PLANTS FOR SALE Friends of the Mt. Lebanon Public Library will host its annual Plant Sale 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 13, outside the library. Flats of annuals, hanging baskets and herbs are for sale, as well as birdhouses and lots more cool plant-ey and garden-ey stuff. To ensure you get the plants you want, the Friends encourage people to pre-order [1]. Orders will be available for pick up at the library on Saturday, May 13.
SHINE ON Last year, the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, in collaboration with Outreach Teen and Family Services, Matt’s Maker Space and the Himalayan Institute of Pittsburgh, implemented a series of programs aimed at supporting mental wellness. The Shine Initiative [2], based in Massachusetts, is a nonprofit dedicated to removing the stigma associated with mental illness. The programs build resiliency through stress reduction and personal resource expansion. A $14,500 donation from Matt’s Maker Space will fund the program through the end of 2023.
Shine programs in 2022 attracted 614 patrons, who attended lectures on stress reduction and managing grief, enjoyed therapy dogs, sound bath meditation programs, yoga, creative movement and a monthly graphic novel book club for teens, which examined mental health through the experiences of characters in the books. Programs were tailored for adults, teens and children.
Plans for this year include expanding the programs for young adults, featuring after-school maker programs that pair art projects with mental wellness themes; Mental Health Mondays with Outreach Teen & Family Services; nature walks and activities; quiet maker programs and accessible maker programs.
The children’s library plans to create a circulating collection of Shine book packs, ranging in themes from mindfulness to anger to conversations, with a selection of books and activities that parents and children can explore together.
“Matt’s Maker Space has provided the opportunity for public-serving organizations to develop services that foster the love of creativity while addressing the unique needs of the specific populations we serve,” said Sharon Bruni, Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s associate director of public services. “In addition to supporting hands-on exploration and making, funding has now extended to address the very real need of mental health. Through the direct funding of the library’s Shine initiative, Matt’s Maker Space has empowered us to better serve a growing need in our community.”
MORE BOOK CELLAR The Friends of Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s used book store, The Book Cellar, is located in the lower level of the library. The Book Cellar will be open a couple of hours later than before, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 10 to 4 on Friday and Saturday. You can also shop online [1].