Happy mid-October everyone! Yes, you heard me. We have passed the middle of the tenth month of the year. Time to dig out those winter jackets and pick up a couple of pumpkins for your porch or balcony if you haven’t done it yet. Halloween will be here before you know it. Better pick up a couple of bags of candy to pass out to the trick-o-treaters while you’re at it!

LAST WEEK

On Tuesday, Stephanie hosted Homeschool Book Club for our homeschooled students in 3rd through 8th grade. Over bagged lunches, they discussed classic books and had some good laughs. The next Homeschool Book Club meeting will be Tuesday, November 13^th at 12:30pm and they will be discussing graphic novels. Stephanie recommends for anyone interested to come in to the library and check out the display and the recommended reading list.

Saturday was all about Christmas as Linda and Sue hosted the Christmas Card Crafting program. The event was a busy and great success with around 15 crafters present for the day. While there have been many requests for another program, one may not be held until after the new year in early 2019. This program may cover making cards in general (as opposed to specifically Christmas cards). As soon as we have details and dates locked down, we will let you know in our announcements. So stay tuned!

THIS WEEK

Brown Bag Lunch will be held for our adult and senior patrons on Tuesday the 23^rd from 12:30pm to 3:30pm in the meeting room. Bring a lunch and join us for food, games, and lively discussion while we relax at the library.

Writer’s Round Table is coming up on Wednesday the 24^th at 1:00pm. Bring your notebook and get ready to write creatively! The prompt for this month’s meeting is to pick an advertisement from any medium and write about how it makes you feel. Adrianne will also make an appearance to talk to everyone about National Novel Writing Month, coming up in November.

The big event this week is definitely our Murder Mystery Fundraiser on Friday night. On the 26^th at 7:00pm, the Revelry Theatre Company will be presenting Murder by the Slice! Tickets can be purchased at the Circulation Desk for $10 each. The ticket includes admission, a cup of coffee, and a slice of homemade pie. Join us…if you dare!

CHECK IT OUT!

The revamped website is slowly creeping towards its completed reconstruction. Last week, Adrianne finished reworking the web resources listed under the Web Resources tab. Resources are now divided into three subtabs: MeL Databases (which will take you to the official resources supplied by the Michigan eLibrary), Helpful Resources (which lists different resources to assist patrons with tasks such as continuing their education or finding local charity and volunteering opportunities), and Urgent Contacts (places to contact when patrons are faced with major life difficulties, such as Medicare/Medicaid assistance). Please take a look at these resources and if there is a topic not covered that you would like to see listed, kindly let Adrianne know and she will be happy to work with you to list it on the website!

There’s some great Halloween fun coming up on the 31^st at the library. From 10:30am to 11:30 am, Stephanie will be having a spooky fun time with Mugs & Hugs. She encourages everyone to come in costume and play along with craft time. Then in the evening, the library will be passing out candy on the front lawn for trick-or-treaters from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. It should prove to be a fantastic holiday at the Vicksburg District Library.

We are celebrating Graphic Novels over the next few weeks! One of the library’s current projects is investing in our adult level Graphic Novel Collection, so to get the word out, we are currently showcasing our small collection in the display area near the fireplace. We encourage you to come see the amazingly illustrated stories we currently own and give us your suggestions for what else you would like to see added in the future. Not sure what there is out there to even request? Come talk to us at the Reference and Circulation Desks and we’ll introduce you to the genre! And remember…graphic novels are not just comic books.

Have a happy autumn week one and all!

–Adrianne

DATES TO KEEP IN MIND:

• Monday the 22^nd @ 10:30am: Family Story Time
• Monday the 22^nd @ 7:00pm: Quilters Class
• Tuesday the 23^rd @ 9:30am: Bridge Club
• Tuesday the 23^rd @ 12:30pm: Brown Bag Lunch
• Wednesday the 24^th @ 10:30am: Mugs & Hugs
• Wednesday the 24^th @ 1:00pm: Writer’s Round Table
• Wednesday the 24^th @ 2:45pm: Bulldog Breaktime
• Thursday the 25^th @ 10:45am: Tai Chi with Ed Kehoe
• Thursday the 25^th @ 6:30pm: Sign Language Class
• Friday the 26^th @ 7:00pm: Murder Mystery Fundraiser Murder by the Slice
• Saturday the 27^th @ 10:00am: Quilters

Was it just me or was last week just crazy?! I’d blame it on the full moon, but the moon wasn’t even full. Maybe it was the fluctuating weather. On Monday it was sunny and in the 80s. By Friday evening it was cold and sleeting. Yick! Either way, hopefully this week will bring much more calm and ease for everyone.

That being said, events held at the library last week went very well! We held our second Sign Language Class and we had a great turn out once again. We have already scheduled our next class and that’ll be held on Thursday, October 25^th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. If you are a newbie, have no fear. We go over all the basics each session. And you are always welcome to bring a friend!

On Wednesday, the meeting room had been taken over by kids of all ages. Not only was Hugs & Mugs held that morning, but in the afternoon, 4^th-12^th graders ran amuck (Amuck! Amuck! Amuck!) with ReCHARGE! and Bulldog Break Time. Not only were ice cream sundaes passed out, but board games were played and random singalongs broke out. We had a blast!

So what’s on tap for this week you ask?

Homeschool Book Club will be held on Tuesday with Stephanie from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Homeschool Book Club is open to homeschool students grades 3 to 8. This month we are discussing classic novels/stories that we are reading. So feel free to bring a bag lunch and join us for the discussion.

And Saturday, October 20^th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, the much anticipated Christmas Card Crafting event will be held in the meeting room. Registration is required and spots are filling up fast! So if you are interested in joining us, please call us today at (269) 649-1648. $2.00 is required for the program, but this buys you 5 cards. If you would like to make more, each additional card may be purchased for 50¢.

Last week, the library launched our webpage Everything You Need to Know About NaNoWriMo. Have you been thinking about joining us at the library for National Novel Writing Month, but you still have a few questions? Well, this page should have the answer for you! Everything you need to know about how the program got started, to signing up, to what we are doing specifically at the library…it’s all here! And if you do have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact Adrianne and ask.

Our Hot New Items list has been updated to feature newly purchased materials that are sure to be popular and catching everyone’s eye. Be sure to check out what we’ve been adding to our collections.

Last, but most certainly not least, we have our first reviewed library item up on the Staff Review page. Our own Elain reviews The Wicked + the Divine. Be sure to add it to your To Read lists and come check it out.

Hope you all have a fantastic (and calm) autumn week!

-Adrianne

Dates to keep in mind:

• Family Story Time: Monday the 15^th @ 10:30am
• Bridge Club: Tuesday the 16^th @ 9:30am
• Homeschool Book Club: Tuesday the 16^th @ 12:30pm
• Mugs & Hugs: Wednesday the 17^th @ 10:30am
• Tai Chi with Ed: Thursday the 18^th @ 10:45am
• Library Board Meeting: Thursday the 18^th @ 6:00pm
• Christmas Card Crafting: Saturday the 20^th @ 1:00pm
• Murder Mystery Fundraiser Murder By the Slice: Friday the 26^th @ 7:00pm
• NaNoWriMo Kickoff: Thursday the 1^st @ 10:00am

You’ve probably heard me talking about NaNoWriMo a bit lately. The reason is it is a fun program that I have been participating in for the last 12 or so years and this year I’m bringing it to the Vicksburg District Library.

I’ve written up a webpage for the library that explains all the basics of National Novel Writing Month and what we are doing at the library. To anyone who is interested, I highly recommend reading over the page and signing up. I am also here to answer any questions you might have and I hope to see a few people join me in the fun.

Happy noveling everyone!

–Adrianne

Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for any inconvenience, but for the foreseeable future, Tai Chi practice on Tuesday evenings has been cancelled. We will keep you in the loop and let you know when we will be able to bring this program back into it’s regular rotation.

Please note that we will still have morning Tai Chi with Ed Kehoe every Thursday morning at 10:45am in the meeting room. The cost is $5 a session. This routine has not changed.

If you have any questions for us in regards to any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us at the library at 269-649-1648. Thank you once again for your patience and understanding.

The Halloween atmosphere is settling into Vicksburg. More and more porches are starting to be decorated with pumpkins, black cats, and ghosts. The leaves are changing color and starting to fall. Fog is rolling in with the changing temperatures. Nothing like some spooky fun! Last week at Adult Book Club, we discussed The Know-It-All by AJ Jacobs over apple cinnamon muffins. The reading selection for the next meeting? The works of Stephen King! Creepy! However, since not everyone is a fan of horror, participants are more than welcome to read one of King’s other works as well. So join us on November 1^st at 9:00am as we discuss some chilling tales over a tasty treat for the Halloween holiday!

There is a lot coming up here over this next week, so we hope you are ready to go!

Wednesday the 10^th the library is all about the kids! Stephanie will be heading three programs for our younger patrons for some fun and relaxation this mid-week. From 10:30am to 11:30am, it’s Mugs & Hugs for babies and toddlers. Please note that a parent must be present with the child for this program, but coffee and tea will be provided while the kiddos play. Right after school from 2:45pm to 3:45pm, the Vicksburg middle and high schoolers (grades 6 through 12) are welcome to come chill and play games for Bulldog Breaktime. Snacks and games will be provided, but the parents are told to beat it as it’s all about the kids!  And from 4:00pm to 5:00pm, the 4^th and 5^th graders get to takeover for ReCharge! Parents need not apply as we have games and snacks covered for this event as well.

On Thursday the 11^th, we will be holding our second Sign Language Class in the Heritage Room at 6:00pm. Have no fear if you couldn’t make it to the first class. We will be going over all the basics so you can learn a new form of communication with our community.

Keep these upcoming events on your radar as well as they will prove to be a great time later this month…

On Saturday, October 20^th at 1:00pm, we will be holding a Christmas Card Crafting Class, hosted by Sue and Linda. The cost of the class is $2.00, which will let you make 5 cards. There will be a wide selection of cards to choose from and additional cards can be purchased for 50¢ each. Please kindly register in advance so an adequate amount of supplies can be provided.

Friday, October 26^th at 7:00pm, the Vicksburg District Library will be hosting the Revelry Theatre Company for Murder by the Slice, a murder mystery fundraiser show! Tickets go for $10.00 each and will include show entrance, a slice of homemade pie, and a cup of coffee. Please kindly register before the day of. Tickets can be purchased at the library or directly from the Revelry Theatre Company at www.revelrytheatre.org.

-Adrianne

Dates to keep in mind:

• Tuesday, October 9^th @ 12:30pm: Brown Bag Lunch
• Wednesday, October 10^th @ 10:30am: Mugs & Hugs
• Wednesday, October 10^th @ 2:45pm: Bulldog Breaktime
• Wednesday, October 10^th @ 4:00pm: ReCHARGE!
• Thursday, October 11^th @ 6:00pm: Sign Language Class
• Friday, October 12^th @ 1:00pm: Ladies Library Auxiliary
• Saturday, October 20^th @ 1:00pm: Christmas Card Crafting Class
• Friday, October 26^th @ 7:00pm: Murder by the Slice Fundraiser

Tai Chi Practice has been cancelled for Tuesday, October 2nd.

It’s a quiet, rainy morning here at the library. I’m gearing up for a busy day since the calendar just turned over from September to October. That generally means new displays, paging through material requests, and new orders for me. The fall does not bring a slowdown to the season here at all!

Last week was an exciting one here at the Vicksburg District Library. We held our first Sign Language Class on Thursday and it was such a success, we’ve booked another one! Mark your calendar for Thursday, October 11^th @ 6:00pm for our next Sign Language Class to be held in the Heritage Room. Linda and Stephanie also attended the Harvest Festival on Sunday morning at the Historical Pavilion. They gave out free books to kids, treats, and played “What’s That Scent?” The day turned out to be sunnier than expected and there was a fantastic turnout. Thank you to all who stopped by our table and checked out the library’s goods!

A couple of events to keep in mind for this week! First for the kiddos, Mugs & Hugs will be this Wednesday, October 3^rd at 10:30am in the Meeting Room. Come play with your kiddos while you sip coffee or tea with other parents (parental supervision is required for each child in attendance). And for the adults, on Thursday, October 4^th at 9:00am is Adult Book Club in front of the fireplace and mantel. We will be discussing the book The Know-It-All by AJ Jacobs while sipping coffee, tea, and sampling homemade apple cinnamon muffins. New patrons are always welcome to join the discussion, whether or not they have read/finished the book. Be sure to contact me for further details.

In website news, I have been hard at work with doing some resource research. Over the last couple of weeks, I have updated the Homework Help pages for both the Kids and for the Tweens & Teens. If you have any comments or additional resources added to these pages, please do not hesitate to contact me as I am always looking for suggestions to help out our students. Over the next couple of weeks, I’m focusing on helpful resources for our adults. Again, while I have my own list going, please let me know what you would like to see as these resources are being listed to help you, our patrons.

Coming up in November, the library will be participating in National Novel Writing Month, a fun and crazy write-a-thon where participants have 30 days to write a 50,000 word novel. Further details about the event can be found on the NaNoWriMo website and I will be posting about Write-In events at the library on the website’s Kalamazoo page very soon. Be sure to join us for word sprints, comradery, and free candy! Special prizes await those who complete their novel with the Vicksburg District Library, so stay tuned for further details!

Have a great week everyone!

-Adrianne

Upcoming Events:

• Tuesday, October 2^nd @ 9:30am: Bridge Club
• Wednesday, October 3^rd @ 10:30am: Mugs & Hugs
• Thursday, October 4^th @ 9:00am: Adult Book Club
• Thursday, October 4^th @ 10:45am: Tai chi with Ed

Sadly, due to technical issues, the Friday, September 28th showing of the film The Staircase has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.

We have been busy at the library! Fall is here and we are all in transition mode for the first week of autumn. Where to begin?

Last week, we held our Party in the Park event for all our toddlers and preschoolers. Books, fun, and treats were had by all and it was a great success, despite cloudy weather. Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages to see some of the photos we captured of the big event!

This week we have a lot going on. First, we are among the many libraries around the country celebrating Banned Books Week! What is Banned Books Week you ask?

Every year, books are challenged and/or censored in the United States for reasons ranging from language/profanity, to sexual situations, to LGBT+ themes, to religious reasons. Now while everyone is entitled to their opinions and, of course, parents/guardians are allowed to decide what is and is not appropriate for their child(ren), the purpose of a library is to help give everyone the information they seek. And this includes the books that have been banned/challenged by various institutions.

So all this week, we have up our display “Blind Date with a Banned Book.” All the books in the displays are wrapped so you do not know its title. This is so you don’t go judging the book by its cover and what you may have heard. The book is then marked with three reasons why it was banned or challenged. Once you reveal the book and read it, you are able to come up with your own thoughts about the books being banned or challenged. The purpose of this week and the display is to get people talking and have civil conversations about their right to read!

If you have any questions about Banned Books Week, more information can be found at the Banned Books Week website. And we are always here at the library to answer your questions. Our hope is to make this week a fun one to celebrate for all.

Coming up on Thursday the 27^th from 6:30 to 8:30, we are holding our very first Sign Language Class! The event is being held in our meeting room downstairs and is looking to be a very popular event. We recommend you arrive a little early and if the event proves to be a success, we will work to schedule future classes.

Other events coming up this week are our Writer’s Roundtable on Wednesday the 26^th from 1:00 to 2:00, and we will have our adult Afternoon Movie on Friday the 28^th at 1:00. This week’s movie is The Staircase.

As for the website, we are still hard at work doing updates and adding new features for our patrons! Each month we will be updating our Hot Items & Collections page to feature sliders of new items that have been recently added to our collection in various categories. The categories include fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels (adult), audiobooks, youth (includes youth graphic novels), young adult (includes YA graphic novels), and DVDs.

We are also working to update the homework resource pages for our Kids and Tweens & Teens. Some of the websites that were previously listed were either out of date or no longer active. We are working to find you the best resources to make sure you are getting the right homework help and answers our children need. Hopefully these pages will be up to date and back up and running by the end of the week. If you have any questions about these resources, please do not hesitate to contact Adrianne.

Wishing you a fantastic first week of fall!

-Adrianne

Upcoming Events:

• Friday, September 28th @ 1:00pm: Adult Movie and Popcorn
• Saturday, September 29th @ 10:00am: Quilters
• Sunday, September 30th @ 11:00am: Harvest Festival
• Monday, October 1st @ 10:30am: Family Story Time

Caution tape is starting to go up around the library. Further details to come on Monday…