Press Release - March is Reading Month!

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Open book with crocus clovers and green hills

Visit the library and leap into Reading Month this March

(TRAVERSE CITY) - You’ll find food, fun, and lots more for all ages at the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) this month! But before we get into the details we should pause and note that March is Reading Month, one of our favorite months of the year. Since this is also a heritage celebration year at TADL we’ve decided to kickoff Reading Month with a special program.

Growing a Community of Readers - Ultimate 155 Community Read-a-Thon

We’re launching a community read-a-thon and asking community members to read 15.5 minutes a day for 155 days - one day for each year we’ve had library services. It’s a great way to pay tribute to the Ladies’ Library Association (founded in 1869) and promote awareness of how crucial reading skills are. All finishers will receive a special prize pack and an after-hours party at the library in October! Pick up a packet at your library or download the info from our website. Details are available at tadl.org/readathon, sign up now until April 11.

“I don’t remember exactly when I learned how to read but I do know that I was bad at it,” said Library Director Michele P. Howard. “I was a slow reader and hated reading out loud.  It took me a while to get reading but once I really got the hang of it…well you know how that ended.”  Howard notes that reading is something that you work to achieve and need to maintain.

“What helped me to “get the hang” of reading? It was having a teacher who allowed the class to read everyday at school for 15 minutes,” Howard said. “That was all it took to establish my lifelong enjoyment of reading.” We hope that the read-a-thon gives everyone a chance to pause for reading, and perhaps inspire others to do the same, Howard said.

Monday March 4 Documentary screening of Trust Me - On March 4 at 1 pm we will be partnering with TCAPS to present a special screening of Trust Me, an award winning, feature length documentary that explores manipulation and misinformation at the intersection of human nature and information technology. (McGuire Community Room)

Special Food-Focused Events

Manoomin: Native Grain of Michigan - March 13 at 6 pm (McGuire Community Room)

In December Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4852 this week, establishing manoomin (Michigan wild rice) as the official native grain of Michigan. Culturally significant to Michigan’s indigenous peoples, manoomin once grew freely along the state’s waterways. It is also ecologically significant in the northern Midwest. Today many of the tribal nations are working to get it re-established.

Join us and learn more from our two special guests for this program: Barbara Barton, author of Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan (available in our collection) and Tera John, Grand Traverse Band Traditional Agriculture/Food Sovereignty Coordinator - Focused of Indigenous Land Management Techniques across Turtle Island. For more details, or to add this event to your calendar visit tadl.org/manoomin (Photo available upon request)

Instant Pot Cooking with Scott - March 14 at 6:30 pm (McGuire Community Room)

Join TADL’s Chili Champion Scott Morey for a fast-paced, fun cooking demonstration. Let the library help you discover the amazing world of cooking with instant-style pots, learn new delicious recipes and enjoy some free samples!

TADL Bar-Cookie Crawl - March 16 at Noon (McGuire Community Room)

This delicious new event is a great family-friendly (non-alcoholic) way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend. There are two ways to participate:

  1. Sign up as a baker! Make one 13” x 9” pan of cookies for your entry - all ages are invited, if you have enthusiastic young chefs in the family they are welcome to enter. Sign up to bake today at tadl.org/cookie

  2. Join us as a taster - Try the cookies and vote! We’ll be awarding a fan favorite from all the cookies entered. Everyone who attends will get a recipe book of the cookies in the contest. 

Save the date - Morel Mushroom Picking with the Champ - April 28 at 2 pm (McGuire Community Room)

This program is a library favorite! The Williams Family has been picking morels in northern Michigan since the 1890s and Anthony's pickin' advice has been proven to be enlightening for everyone from novice to the seasoned pro. After winning the National Morel Hunting Championship five years in a row, Anthony Williams retired from competitive picking to become the "Expert in Residence" for the National Morel Festival. Join us for stories from Anthony’s 70 years of picking, as well as tips on how/where/when to pick the elusive morel. Fun will be had by all and hopefully you will walk away filled with hope and promise in your future morel hunting. (Photo available upon request)

Youth Services

Storytime Schedule

  • Every Wednesday at 11 am, Family Storytime (Ages 2+)

  • 3/3 & 3/17 Sunday Stories with Kate (Ages 5+)

  • 3/6 - Storytime - Guest Reader Marc Schollett, 11 am

  • 3/15 - Storytime - Guest Reader Rep. Betsy Coffia, 11 am

  • 3/21 - PJ Storytime, 6:30 pm

Reading & More!

  • 3/4 - Make Something: Cardboard, 4pm

  • Build n Create - Wed. 3/6, 3/13, 3/20 at 4 pm

  • 3/11 - DIY Delights, 4 pm

  • 3/12 - Tell-A-Tail - 4 pm

  • 3/18 - Coding Club, 4 pm

Youth Services Weekends

  • 3/2 - TSO Tots, 11 am

  • 3/9 - Yoga for Families, 11 am

  • 3/16 - 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Celebration, 11 am

Spring Break Staycation Schedule

  • Monday - Spring Break with Challenge Island, 2 pm (ages 5-8); 3:15 pm (Ages 9-12)

  • Tuesday - NERF Mobile Games 10 am (ages 5-8); 11 am (Ages 9-12)

  • Wednesday - Crafternoon, 2 pm

  • Thursday - Beach Party 11 am; Detroit Zoo Science Activities 2 pm

  • Friday - Cardboard Cars 9:30 am; Drive-in Movie 10 am; Chess Tournament (Tweens/Teens) 11 am

Save the date and make plans to join us for MakerFest 2024 at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center! April 20, 10 am - 2 pm

 

Teen Events

Creativity Corner - Every Monday, 4 pm

Novel Writing for Teens - Every Tuesday, 4 pm (Register)

Teen Volunteers - Every Wednesday, 4:30 pm

Anime Club - 3/11, 5:30 pm

Sat. Chess Club - 3/2 & 3/16, 11 am

3/18 - Teen Escape Room, 5:30 pm (Register)

Teen Spring Break Staycation

  • Monday - Creativity Corner Extended Edition 11 am - 4 pm

  • Tuesday - Tabletop Games 11 am - 12:30 pm

  • Wednesday - Teen Nerf Battle 11 am - 12:30 pm (Must register)

  • Thursday - Create with Sculpey Clay 11 am - 12:30 pm

  • Friday - Chess Tournament 11 am

  • Saturday - COSPLAY EVENT 6:30 - 9 pm (Must register)

Adult Programs & Events

The Seed Library will be out the first week of March!

3/2 - Spanish Language Conversation Meetup (Thirlby Rm), 10:30 am

3/3 - Books to Movies, 1 pm 

3/4 - Special Documentary Screening: Trust Me, 1 pm (Presented in partnership with TCAPS)

3/11 - Adult Escape Room (Card-based Table Game), 6 pm (Must register - tadl.org/escape)

3/17 - Traverse Area Historical Society Program, 2 pm

Health & Wellness

Series: Lunchtime Tai Chi - 3/1 & 3/15 at Noon

Series: Thursday Yoga - 3/7, 3/21, & 3/28 at 6 pm; 3/14 at 10 am

3/22 - Chair Yoga, 11:30 am

Special Women's History Month Feature

Check out the "Forgotten Women of History" book display on the 2nd floor, at the top of the staircase. We will be featuring books and a ticket giveaway to the Old Town Playhouse production of Radium Girls (coming in April). Radium Girls has a version adapted for younger readers, and it's also a book club kit!

Save the date - Classical Music Bag Sale April 20!

Our fabulous Friends will be having a special Classical Music Bag Sale from 9 am to 4 pm in the McGuire Community Room. Select a bag of classical music cds and choose a free cookbook with every bag!

Around the TADL Neighborhood

East Bay Branch Library

  • Sing & Stomp - Every Wednesday, 11 am (No Sing & Stomp 3/27) 

  • Sing & Stomp Fridays 3/8, 3/15, and 3/24,10 am

  • 3/5 - Adult Coloring Night, 5:30 pm; Book Club 6 pm

  • 3/8 - Tai Chi with Josh, Noon

  • 3/15

    • Chair Yoga, 11:30 am

    • Drop-In St. Patrick's Crafts 2 - 4 pm

  • 3/20 - Teen Escape Room, 5 - 6:30

  • 3/22 - Paper Quilling, 2 pm

  • 3/26

    • Unemployment Insurance Drop-In Assistance and Q&A 10 am - 4 pm

    • STEM Time 2 - 4 pm

  • 3/27 - Tiny Art Show Kickoff 2:30 - 4:30 pm

  • 3/28 - Drop-In Lego Time 1 - 3 pm

  • 3/29 - Family Movie and Popcorn Bar 4 - 6 pm

  • 3/30 - Family Craft Time 12 - 2 pm

Kingsley Branch Library

  • Storytime for Big Kids - Every Thursday, 11 am (Except week of 3/25)

  • Wigglers Storytime - Every Tuesday & Wednesday, 10:30 am (Except week of 3/25)

  • 3/7, 3/21 & 3/28 - Teen Dungeons & Dragons, 3:30 pm

  • 3/27 - Afternoon Book Club, 2 pm

  • 3/30 - Simply Delicious with Chef Tom, 10 am

All libraries will be closed for Easter Sunday, March 31.

Please check our calendar for the most up-to-date roster of events. Press resources are available online at tadl.org/press TADL provides dynamic resources and innovative services to stimulate intellectual curiosity, facilitate lifelong learning, promote literacy, and nurture personal enrichment. Circulating over 1,300,000 items each year, TADL provides a wide variety of services, including a broad collection of books, digital streaming and downloads, public computers, free WiFi, a Talking Book Library, and free programming for all ages.

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