Celebrate National Library Week with April Programs at The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County

“Join the Circle of Knowledge @ Your Library” during National Library Week, April 13-19. Whether visiting our libraries or our website, if you want to learn, you will! We've got books, audio books, e-books, newspapers, magazines, databases and more, as well as resourceful librarians to help you find what you're looking for. So this month, root yourself in the library and watch your brilliance branch out!

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

“A-Maze-ing Earth Day” - Find your way through an Earth Day maze for a chance to win a prize. For children of all ages. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Canfield , Library Hours, April 21-26
Greenford , Library Hours, April 21-24
Sebring , Library Hours, April 21-26

“Author Visit: Bobbie Hinman” - Author Bobbie Hinman will visit Main Library at 10 a.m. April 4 to read and sign her children's book, “The Knot Fairy.” The following day, she will appear at the Youngstown Area Book Fair at Mill Creek MetroParks. Ms. Hinman's inspiration for the book, a whimsical explanation for waking with tangles, came while brushing her grandchildren's hair. She is also the author and co-author of seven cookbooks, including the “Lean and Luscious” and “The Meatless Gourmet” series. For families of children ages preschool to second grade. Sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County.
Main Library , 10 a.m., April 4

“Berenstain Bears Family Fun” - Stories, games and a craft for ages 4-8. Sign up.
Boardman , 7 p.m., April 29

“Calling All Tweens!” - For National Poetry Month, tell a silly poem and win a silly prize. For grades 4-6. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Main Library , Library Hours, April

“Celebrity Pajama Jam: Sleepy-Time Fun for the Family” - Put on your PJs, bring out the whole family and listen to bedtime stories read by Mrs. Kijowski, principal of Holy Family School.
Poland , 7-7:30 p.m., April 28

“Come and Join the Fun” - Stories and fun for ages 4-5.
Austintown , 10 a.m., April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Boardman , 1 p.m. , April 2, 9*, 16, 23, 30
Canfield , 1:30 p.m., April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Main Library , 10 a.m., April 3 (Program: Counting on Each Other) & April 17 (Program: Sing for Spring)
Poland , 1 p.m., April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
*“Maisy” stories and craft

“Creation Station: A Make-and-Take Craft Program” - For grades K-6.
Austintown , Library Hours, April (Program: Crafty Springtime)
Brownlee Woods , 4-6 p.m., April 16 (Program: Space Mobile)
Campbell , 4-6 p.m., April 15 (Program: Space Mobile)
Struthers , 4-6 p.m., April 14 (Program: Space Mobile)
East , Library Hours, April 7-10

“Family Story Time: Feeling Silly” - Stories, games and a craft for children of all ages.
Main Library , 7 p.m., April 8

“Guess 'N' Go – Do You Know?” - Guess the number of items in the jar. Closest guess wins! For grades 6 and younger.
Poland , Library Hours, April 1-15
Springfield , Library Hours, April 1-15

“I Pity the Fool …” - Don't be an April fool! Come and join our trivia game! Winner gets a prize. For grades 1-4.
South , 4:30 p.m., April 15
West , 4 p.m., April 21

“Kids' Club: Silly Is As Silly Does” - Stories, games and a craft for grades K-3.
Main Library , 4 p.m., April 23

“Pajamarama!” - Stories and a craft for children of all ages. Wear your pajamas and fuzzy slippers!
Austintown , 6:30 p.m., April 17

“Something Special” - Stories and fun for ages 4-5.
Sebring , 10 a.m., April 17

“Spring Into Story Time” - Stories and a craft for ages 4-5.
West , 4:30 p.m., April 9

“Tiger Tales: Favorite Stories and Fun!” - Stories and more fun for children of all ages.
Springfield , 11 a.m., April 26

“Trim a Tree for April” - Decorate an ornament for our all-seasons tree. For children of all ages.
Poland , Library Hours, April
Springfield , Library Hours, April

“Weather… or Not” - Got a mind for meteorology? Savvy about storms? Think you know about thunder? Stop in and check out our weather quiz. Highest score wins a prize. For grades 4-6.
East , Library Hours, April 7-17
South , Library Hours, April 8-19
West , Library Hours, April 7-19

“Baby Brilliant: Time for Babies and Books” - Books, songs, rhymes and more. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Austintown , 10 a.m. (6-23 months), April 10 & 24
Boardman , 9:30 a.m. (6-12 months) & 10:30 a.m. (13-23 months), April 3
Canfield , 10 a.m. (6-23 months), April 21
Main Library , 10 a.m. (6-23 months), April 5, 12, 19, 26
Poland , 10 a.m. (6-23 months), April 2, 9, 16, 19, 23, 30

“Baby Brilliant for Adults: Sharing Books with Babies and Toddlers” - Learn tips and techniques for sharing books with early talkers that will help your child develop critical pre-reading skills. For parents, teachers and caregivers of children ages 0-23 months. Sign up by calling the Austintown branch at 330-792-6982.
Austintown , 7-9 p.m., April 15

“Guitar Lessons” - At your own speed, learn the basics of playing the guitar! Bring your own guitar or we'll provide an extra. For grades 7-12. Space is limited, so sign up today.
Brownlee Woods , 4:30 p.m., April 9 & 11
Campbell , 4:30 p.m., April 1 & 22
Struthers , 4:30 p.m., April 7 & 21

“Magnetic Poetry” - Celebrate National Poetry Month by making your own magnetic poetry kit. We'll have snacks. For grades 7-12. Sign up! Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Main Library , 4 p.m., April 29

“Some Seriously Sweet Slang” ­- Laugh out loud at these hilarious slang terms that have been used by American teens from the 1900s to the present. Correctly match each slang term to its proper meaning and you could win a prize! For grades 7-12. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Canfield , Library Hours, April
Sebring , Library Hours, April

“Switch It Up!” - Decorate a light-switch plate and add your own personal style to your bedroom. Standard, single-switch plates will be provided. Enjoy snacks, too! Then, have your parents install your newly decorated switch plate for you. For grades 7-12. Space and materials are limited, so sign up is required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Canfield , 3:30 p.m., April 10
Sebring , 3:30 p.m., April 8

“TAB: Teen Advisory Board” - Want to meet new people? Have ideas for future teen events and programs? Need service credits? Like free snacks? Then check us out at the monthly TAB (Teen Advisory Board). We meet the first Wednesday of the month. Newcomers are always welcome! For grades 7-12.
Boardman , 6:30 p.m., April 2

“CSI Y'Town” - Join fans of mystery books, movies and TV to hear Jim Fisher, former FBI agent and professor of criminal investigation, criminal law and forensic science at Edinboro University, discuss his seventh and newest true crime book, “Forensics Under Fire: Are Bad Science and Dueling Experts Corrupting Criminal Justice?” The book exposes forensic science as it really is, not as it is portrayed on TV, covering fingerprint identification, DNA analysis, bite-mark wounds, handwriting and more. CSI Y'Town is sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County and is a chapter of the national “Sisters in Crime” organization. For more information about CSI Y'Town, call the Library's development office at 330-744-8636, extension 118.
Poland , 6:30 p.m., April 8

“Dr. Deborah Abbott: Genealogy Guest Presenter” - Dr. Deborah A. Abbott will discuss: 1) Getting Started: A Librarian Is Your Best Friend (discover how to fill out family group sheets and pedigree charts, as well as genealogy resources available at libraries). 2) A Needle in a Haystack: Slave Genealogy (find out how to do African-American research prior to 1870, with techniques applicable to all types of research). 3) Going Beyond the Basics: The Federal Census and Vital Records (learn how to get the most out of census, birth, marriage and death records).

Dr. Abbott is a professor of counseling at Cuyahoga Community College in Parma, Ohio. She previously taught genealogy classes for the school's Continuing Education Division and the Shaker Heights Adult Recreation Department. She is past president of the African-American Genealogical Society in Cleveland and is now a member of the society's travel and education committees. Dr. Abbott is also a member of the National Genealogical Society, the Western Reserve Historical Society, the Caswell County (N.C.) History Association, the Utah Genealogical Association and the Genealogical Speakers Guild. She has attended many local, state, regional and national genealogical conferences and has been a student at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Dr. Abbott has been researching since 1990 in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Ohio. The techniques she teaches are based on her own family research, through which she has been able to document and identify three of her family's slaveholders.

To register, call the Austintown Branch at 330-792-6982. Sponsored by the Library and the Mahoning County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society.
Austintown , 10 a.m.-1 p.m., April 12

“Friends of the Library Meetings” - Friends of the Library are special volunteers who give of their time and services to support the Library. To join or find out more, call the Library's development office at 330-744-8636, extension 118.
Austintown , 10 a.m., April 21 (Program: “Mines” by Ann G. Harris, Certified Professional Geologist and professor emeritus, department of geology, Youngstown State University.)
Boardman , 10 a.m., April 14 (Program: “Nesting Habits of North American Birds” by Patrice Harvey of Wild Birds Unlimited in Boardman)
East , 4 p.m., April 7
Poland , 9:30 a.m., April 1 (Program: “Form and Function: The Beauty of Glass” by Jessica Trickett, manager of collections and curatorial services at the Arms Family Museum of Local History)

“Grant Center: Grant-Seeking Basics With a Special Introduction to the Foundation Center Website” - Learn how the Grant Center's resources can help you become a more effective grant-seeker! This introductory session geared to beginners provides instruction in foundation research and identification of potential funders. It also includes a tour of the Grant Center and an introduction to the Foundation Center website. Registration is required; call 330-744-8636 and press “2” at the prompt.
Main Library , 9:30 a.m., April 22

“Grant Center: Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online” - This hour-long session provides a hands-on introduction to the Foundation Center's Web subscription database, the Foundation Directory Online Professional. In this program, you will learn how to create customized searches to develop targeted lists of foundations that will match your organization's funding needs, as well as how to search grants made by top funders. Registration is required; call 330-744-8636 and press “2” at the prompt.
Main Library , 6:30 p.m., April 30

“Lunch & Learn: ‘Searching for Clues' With Jim Fisher” - Jim Fisher, former FBI agent and professor of criminal investigation, criminal law and forensic science at Edinboro University, will discuss his seventh and newest true crime book, “Forensics Under Fire: Are Bad Science and Dueling Experts Corrupting Criminal Justice?” The book exposes forensic science as it really is, not as it is portrayed on TV, covering fingerprint identification, DNA analysis, bite-mark wounds, handwriting and more. Co-sponsored by the YSU English department and the Friends of the Library. For information, call 330-744-8636, extension 118.
Main Library , Noon-1 p.m., April 8

“Women's Book Discussion Group” - Women who enjoy reading and would like to meet others with the same interest are invited to participate in this discussion group, which focuses on a different book every few weeks. The group meets twice monthly and is sponsored by The Friends of The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County. The bookstore is located in the lower level of the Poland Library. For information, call 330-744-8636, extension 118.
Friends of PLYMC Bookstore, Poland , 7 p.m., April 14 & 28

“Blood-Pressure Screenings by the ‘Original' Visiting Nurse Association of Mahoning Co.”
East , 2-3 p.m., April 1
Main Library , 10 a.m.-Noon, April 24
South , 2-3 p.m., April 8
West , 1-3 p.m., April 15