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.
Bing 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 that was developed in the 19th century in China and 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.
• Senior Tech Connect: 1:30 top 3 p.m. Feb. 22
Join members of the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania for this Gold Award Service Project. The program will include a presentation on identifying and preventing digital scams followed by one-on-one tutoring from high school volunteers. Registration is required.
• Lit & Lattes: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25
Grab a drink in the cafe and join us for our new evening fiction book club. This month’s selection is “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. To join the email list for this group, email colemank2@northlandlibrary.org. No registration required. No registration is required. Mark your calendars: The March 25 meeting will discuss “The Postcard” by Anne Berest.
• Cookbook Club: 6 to 8 p.m. March 2
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. March’s theme is Childhood Favorites. No registration is required. If you have questions or are interested in joining, email summersk@northlandlibrary.org.
• Caregiver Support Cafe: Dementia 101: 6 to 7 p.m. March 5
Erin McMaster, memory care adviser at Arden Court, shares insight and welcomes questions as she talks about topics related to caregiving for a loved one. Registration is required.
• Right Tree, Right Place: Mximizing the Value of Trees in Our Landscape: 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 5
Join the McCandless Environmental Advisory Committee to learn about trees and how to optimize their benefits in one’s landscape. Speaker Arch Autenreith, an ISA board-certified Master Arborist and McCandless resident, will discuss tree biology, potential defects and techniques to improve tree and shrub health. Autenreith is the founder of Northwood Tree Care, a team of arborists focusing on the preservation and management of trees in the region. Registration is required.
• Canine First Aid: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 12
Kim Riester of Pittsburgh Animal Rescue will share practical advice to use in the event of an emergency for your dog, such as how to stabilize, treat and quickly seek the advice and care of a veterinarian. She also will cover techniques on choking, unconsciousness, strangulation, bloating, wounds, fractures and cardiac arrest. The talk includes demonstration dogs, first aid kits, stretchers, muzzles and other tools. This class is directed primarily at dog owners but can be helpful for other pets, such as cats and rabbits, or anyone interested in helping animals in distress. Photos and stories of injured animals will be shared. Registration is required.
• Movie Matinee: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. March 18
Join us for a showing of “The Duke,” a charming, understated British comedy drama from 2020 — starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren — about an ordinary person doing something extraordinary. It’s based on a true story of the 1961 theft of the “Portrait of the Duke of Wellington” by Kempton Bunton. No registration is required.
Programs for young people
• Cocoa Club for Tweens: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25, March 11 and 25
Children 8 to 12 can unwind at the library on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month through March 25. Sip hot chocolate, listen to a great story, and enjoy a calm craft or coloring activity with friends. Cocoa Club is a cozy midweek break made just for tweens. We’ll choose our story together! Bring your own mug or use one of ours. Registration is required.
• Fandom Fun: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 12
Teens 12 to 18 can join us for an activity related to one of their favorite fandoms. March’s theme is “Anime.” Mark your calendars: The April 9 theme is “Wicked,” May 14 is Fandom Showdown and June 11 is Plants vs. Zombies.
• 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.
• 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.
