Clubs and Programs... for Adults!

While we are a very family-oriented library, with various well-known children's and teen's programs, we also have free clubs and programs for adults, where anyone 18 or older may join! No dues or mandatory meetings are required - just friendly gatherings between people who want to make a difference. Why not try one of these staples?

Book Club: The Book Club meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7pm to comment on and discuss a designated novel with others. The library posts flyers that list the Book Club choices for each month. The books read by the Club range from classics to biographies, pop fiction to historical novels. Anyone who reads the monthly Book Club pick may come to the meeting!

Garden Club: These folks meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7pm to plan summer weedings in the community, plant exchanges, fundraisers, and picnics! The club even has special informational speakers at every meeting, covering topics from composting to invasive plants. From "master gardeners" to "weed-keepers," you're welcome to join!

Knitting Club: From beginners to "old pros," this knitting circle is for everyone! The Knitting Club meets every other Tuesday from 10am - noon; check the flyers in the library for specific dates. While the Club sometimes works together on special projects, you are encouraged to bring your own knitting. Whether for help or for friendly company, if you like to knit, the Knitting Club is for you!


We also have other special adult programs and clubs, such as:

Computer Classes & Programs: These classes and programs cover basic to moderate computer skills, from learning about using a mouse to navigating the Internet and creating formulas in Excel. Classes are taught in the Community Room throughout the year on various topics; keep an eye on the bulletin window for class offerings!

Comfort Keepers: These helpful meetings are for those with aging parents. These speakers point out warning signs, suggest plans for lifestyle changes, and reference reliable local services for adults that want information about caring for their elderly parents. These meetings are great resources, so if you fall into this category, watch for the Comfort Keepers flyers!

Community Room Events: From art classes and insurance help in summer to Santa visits and special speakers in winter, various fun and informative events are scheduled at the library throughout the year! Event dates will be posted in advance in the library and around town to keep you posted!

 Also, if you are part of a non-profit group or club that needs a meeting place, you can apply to use our  Community Room at the front desk. You can view the Community Room Application here!

Both men and women enjoy these events, so if you're interested in any of these clubs or meetings, feel free to call the desk for more information, or just drop in and give them a try! See you here!

Getting a Passport @ your library!

What do winter vacations to Bermuda, summer cruises to the Caribbean, viewing the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, school trips to Germany, and studying abroad have in common? You need a U.S. Passport!  
Did you know that you can apply for one right here at our library? The library processes applications by appointment only, so please call first!

When calling to schedule an appointment, the librarian will go over the list of things you need to bring before asking when you'd like to schedule. Please keep in mind - Minors aged 16 or 17 only need one parent in attendance, while children under 16 need to have both parents in attendance. If one parent absolutely cannot attend (ie, they're out of state or country), they must fill out a DS-3053 Statement of Consent form and have it notarized in advance. Adults 18 and older may apply on their own.  

Please procure the following items for each applicant:


1) Your original birth certificate, issued by the state, with a raised seal, and both of your parent's names listed as well as yours. (We cannot take photocopies, hospital or baptismal certificates, "registration of birth" certificates, or birth certificates that do not have your parent's names listed, according to Agency rules. If you need a new birth certificate, visit the Department of Health website of the state where you were born to  request a new one. You can visit the PA website here.) If you are over 18, you may use your expired U.S. Passport in place of a birth certificate.

2) Your valid Driver's License, Government, or Military ID if you are 16 or older. You can use a PA State ID, issued by the DMV, but you'll also need to bring a second form of identification. Driving permits cannot be accepted. For minors under 16, both parents must be in attendance and have their valid driver's license; no ID for the child is required.

3) A recent passport photo. These photos have very specific requirements, so it is best if you have your photo taken at CVS, a AAA agency, or any number of other places. Wear items you normally wear, keep a straight face, and if you have polarized or progressive glasses, remove them for your picture. Taking your picture at home or using a school photo is strongly discouraged.

4) A completed DS-11 Passport Application Form. This form must be filled out in black ink, whether you fill it out online and print it, or if you fill it out by hand. (If you bring a form filled out in pencil or any other ink, you will be asked to fill it out again using black ink.)  Read the directions and the form itself, then fill it out as carefully and completely as possible. Whatever you leave blank will have to be researched by the Agency, and could delay processing. If you make a mistake, do not use whiteout - simply draw a line through the error and write the correct answer next to the error.

5) Two checks or money orders per application. One check or money order will be mailed with your passport application. This amount varies according to your age, what type of passport you'd like, and how soon you need the passport. You can check current prices here.

The other check or money order is for the $25 processing fee, which helps to support the library. If needed, you may pay cash for the processing fee, or combine the processing fees for multiple people, but you must use a separate check or money order for each passport application fee. In other words, a family of four would need at least 5 checks: one for each person's application fee, and one for their combined $25 processing fees. We cannot accept starter checks.


Before you come to the library for your appointment, please make sure that you have all of these things with you!  Bring your things to the front desk upon arrival and inform the library ladies that you're here for a passport appointment. We'll take it from there!

 *NOTE: You can renew your passport by yourself if it expires soon or if it has expired within 15 years of its issue date. (If it's been more than 15 years since your passport was issued, or if you never had one before, you need to fill out the DS-11 form and make an appointment with the library.) Pick up a DS-82 form, make sure you can say "yes" to all of the questions on the checklist, then fill out and mail the form yourself according to the directions. The library cannot process these renewals, though we can answer questions about them!

You can view all of the specific requirements and the complete list of other accepted forms of citizenship, IDs, and special circumstances here.


If you have any questions, feel free to call the library, or visit the Official Passport Website, travel.state.gov. See you here!

A Real Hotspot!

Did you know that our library has free Wi-Fi as well as Internet-accessible computers? If your Wi-Fi is on the blink, or if you just happened to be stopping by and want to check your email, you can use your iPad, Kindle, Nook, or laptop to access the Internet!

No matter the device or laptop, when you bring it in to the library, there are few steps to take before you can browse the Internet. First you need to connect to our Wi-Fi. Double click on your Wi-Fi or wireless icon, then click on our Wi-Fi name, "Kutztown Community Library."

Once you're connected to our Wi-Fi, open your browser of choice on your device (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc) and type where you want to go into the address bar. The Wi-Fi will stop you from going to the site, briefly showing a "You're not connected to the Internet" message, before showing you a page titled the "Louisa Gonser Internet Policy," which lists the details of our current Internet policy. Carefully read through our Internet policy before clicking on the "Accept" button at the bottom. After that, you're free to browse the Internet to do what you need to do!

Please note: We are a public library and therefore any websites or images that endorse adult themes will be blocked, according to state law and our own policy. Also, our printers are not connected to the Wi-Fi, so if you need to print, you'll need to be on one of our computers.

If you need help accessing the Internet while you're here, or if you have any questions about connecting to our Wi-Fi with your specific device, feel free to ask one of the library ladies for help! We hope you'll stop by soon!

Requesting Books in the System + Access PA How-To

With budget cuts, it's hard for the library to keep up with demand, though we do our best! Sometimes we won't have the item that you're looking for. However, since you belong to the Kutztown Community Library of the Berks County Public Libraries, you're in luck! All of the 24 Berks County Public Libraries, from Leesport to Robesonia, have their collections combined into one giant countywide catalog. It's like one giant library, split into many different buildings.

Therefore, if we don't have the item that you want, but other Berks County libraries do, you can request the item to come to our library, where you can check it out normally! Once you request an item, you're put on a list. Every day, libraries pull the items that patrons have requested and send them to the patrons that want them. It usually only takes a few days for you to receive the item that you requested. If you requested a popular item, it will take longer, but you are still guaranteed to get the item that you want. You can request up to 10 different items at one time.(See the Using Your Account post for more information on requesting items.)

Once we receive the item(s) that you requested, we contact you by phone or email to tell you that we're holding your requested item for you at the desk. We hold the item for one week from the day we contact you, so if you get our message but can't come in for a few days, your item will still be here waiting for you. If you know that you're going to be on vacation or can't pick up an item for another reason, you can call the library to ask if you can extend your hold time. When you come to the library to pick up your item, let us know that you're here to pick up your holds, and hand us your library card. (If you're picking a hold up for a relative or a friend, make sure you have their library card - holds must be checked out to the person they're being held for). We'll check the item out to you and it's yours to enjoy until the due date! You can renew the items if you need to, unless someone else has requested the item. Once you're finished with the item, you can return it to our library, or any of the Berks County Public Libraries. Since all of the libraries are on the same system, whatever library you return the item to will check it in and forward it to the proper library on your behalf.

Note: School libraries are not part of the Berks County public library system; please return your school books to the school libraries, and public library books to the public libraries.

If you cannot find the item that you want in the catalog, call the library to double check the catalog. If the desired item is not in any of the libraries, you could try searching for it in Access PA.

Access PA consists of many separate libraries statewide who voluntarily share their items for statewide inter-library loans (ILLs). Access PA allows you to search through a number of school, college, public, and special libraries to find the item you want. These libraries are not in the same system or the same county as our library, so special arrangements have to be made.

First, you need to log in to the Access PA website. Go to our website, click on the Resources tab, then click on the Access Pennsylvania Database link. If you are not physically in our library, you will have to log in using your library barcode first. If you are in the library when you click on the link, it will take you straight to a colorful picture of PA. Click on the link at the top of the state picture, where it says "Select a county or click here to search the entire state." On the next page, click on "All Libraries." On the resulting page, click on "Keyword" to search by subject, or click on "Author," "Title," or "Author and Title" to search for your item. Type in the correct information, then click "Search." A list of results will appear. (If the desired item does not appear, check your spelling and try again. However, it may be that none of the libraries have this item either.) Click on the correct title to display an information page, then print this page. Fold the page in half, and write your name and phone number on the blank back side of the page. Bring the page in to the library and turn the paper in at the desk. The library ladies will put the request through for you and contact you by phone when your item comes in. The items are sent to our library through the mail, so it may take a while for you to receive the item.

When you come in to pick up the Access PA ILL, it will already be checked out to you with a set due date, since it came from an out-of-county library that has different policies and due dates. The due date will be written on a yellow paper band that is wrapped around the item's cover. Do not remove the yellow band - we need the information that is written on it! When you are finished with the item, you must return it to our library by the due date. Sometimes you can renew an item - please call the library to see if they can extend the due date for you.

Note: It costs the library about $10 for every Access PA inter-library loan that is made. Please keep this in mind when requesting items - always search through the Berks County Public Library catalog first as mentioned above or call the library for assistance before attempting to use Access PA.

(If you're more of a visual person, you can view the Access PA requesting guide with pictures here.)

We hope that this guide makes requesting items clearer and easier for you. If you're still unsure about requesting books, don't hesitate to call the library! We're happy to help!

Finding What You Want in the Library!

Here's a handy guide to finding books, DVDs, and other items in our library!

First, write down the title and author of the item that you want to find. If you're looking for a movie, you just need the title (though it's a good idea to also know the movie's year or actors, in case there's a few versions of that particular movie).

Next, type the title into our catalog computer, or type it into our catalog website at your home. A list of materials will appear; look to the left of each listing to see if the listed item is a book, DVD, cassette, VHS tape, or a special item. Click on the title of the correct item. If your item does not appear, check your spelling and make sure you entered the entire title. If the item still does not appear, there may not be a copy of the item in any of the Berks County libraries. You can always call the library to double-check the catalog.

After clicking on the title, a new page will appear with the material's details. At the bottom of the screen is a list of the libraries that have the item. Look to see if our library owns the item; if we do, "Kutztown Community Library" will appear on the list, along with the collection, call number, status, and a link to "Request Copy."

For example, if you wanted to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you would type the entire title into the catalog search box (simply typing "Harry Potter" into the catalog is not enough!). Look through the listings, then click on the item that you want (The book? The book on CD? The movie?). Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you will see all the libraries that own the item. Find us on the list, and you'll see our name, the section, the call number, and the item's status: "Kutztown Community Library, Young Adult Fiction, ROW, Checked In, Request Copy." If it's checked in, write down the call number (ROW), then head over to the correct section (Young Adult) and look on the book spines for "ROW." Fiction books are organized by the first 3 letters of the author's last name.

If you're looking for a nonfiction book, like WineWise by Steven Kopan, Brian H. Smith, and Michael A. Weiss, type in the title then click on the result. It will say "Kutztown Community Library," Non-Fiction, 641.2 KOP, Checked In, Request Copy." In this case, write down the entire call number "641.2 KOP," then head to the nonfiction section. Nonfiction books are first arranged in numerical order by number, and then by the first 3 letters of the author's last name. For this book, look through the numbers in the nonfiction section for 641.2. Then look for the letters KOP. There are many books that have the same number, so always make sure you also write down the letters as well!

If you're at home, or if the item you want is checked out, lost, or on hold for someone else, you can request the item by clicking on the "Request Item" link. If you're not logged into your account yet, the catalog will prompt you to do so before you can request the book. (See the Using Your Account and the Catalog at Home post for more detailed info).

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Below is a list of special call numbers and their corresponding sections:

E = Easy (picture) books section
ER = Easy Reader chapter books at the end of the Easy section
J = Junior fiction section
YA = Young Adult fiction section
LP = books with Large Print, located on the shelf before the adult nonfiction section
PR = Parenting Resources section, by the Easy section, next to the children's computers
Ref = Reference books (they don't circulate, but you're welcome to use them in the library)
J ###.## = Junior Non-Fiction book, located in the section that wraps around the Book Room and office
###.## = Young Adult/Adult Non-Fiction book
BIO = Biography section, at the end of the adult nonfiction section


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If ever you just want to browse, remember that fiction books are organized in alphabetical order by the first three letters of the author's last name. If you want to read a Patterson book, head over to the Adult Fiction section and look for PAT on the book spines. Children's books are arranged the same way, so if you want to read some Dr. Seuss, go to the children's Easy section and look for SEU. Movies are arranged in alphabetical order by the first three letters in the title - "Avatar" has AVA on its spine, and comes before "True Blood," which has TRU on its spine.

Empower yourself - when you have a hankering for a certain item, or even if you're just browsing our collection, use this guide to find it @ your library! Happy Reading!

All Sorts of Storytimes!

If you have a child or children under the age of 6, we've got all kinds of story times and activities for you and your child to enjoy!

On Mondays @ 10am, we have a Preschool Storytime in our Community Room! A staff member or designated storyteller reads a few picture books to the children, singing songs in between the books to keep their attention. After the Preschool Storytime is over, children are free to play in the back room, in the play area upstairs, or to find and check out library books.

We have a Baby Lapsit story time @ 11am after the Preschool Storytime on Mondays. During this story time, infants and toddlers are welcome to sit on their parents' laps in the Community Room to listen to picture book stories and songs. After the story time is over, parents can chat, select books and board books, and let the toddlers play in the back room. There is also a Baby Lapsit story time every Thursday @ 10am.

The Storyriders story time is once a week @ 11am on Wednesdays. These educational story times have a theme, such as apples, fire safety, colors, or music. Children listen to Miss Barb read picture books, sing songs related to the day's theme, then put together a craft or play a game! Kids really love these story times!

We also have special bilingual Storytime Fiestas! Children listen to Miss Joanne read picture books in Spanish and English, then everyone sings Spanish and English songs and creates a craft. Sometimes Miss Joanne also brings authentic Mexican food for everyone to enjoy! Keep an eye out for the Storytime Fiesta posters!

Bring your children, your friends' children, your nieces and nephews, grandchildren, or the children you babysit - All are welcome to the storytimes, and best of all, they're free! It's a great way to get children  excited about reading, and parents and guardians can network and chat.  Hope to see you here!

Donating Books and the Book Sale

When you've read your books hundreds of times and have them memorized by heart, you have a few that you never really liked, or if you're moving, it may be time to give some books away and make room for new ones! If you're looking for a place to donate your used books, why not bring them to the library?

We gladly take donations of gently used items. We accept most books and DVDs, but we cannot take any Reader's Digest books, old magazines, textbooks, or encyclopedias. (These sorts of items can be put in the free book boxes located in our lobby.) If you have recent books or DVD's you'd like to donate, we may process and add them directly to our collection! Older items will replace our worn copies or supplement our existing copies. If we can't add an item to the collection, we'll sort it in our Book Room and sell it during our weekly Book Sales.

Every Saturday we have a Book Sale in the Book Room from 10am-1pm. We have a variety of donated books (self-help, cooking, teen's, biographies, and fiction, just to name a few) as well as a few DVDs, CDs, books on tape, and other goodies! All of the proceeds benefit the library, so don't hesitate to purchase an item for yourself or a friend. With most hardcover books at only $1 each and paperbacks set at 5 for $1, you can't go wrong! Our collection is constantly changing, so check back often!

We depend heavily on our patrons to keep the library beautiful and running smoothly. Donating books that you no longer want or need to the library really makes a difference to us! Many thanks to all of our current Book Room regulars and donors, and thanks in advance to our future supporters! You are a great help!

Using Your Account and the Catalog at Home

Sometimes, you'll have a list of books (or a specific book) that you want to request, but you just can't get to the library or you can't find time to call. Maybe you forgot your due dates, or you're not sure if you returned everything on time. That's no problem - as long as you have a computer with Internet access, you can see the items you have checked out, view any fines, browse the collection, or request an item by yourself!

To access your account, simply visit our website and click on "My Account" in the left-hand column. The next screen will ask you for your barcode and your pin. Type in all of the numbers on your library card, then type in your pin and click the login button.  Your pin is the last 4 digits of your phone number. Once you log in to your account, you can view a list of the items you have checked out, and their due dates. You can also see if anything is overdue. If you have any fines, lost books, or other fees, they will be listed under the "Blocks" section of your account. If you have items that are ready to be picked up, click on "Hold Requests" to see what the items are and where they are located.

Renewing an item online is easy. Log into your account, then click on your list of items checked out. Click on the box next to the item you want to renew, and hit the "Renew" button. You can only renew items once online; if you need to renew something again, please call the library. We will renew our items up to 2 times. If the item is from another library, we will only renew it one time. If the item is requested by someone else, it cannot be renewed and you should return it as soon as possible.

To search for a book, visit our website, click in the box under "Search the Catalog," then type in a title, author, or subject to search through our catalog. The catalog consists of all of the items in all 24 Berks County Public Libraries, so if we don't own the item you want, you can usually have the item sent here from another library. Once you find the item you want, click on the title. A new screen will show you the libraries that have the item. Click on the "Request" button to request the item. If you are not already signed in, you will be asked to sign in using your barcode number and your pin. After signing in, make sure your home library is selected as the location, then click the accept button. Ta-dah! Your item has been requested! You can then go back to searching the catalog by clicking the red x and resuming your search with the original webpage. The library will contact you either by phone or by email when your item is ready for you to pick up.

Note: New items (i.e., anything that has been released within the past 6 months) will not be sent to other libraries for 6 months. Libraries want their own local patrons to get a chance to check out their new items before they are sent all over the county to patrons at other libraries. Therefore, if you want to watch a movie that was just released, and our library does not own the item, you can request the item but you'll have to drive to another library to pick it up. Also, if  we have the new item that you want, make sure that you request our specific copy - otherwise, you'll be put on a general list and have to drive to another library to pick it up.

If you have any questions about accessing your account, changing your information, items in your account, or if you need help with searching the catalog, don't hesitate to call or email the library! We'll be glad to lend a hand!

Audio Books - for People on the Move!

This scenario may sound familiar to you: A new book comes out by your favorite author, and you can't wait to get your hands on it! However, once you buy the book or check it out from the library, you find that you just can't find the time to read it with work or life always getting in the way. There is a solution to this common problem - check out an audio book!

Instead of fighting to find time to sit down and read, you can listen to actors reading the books on your long commute, while doing the dishes, crafting a project, or working out at the gym. We have Junior, YA, and Adult audio books that you may check out, many of which are popular books (We have the Percy Jackson series and all three 50 Shades of Grey audio books at our library!). If your child is just learning to read, we also have book bags containing audio books and the matching physical book, so your child can listen to the spoken words as they read the book.

There are three different audio book formats: books on cassette tapes, for those of you with older cars or boom boxes, books on CD, which are great for the car or the kitchen, and if you have an iPad, iPhone, or an e-reader that supports an audio format, you can check out the downloadable audio books we have available through the eBook catalog, located here! And as always, if we don't have an item at our library, we can have it sent here from another Berks County Public Library for you to pick up!

We have hundreds of audio books in the Berks County Library System, and you can check out any one of them with your library card! Why not try one today?

Hidden Gems @ the Library

We have all sorts of helpful books and materials (like every other library), but we also have special "hidden gems" that are available to you @ our library!

Ancestry.com: Are you trying to figure out your familial background? Did you ever wonder what your great-great grandfather did for a living? Do you need access to an old census? You can find out the answers to these questions by using our subscription to Ancestry.com. You must be in the library to use this feature, but you'll have free full access to everything on the site!

Consumer Reports Online: If you need to buy something new, this is the best way to figure out the perfect item for you! View in-depth ratings, test results, and compare prices of appliances, technology, and other items for free with our subscription to the Consumer Reports website. Simply go to the website on one of our computers, and we'll sign you in for free full access!

Online access to your library account: Did you know that you can access your library account online? Visit our official website, then click on "My Account" on the left hand side. Log in using your barcode and your PIN (the last 4 digits of your phone number), to view the items you have checked out, see if you have any fines or overdue items, search the catalog, and request books! You can do this here, at home, or on the go!


Reading Museum Pass: If there's an exhibit you want to see at the Reading Museum, request the Reading Museum Pass! With the pass, up to 2 adults and 4 children can get into the Reading Museum for free! You may check the pass out for up to one week.

Passports: Traveling in the near future? We do passports here! You'll need to fill out an application in black ink, have pictures taken, find your birth certificate (it must be issued by the state and have both parents' names on it), and have a driver's license or other photo ID before you come for your appointment. Feel free to call the library for any questions or to schedule an appointment! You can also visit the official Passport Website

Free Wi-Fi: When your internet is on the fritz, bring your laptop, tablet, or ereader to the library and access the Internet with our free Wi-Fi! Open a browser, read our policy, click "I agree," and you're free to do what you need to do!

Scanners, faxing, and copiers, oh my! Whether you need to copy important papers, scan your homework and email it to your professor, print out a picture, or fax information to an office, we've got you covered! Black and white copies are only 10 cents a page, color prints are 50 cents a page, and faxes are 50 cents a page. Note: while we can send faxes out, we cannot receive any faxes.

Book Room: Every Saturday, we have a used book sale in our Book Room, though you may ask to visit the room any time the library is open! We have great deals on books, VHS, CDs, and occasionally other items, and our prices can't be beat! The best part is, the proceeds benefit the library, so come on out and see what we've got!

And of course, we have a Facebook page and a Twitter account to keep you updated about new events, programs, meetings, closings, etc!

If you have any questions about any of these "hidden gems," don't hesitate to call the library for more information! You're welcome to use any and all of them! See you here!

ebooks!

While we strive to update our current physical collection, we look to the future and provide access to a virtual collection as well!

Besides the physical books and audio books we have in the library, we also provide access to all kinds of ebooks through our library system. These ebooks and online audio books are available in different formats for various e-readers, such as Kindles, Nooks, Sonys, iPads, iPhones and more! And of course, the best part is, it's free, and there are no late fees or fines! All you need is your library card.

To browse the current collection of popular books, visit http://reading.lib.overdrive.com. You can search the collection via title, authors, or subject. Once you find the ebooks you want to read (or audio books you want to listen to) you can check them out by following the screens and using your library card. If an ebook you want is already checked out by another patron, you can request the ebook, just as you would a regular book at the library. You can check ebooks out for 7 days or 14 days. When you are nearing the due date, you will receive an email reminder, and on the due date, the book will be removed from your e-reader. You may have up to 5 library ebooks or audio books at one time.


If you have any questions, feel free to call the library! We have bookmarks with detailed instructions as well as papers with further tips and explanations. Enjoy!

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Note: Every e-reader requires ebooks to be in a certain format, and they download ebooks using different methods. Know your e-reader!

Rocking the Reference Section

Many people think of old, dusty books when they hear the words "Reference Section," and prefer to turn to the Internet to do their research. While the Internet is usually helpful for general information, it just doesn't always have the specific answers you're looking for. This is where the Reference Section really comes in handy.

In our reference section, we do have standard encyclopedia sets and dictionaries, the ones that people immediately imagine when they hear those words. However, we also have Black's Law Dictionary, the Dictionary of American Foreign Affairs, as well as dictionaries of Economics, foreign languages, superstitions, Ecology, Medicine, Biblical Studies, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, musicians, and personal financing! Various subject encyclopedias also pepper the shelves.

Our reference section also contains specific items about local interests, such as Berks County maps, the Berks and Borough's books of Codes, Berks County authors, the historical Passing Scene set and the A Most Agreeable Town: A Photographic History of Kutztown set. In addition, we have the MLA Handbook, the Index of Fairy Tales, the 2012 Blue Book, quotation anthologies, biographies and chronologies...in short, a wealth of specific information on precise topics, which you'll be hard-pressed to find online, unless you know where to look!

On top of these useful items, we have copies of elementary and middle school textbooks from the Kutztown Area School District - so if your 3rd grader accidentally left their math textbook at school, or your 8th grader can't find their Spanish book, they can certainly finish their homework at the library!

So, the next time you're having trouble finding information about a certain topic, whether you're just curious or you're working on a big project, try the reference section first @ your library. It really helps!

Keepin' It Local

We all know about big-time authors and movie-makers...but did you know about our local authors and filmmakers?

As a library, we acquire books by all kinds of authors, from Austen to Kingsbury, Hemingway to Patterson. However, we also focus on local authors, who write quality materials, even if they aren't well known. Try a picture book by children's author Mara Rockliff, read an investigation into local legend by Dave Yocum, view adventures in riding by Dodie Sable, or Kick the Clutter! with Ellen Phillips! You can find local authors by browsing the shelves for the dark blue "local author" sticker on book spines, or by searching the catalog. We also have some older books by local authors, such as Mildred Jordan, in our Local History bookcase. These books cannot be taken out of the library, but you are welcome to browse and read them at your leisure.

Besides local authors, we also have works by local filmmakers. Check out one of the DVDs created from the entries at previous Virginville Film Festivals, held close by in Virginville, PA. They contain various independent short films and commercials created by local filmmakers, some of whom you may know!

The next time you find yourself bored by big names, try seeking out some local works @ your library!

Computers and the Library

Every day, we have patrons who come in to use our computers. Some are merely passing the time, some are checking email and gaming, and some are only using our computers until theirs are fixed. However, there's been a real increase in patrons who use them to type up new resumes, search for jobs, and fill out applications. Other patrons have used our computers to study for GRE's, take skills tests, and attended our free computer classes to learn how to use Word, Excel, and look things up on the internet. Our staff members also do their best to answer technological questions and explain programs on the fly!

It's inspiring to see so many people learning new computer skills and accomplishing things they previously thought were beyond their reach, and we're proud that we provide such great opportunities!

 If you'd like to learn more about computers, or you know someone who does, contact the library to learn about upcoming computer classes! And as always, you are welcome to use our computers, scanners, wi-fi, and printers, as long as you have your library card! :)

Nonfiction is Awesome!

The library is full of books that are for more than just entertainment!

One of our staff members recently wanted to re-paint her craft desk. The desk in question was old, chipped, and covered with scratches and various art materials from previous projects. She wasn't quite sure how to go about redoing the desk, so she checked out a number of library books on painting and refinishing furniture. It wasn't until she checked out the non-fiction book Mod Podge Rocks! by Amy Anderson that she finally had the great idea to apply the methods in the book to her desk! She reported that the project was easy to do and that the desk turned out as bright and colorful as she'd planned. It never would have happened if she hadn't checked the book out of the library!

Start your own success story ~ check out a non-fiction book @ your library!