libraries- Visit local libraries this summer for a chance to win an iPad! Details on our events calendar.
August 24:
PSD’s first day of school.
Closed Labor Day Weekend: Closed September 5-7
Coming Soon:
September is National Library Card Sign-up Month!
Back to School
School is on the horizon, but don’t worry—your library is ready to support you! Whether you’re looking for book report ideas, reading suggestions, or research tools, we’re just a call or visit away. We have all the school essentials you might need to borrow, and our tech center offers computers and printing services to make your work easier. If you prefer studying at home, you can borrow laptops, hotspots, and more to stay connected. Plus, our library provides many free online databases for your research—accessible anytime, anywhere with your library card. For more helpful tips, be sure to check out the blog links below!
LOTE4Kids
LOTE4Kids is an online library database offering thousands of digital picture books in 100+ Languages Other Than English (LOTE), designed for children to enjoy books in their native language or learn new ones. Accessible via a website or mobile app, it includes audio-picture books, English translations, and sign language options.
Mango Languages
Mango offers language courses with adaptive learning technology for learning centered around you. There are over 70 world languages and more than 20 English courses. This database also includes specialty courses that cover a range of culturally specific topics, downloadable lessons for offline access, study reminders to stay on track, and more! Visit the website or download the app today to start your language adventure. Exclusively available to PCL Home Library Patrons.
Brainfuse HelpNow
HelpNow‘s Free Tutoring and Skills-building features include:
- Homework Help: Interact with live tutors in multiple subjects and standardized tests.
- Personalized eLearning Tools: My File Sharing, My Session Replay, My Tutoring Archive, My Tests Archive, and more!
- 24-Hour Writing Lab.
- Submit a Homework Question.
- Adult Learning Center: (GED), live, professional assistance in resume/cover letter writing, U.S. citizenship prep, MS Office Essential Skills Series, and more!
- Foreign Language Lab/Spanish-Speaking Support
Brainfuse LearnNow
LearnNow’s features include:
- Homework Help: Interact with live tutors in math, science, reading/writing, social studies, and standardized test preparation.
- Skills-Building: Choose your topic to receive real-time help.
- Research tools.
- Broad Range of Subjects.
We Recommend
Using your library card, you can enjoy complimentary access to all the fantastic eResources and streaming apps we offer at PCL. Plus, our databases are accessible on all your devices, making it easy to explore and learn wherever you are!
Kanopy and hoopla are free at-home streaming apps, courtesy of your library, available to Parkland School District and paying nonresidents only.
With hoopla, patrons can borrow, stream, and download content on iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and more. hoopla offers access to a vast collection of books, videos, and music, all free with your library card.
PCL acknowledges the “dog days of summer” with DVD offerings about man’s best friend near the end of August. Canine films abound for both adults and kids. Revisit a classic like Old Yeller, Lassie, or Clifford the Big Red Dog; view a crowd-pleaser like Turner and Hooch, A Dog’s Purpose, or Eight Below; or discover a brand new “puppy love” from the DVD display.
August is National Family Fun Month! It is a time to spend quality togetherness time away from normal family routines and make special memories while the weather is warm and school is out. Display offerings range from titles on family-friendly games and projects to outdoor activities (like RV camping and visiting amusement parks) to insights into the nature of fun itself.
August is a time to honor the cultures of individuals with South Asian Heritage. This includes people with roots in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. PCL’s book display aims to cover as many of these countries as possible through fiction and nonfiction offerings. This year’s national celebration has a specific theme: “Stories to Tell,” which focuses on South Asian narratives.
PCL Learning Center
Welcome to the PCL Learning Center! Your library card grants you access to many online learning resources! Our staff has compiled an age-based educational list to help you and your family prepare for school and thrive throughout the school year and semesters. Whether you are preparing a little one to start school, priming a child…
Language Tools
Parkland Community Library is happy to offer free language tools for both native speakers and those interested in learning a new language. Our online databases and apps are perfect for language research and studying, with no ads. Our language tools are crafted to help users improve their communication skills, enrich their vocabulary, and gain a…
For Fans of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons has maintained a lasting following over the years for its creativity, engaging gameplay, social interaction, friendship-building, and storytelling within a rich, lore-filled universe. Players form guilds to strategize, solve puzzles, and immerse themselves in a vast world of magical creatures and treasures. This role-playing game (RPG) features a customizable tabletop board that…