Northwest Library Expansion and New Service Hours

The Portsmouth Public Library system is excited to announce that the Northwest Library will be re-locating to a larger room in the Northwest Resource Center. To accomplish this move, the Northwest Library will be closed the week of October 29th and will re-open on Monday, November 5th.

As of November 5th, service hours for the Northwest location will change to the following schedule:

Mondays noon - 8pm

Wednesdays 10am - 6pm

Fridays 10am - 6pm

We hope the larger space and new hours will offer more opportunities for you to visit and use our Northwest location!

Civil War 150 Events

It is difficult to believe that an entire 150 years separate us from one of the most defining events in our national history. This anniversary provides a fresh opportunity to discover the role Ohio played in the Civil War. The Portsmouth Public Library has planned a series of activities and presentations both to commemorate the event but also to allow our community to learn about the war in a whole new way.

Below is list of this week’s events:

Nutrition and Food Preparation in the Civil War

October 29 at 4:30pm at the New Boston library location

Repeat program-The standards for nutrition and safe food preparation have changed a lot since the days of the Civil War. The Ohio State University Extension Nutrition Division will be sharing the details of what mealtime looked like for soldiers during this time. There will even be samples of typical foods eaten by soldiers on both sides.

Scioto County in the Civil War

November 1 at 4pm at the New Boston library location

Repeat program- Our Local History Department has heavily researched the specific role that Scioto County played in the Civil War. A Local History representative will be sharing the findings from that research in a very informative presentation.

Portsmouth at Gettysburg by Chip Horr

November 1 at 6pm at the Portsmouth library location

Chip Horr, member of Battery L, local re-enactment unit, will speak on Scioto County’s 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery L and its place in history at the battle of Gettysburg.

Scrapbooking: Then and Now

November 2 at 3pm at the Wheelersburg library location

Repeat program- Keeping mementos of friends and family was very important in the lives of Civil War era families. We do the same thing today through scrapbooking. Join us and learn how families of the Civil War era saved and preserved their mementos, as well as some newer methods of scrapbooking, including how to document your family’s military service or visit to a Civil War battlefield.

Ohioans of Color in the Civil War

November 3 at 2pm at the Portsmouth library location

A chronicle of how, where, and why African-Americans served in the Civil War. This lecture especially focuses on the men of color whose homes were in the Scioto Valley and gave up much to defend a country they considered theirs even though disenfranchised. It includes a display of pictures, documents, letters, and stories of these heroic and overlooked men. Presented by Beverly Gray of the Ross County Historical Society’s Speakers Bureau.

Kids’ Events Announced

Story Times

Story times for children ages 3 months- 6 years at various Portsmouth Public Library locations will be held this week. The schedule is as follows:

Family Story time-Appropriate for children of all ages

Mondays at 11 @ NB

Thursdays at 11:30 @ SW

Pre-School Story time-Appropriate for children ages 4-6 years

Tuesdays at 11:30 @ P

Tuesdays at 11 @ WH

Wednesdays at 11 @ LU

Home School Story Times- Appropriate for children 5-12 years

Wednesdays at 1 @ P

Toddler Time-Appropriate for children ages 2-3 years

Mondays at 11 @ LU

Wednesdays at 11:30 @ P

Thursdays at 11 @ WH

Book Babies-Appropriate for children ages 3-24 months

Thursdays at 11 @ P

Tail Waggin’ Tutors

At Wheelersburg-Thursdays 4-5:30pm

At Lucasville-Fridays from 3-5pm and the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month

At New Boston-Fridays 3:30-4:30pm

At Portsmouth- 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 2-4pm

For more information, please call 354-5688

Upcoming Adult/Teen Summer Reading Activities Announced

Yoga

The Portsmouth Public Library will be hosting its Yoga group at 10am in the Copley Meeting Room on Tuesday, October 30.

Halloween Bash

Young Adults are invited to join the Portsmouth library location as they celebrate Halloween October 30 at 5pm. Call 354-5688 for more information.

Technology Classes Offered

The Information Technology Department of the Portsmouth Public Library will be offering a variety of computer classes this week. The schedule is as follows.

Monday, October 29

Microsoft Publisher at 5pm

Tuesday, October 30

Ebooks at 6pm

If you have any questions regarding the above mentioned technology classes or to sign up, please call (740) 354-5688, ext. 204.