PTPL GO Green Club meeting Monday, Oct. 18 at 7:00 p.m.

The Peters Township Public Library GO Green Club will have our next scheduled meeting on Monday, October 18 at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the library in the Conference Room.

As usual, we will have lots to discuss:

* New member Alan Popey will be giving a brief talk on biodiesel fuel.

* We will be continuing our plans for a tour of the Greenstar recycling facilities on Neville Island. As soon as we have a confirmed date, I will pass that information along to the club members.

* We will be discussing our plans for a Green Fair to be held at the library on Saturday, March 19, 2011. If you know of a vendor you would like us to consider inviting to the Fair, please email me the name of the business or organization with as much contact information as you can provide - web site, email, contact name, phone number, etc...We hope you all will save that date in 2011 and volunteer some time to help us organize a wonderful "green" event!

* The GO Green Club is hosting another terrific program here on Saturday, November 13 at 10:30 a.m.  We will be welcoming Lisa Kay Schweyer, Program Developer for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission's CommuteInfo Program. She will be telling us more about CommuteInfo, a free ridematching service that offers commuting alternatives, including transit, vanpool, carpool, biking and walking. You will be receiving another email shortly with more details.

* If you haven't seen it yet, check out the article in the Almanac about member Kermit Hartland and his new electric bike! Watch out for Kermit as you drive around Peters Township.

That gives you just a taste of some of the things we will talking about this coming Monday night - we hope you can make the meeting and join in the conversation!

Ride with Us: Explore Ridesharing Options with CommuteInfo

Although the price of gas may not be as high as the prices last year, it continues to be a large part of a family’s expenses. Now may be a great time to “go green” and consider some of our region’s more energy-friendly ways of getting from here to there – while saving you some money.

The CommuteInfo program can help, offering free ridematching services to help commuters learn about the options available to them, including transit, vanpool, carpool, biking and walking. Lisa Kay Schweyer, the Program Developer for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s CommuteInfo Program will be presenting an overview of the program’s services at the Peters Township Public Library on Saturday, November 13th at 10:30 a.m. Register for this free program online, at the library circulation desk or call 724.941.9430. This is a PTPL GO Green Club program.

For area residents “…carpools and vanpools are becoming more and more of a viable option,” says Schweyer. She notes that the CommuteInfo program can help match them up with other commuters in the area, or provide helpful links and information. “Think of CommuteInfo as a restaurant menu of commuting choices,” says Schweyer.

Visit CommuteInfo for more detailed information on commuting alternatives. It’s free to register, and benefits include informational updates and for those who join a “pool”, participation in the Emergency Ride Home service. Schweyer reminds commuters to consider their schedules and evaluate what their own personal transport needs are, and to consider sharing their ride, even 2 or 3 days a week.

New Environmental Science for Students 6-Volume DVD set

The library has just added to our collection an excellent series of environmental science DVDs suitable for Grades 5-12. The series includes programs on these 6 topics: Air Quality, Global Climate Change, Green Energy, Soil Quality, Sustainability in the 21st Century and Water Quality.

Each DVD is 23 minutes in length and includes a Teacher's Guide with a program overview, vocabulary, focus questions and follow-up discussion and activities. The summary on the DVD cover explains that "Environmental Science for Students provides a fascinating look at Earth's environment and some of the most important environmental issues of our time. From the quality of the air that we breathe and water that we drink to the lasting effects of our reliance upon fossil fuels to power our lives, everyone is affected by environmental change. Accurate explanations, global examples and balanced viewpoints guide students in an exploration of topics that range from global climate change to the degradation of soil. Environmental experts speak about topics of interest, and noteworthy case studies showcase real-world examples. The environment's link to human health, the economy and society is also examined, making clear the interconnected nature of these components. This series will help students to understand the science behind their changing world while considering multiple perspectives."

These DVDs would be an outstanding resource for school students, family viewing, boy/girl scout troops, or home schoolers! You can find the DVDs in the Children's Department. Each is available for a 7 day loan. Stop by and check them out today!

Who Needs Organic Food?

The latest issue of TIME magazine crossed my desk today and on the front cover is a Health Special: The Organic Food Debate. We've talked alot about organic food at our GO Green Club meetings - what does organic really mean? Where do you find it locally? What about the health benefits? Take a few minutes and read this special section, which includes topics like when to buy organic vs. conventional foods, an organic foods taste test conducted by a panel of chef's from New York, and Dr. Oz weighs in on the subject too!

Eat Seasonally: How To Buy Local in Western PA

Would you like to learn more about buying your food locally? Visit the Bethel Park Public Library for a free presentation on Monday, August 23rd at 11:00 am with Erin Hart of Farm to Table PA. Farm to Table PA helps consumers connect with local food producers. Eat healthy-eat locally! For more information, call the library at 412-835-2207.

PTPL GO Green Club Meeting

The GO Green Club will be meeting tonight, Monday, July 19, 2010 on the second floor in the library's Conference Room. Please join us if you can!

Ferguson GREEN Career Resources

The Library has just added a new series of books on "green" careers by Infobase Publishing. Their web site provides this summary of the series:

"High interest in energy conservation, environmental issues, and developing alternative and renewable energy sources has led to a boom in green careers, also called green-collar careers. The new Green Careers set covers job opportunities in the fields of conservation, environmental protection, environmental study, renewable energy, resource management, and other related fields, as well as traditional careers that have been adapted to deal with environmental issues. With comprehensive information on in-demand green careers in business and construction, law, science, communications, and more, these resources are invaluable for students interested in preserving the environment through work.


Each full-color volume includes 15 job profiles that describe the duties, requirements, and earnings for each job in a given field, plus interviews with green professionals and further resources."

If you are interested, the series is located on the second floor of the Library on the large cart with our other College and Career Resources with the call number 331.7 GRE.