Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road, McCandless, is the second largest library in Allegheny County.
The library serves five communities — Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, McCandless, Marshall and Ross — but is open to everyone.
Northland’s regular operating hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Visit northlandlibrary.org for a full calendar of events, activities and ongoing groups and to register for programs.
To contact the library, call 412-366-8100 or email northland@northlandlibrary.org.
Tickets available for Garden Gala
The 2026 Garden Gala benefiting Northland Public Library will be held April 25.
This year’s theme, “Phantom of the Library,” is inspired by the masquerade ball in Gaston Leroux’s literary classic, “The Phantom of the Opera.”
The after-hours event, presented by UPMC Health Plan and UPMC Passavant, is for those 21 and older. There will be a wide selection of local food and beverage vendor stations, live entertainment, a silent auction and more.
The sponsor and VIP reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., with general admission entry at 7:30. The event runs until 10 p.m.
Attire is black-tie optional.
A limited number of VIP tickets are available at $125 per person. General admission tickets are $75 each.
To purchase tickets, visit northlandlibrary.org.
All proceeds enable the Northland Public Library Foundation to provide critical support for programs and services impacting the lives of more than 90,000 residents directly served by Northland, the second-largest library in Allegheny County.
For questions and sponsorship or vendor inquiries, contact Alexis McKinley, foundation director, at 412-366-8100, ext. 104, or mckinleya@northlandlibrary.org with any questions, sponsorship inquiries or to express interest in serving as a food and beverage vendor.
Author fair to showcase at least 25 writers
Northland Public Library will present its annual local author fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 28.
A variety of authors living in and writing about the Pittsburgh region will be on-site for author talks, panels and to talk about and sell their books.
At least 25 authors have signed on to participate.
There will be an author reading, story time and panels on adding romance to fantasy stories and writing mysteries.
To view a schedule of events and the lineup of authors, visit northlandlibrary.org/local-author-fair.
If you are planning to attend, the library requests that you fill out a short registration form, which can be found online through the above website.
Learn about making eco-friendly choices
The Marshall Environmental Advisory Committee will present a talk for adults on sustainable landscapes, stormwater and tick defense from 6 to 8 p.m. March 30.
The title of the presentation is “Eco-friendly Choices for Your Personal Spaces.”
Phipps Master Gardener Andrea Jackson will discuss sustainable landcare practices; Master Watershed Steward Jean Hershberger will cover a homeowner’s guide to stormwater; Bill Moore of Dare 2B Tick Aware will talk about Pennsylvania tick trends and prevention strategies; and facilitator Peggy Slota will round out the night with a question-and-answer session.
Registration is required.
Plant swap set for May 9
It’s never too early to start thinking about spring planting.
The library is hosting a springtime plant swap from 10 to 11 a.m. May 9 in the Learning Garden.
The swap is open to anyone interested in adding more greenery to their home and meeting fellow plant enthusiasts.
Participants can drop off plants or cuttings before the gathering from 9:30 to 10 a.m.
Bring up to five of your extra, propagated or no longer wanted healthy plants to share (houseplants and outdoor plants are both OK), get your tickets, then select something new.
Be sure to label your donations with the plant name and care instructions. Please do not bring five of the same plant. Due to an oversupply in the past, do not bring spider plants. No invasive species are permitted.
For questions, email colemank2@northlandlibrary.org or call 412-366-8100, ext. 113.
Registration is required.
Programs for adults
• Mahjong Mondays: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. every Monday
Mahjong is a tile-based game developed in the 19th century in China that has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. Similar to the Western card game rummy, Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy and luck. Stop by on Mondays to play the game with others. Note: This is not an instruction session. No registration is required.
• Come Write In: 6 to 7:45 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, starting April 2
Working on a novel or just enjoy writing for fun? Want to spend some time focusing on your craft and working alongside fellow writers? Then stop on by. Bring your own laptop or writing pad. Email colemank2@northlandlibrary.org to join.
• Northland Radio Hour: “The Topaz Flower”: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 23
Join Northland staff and friends as they present “The Topaz Flower,” a radio adaptation of Charlotte M. Russell’s story about a murdered man and how his stolen topaz jewelry led to the killer. This program also can be viewed online; a Zoom link will be emailed the week of the program for those who sign up online. Registration is required.
• Cookbook Club: 6 to 8 p.m. April 6
Home cooks of all skill levels are welcome as we explore dishes from various cookbooks. Each month has a theme, and participants can make a dish to bring and share with the club while we discuss the recipes and cooking process. April’s theme is Spring Dishes. No registration is required. If you have questions or are interested in joining, email summersk@northlandlibrary.org. Mark your calendars: The theme for May 4 is Brunch, and June 1 is Fruits and Vegetables.
• Movie Matinee: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. April 15
Join us as we check out “Northern Spain/Portugal.” This 50-minute look will cover the “running of the bulls” and prehistoric cave paintings of Altamira in Spain. In Barcelona, we’ll see Antoni Gaudi’s innovative sculptures and cathedrals. We’ll also visit Spain’s Canary Islands. In Portugal, we’ll tour the city of Lisbon as well as visit the Azores islands. No registration is required.
• Craft Night: Upcycled Spring Wreath: 6 to 7 p.m. April 20
In this do-it-yourself program, we’ll make an upcycled spring wreath using recycled cardboard and egg cartons to shape and paint cute flowers. Registration is required and opens April 1. The cost is $5, which is due at signup.
Programs for young people
• Homeschool Meet-up: 10 to 11:30 a.m. March 27
This session will take place at the McCandless Town Hall, 9955 Grubbs Road. Homeschool students in kindergarten through high school and their families are invited to learn about fire safety from Jeff Weisner, McCandless’ fire chief. Adults should plan on staying with their child. Registration is required.
• Titanic Experiments: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. April 14
Children ages 8 to 12 will dive into the science behind the world’s most famous ship in this hands-on hour of STEM discovery. Participants will learn how science and engineering played a role in the story of the Titanic and test buoyancy, build “unsinkable” ships and explore the icy science of icebergs and temperature. Will your ship stay afloat or sink like the Titanic? Registration is required.
• Tween Writing Group: 4 to 5:30 p.m. first Wednesday of each month
Tweens in fourth through seventh grades who enjoy creative writing are invited to meet other students with similar interests the first Wednesday of every month. There will be writing games, group writing exercises and interesting prompts. Bring your notebook or laptop: There will be plenty of unstructured time to start a new project or continue working on an old one, as well as opportunities to share your work if you wish. No registration is required. Light snacks will be provided.
• Northland Children’s Chess Club: 6 to 7:30 p.m. third Wednesday of each month through Dec. 16
This new monthly drop-in program for children in kindergarten through eighth grade offers chess instruction, chess puzzles and an opportunity to play pick-up games. No registration is required. K-4th grade parents must remain in the building during club time. No registration is required. High school chess players: Contact Children & Teen Services to see how you can earn community service volunteer hours.
• Creative Thursday: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays through April 30
Children 3 to 6 are welcome to drop by any time to create a cute 15-minute craft to take home. No registration is required.
• Artistic Afternoons: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. first Thursday of the month
Teens 12 to 18 can join us for an hour of artistic expression and crafting. No registration required.
• Pokémon Juniors Storytime: 1 to 2 p.m. second Friday of each month through Dec. 11
Pokémon fans ages 3 to 6 are invited to join an hour of story adventures and a hands-on craft to bring your favorite Pokémon to life. Feel free to bring your cards to play and trade with friends. Registration is required.
• Family Storytime: 10 to 11:45 a.m. the first and third Saturdays of each month through May 16
Families of all kinds are welcome at this storytime. We’ll read stories and sing songs — and sometimes do a craft. No registration is required. This program is best suited for children of preschool and early elementary age, but all ages are welcome.
Program for all ages
• Spring Book Sale: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1 and 2 and 1 to 4 p.m. May 3
It’s time to restock your personal libraries. There will be something for all ages: books, paperbacks, CDs, puzzles and games, DVDs and Talking Books CDs.
