17th Annual Brewsterhout Rooftop Party on October 2nd!

The Osterhout Free Library is thrilled to announce our 17th Annual Brewsterhout Rooftop Party! Please mark your calendar for Friday, October 2, 2026, atop the Intermodal Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre. We are very much looking forward to this great celebration of our library and local businesses.

The Brewsterhout Rooftop Party is a vital fundraiser for the Osterhout Free Library, your free public library, which has been serving the community for 137 years. This is a unique and exciting fundraising event that features food from local restaurants, along with beer and entertainment. It is the biggest party of the year in Wilkes-Barre and we would love to have you join us for this highly-promoted and fun community event!

Tickets are now available for purchase online here: https://auction.biddingforgood.com/auction/341841380  OR  at the front desk of the library! Tickets are $30 per person in advance and $35 at the door (21+ only). Your ticket includes all you can drink and lite fare at the event (while supplies last).

We’re in the Final 5! Vote Osterhout for the People’s Choice Award

We made it to the FINAL 5 — and now we need your vote!

Thanks to the incredible support of our community, the Osterhout Free Library has advanced to the final round of the People’s Choice Award!

Now it’s up to you.

🗳️ Voting is OPEN today through Thursday at 10:00 a.m.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UW2026Finalists

A win would bring $10,000 to the Osterhout Free Library, helping us continue providing free access to books, technology, educational programs, resources and opportunities for children, families and our entire community.

The library is more than a building filled with books. We help remove barriers to opportunity — giving children a place to learn, families access to resources, and community members the tools they need to pursue their goals.

If the Osterhout has made a difference in your life, your child’s life, or our community, please take a moment to vote for us.

👉 VOTE FOR OSTERHOUT: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UW2026Finalists

And please share this email and encourage your friends, family, coworkers and fellow Library supporters to vote, too.

⏰ Voting closes Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

Let’s bring this one home for the Osterhout! 💙📚

Thank you for believing in your library and the possibilities it creates every day.

Choose Your Destination Raffle Tickets Now on Sale!

Raffle tickets for a $5,000 travel voucher OR $5,000 cash to support the 22nd Annual Gala & Auction: Marrakech in the Moonlight are now on sale at the library and online! Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100 and can be purchased right at the Circulation Desk at the front of the library. The winning ticket will be drawn the evening of the Gala on Friday, August 28, 2026 at approximately 9:00 p.m. that evening. The winner does not need to be present at the Gala event to win.

The winning prize is a $5,000 travel voucher. Winning ticket may be redeemed for $5,000 cash in lieu of the trip voucher.

Tickets may also be purchased through the Auction site here: https://www.biddingforgood.com/osterhout-lib-pa

Look for the “Tickets” button on the Auction site homepage    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Once you are registered to make a purchase, you will remain registered for the official Auction event which will run from Aug. 25 – Aug. 29. If you have any questions about the Gala or Auction, please contact Michelle Riley, Director of Development at mriley@luzernelibraries.org or (570) 823-0156 ext. 218

49th Annual Tent Book Sale

The Friends of the Osterhout Library are delighted to announce their 49th annual Tent Sale on the library patio at 71 South Franklin Street, beginning Friday, June 12th at 2:30 p.m. with the Preview Session and continuing through Saturday, June 20th, with Bag and Box Day. The popular evening hours will continue through the week.
Adding to the fun, look for Children’s Day on Wednesday, June 17th, with a special children’s bag sale – kids can fill a bag of children’s books for $5.00 and pick a free raffle during the day (while supplies last). “Mystery Specials” will be posted on social media daily.
The Book Sale, the featured fundraiser of the Friends, raises money to provide the Osterhout with materials and programs that the library could not otherwise offer. In total, the Friends have donated over $700,000 to help the library! If shopping, please bring your own bag except for the final day – June 20th – bags and boxes will be provided on this day.
CASH ONLY PLEASE! We doubt you’ll find a better selection anywhere!

New Driving Tests Database

New database alert! Driving Tests has car, motorcycle, and commercial vehicle license study material, practice tests, and an exam simulator. There’s also a learner’s permit checklist, driving simulator, DMV near me feature, and a beginner driver‘s guide.
Available to use for free through the library website. Get ready to drive here: https://driving-tests.org/pennsylvania/
Explore all of the library’s databases (career resources, movie streaming, foreign languages and more): https://osterhout.info/online-resources/databases/

Books, Baskets and Bake Sale

Friends of the North Branch will be holding their annual Books, Baskets & Bake Sale fundraising event on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the OFL North Branch (28 Oliver St., Parsons, Wilkes-Barre). No books are priced more than $1! Find books, DVDs, baked goods, raffle baskets and more!

Try out mini golf in the library! Mini golf at the event will be $5 per person (9 holes), kids 5 and under golf free!

Free parking is available in the lot at the end of Oliver St. We hope to see you there in support of the wonderful programs and services of the Osterhout Free Library North Branch!

Thank You Sponsors

We extend our sincere thanks to all of our sponsors for making mini-golf at the Osterhout Free Library such a success.

Their generous support made it possible to transform the library into a welcoming and engaging space that brought our community together in a unique and memorable way. This event not only provided enjoyment for participants of all ages but also helped support the Youth Services programs and resources the library offers throughout the year.

We are grateful for our sponsors’ commitment to strengthening our community and supporting the mission of the Osterhout Free Library!

$1,000 Hole-in-One Chance!

NEW THIS YEAR!

We are excited to announce a $1,000 hole-in-one prize for our 21+ Adult Night on Saturday, March 21 and a $500 hole-in-one prize for our All Ages Family Day on Sunday, March 22!

Plus, EVERY hole-in-one made on the 18th hole of the course will receive a $25 cash consolation prize if not drawn for the larger cash prize – there is a minimum of $1,500 worth of cash prizes to be won!!

Winners will be drawn at random for everyone who makes the hole-in-one on the 18th hole. Come out and try your luck!! (1 putt per person, mulligan putts available for a $5 donation).

Tickets for the event can be purchased in the library or online. Walk ups are also welcome on either day of the event!

We can’t wait to see you there!

Purchase Tickets: https://auction.biddingforgood.com/auction/341829269

$5 Bag Sale

Saturday February 28, the Friends of the Osterhout Free Library are having their $5 Bag Sale.

You can buy a bag for $5 cash and then fill it with any of the Book Shop inventory – books, CDs, DVDs and audiobooks!

The sale is only Saturday February 28, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

All bags must be purchased at the library. Bags from home are not permitted

Hope to see you there!