Stimulating packaged programs are available at the library for your group discussions, meeting topics or as a starting point for discussions. They can also be used as entertainment at dinner meetings or as part of a larger presentation. The kits circulate for one week and may be reserved in advance. Equipment needed to present each program is noted after each kit description. In addition to these kits, try supplementing your program with a related music CD and lots of books! Stop by the Reference desk for additional help, or call us at 412-486-0211.
Christmas carols and their stories. (Kit 001) Celebrate the holiday season by listening to favorite carols and their history. [cassette tape—equipment needed: cassette player]
The movies and their music. (Kit 002) Recall your favorite movies while listening to music from the great Hollywood musicals and films of the Golden Age. [cassette tape—equipment needed: cassette player]
Old time radio. (Kit 003) Laugh and listen to program excerpts from the Golden Days of radio. [cassette tape—equipment needed: cassette player]
Songs and the times we remember. (Kit 004) Reminisce with songs from the 1920’s and 1930’s. [cassette tape—equipment needed: cassette player]
Jazz: America’s classical music. (Kit 005) Listen to jazz blow hot and cool on a cassette with Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and many more! [cassette tape—equipment needed: cassette player]
The Big Band sound. (Kit 006) Swing back to the days of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and others! [cassette tape—equipment needed: cassette player]
Changing world of fashion. (Kit 007) Enjoy a slide show of women’s fashions from the ’20s, ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. [48 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Yesterday’s toys. (Kit 008) Relive your childhood with slides of treasured toys from the past. [25 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Grandma Moses, painter of primitives. (Kit 009) Be inspired by the life and art of Grandma Moses. [30 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Flowers: their folklore, language and history. (Kit 010) View a slideshow of beautiful blooms and their stories. [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Fads, follies and foibles. (Kit 011) Remember dance marathons, Betty Boop and zoot suits? Fads are fun! [script—no equipment]
Autumn poetry. (Kit 012) Appreciate the sounds, smells and sights of autumn through poetry. Create your own poems through a simple formula. [script—no equipment]
Short story discussion. (Kit 013) Choose from five classic short stories by the world’s greatest authors to read and discuss. [script—no equipment needed]
The mystery. (Kit 014) Test your knowledge of famous detectives as you investigate the development of the mystery. [script—no equipment needed]
Remembering family foods. (Kit 015) Feast your eyes on slides of traditional ethnic foods served on special occasions. [25 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Advertisements. (Kit 016) Slogans, tunes, pictures and endorsements—how we’ve been sold on all kinds of things! [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Mothers. (Kit 017) The women in our lives who helped us grow. [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Weddings: something old, something new. (Kit 018) Ideas surrounding the time honored tradition of marriage. [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Quilts: the great cover-up. (Kit 019) Men, women and children all have warm memories of family quilts. [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Fathers. (Kit 020) Fathers as role models. [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Shopping in the old ways. (Kit 021) View historical photographs of shopkeepers from different parts of the country. [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Table manners. (Kit 022) How table manners have been taught and how they change. [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Post cards. (Kit 023) Holiday greetings and the traditional vacation card, "Having a wonderful time, wish you were here!" [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
My favorite toy. (Kit 024) Did you have a favorite toy growing up? [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Toystore window. (Kit 025) Collecting old toys. [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Our heroes. (Kit 026) What is a hero? [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
How to be a kid again. (Kit 027) Remember when you made your own fun? [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Super sitters: a complete home system for you and your babysitter. (Kit 028) [1 video—equipment needed: VCR]
School. (Kit 029) What do you remember from your schooldays? [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]Thanksgiving. (Kit 030) Explore the history of this national holiday. [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]Airplanes. (Kit 031) Explore the history of airplane travel.[20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
Reading. (Kit 032) How have books changed your life? [20 slides—equipment needed: slide projector]
In addition to our kits at the Shaler North Hills Library, you may choose from approximately 175 Senior Activity Kits available from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. These kits can be sent to any public library in Allegheny County for convenient pick-up. Kits from Carnegie library circulate for 3 weeks and must be reserved at least 1 week in advance. You must have a current library card with a public library in Allegheny County. Please ask at the reference desk for the catalog or visit their website at: http://www.carnegielibrary.org/locations/socialsciences/seniors/