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.