@ the library

JOYCE CAROL OATES LECTURE National Book Award winning novelist, poet, playwright and essayist Joyce Carol Oates will speak at Mellon Middle School auditorium, 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 18. Oates published her first book in 1963 and has since written more than 40 novels, as well as a number of plays and novellas and many volumes of short stories, poetry and nonfiction. Her novels Black Water (1992), What I Lived For (1994), Blonde (2000) and short story collections The Wheel of Love and Other Stories (1970) and Lovely, Dark, Deep: Stories (2014) were each nominated for the Pulitzer Prize; she won the National Book Award for her novel them. Tickets are $20 general admission at the library, www.mtlebanonlibrary.org/lectureseries ^[1]and at the door.

POETRY READING BY SAM HAZO Celebrate National Poetry Month at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 13, with Pennsylvania’s first state poet, Dr. Sam Hazo. Hazo is the founder and director of the International Poetry Forum and the McAnulty Distinguished Professor of English Emeritus at Duquesne University. He will be reading selections from his newest book, They Rule the World, along with selections from his prolific body of work.

BASEBALL ROYALTY William Powers, Pittsburgh Opera’s Director of Artistic Operations, will lead an in-depth discussion about the creation of The Summer King: The Josh Gibson Story at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 19. This is the first world premiere in Pittsburgh Opera’s 78-year history and tells the story of baseball legend Josh Gibson, who went from the sandlots of Pittsburgh’s North Side to the pinnacle of greatness in the Negro Leagues, before ultimately being enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

CITIZEN NATURALISTS Did you ever wonder what kind of ladybug is crawling on your finger or how many different birds or fireflies are in your backyard? Well, many scientists have wondered the same things, and you can help them find answers. By observing, identifying, photographing and chronicling, anyone can help collect data for real-world science. Mt. Lebanon Public Library is hosting the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania’s Citizen Science Series. No experience is necessary, and it’s a great project for families. Some age restrictions do apply for certain classes, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Call the Children’s Library at 412-531-1912 ext. 216 for details.