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April Library News
What’s Happening at Your Library: April 2025
Introducing the April Library News edition of our library newsletter! We are celebrating National Library Week. Millions of people across the country visit their libraries every week. What’s the draw? Everything. We encourage everyone to stop in and renew or sign up for a library card this week!
As spring blooms around us, we are excited to bring you the latest updates from PCL. First, we are thrilled to announce the continuation of featuring new book recommendations. We hope this enhances your reading experience and introduces you to new titles you’ll love. Browse the latest titles in the library’s center aisle.
Another exciting news story is that we are launching a new digital resource. Thanks to our Family Place membership, you can check out ParentTV. This extensive video cache has the latest solutions to your parenting questions. It is available in a short digital format that consults leading healthcare experts in multiple languages.
Lastly, please save the date for our upcoming events in April! This lineup is themed to National Library Week, which is what draws you to the library. Check out book clubs, creative writing workshops, drawing, crafting, and our special Earth Week celebration with the anticipation of the arrival of Neighborhood Forest’s saplings for those who signed up. These events are a fantastic way to engage with your neighbors and explore new literary pursuits. Check out our website calendar for more details and registration information.
Ducklings LIVE on YouTube for a limited time only!
Explore the wonders of the library during National Library Week! Join us in celebrating with a special duck egg-hatching event! Eggs will be displayed in the Tamerler Room; stop by and witness the magic through the looking glass!
*Estimated Dates
- Arrival date: April 9th
- Hatch date: April 14th
- Once all the eggs hatch, the baby ducks will return to the farm about 3 days later.
A note about Bird Flu: You don’t need to worry. The eggs are sterile, and chicks will not be infected. They would need to be in contact with adult chickens who have the virus.
Celebrate National Library Week! April 6-12, 2025
On behalf of the Parkland Community, we thank Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre for supporting libraries.
Events, Celebrations, & Dates of Note
Whatever draws you in, the library has something for everyone.
All programming is sponsored by The Friends of the Parkland Community Library.
Learn more about The Friends on their webpage.
Estimated Arrival: Early the week of April 14, 2025
For everyone who reserved a free tree, please check here or our social media for the announcement of its arrival.
After 3 days, any leftovers will be given out to any patron who requests one to ensure their survival.
The trees will be held at the circulation desk.
WHITE PINE
Read more about Neighborhood Forest and the sapling in our blog here.
Teen Cardmaking with Sending Sunshine
Weekly on Fridays
Let your creativity shine and brighten someone’s day by creating positive messages to send to senior citizens in the Lehigh Valley with the nonprofit Sending Sunshine!
*Participation is eligible for volunteer hours.
Idea Lab
Wed., April 15, 1-8PM
We are celebrating World Art Day in honor of the National Library’s week-long theme, Drawn to the Library. This art-centric lab will focus on all things art! (There are no STEM supplies this day.)
All are welcome!
Teen Drawing Club
Wed., April 16, 6:30PM
PCL Teens can drop in monthly on the third Wednesday for our Drawing Club! Supplies and snacks are provided. Feel free to bring your own materials and show off your current project in a relaxed environment!
Earth Week, April 22
Arbor Day: April 25
Celebrate by planting your new tree and tagging #MyPCL #NeighborhoodForest2025 #Freetreesforkids #EarthDay2025
A Note About Library Book Clubs Booklists
For your convenience, PDFs of Library Booklists are available to download in the calendar entry. The list is attached under the “location.”
For questions about book clubs, contact Adult Services at 610-398-1361 x117 or by email.
Passover and Many More Recipes by A to Z World Food
Evening of Sat., April 12–Sun., April 20
Explore food culture and traditional recipes from around the world. It’s a movable feast in a digital cookbook! Select your preferred language.
A keyword search using “Passover” yields pages of printable and shareable recipes for the occasion. These recipes include the ingredients, step-by-step directions, pictures, and prep/cook times for each dish.
PCL patrons can navigate the Parkland Community Library website to the “FIND IT” main website navigation bar and select “eResources.” Select A to Z World Food.
Recommendations, Collections, and More!
A Hunger Games Novel!
Released: March 18
As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. In honor of the Quarter Quell this year, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy tries not to think too hard about his chances. When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He is torn from his family and paired with the most stuck-up girl in town; Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. He must steel his resolve to survive the deadly arena.
Evelyn remembers each of her past lives. She is always horrifically murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being.
These memories haunt her, and she looks to break this connection that tethers her. She must work quickly to break the curse before she is pulled to Arden in forbidden love—not only for her sake but also for her sister’s life.
Bestselling author Katherine Winston retreats to a nearby small town to hide her true identity. She mainly interacts with people anonymously online through reader fan pages. Now, one of those fans appears in danger, and Katherine desperately wants to help but is conflicted about leaving her carefully constructed sanctuary. She senses danger lurking closer to her hideout. Only by leaving her self-imposed exile can she hope to find the answers she needs, the courage to trust again, and an unexpected new beginning.
Thirteen-year-old Ben Ripley is not exactly the best student spy school has ever seen—he keeps flunking Advanced Self-Preservation. Ben is great at staying alive and surviving all his enemy’s attacks.
After all that unexpected success, the CIA has decided to activate Ben for real—on a high-stakes mission at a glamorous ski resort. Ben might not be able to handle a weapon (or a pair of skis), but he can make friends easily. That is, until his best friend from home drops in on the trip and jeopardizes the entire mission.
New Booklists from Reference!
Beyond The Hunger Games: Great Dystopian Titles, Old and New
For those who cannot get enough of this anticipated installment of Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games series, consider the following titles for similar great reads (or DVD views) in the dystopian arena —new titles plus some tried-and-true favorites.
For Fans of “The Fairest of Them All”
Disney’s live-action movie Snow White was released on March 21. Take a walk through some spooky woods with these fantasy offerings. They are much sweeter than a poisoned apple!
Minecraft Mania at Your Library
Celebrate the release of A Minecraft Movie released on 4 April! These are just a handful of PCL catalog items that tie in with the skills honed in playing the popular 3-D sandbox video game, including coding, survival, problem-solving/math skills, basic engineering, and building. A unique offering is a 2022 Minecraft Magnetic Travel Puzzle by Ravensburger with 40 Challenges—beginner to expert—featuring Steve and Alex battling a horde of monsters. This can be found in PCL’s Games and Puzzles area.
Kanopy and hoopla are free at-home streaming apps courtesy of your library for Parkland School District and Northwestern residents 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.
Laugh Out Loud Comedy
Experience endless laughter with our selection of funny comedy movies and stand-up specials, all accessible for free on hoopla for your viewing and listening pleasure.
Easter Stories & Activities for Kids
Easter is April 20. Enjoy joyful Easter songs and hymns to animated Easter movies and books for preschoolers, and fill this holiday’s Easter celebration with kid-friendly entertainment.
All Things National Park Week, April 19-27
Celebrate National Park Week by embarking on a journey through America’s national parks with captivating documentaries and books. Experience the wonders of nature and learn about preservationists like John Muir, who helped protect these treasures.
Arab Heritage Month
Discover the depth of Arab heritage this month with a curated collection of stories, culture, and history. Here, you can find captivating movies and enlightening books, all showcasing the vibrant contributions of Arabs in North America and beyond.
Scholarships available to Volunteers
In Honor of Alice Madden and Norman Dietrich
Available in the spring each year.
The Friends of the Parkland Community are now accepting applications for their annual scholarships. Graduating Seniors who have volunteered in some capacity at the Friends Book Sales or Parkland Community Library are eligible to apply. The application can be found on the Library website. Click on Support Us and scroll down to FPCL information until you get to the scholarship application. Applications must be submitted by June 27, 2025.
This annual scholarship, created in memory of Alice Madden and Norman Dietrich, is awarded each spring to applicable volunteers. Students must be graduating high school seniors who have volunteered with the Friends or at Parkland Community Library.
Family Guidance, Parenting Tips, and More!
Parkland Community Library aims to strengthen families by supporting the parent-child relationship. We can use our resources to reach local families and improve their lives.
New Database!
ParentTV offers thousands of on-demand parenting videos created by renowned educators. The content is designed to support those who care for children from pregnancy through teenage years.
Search for and find videos on general parenting, play, behavior, child development, mental health, sleep, nutrition, technology, and more. Most videos are under 10 minutes long and can be accessed on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. You can watch in Arabic, Cantonese, Hindi, Mandarin, or Spanish.
Family Place Libraries
Parkland Community Library is a Family Place Library. We aim to strengthen families by supporting the parent-child relationship and merging our resources and collaboration to reach more families and improve lives. PCL offers programs inviting healthcare professionals to educate parents and families on the importance of early childhood development. We provide a supportive and nonjudgmental environment where families can learn to build strong family bonds and meet other new families.
PCL is a Family Place Library. Read more about it in our blog.
Parenting Collection
Unique to PCL
Each LCLC library has a unique collection. At Parkland Community Library, our parenting collection includes materials and resources on various topics to support your role as a parent or caregiver. Topics include pregnancy, styles of discipline, developmental milestones, homeschooling, potty training, and beyond. Stop by the Barclay Family Children’s Wing.
National Library Week Days of Note
National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. Millions of people across the country visit their libraries every week. What’s the draw? Everything.
Monday, April 7: Right to Read Day, a day for readers, advocates, and library lovers to take action to protect, defend, and celebrate the right to read. The American Library Association (ALA) kicks off National Library Week by releasing its State of America’s Libraries Report, including the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2024.
Tuesday, April 8: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.
Wednesday, April 9: National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day), a day to celebrate library outreach and the dedicated library professionals meeting their patrons where they are.
Thursday, April 10: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to support libraries.
Neighborhood Forest 2025
Gives free trees to kids every Earth Day. The trees have arrived on April 16, 2025. We are excited to announce that Parkland Community Library is participating in the 16th annual Neighborhood Forest Free Trees for Kids program this spring in honor of Earth Day! This program allows children in our community to receive free…
May Library News
2025 Welcome to your May 2025 edition of Library News! This month is a beautiful time to visit the library. Watch our native plant garden come alive! Stroll through the garden to see which plants bloom and enjoy the serene surroundings. Relish a quiet moment observing the beneficial pollinators, a few birds, or a bunny.…
Seed Library
May 2025 Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, the Seed Library has something for everyone. Mix and match your seed packets to create a garden that suits your preferences and tastes. We have various seeds, from artichokes to zucchinis, herbs to wildflowers. Exciting news – we have expanded our selection to include herbs…