Have a library card? It gets you way more than books!

When most people picture a library, they envision a place stacked with books, and while the Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library has many of those, they offer so much more. Here are some things you can get with your library card and are free to you!

Education

If you’ve always wanted to learn a foreign language, the Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library has an online resource called Pronunciator that will help you do just that. Each lesson is self-directed and includes features such as foreign movies and music. There is also the opportunity to learn from a teacher giving a live lesson.

With a library card, GALE courses, which last six weeks, are digital classes that can educate you on anything from accounting and education to healthcare and personal development. In fact, GALE offers 368 courses that will strengthen your career assets. If you want to strengthen your business knowledge, why spend money on a course when you can get one for free?

On Saturday, March 16th, from 2:00-3:00 p.m., H&R Block senior analyst Sandra Young will be a speaker at the library, discussing tax law changes. She will be discussing the changes to the new laws. If you need tax forms, you can pick those up there, as well. Also, the library’s online resource POWER Library will help you search for a job or manage personal finances. Research a subject. Learn about your family history. Locate a title. Explore career options. If you’re in school, POWER Library is a good database for searching academic journals or historical documents.

Business and Career

Looking for a job or want to update your resume? Schedule an appointment with CareerLink for in depth help or use the library computers to apply for your next career!

For those interested in starting a small business or already have one, Westmoreland SCORE offers Small Business Basics courses at the library. Through SCORE, you can learn all about entrepreneurship and can enhance your marketing skills during one of their courses. These three-hour courses will help you both revise and polish your business plan, and you can receive professional advice. Once again, this is all free.

Books in other formats

Maybe you are someone who prefers listening to books while driving in the car. Or maybe you are someone who avoids books altogether and would rather watch a movie. It doesn’t matter: the library offers both audiobooks and DVDs. Even if you enjoy reading on your Kindle, you can rent ebooks for free, as well, all through the library.

For the Kids

The children’s space at the Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library was updated in 1997 and encompasses a separate portion of the second floor of the building. The Children’s Floor is a space where children are encouraged to be themselves and explore the joy of learning, filled with books, magazines, DVDs, AWE Computers, building blocks, and stuffed animals.

They offer hundreds of programs that promote lifelong learning in a variety of ways. Using resources through the county library system, grants, and their own staff’s planning, they strive to meet the needs of all learners.

For example, if your children enjoy technology or computers, coding club is offered for ages 6-9 on Saturdays 12-1 p.m. This way, they can develop their technical skills from an early age. For the younger ones, story time is offered on Tuesdays to toddlers ages 3-5, starting February 5th. The event will be in the morning–at 10 a.m. For kids who are a little bit older, chess club is offered for ages 8 and up. Chess club occurs on various times throughout the month, so be sure to check it out. For tween and teen programs they focus on STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. Learn more about their children’s programs.

For Adults

Throughout the year, the Library offers a variety of programs and classes for adults. Need a little help with technology? No worries! Monday evenings they offer 1 on 1 with Reese where you can get instruction on basic computer programs like Word and Excel. If you’re more into reading and analyzing books, there are several book discussions that are scheduled. GHAL also has a great reading list to start you off with!

For many years, the Library and the Greensburg Art Center have partnered to display art in the library. They have many opening receptions for new exhibitions during the year.

For only five dollars a bag, the library also sells used books, and the profits go towards the library. Buying used books is way cheaper than buying them at a name-brand store, and your purchase helps out the library. It’s a win-win.

Don’t have a library card? Here’s how to get one.

In order to receive a library card, you just need to be a resident in Westmoreland County. For adults, two forms of identification are required, along with one with a current address and photo I.D. If you want one for your child, you just have to be present with them and bring along two forms of I.D. The adult must also sign the registration card and be accountable for any damaged items.

Next time you think about spending money, think again. The library might offer it for free.

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