Hoopla Changes Coming May 1st

Starting May 1st, the Allegheny County Library System will be implementing a daily spending cap to Hoopla. This sets a dollar amount limit that, once reached, will pause Hoopla checkouts until the next day. The daily cap resets at midnight local time.

You will encounter new messaging in the app and browser experiences. This is a collective limit, not to be confused with the personal check out limit, which remains at 5 per month. 

Please use the Favorites button in Hoopla to build a curated collection to choose from quickly. 

Get more out of Hoopla with BingePass (special collections of unlimited content) and Bonus Borrows (curated, specific titles that are available at the last week of the month).

Ask your librarian for assistance if needed. 

Writers - Biography in Context

 

Access articles, photos and more for over 600 writers with Biography in Context and your Library Card!

 This database contains the life stories of thousands of famous people including actors, leaders, inventors and singers.

Sins for Erin - Author Talk

Saturday, April 11th at 2pm

Please Register

Join Author Logan Joyce for a Deep Dive into Pittsburgh’s Most Daring Heist Ring

In his new non-fiction book, Sins for Erin, author Logan Joyce uncovers a gripping—and deeply personal—chapter of Pittsburgh’s criminal past. Centered on his own Irish-Catholic ancestors, the book explores what The Pittsburgh Press (1922) called “one of the most daring and successful shoplifting rings ever operated in Pittsburgh.”

Operating between 1917 and 1922, the ring was ignited by the spirit of the 1916 Irish Easter Rising. Far from simple theft, these downtown heists were a means of resistance, helping to fund Irish rebels during the War for Independence. Led by the formidable Bridget (Keane) Joyce and her partner-in-crime Helen (Riley) Bannon, this family-run operation bridged the gap between the storefronts of Downtown and the neighborhoods of the South Side—until it all came crashing down in 1922.

 About the Author Logan Joyce is a Pittsburgh native and historian who has been digging into his family’s South Side roots since the age of 13. A chance discovery on Newspapers.com in 2021 led him down a four-year rabbit hole of archives and ancestry, culminating in the 2026 release of Sins for Erin.

New Items in the Catalog

 Looking for the newest additions to the county catalog? 

Check out the new arrivals page for items recently added or on order! 

 

On The Rocks: the Primadonna Story

 Thursday, April 9th at 6:30pm

Please Register 

Author Maria Costanzo Palmer will discuss On the Rocks: The Primadonna Story, which dishes up heaping helpings of nostalgia, with entertaining stories of quirky characters, delectable dishes, great memories and enduring friendships from a time when dining out was an experience to savor.

   

Maria Costanzo Palmer is an author, speaker, home cook, and nonprofit professional. Just last year, she was named one of L.A. Weekly’s “Top 15 Rising Authors to Watch" for her debut co-authored book On the Rocks. Her book even snagged a feature in Forbes as a must-have gift for all those entrepreneurial spirits on your holiday shopping list! The book has receiving critical acclaim for its interesting voice as it is written in the first person narrative in her father's voice. The book has racked in several awards, like the American Bookfest Award for Narrative Nonfiction in 2023, and it even scooped up the 2024 New York Book Festival’s Book of the Year!

The Waxing Queen - Author Talk

Saturday, March 28th at 11am

Please Register

Join us for an author talk with A.F. Schreiber.  Local author Justin D. Bellow will be conducting the chat.

A.F. Schreiber is a former journalist and magazine writer turned author who enjoys creating immersive worlds with relatable characters. She mainly reads romantasy and dark romance. In addition to writing and reading, she’s also a Swiftie with a slight hot cocoa addiction. Connect with her on Instagram @_afschreiberauthor. The Waxing Queen Part I: The Moon Cycle Series Book I is an epic fantasy romance with Anastasia vibes. Now available on KU and in paperback.

Justin D. Bello is the author of the epic fantasy series The Bard’s Heresy, which includes The Gift of the Guardians, The Blackguard’s Bond, and The Key to the Kingdom. A lifelong lover of adventure stories, Bello’s work blends action and adventure with traditional elements of classic fantasy and medieval history. He enjoys creating morally ambiguous worlds full of characters struggling to fight for good when faced with overwhelming and seemingly insurmountable evil. A full-time literature teacher, Bello lives in Pittsburgh with his wife and children.

Discover Something New at the Library

 The Library is more than just books.  Go on a Library Quest and enter for a chance to win a gift card while you discover what the Library has to offer!

Celtic Soul

 

Enjoy St. Patrick's Day with the music of Ireland!

Check out these items with the free
Hoopla app for visit hoopladigital.com.

Must-Read Books

From Time Magazine, the 100 must-read books of 2025 (includes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry).  

Don't forget to check our ebook/audiobook services Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla (apps available).  

Women's History Month

 

 Women’s History Month is a time to recognize the contributions, resilience, and achievements of women throughout history. From pioneers in science and politics to innovators in arts and business, their impact continues to shape our world. Let’s celebrate their stories, honor their legacy, and inspire future generations.

 

Check out ebooks and audiobooks with Libby/Overdrive (app available). 

Please ask your Librarian for more resources and visit our database page for articles. 

The Best Books of 2026 So Far

From the New Yorker, the best of the new year!

If needed, please ask a librarian for assistance locating an item.

Presidents' Day

Presidents' Day is Monday, February 16th. 

 

The Library will be CLOSED.  

 

 Access Biography in Context, PowerSearch and other eResources for a variety of articles, books and more on the U.S. Presidents with your Library Card. 

Find Romance with Libby/Overdrive

Looking for romance?  Libby/Overdrive (app available) has you covered!

Check out a variety of romance fiction today!  

True Crime

Enjoy true crime?  Check out these titles owned by the Bethel Park Public Library. 

Also, ask us about our True Crime Club!  Whether you're a seasoned detective at heart or new to true crime, this club offers a space to explore this non-fiction genre of real life criminal events. Join fellow enthusiasts to discuss gripping books, documentaries, podcasts, and case studies on unsolved mysteries, notorious cases, and criminal psychology.

Adult Winter Reading

Read or listen and enter to win prizes!

The annual Adult Winter Reading Club has begun.  Enter each time you read or listen to an item. 

Grand Prize: Fitbit Charge 3 Fitness Activity Tracker

Black History Month

February is Black History Month.

 

Celebrate by checking out these titles.

Ask your librarian about ebooks and audiobooks available through Libby/Overdrive and Hoopla and articles and more with library databases. 

Magazines: Health & Fitness

Check out health and fitness magazines with Libby/Overdrive and your library card!

Over 500 titles including back issues!

(Libby app also available) 

Books for Winter

From Town & Country Magazine, 25 Classic Winter Books to Ready by the Fire. 

If you cannot find your title, please ask your Librarian. 

Don't forget about our ebook/audiobook services: Libby and Hoopla. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 

Monday, January 19th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

Observed on the third Monday of January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the life and enduring legacy of the influential civil rights leader who dedicated himself to achieving racial equality through nonviolent activism.

 

Ask your librarian for resources including biographical information and items available with Libby/Overdrive. (app available)

New Year, New Reads

Looking for a new author to read?  Use NoveList Plus, free with your Library Card, to find your next read!  This Library eResource includes book recommendations, reviews, articles, lists and reading recommendations for both fiction and non-fiction – for all ages.

Learn Something New This Year!

Take an online class, free with your library card and Universal Class, this year!

Over 600 courses to choose from!

 Ask your librarian today!