A Fond Farewell -- and Looking Ahead to the End of the Year

Well, if you haven't heard the news yet, I have accepted a new librarian position over at the Comstock Township Library near Kalamazoo and will be leaving the Vicksburg District Library.  I have really enjoyed working with all you teens and getting to know the community.  It was a wonderful experience and I will miss you all.  My last day will be Halloween, so come on out and say goodbye before I leave.  

Okay, that being said, the fun isn't stopping at the Vicksburg Library!!  On Thursday, October 31, in celebration of Halloween, we are having our monthly teen/tween event.  Come in that day at 4:00pm to participate in a Food Fear Factor.  All you need to do is bring an empty stomach and your sense of adventure to participate in an extreme (and gross) eating challenge.  There will be lots of fun and prizes, too!  

Then it will be November (already)!  On Tuesday, November 5, from 3-4, there will be a Writers' Workshop in honor of November is National Write a Novel Month.  All writers are welcome to bring stories they are currently working on to ask for help or suggestions.  Anyone interested in writing is welcome, too!  And then on Tuesday, November 12, from 3-4, there will be Free Wii Play.  Bring in a Wii game from home or play one of ours!  

The last teen event of the month of November is the monthly teen/tween event, run by Ms. Kristy.  On Thursday, November 21, at 4pm, we will be doing an "Attitude of Gratitude" event -- come in and make blankets and "snuggles" for animals that we will then donate to an area animal shelter.  See how good it feels to give back and do something for charity -- right before Thanksgiving!  And that will do it for November -- we have no programming the last week of the month because of the Thanksgiving holiday.  (Don't forget that the Vicksburg District Library is closed on Thanksgiving, but reopens the next day for normal Friday business hours -- 10 to 5).

That brings us to December, which generally has no programming or events; everyone is so busy that we like to give everyone a break for the holidays and the librarians use the time to plan new programs for the rest of the winter and spring.  This year -- however -- Ms. Kristy and I settled on just a few small things to keep everyone in good spirits.  On Thursday, December 5, at 4pm, we will hold the next "Pizza and Pages" bookclub.  The pick for this time is "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli -- come in and check out a copy at the library and be ready to discuss by the next meeting.  (Usually the bookclub is the fourth Thursday of the month, but we bumped it from November due to Thanksgiving.)

On the next Thursday, December 12, Ms. Kristy will host a special holiday event for all ages!  The community is invited to make Candy Cottages from 5-7pm -- we'll supply all of the music and supplies for the houses, you supply the creativity!  Then on the following Tuesday, December 17, there will be a special teen event (at the normal 3-4pm time) for a "Welcome Winter" party.  Come and enjoy food, games, and crafts as you learn about different seasonal holidays.  

Also, don't forget about T.A.B. -- the Teen Advisory Board!  We are still taking new members -- sign up to help plan programs, help pick out books and movies to add to the library's collection, and to possibly get credit for school volunteer hours.   The meetings are the fourth Thursday of each month from 3-4pm, ask at the Circulation Desk for more information.  The next meetings are: Thursday, October 24, and Thursday, November 21.  
  
Lastly, a reminder of our holiday hours as the year draws to a close.  Like I mentioned before, the Vicksburg District Library is closed on Thursday, November 28, for Thanksgiving.  The library is also closed Tuesday, December 24 for Christmas Eve; Wednesday, December 25 for Christmas; Tuesday, December 31 for New Year's Eve; and Wednesday, January 1 for New Year's Day.  We will be open all of the days in between for normal business hours.  Have fun and be safe!

Any questions or comments?  Contact the library at 649-1648 or at info@vicksburglibrary.org.  Hope to see you soon!!

Fall Fun!

Happy Fall, everyone!  Yes, fall events are well underway here at the Vicksburg Library.  We have tons to talk about for October and November! 




Teen events still happen every Tuesday, after school, from 3-4pm.  Tomorrow, October 8, we have a new Anime and Origami Day.  We have a special guest teaching origami projects and we will also be showing a new anime series on the big screen!  Come do one or the other, or both while you enjoy Japanese snacks and drinks.  On October 15, we will combine a craft project with food to make Edible Earth Models and on October 22, we will bring out some of the new board games the library purchased over the summer and have some free game time.

Then, on Thursday, October 31, we have a special event for -- you guessed it, Halloween!  Come in at 4:00pm to participate in a Food Fear Factor.  Do you have the guts to participate in an extreme (and gross) eating challenge?  November will feature even more fun -- we have a writers' workshop, a Wii tournament, an Operation Gratitude craft project (make a craft project that will help your community), and more!


Next up is a reminder that we are always looking for teens to meet on the last Thursday of every month from 3-4 to be a part of our Teen Advisory Board (TAB).  TAB gets to help plan programs, help pick out books and movies to add to the library's collection, and may be able to get credit for school volunteer hours.  Our next meeting is Thursday, October 24 at 3:00pm.  We will be discussing what programs we want to do over the winter, snacks and prizes for those programs, and what movies we want to add to the collection for teens.

Lastly, I wanted to thank everyone that came to our new book club for teens and tweens last month!  We had an AWESOME turnout!!  In case you haven't heard, Ms. Kristy and I started a new book club for teens and tweens.  We are calling it "Pizza & Pages."  Basically, we will pick a book and announce it and then you have the month to get it from the library (or somewhere else) and read it!  On the day of the Pizza & Pages meeting, just show up ready to talk about the book and discuss it with other teens.  We will supply the books, the discussion questions, and most important -- the pizza!  The next meeting is Thursday, October 24, and the book is "The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg" by Rodman Philbrick.  Come in today to pick up a copy! 

Any questions or comments?  Contact me, Ms. Beth -- the Teen Librarian -- at 649-1648 or at bdowson@vicksburglibrary.org.  Hope to see you soon!!