March 2024: Volume 3, Issue 3

Centre County Reads – the county’s community read program – has been going strong since 2003. Each year, the Center for American Literary Studies at Penn State, Centre County Library & Historical Museum, Schlow Centre Region Library, and Pennsylvania Center for the Book collaborate in bringing the county together to read and discuss one book. The chosen book is intended to allow us all to explore the human condition and current issues together.



For the 2024 program, the Centre County Reads committee has chosen the book, “The Violin Conspiracy” by Brendan Slocumb. The novel is a thrilling story about a Black classical musician and the race to retrieve his priceless family heirloom violin on the eve of a classical music competition. You can borrow print copies of the novel at any of our branches and digital copies on the Libby App with your library card.

Most events for the 2024 Centre County Reads program will be happening this month (including those at Centre County Library locations). On March 20th from 7 PM-8 PM, Brendan Slocumb will join our community for a virtual discussion moderated by Dr. Marica S. Tacconi, Distinguished Professor of Musicology from Penn State. To register for the Brendan Slocumb virtual visit and see a full list of events, check the Centre County Reads website by clicking the button below:

Do you know a young author or illustrator that has stories to tell? Let them know about our Young Author and Illustrator competition! Storytellers can work alone to write and illustrate a story or work with a friend. Entries will be judged by grade level. 3 winners and 2 honorable mentions will be chosen for each grade. All placing stories are eligible to be purchased as a hardbound book for your personal library at the cost of $22.00 per book. The 1st place winning stories will be bound as a hardback book that will stay in the library’s permanent collection. What an opportunity! Entries are due on April 1st, 2024. Click the link below to learn more and download materials.

Have your children (ages 6-12) join us at the Bellefonte Library in the Community Room on Wednesday, March 6 from 4:30 to 5:30 to learn basic sewing skills. They will choose felt and decorations to make their own library card holders. They can also choose whether they would like to make it as a lanyard or pin. Click the button below to register.

Spring will officially be here on March 19th, and that means it's time for an egg hunt! Join us in the Bellefonte Children's Garden on March 29th at 10:30 AM and find colorful eggs filled with prizes! All families with children 0-8 are welcome. If you haven't been to the Children's Garden before: it is the pretty garden behind the Miles-Humes House on 203 North Allegheny Street. In the event of rain, the Hunt will take place in the Bellefonte Library across the street.

Join us virtually or in person at the Bellefonte Library for one of our Film Talks in March. On Friday, March 1st at 1 PM, the club will meet in person to watch and then discuss the film, "The Soloist." This film was chosen in celebration of Centre County Reads. On Friday, March 15th at 1 PM the club will meet virtually to discuss the Oscar nominated film of 2023, "Past Lives." Please register for the meeting on March 15th by emailing film@CentreCountyLibrary.org so that you can receive the Zoom link and ensure that you can obtain a copy of the movie.

Throughout the month of March, Kid's Music Take and Makes will be available for pickup at the Centre Hall Area Branch Library and Bellefonte Library in celebration of the 2024 Centre County Reads' book selection, "The Violin Conspiracy," by Brendan Slocumb.

Spend the month of March showing off your literary love and creative prowess at the Centre Hall Area Branch Library! Enter the Peeps Diorama contest and make a Peep diorama based on a book of your choice and display it at the library. All ages can participate and there is only one entry aloud per person. Prizes are available! Entries will be accepted at the Centre Hall library circulation desk from Thursday, March 14th until Monday, March 25th. Click the link below to learn more on our website!

If you don't want to enter the contest, but you are excited to see the Peeps, stop by the library between March 25th and 30th. During this time, you can vote for the Peep-le's Choice Award and enjoy the creativity of your community.

Happy Valley Frugal Living is currently an active Facebook Group of deal finding and meal planning citizens of Centre County. This month, the leader of the group, Amanda, will be holding a class on Easy Frugal Meal Planning at the Centre Hall Area Branch Library on Tuesday, March 26th, 6 PM. Register to attend by calling 814-364-2580 or by clicking the link below.

Bring yourself and your family to get free health screenings! The Lion Mobile Clinic will be stopping by the Centre Hall Area Branch Library on Monday, March 25th from 10 AM to 12 PM. Everyone is welcome to stop by for FREE health screenings. No appointments or insurance are needed.

While the Lion Mobile Clinic is in Centre Hall, its Penn State Medical Students will be hosting a health program for kids at 11 AM. Kids will learn about the importance of being clean and staying away from germs!

Join us virtually or at one of our locations for any of our book clubs! We even have a book club for book lovers who prefer talking about books in general rather than a specific book. See below for details.

Monday, March 4th, 6PM: Stop by the Holt Memorial Library to discuss the Centre County Reads Book, "The Violin Conspiracy," by Brendan Slocumb. No registration is necessary.

Saturday, March 9th, 10 AM: Book Lovers Coffee Hour. Come discuss what you are reading with other book lovers! Please register to attend by clicking the button below and receive a Zoom link via email!

Thursday, March 14th, 6 PM: The Centre Hall Mystery Book Club is discussing the mystery novel, "The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave for the March meeting. Call 814-364-2580 or stop by the Centre Hall Branch Library to sign up to attend.

Wednesday, March 20th 6 PM: The Virtual Evening Book Discussion Group will be discussing the novel, "Young Jane Young" by Gabrielle Zevin this month in honor of Women's History Month. Please register to attend by clicking the button below and receive a Zoom link via email.

Thursday, March 28th, 6 PM: Join us for our "Booked for Murder" mystery book club at the Bellefonte Library! This month, we will be discussing the Centre County Reads novel, "The Violin Conspiracy" by Brendan Slocumb. Click the button below to be added to our text message reminder group for the Booked for Murder book club.

Kids Connect, a specially designed program for elementary and middle school youth, takes place on Thursday evenings at the Holt Memorial Library from 6-7pm. Each week will feature a different activity: STEM, games, art, and more. Space and supplies are limited, so you must register to attend. Click the link below to register to attend any of the events.

March 7th, 6 PM: Oobleck (ages 5-13)! Join us as we mix up some oobleck at the library!

March 14th, 6 PM: Musical Petting Zoo (ages 5-13). Have your children join in the fun of 2024 Centre County Reads and attend a music program. Join the folks from Robert M. Sides Family Music Center for a hands-on exploration of instruments in the brass, woodwind, string and percussion families.

March 21st, 6 PM: Kids in the Kitchen: Lion Sandwich (ages 5-13). Join us as we learn basic kitchen skills and make a delicious lion sandwich!

March 28th, 6 PM: LEGO Night (ages 5-13). Build with LEGOs, Duplos, Lincoln Logs and more!

Saturday, March 9th, 11 AM: Teen & Adult Book BINGO. Come to play BINGO and win books! Space is limited, so please register by calling (814) 342-1987, stopping in, or clicking the button below.

Mission

Centre County Library & Historical Museum is a free community destination providing books, information, Internet access, and technology resources to preserve our heritage and promote a lifetime of reading and learning.

Vision

Centre County Library & Historical Museum will be an inviting and vital part of our community by providing access to current technology and services to foster education and to enhance our community’s quality of life.

We are a PA Forward Library

PA Forward is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Library Association designed to increase awareness of the vital role libraries play in the well-being of their communities.

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