Indiana Free Library

🎨Patriotic Paint Party🎨

Get creative this summer with local artist Jonelle Summerfield at the Indiana Free Library! Teens will create their own red, white, and blue-inspired masterpiece while hanging out, painting, and enjoying an afternoon full of creativity and summer fun. ✨

📅 June 17th
⏰ 3:00–4:30 PM
📍 Indiana Free Library

Space is limited to 15 participants, so registration is required. Grab your spot and get ready to paint something awesome! 🖌️

Good news! Thanks to our new friends at Raven & Rabbit Book Shop who kept an eye out for us, we now own Theo of Golden by Allen Levi!

We have some people who are first in line to read it, but if you haven't gotten the chance to get your hands on it yet and still want to, we can put you on reserve for it. Call in or stop by the library (or reserve for yourself once it's on Librista or our online catalog in the next few hours here.)

The book has been out for a couple years, but was just picked up by a traditional publisher in October 2025. We, like many people, initially missed it and so we hadn't ordered it, but it has now skyrocketed to popularity. This nosy librarian has been trying to figure out the source of that surge in interest.

If you are one of the many people who has heard of this book and you feel compelled, please drop us a comment below about how you heard about it! We're super curious. (Please, no spoilers, though!)

And thank you again to the folks at Raven and Rabbit Bookshop. We obviously love libraries here, but we also love our indie bookstore friends, and this new shop down in Blairsville is delightful! Check them out!

Do you have questions about your child's development?

Lifesteps will be at the Indiana Free Library on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, from 10 AM–2 PM offering free developmental and autism screenings for children from birth to age 5.

These screenings provide an opportunity to learn more about your child's development and can help identify areas where additional support may be beneficial. Early recognition of developmental delays can make a meaningful difference in a child's growth and future success.

Appointments are free, but scheduling is encouraged.

📅 Wednesday, June 17, 2026
⏰ 10 AM–2 PM
📍 Indiana Free Library

To schedule a free appointment, contact Lifesteps at 724-283-1010.

🎉 Thank You, Dollar General Literacy Foundation! 🎉

The Indiana Free Library is grateful to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for awarding a 2026 Summer Reading Grant in support of our Unearth a Story Reading Challenge.

This generous funding is helping us bring hands-on archaeological and paleontological experiences to local children and teens all summer long. From mock excavations and educational programs to a special field trip to Fort Ligonier celebrating America's 250th Anniversary, participants have exciting opportunities to learn, explore, and discover. Grant funds are also helping us expand the Children's Department collection with new materials for young readers.

The Unearth a Story Reading Challenge continues through July 31, and we are thankful for partners like the Dollar General Literacy Foundation who help make these opportunities possible for our community.

🌞 Join us this summer for Stay Safe Summer, a free three-part community series presented in partnership with First Commonwealth Bank!

Throughout three Thursday sessions, local experts will share practical, easy-to-follow tips to help you stay safe online, avoid scams, and protect your personal information — without the fear or tech jargon.

🖱️ Session One: Click with Confidence
📅 June 11 @ 10:30 AM
Learn how to recognize online scams, use financial apps safely, and shop online with confidence.

🚨 Session Two: Spot the Scam
📅 July 9 @ 10:30 AM
Discover how to identify common scams, avoid fraud in everyday situations, and help protect the people you care about.

🔒 Session Three: Privacy Protection
📅 August 13 @ 10:30 AM
Explore ways to prevent identity theft and keep your personal information secure.

All sessions are free and open to the community.
Contact the library for more information! 🌻

🌿 Saffron, Sumac, and Shared Tables: A History of Levantine Cuisine 🍋

Travel through the rich flavors and traditions of the Levant as we explore the foodways of Syrian, Lebanese, and neighboring cultures. From mezze spreads and fragrant spices to the stories carried through generations, this History Bites program celebrates the meals, memories, and shared tables that bring communities together.

📅 June 16th
⏰ Noon
📍 Indiana Free Library

Come hungry for history, culture, and conversation. 🫓✨

🍽️ Take a culinary road trip across America with us!

📅 Wednesday, July 1st
🕛 12:00 PM
📍 Indiana Free Library Community Room

Join us for the IFL Tasters Club as we celebrate America's 250th birthday through food! This month, we're cooking from America: The Cookbook – A Culinary Road Trip Through the 50 States by Gabrielle Langholtz. From regional favorites to iconic American classics, you'll prepare an assigned recipe at home and bring it to the library to share and sample together.

Part cookbook club, part potluck, and all about good food, great company, and discovering the flavors that make America unique.

We'll see you for Walking Club on June 22nd!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Blue Spruce Park for our Unearth a Story Summer Reading Kick-Off! We loved seeing so many families come out to enjoy games, activities, food, and fun as we officially launched another exciting summer of reading at the Indiana Free Library.

Summer Reading is now underway, and there is still plenty of time to join the adventure! Children and teens can participate in our Summer Reading Challenge through July 31 by logging reading minutes and earning prizes along the way.

Throughout the summer, we’ll be offering weekly storytimes, STEAM programs, crafts, teen events, special workshops, and family activities. Be sure to check out Storytime with the Brontosauruses, Marvelous Mosasaurs, T-Rex STEAMers, Summer Safety Workshops, Teen Trivia Night, Taco Tuesday, and much more.

Registration is required for many programs, so visit our website to view the full schedule and reserve your spot.

Thank you for helping us kick off an unforgettable summer. We can’t wait to read, learn, explore, and discover with you all season long!