With so many good things happening inside the libraries, people can sometimes miss the wonderful grounds that surround the South Hadley Public and Gaylord Memorial libraries. Have you seen the pollinator garden and temporary outdoor reflective sculpture at Gaylord? Have you viewed the Connecticut River and historic South Hadley Canal from the pergola at SHPL? Spend a few extra minutes during your next visit to check out all we have to offer.

Adult Programs at SHPL

Genealogy Program #1: Search to Failure- It’s Not a Mortgage Application! by Dave Robison on Wednesday, October 2 at 6:00. How many Smith’s can you find with all the genealogical details: dates, life events, locations, etc.? How many Smiths can you find the last name only? The answer is close to 125 million! How do you find the right one? On-line search failures that can easily be cured. Learn how with expert genealogist Dave Robison.

Bigfoot in Western Massachusetts by The Vogel Brothers on Saturday, October 5 from 10:00-12:00. Are they living in our towns, forests, and farms or are they moving through Western Massachusetts? Do they even exist? Explore the Bigfoot legend and stories with the Vogel Brothers.

Genealogy Program #2: The Dangers of Online Family Trees by Dave Robison on Wednesday, October 9 at 6:00. How can your great-grandmother have had three children shortly after she died at age 87? Do you automatically believe the online family trees that others have created, or do you double and triple check the information to confirm you know who is on that tree and the information is correct? Learn how with expert genealogist Dave Robison.

Our Between the Covers Book Club will be meeting on Tuesday, October 8 at 3:00 to discuss The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer. Copies are available at the library. Booklist says “the family relationships and challenges ring true and add depth to this light, fun read. The combination of summer-at-the -beach living and a second chance at love will prove irresistible to fans of women’s fiction.

Local Folklore: Cryptids, History and Storytelling by Jordan J. Hall on Wednesday, October 16 at 6:00.
Jordan J. Hall, author of Mammoth, Massachusetts, will join us for an hour of cryptids, history, and storytelling as he details some of the monsters found in Western Massachusetts.

Halloween Costume Swap (For All Ages) on Saturday, October 19 at 10:00. Dressing up on October 31? Drop off gently used Halloween costumes for babies through adults.  We will accept items beginning Monday, September 30 through Friday, October 18. You will receive a ticket for each costume you donate. Then come to SHPL on Saturday, October 19 to pick up the same number of costumes you donated.

SHPL: Celebrating the Past Decade. Can you believe the “new” library is ten years old? Join us on Saturday, October 19 from 11:30-12:30 for a combination of reflection and celebration. We’re marking the first decade of the new South Hadley Public Library building with a look back over the past 10 years: where we were, where we’ve been, and where we’re going. Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Library.

Dreams: Introduction to Symbolism and Interpretation with Winnifred of AwenTree on Wednesday, October 23 at 6:00. What are your dreams telling you? Our soul speaks to us through our dreams, but how do we interpret those messages in a way that makes any sense to our waking self?  Join Winifred to learn techniques to help you get started unpacking the insight and wisdom held within your dreams. Winifred is a professional, intuitive tarot reader and teacher for 20+ years. As a teacher, she is engaging, knowledgeable and candid; empowering her students to step into their own agency when it comes exploring the intangible world of dreams.

Author Talk: Murder at the Alma Matter: A Nora Phillips Mystery with author Katherine M. Anderson on Wednesday, October 30 at 6:00.  Set at Elms College, her new book is the story of New York Times bestselling author Nora Phillips who has made a name for herself with her beloved Charlie Donahue mystery series. Her editor has unceremoniously rejected her latest work, leaving her with mere weeks to come up with another installment before she’s forced to pay back her hefty advance. Teaming up with a current Elms student, Nora finds herself immersed in the details of an unexpected crime that just might repeat itself if she doesn’t solve it fast. Katherine Anderson is also the author of “Hospital Hill,” set at Northampton State Hospital, and “Shadows in the Ward,” set at Westborough State Hospital.

Online Author Programs (click each program for more information)

A Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats with Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Presented by Smithsonian Scientists Dr. Rachel Page, Dr. Dina Dechmann, and Dr. Teague O’Mara. Wednesday, October 2 at 2:00.

Liberating Latin American Genre Fiction: In Conversation with Bestselling Author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. New York Times Bestselling Author of Mexican Gothic and Gods of Jade and Shadow. Wednesday, October 9 at 7:00.

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: Examining the Truths and Fictions we Tell Ourselves with Lori Gottlieb. Instant New York Times Bestseller of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. Tuesday, October 22 at 2:00.

Children’s Programs at SHPL

Check…mate! This month we celebrate the return of Chess Club for Kids with Andy, starting on Wednesday, October 9 at 4:00 and continuing for the next four Wednesdays. Please sign your kiddo up for each week they plan to attend!

Book club double-header! Our Graphic Novel Book Club is discussing Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse on Thursday, October 10 at 3:45. All kids ages 8-11 are welcome! My First Book Club for kindergarteners and first graders with their adults is meeting on Friday, October 11 at 3:45. No need to read anything in advance! We’ll read, talk, and craft at the program.

The one-year anniversary of Pajama Storytime is Monday, October 7, at 6:30; we will also have a special guest at Pajama Storytime on October 21, Britt Crow-Miller, author of World of Rot as well as a spooky Pajama Storytime on October 28!

Still need a costume? Our all-ages Halloween Costume Swap is Saturday, October 19. See Adult Programs (above) for details.

Want to read to a dog? Kids in kindergarten and up can sign up to read aloud to a Bright Spot therapy dog: Duchess the terrier will be here October 8, and Gwen the greyhound will be here October 23. Call the library to reserve a spot!

All our weekly programs continue this month: Story Time, Rhyme Time, Playgroup, Lego & Games, and Comics & Crafts. Learn more on the children’s page of our website or email Jenny (jarch@cwmars.org) with any questions!

Teen Programs at SHPL

We continue our regular monthly programs with Crafternoon, Snackternoon and Xbox1. Our Crafternoon on Thursday, October 17 at 4:00 will feature Clay Seed Mosaics and our Snackternoon on Thursday, October 24 at 4:00 will feature Fluffy Caramel Apple Dip! Thank you to the Friends of the South Hadley Public Library for sponsoring our Teen Snackternoon. We have a different game selection for this month’s Xbox1 sessions on Tuesdays, October 8 & 22 at 3:30! Reach out with any questions through email or call the library 538-5045 and ask for Bethany. You can also check the Teen Room door for more information. We will end the month with our Teen Night Craft andwill be crafting Pet Ghosts on Tuesday, October 29 at 6:30. This program is usually held on the last Tuesday of the month.

This month we are bringing back our YA Book Tasting Program on Monday, October 7 from 3:30-5:00. Come and check out all the brand new, not even circulated YA books, graphic novels and manga that we’ve gotten in for the month! Get first dibs for check out! This month features our brand-new Nintendo Switch on Monday, October 28 at 3:30. A new selection of games is available. We also have our new YA Book Club Booktroverts! This book doesn’t have any monthly meetings. Read and enjoy the book on your own time. 

Our Teen Takeaway craft this month is Monster Jolly Rancher Lollipops! See Bethany for more details or to sign up. 

Gaylord Memorial Library Programs

Spice Club will welcome the fall weather by sampling Southern New England Spice Company’s Vermont Apple Pie Spice on Thursday, October 3 at 6:30. Sign up by clicking here to reserve your spice packet. Gaylord’s Garden Club will meet Friday, October 4 at noon to talk about preparing Gaylord’s gardens (and yours) for fall. Castle Nitor returns on Thursday, October 10 at 6:00 to teach Viking Wire Weaving. Reserve your seat and register by clicking here.

For kids, we have our usual story times, LEGOs and crafts, plus Mary Westgate sings and reads braille books on Friday October 4 at 10:30, we have Sidewalk Chalk on Saturday October 12 at 10:15, and Halloween Games on Saturday October 26 at 10:15. Costumes are encouraged for Halloween Games and also for our Halloween Story Time on Friday October 25 at 10:30. 

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October 2024 at our South Hadley Public Libraries