HPL - Adult and Teen Programs

The 2007-2008 Season

All of the following programs are sponsored by the Friends of Hershey Public Library. They are held in the library and are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. Pre-registration is required for all programs.

Registration begins one month prior to the program. To register, call the library’s circulation desk or send E-mail.

10th Annual National Library Week Author Visit:
Award-winning Author Allegra Goodman
Sunday, April 13, 2008, 2:00 p.m.
Award-winning author Allegra Goodman will present a talk entitled “How I Write Fiction.”
Ms. Goodman is the author of five books, including Total Immersion, which won the Whiting Foundation Award; The Family Markowitz, which was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; Kaaterskill Falls; Paradise Park; and, her most recent novel, Intuition. Her work has appeared in many publications, including the New Yorker, Good Housekeeping, Slate, and the American Scholar. Ms. Goodman graduated from Harvard University and earned her Ph.D. in literature from Stanford University. She lives with her family in Cambridge, MA. Her books will be sold before and after the program and a book-signing will be held after the talk.

Cyber Safety: What Parents Need to Know Tuesday, October 2, 6:30 p.m. More and more teens and pre-teens log on to the Internet every day. It can be a wonderful resource for many things, but also comes with its own unique dangers. The Hershey Public Library had teamed up with the Derry Township School District and the Derry Township Police Department to offer the most current information available for parents, including which sites are most popular with teens, how blogs work, what is cyber bullying and what are its consequences, what are the acronyms kids use for secrecy, how do predators prey on kids, and what parents can do to protect their kids.	Book Review of Images of America: Hersheypark by Pamela Whitenack Monday, October 17, 6:30 p.m. Pamela Whitenack, Archivist and Director of the Hershey Community Archives, will offer a talk about her newest book Images of America: Hersheypark just in time for the park’s 100th anniversary. The program will be illustrated with archival images that will bring back fond memories of “Pennsylvania’s Summer Playground.” The talk will also provide insight into how the popular amusement park transformed into one of the nation’s leading theme parks and will help us to understand the creativity and vision of Milton Hershey. Books will be sold at the event and a book-signing will be held after the talk.
Arctic Warming Sunday, October 28, 2:00 p.m. Imagine the awe-inspiring Arctic National Wildlife Refuge turning balmy, losing wildlife, and bristling with oil derricks. In 2006, National Geographic sent journalist Jon Waterman north to investigate. This hour-long “Arctic Warming” story-presentation explains global warming with objectivity and scientific credibility, as well as sharing Jon’s stirring journey: trekking, rafting, and solo kayaking through the Arctic Refuge. Waterman is the author of nine books and four television documentaries. The recognition for his work runs the gamut from magazine and book awards, to a literary fellowship from the National Endowment for the arts, to an Emmy. This program will feature stunning images and a nuanced look at Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Books will be sold at the program and a book-signing held after the talk.	The Woman Who Would Be President Thursday, November 1, 6:30 p.m.Before there was Hillary Clinton or Elizabeth Dole, there was Belva Lockwood. It was Lockwood who was the first woman to mount a full national campaign for president - and she did it in 1884. Even earlier, it was Lockwood who, denied her diploma from the National University Law School (today’s George Washington University) because she was a woman, got President Ulysses S. Grant to give it to her - and that was in 1873. Professor Emerita Jill Norgren, author of a recently published biography of Belva Lockwood, will discuss her book and the sleuthing necessary to research this important American woman’s life. Professor Norgren taught for 30 years at the City University of New York and is the author of several books. Books will be sold at the event and a book-signing will be held after the talk.
Finding Your Writing Niche Tuesday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. Award-winning freelance writer Lori Myers will read her essay recently published in the book Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers, edited by Colleen Sell, and will present a talk on how she found a writing niche writing about animals and how you can find your niche too. Myers, the only Pennsylvania writer to be included in the collection, will also answer questions. The book will be sold at the program and a book-signing will be held. Myers has had over 800 articles, essays, and fiction published in over 40 national and regional publications. She is a frequent contributor to Central PA Magazine and Business Woman. She teaches writing workshops across the region, including those at the Hershey Library.
Write Now! Monday, January 28, 2008 6:30 p.m. Many people want to write but think they don’t have the time, patience or ability to bring their work to fruition. Author Joe Schreiber will discuss how it is possible to have a full-time job and young children and still write short stories, poetry and novels and get them published. Schreiber, who is the author of the novels Next of Kin, Chasing the Dead, and Eat the Dark, will discuss the creative process, from the initial idea to outlining, drafting, and revising and polishing. The talk will also include information on the publishing process. Books will be sold at the program and a book-signing will be held after the talk.	Pruning Made Easy Thursday, February 21, 6:30 p.m.Have you ever looked at those diagrams showing before and after pruning photos and said to yourself: “But my shrub doesn’t look like that - how should I prune my plant?” If so, this program is for you! Learn the art and science of pruning trees, shrubs, and perennials from gardening expert Crystal Huff, who currently serves as the Associate Director of Agricultural and Environmental Education at the Milton Hershey School. Prior to that position, Huff was the Public Programs Coordinator at the Hershey Gardens. .
Swing into Spring: Golf Tips from a Pro Thursday, February 28, 6:30 p.m. Just in time for the upcoming golf season, Hershey Country Club golf pro Sara Muldoon will teach you the fundamentals of the killer golf swing and touch on some of the rules of golf. Muldoon became the 704th female member of the PGA of America in 2001. She has served as the golf pro at the Hershey Country Club for the past 14 years and will offer a question and answer session during the program.	Talking with Teens: Effective Communication Strategies Thursday, March 6, 6:30 p.m. Barbara Weber, M.S., CCC-SLP, will discuss effective communication tools to establish better communication with teens, focusing on highly effective ways to open channels of communication, to resolve conflicts and work on healthy and open family dynamics. Weber has a master’s degree in communication disorders. She is a licensed speech and language pathologist and has worked as a speech therapist for 27 years. This program has been cancelled.
Maria's Study Hall: Do Fiction Writers Research? Tuesday, March 18, 6:30 p.m.A common misconception about books of fiction is that the authors can “make up” whatever they want for their stories. Author Maria Snyder will dispel this notion and will explain why research is important to any story. The discussion will also include information about the different methods and resources that writers can use to incorporate real life into their fictional creations. Maria is the author of three critically acclaimed novels, Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study (due out in February 2008). Books will be sold at the event and a book-signing will take place after the talk.	Learn All About Bluebirds Thursday, March 20, 6:30 p.m. Here is your chance to learn all there is to know about bluebirds. Bluebird experts Dave Warner and Dr. Stephen Rannels will offer information on courtship, nesting and nest identification, dealing with competitors, egg laying, nestlings, and diet and sanitation. You will also learn how to build a serviceable bird box, what foods to supply, and find how to position your box to attract this elusive bird. Dave Warner has a degree in forestry and for the past 20 years has conducted free nature study tours of Shank Park. Dave, a woodworker who makes all of his own birdhouses, has also been involved in a program aimed at attracting bluebirds back to Derry Township. Steve Rannels, who teaches graduate and medical students at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, has taken care of the bluebird boxes at the medical center for the past 15 years.

Hershey Public Library

Adult Programs

Library Hours

Contact Us:

The 2007-2008 Season