PA Forward is a dynamic initiative that redefines Pennsylvania’s libraries as a central hub for promoting the five literacies essential to our citizens’ success: Basic literacy, Information literacy, Civic and Social literacy, Health literacy and Financial literacy.

Visit paforward.org to learn more about what makes your local library uniquely qualified to be your community’s leader of information, technology, and learning –places that fuel educational and economic opportunity for all.

 The purpose of this series is to educate the public concerning various aspects of their health and to give the public an opportunity to interact with teachers of medicine.  Each of the programs will be presented at 7 PM at the Hirt auditorium of the Blasco Library on the dates listed below.  This series is designed such that each presentation will consist of a clinician presenting information on the clinical aspects of the particular topic for approximately 30 min., followed by a basic science instructor discussing medications, specific complications, body changes, etc. for approximately 30 min.  Time will then be allowed for questions and discussion with the audience.  The schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, February 29, 2012.  “Answers to the most commonly asked questions during early pregnancy.”  Presented by Carla Picardo, M.D., MPH, and Peggy Boyd, CNM
• Wednesday, March 21, 2012.  “Cardiovascular health” presented by Carmine D’Amico, D.O. and Raeann Carrier, PhD
• Wednesday, May 16, 2012.  “Exercise is Medicine” presented by Danielle Hansen, DO and Tyler G. Travis MA, CSCS.

To see a listing of all adult programming presented by the library, check out our Events and Adult Programs page.

A View is a self-playing, hand-held, all-in-one media player. Each View is preloaded with multiple videos.

The Playaways check out for one week. Limit: one View per person at a time.

Playaway Views are durable as they are designed with kids in mind. They are portable, with a built-in speaker. Charger included in the box. No rental fees. No DVDs to put into a player. No downloading. Just press play and view!

Update – February 2012

To receive the library newsletter via email, go to our e-newsletter sign-up page, click the box in front of Library Newsletter, enter you email address in the space provided at the bottom and click subscribe.

Freegal is a downloadable music service from our library. All you need is your library card number and your library account to be in good standing. With access to the Sony Music Entertainment catalog, it offers hundreds of thousands of songs, over 100 genres of music, and more than 50 record labels, all without having to download software or have any digital rights management (DRM) issues to deal with. Access to Freegal is limited to patrons of subscribing libraries.

Each  patron may download up to 3 free songs per week. The download counter resets each week at midnight Sunday Eastern Time.

Access Freegal

The Lakes Contender is 740 feet long and capable of carrying 38,000 tons of cargo.

Photos from Erie Shipping News. Go to the Erie Shipping News website for larger photos.

• Monday and Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday, 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m.

The Millcreek Branch Library began offering expanded hours in January. The hours are:

• Monday and Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Edinboro Branch hours remain as follows:

• Monday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday, 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m.

Usage at the branch libraries is climbing and these additional hours enable patrons to more readily access library services at their neighborhood library. Enjoy the expanded hours and visit a branch library today!

Tax forms can be downloaded from the Internet at the following sites:

WWW.IRS.GOV
WWW.1040.COM
WWW.REVENUE.STATE.PA.US

You can use the public computer to download forms from the Internet. Cost is 10 cents per page. At the Blasco Library, you can use a print card or pay at the Computer Lab desk. At the branches, please pay at the Circulation Desk.

Tax forms can be picked up at:

FEDERAL FORMS:

IRS Office Griswold Plaza Post Office
1314 Griswold Plaza
(West 13th and Peach Streets)
456-5269

STATE FORMS:

PA Revenue Office
448 West 11th Street
871–4491

LOCAL FORMS:

Erie City Hall
Income Tax Office
626 State Street
870-1220

Millcreek Township
Tax Collector’s Office
3740 West 26th Street
838-8666

This Hot Wheels display comes courtesy of a long time Iroquois Branch Library user who has been collecting (and playing with) Hot Wheels toys and accessories since he was a child. He remembers especially having fun with the loop the loop track as a kid.

It will be on display at Iroquois until January 31st.

Anyone who is interested in sharing and displaying small collections in the Iroquois window is invited to contact the branch at 451-7082.

The library received a video magnifier (also known as closed circuit TVs) . When you use this CCTV “Topaz” device you can magnify documents, books, magazines, newspapers,
letters and more so that you can read them more easily.  This vision aid lets you adjust the brightness and select different colors. 

Blasco and the bookmobile also received portable hand-held magnification devices called Rubies that perform many of the same functions as the larger “Topaz” unit. The portal units will be available for use in the Blasco Library Reference and the Heritage rooms as well as on the Bookmobile.

Topaz Magnifier in use at Blasco