The leaves are turning and crisp weather has arrived. The Greensburg Public Library is welcoming fall with a variety of programs for everyone.
Story time is currently underway at both the main Library and the Westport branch. You can sign your young one up by calling either of those locations for more information.
On Friday, October 23 the Library will be scarin' up a good time at the annual Bats and Boo…ks! Halloween at the Library family program. This event is a wonderful opportunity for the kids to wear their costumes and follow the "Halloween Treat Trail." Each child attending will receive a treat bag and a card detailing each treat location and, as they find that stop on the treat trail, will be able to "trick or treat" for a prize. There will be fun activities at each spot and the kids will receive another prize for finishing the trail. The evening will also include crafts, cookies, popcorn, drinks and some not-so-scary stories. Additionally, each family may bring one carved or decorated pumpkin for the jack-o-lantern contest. The pumpkins will be judged in the following categories: funniest, scariest, prettiest, most creative and most unusual. Books will be awarded as prizes. The Library is a safe and fun place to celebrate Halloween with your child. This is a family event and all children must be accompanied by an adult. This program is best suited to kids 12 and under, but older siblings are welcome to attend. Registration is required and may be made by calling the Children's Room at 663-4455.
Young Adult programmer, Lori Durbin, has planned a jack-o-lantern carving afternoon for teens grades 6- 12 on Thursday, October 29 from 1- 3 pm. The Greensburg School system has no school on that day. Please bring your own pumpkin. Carving tools and snacks will be provided. Call 663-4455 to sign up for some pumpkin carving fun.
Autumn also brings Veteran's Day and the Library will be honoring the service men and women of Decatur County by participating in the Heroes' Tree Program. The Heroes' Tree program is a national program founded to recognize and honor the sacrifices of current service members, Veterans and deceased service members.
The Library will display a Christmas tree in a central location of the building featuring ornaments honoring service members. The tree will be displayed from October 29 through November 25. If you would like to honor a service member, you may bring an ornament from home or make one at the library. Any type of ornament may be submitted, either purchased or handmade. Ornaments may be decorated in any fashion. You may want to place a picture of the service member on the ornament, write their name, branch and date of service on the ornament, or inscribe the ornament with your name and relationship to the member. You may also include a story about the service member to be included in a binder near the tree.
At the end of November, the Indiana State Museum will erect three trees. Each participating Library has been asked to send two ornaments and accompanying stories to the museum. These will be displayed on one of the trees and the stories will be displayed at a kiosk near the tree. In addition, photos will be taken of each submitted ornament and loaded onto the Virtual Heroes' Tree. You may visit the Virtual Heroes' Tree at www.mfri.purdue.edu/virtualtree. For more information about this event and how to have your ornament considered for the Indiana State Museum trees, you may email Adult Programmer, Amy Kuhns at ahuhns@greensburglibrary.org or call the Library at 663-2826.
Fall is also a great time to get a jump on Christmas preparations. Join Amy and Mary Jane Bedel for a Make Your Own Christmas Card Program on Thursday, October 29 at 6:30. Participants will each make 6 Christmas cards. Cost for the program is $8 per person to cover materials and must be paid at registration.
Also on the calendar for November:
November 2 - Read It and Eat! Teen Book Club - 7 - 8 pm -this month's book selection is "Counting On Grace" by Elizabeth Winthrop. Several copies of this historical fiction are available at the library. Read the book, come to the meeting and share your thoughts or just listen to what other think about the book. Of course, snacks will be provided!
November 7 - Booked on Thursday Adult Book Club - 7 - 8 pm -discussion will be held on the book "Nickel and Dimed: on (not) Getting by in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich. You may join the discussion in person or online. Call 663-2826 for more information.
November 10 - Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) meeting - 7 - 8 pm. Teens meet to share ideas about what they want at and from the library.
November 16 - November is Alzheimer's awareness month and the Library will be showing the DVD, The Alzheimers Project - "Caregivers" at 6:30 pm.
November 20 - Award winning classical guitarist Peter Fletcher will be performing at the Greensburg-Decatur County Public Library at 7:00 pm.
Fall on into the Library for one or more of these programs. It's your library. Check it out!