IN Norwin Winter 2017 | Page 5

NORWIN PUBLIC LIBRARY Get On The Shelf With Our Writing Groups Original Characters is a writers group for adults and young adults who would like to improve their writing. Our meetings typically consist of peer review, free writing, and discussion aimed at overcoming the blocks and hurdles that can derail your efforts. By utilizing Google Docs, an online word processing program, the group shares their work between meetings. By joining our email list, you can provide and receive quick feedback during the time between meetings. We also keep a focus on eventual publication. We have hosted seminars with local published writers who break down the options for publication (self, online, and traditional) and provide a roadmap to guide you towards that goal. Join us the first Saturday of each month to share your work, enjoy some snacks, and talk to other writers. If you’re just now thinking about writing and don’t have anything prepared, or worry you may not feel comfortable sharing your work yet, no problem! Feel free to stop by and chat and bring 1-5 pages to share, OR share your work by joining our email list ([email protected]), OR just come by to chat. Please contact Amanda Mitchell at 724.863. 4700 x12 with any questions. Young Pencils is a writers group for aspiring writers in grades 3-5. This group is designed to be a welcoming and calming space to find the author within one’s self. At each session the group discusses the elements of writing. We start off with a warm up exercise to get the creative juices flowing. The groups’ instructor then goes over some terms or techniques, including an exercise, to help develop their writing skills. Past lessons have included talking about the steps in writing, brainstorming, sketching a sentence and developing detailed paragraphs. Our final, and most entertaining, workshop of each session involves having the writers do some free writing from a prompt given to them. Here is where they can truly let the writers that they are loose. With the remaining time, if anyone would like to read out loud what they have written, the group is ready to listen and enjoy. Young Pencils meets once a month, the first Thursday of each month, at 6:00pm. Each session lasts approximately 1 hour. Anyone is welcome to join that is in grades 3-5. All supplies are provided by the group. For additional information or to participate in the group, please email Miss Melanie at [email protected] or call the Children’s Library at 724.863.4700 x6. Get Prepped For College And Careers At Norwin Library Who doesn’t love standardized testing? Everyone! Unfortunately, it’s not going anywhere. In today’s changing employment landscape, many people are seeking new career opportunities that require certifications and standardized testing scores. While almost everyone is familiar with the high school SAT test preparation books, some may be surprised to learn that the Norwin Library has a collection of up-to- date test preparation manuals that can help prepare for upper level academic exams (GRE, MCAT, LSAT) as well as career exams (teacher, nurse, firefighter, police officer, postal worker) military exams (ASVAB) and computer certification and security exams (CCNA, RHCSA, Linux). We are dedicated to growing and updating our collection of test preparation manuals and practice exams. Stop in and get started on your first (or next!) career. The Friends of the Norwin Public Library are Getting Ready for the Holidays! Beginning on November 30th, the Friends of the Norwin Public Library will be holding their annual Holiday Basket Sale in the Third Place Coffee Shop, located inside the Norwin Public Library. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while you peruse a variety of holiday baskets designed to appeal to every book lover on your shopping list. The baskets are stuffed with a hand selected assortment of books, Christmas ornaments, toys, and sweets. Take a few names off of your Christmas list at the Friends of the Norwin Public Library Annual Holiday Basket Sale! Norwin | Winter 2017 | icmags.com 3