Traverse Area District Library - September 2025 Newsletter ** What's new? ------------------------------------------------------------ Happy Library Card Signup Month! If you know someone who doesn't have a library card, there's no better time to get one!. Welcome to the 238 new cardholders who joined us during the dog days of August :) 1) Strategic plan survey - Click here to take the survey, (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TADL2025) learn more in the director's letter below! 2) Back by popular demand! There's another Volunteer Fair coming up - this time with an Appreciation Celebration as well! Details below - 3) Mural Festival - The North Boardman area (along 8th Street, north of the library) will be hosting a Mural Festival Sept. 14-17 (https://tcpublicart.org/tc-mural-festival) . When you visit the library allow yourself some time to take a walk and enjoy some great public art! Individual events include: * 9/14 - Kids Color the Corridor (Details (http://tadl.org/corridorcolor) ) * 9/17 - Walking Tour, 4 pm 4) Chili! If it's September then it's time for chili wizards to sign up (http://tadl.org/callforchefs) for our October Chili Cook-Off! Link below. 5) PastimePalooza Oct. 21 - If you have a fun hobby sign up to share info about it with others! Got a fun hobby? Sign up to share today! Need a hobby? Mark your calendar for 10/21! If you have a fun hobby fill out this form today to reserve a spot (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tGrxdpaeZP1wsD_1pOzsLPQzYhFMdiML7mLqbK0cAyM/preview) at our first-ever PastimePalooza. We'll provide you with a display board (if you want one) so everyone can show off "science-fair style". If you need a hobby this is a great way to see what's available in the community and meet some new friends. Click to skim what's new at TADL: New Fiction (https://bit.ly/36KpU4N) New Non-Fiction (https://bit.ly/36KQVVH) New in Large Print (https://tinyurl.com/tadllargeprint) New Audiobooks (https://bit.ly/2I3Ry2o) New DVDs (https://bit.ly/3nv66bv) New Music (https://bit.ly/34Ai4Iw) Youth (https://www.tadl.org/services/youth) We look forward to another great school year with all of our area students. Don't forget, you can find lots of resources grouped by age and subject at tadl.org/homework! Visit TADL Homework Help (http://tadl.org/homework) Sun. 9/14, Color the Corridor Noon to 3 pm Take an artistic journey along the North Boardman corridor with TADL and our friends at the Old Town Playhouse! Add your work to murals at each stop - learn more at tadl.org/corridorcolor ** Sat. 9/20 - Reptiles-to-Go with Raven Hill! 11 am ------------------------------------------------------------ We welcome Raven Hill Discovery Center (https://www.ravenhilldiscoverycenter.org/) to TADL for a Saturday morning animal adventure with snakes, lizards, and turtles! We'll talk about how they are both different and alike, their natural history, and how to hold them! Visit our event page (https://www.tadl.org/event/raven-hill-animal-program-families-25801) for a look at the special guests. Storytime Calendar (Starting the week of 9/8) * Mondays - Wigglers with Miss Carrie, 10 am * Tuesdays - Babytime with Miss Michele, 9:15 am; Toddler Time with Miss Michele, 10 am * Wednesdays - Make-Believers with Miss Kate, 10 am * Thursdays - Storytime for Bigs with Mr. Andy, 10 am * Fridays - Storytime with Miss Amanda, 10 am 9/21 - Preschool Storytime with Miss Kate, 1 pm Other Events & Programs * Build & Create - Wednesdays at 4 pm (9/10, 9/17, 9/24) * 9/4 - Homeschool Thematic Thursday, 1 pm * 9/8 - Make Something, 4 pm * 9/9 - Tell-a-Tail, 4 pm * 9/18 - Bricks & Build (Motorized Lego Ages 9-12), 4 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/bricks-build-learn-build-motorized-legoc-models-ages-9-12-25657) ) * 9/22 - 4-H at the Library, 4:30 pm * 9/26 - Karaoke Night for Kids & Teens (with pizza & crafts), 6 pm * 9/29 - Coding Club with Mr. Andy, 4 pm Teen (https://www.tadl.org/teen) ** Teen News ------------------------------------------------------------ * New blog post - The Dog Days of Summer (https://www.tadl.org/posts/teen-blog-17-dog-days-summer) * Check out what's new on the teen shelves - https://catalog.tadl.org/main/search?query=&qtype=shelf&sort=pubdateDESC&loc=22&shelving_location[]=786) ! * Food needs: Our Feeding America lunches are over, here are other resources (https://northwestmifoodcoalition.org/grandtraverse/) 9/8 - Michigan Youth Challenge Academy (National Guard) Information Session, 6 pm 9/10 - Stress Busting for Teens with Upnorth Pride, 4:30 pm 9/11 - Freestyle Writing Workshop, 6 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/freestyle-writing-workshop-21566) ) 9/13 - Know Your Rights Fair with the Human Rights Commission, 10 am - 2 pm 9/13 - Teen Chess Club, 11 am 9/13 - Semi-Formal & Formal Clothing Swap for Teens, 2 pm 9/16 - Volunteer Fair & Appreciation Event, 4 - 6 pm 9/22 - Anime Club, 4 pm 9/26 - Karaoke Night for Kids & Teens (with pizza & crafts), 6 pm 9/27 - Teen Chess Club, 11 am 9/29 - Flashback Crafts for Teens: Ponybead animals, 4 pm Adults (https://www.tadl.org/adults) http://tadl.org/chili Chili Cook Off chef sign-up is open! Have a great chili recipe that all your friends and family rave over? Then sign up (http://tadl.org/callforchefs) to be one of the competitors in our annual Chili Cook Off. All types of chili welcome - beans, meat only, vegan. Your only guidelines are your imagination and the judges' taste buds! Spots are limited so sign up today! Chili Cookoff - Competitor Signup (http://tadl.org/callforchefs) Book Groups, Writing & Author Events * NEW Book Club! 9/4 - Stay Golden Book Club (https://www.tadl.org/event/stay-golden-book-club-new-24278) , 9:30am (The Best Part of Us (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/search?query=sally+cole-misch) by Sally Cole-Misch) * 9/4 - High Tea with Chief Inspector Gamache: The Novels of Louise Penny (https://www.tadl.org/louisepennytalk) , 6 pm * 9/11 - Freestyle Writing Workshop (https://www.tadl.org/event/freestyle-writing-workshop-21566) , 6 pm * 9/16 - Queer Tales (https://www.tadl.org/event/queer-tales-book-club-17694) , 7 pm - (The Magic Fish (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=the+magic+fish+trung&layout=list&commit=&qtype=keyword&%5Bfmt%5D=all&%5Bsort%5D=relevancy&%5Bloc%5D=22&%5Baudience%5D=all&%5Bin_progress%5D=true) by Trung Le Nguyen) * 9/29 - Books & Brewskis (https://www.tadl.org/event/books-brewskis-46) , 7 pm at Silver Spruce Brewing (The God of the Woods (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/details?id=48519889) by Liz Moore) * 9/30 - Tuesdays @ Two (https://www.tadl.org/event/tuesdays-two-book-club-39) , 2 pm (The Last Kind Words Saloon (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/search?query=the+last+kind+words+saloon) by Larry McMurtry) Health & Wellness * 9/5 - Tai Chi (https://www.tadl.org/event/tai-chi-20119) , Noon * 9/10 - The “Electric Connection” between Migraine and the Human Biofield (https://www.tadl.org/electricconnection) , 6:30 pm * 9/11 - Ageless Grace (https://www.tadl.org/event/ageless-grace-23001) , 10 am * 9/11 - Longevity Medicine: Cardiovascular Health (https://www.tadl.org/node.23277) , 6 pm * 9/19- Chair Yoga (https://www.tadl.org/event/chair-yoga-18953) , 11:30 am * 9/19 - Tai Chi (https://www.tadl.org/event/tai-chi-20120) , 1 pm * 9/22 - Ageless Grace (https://www.tadl.org/event/ageless-grace-17089) , Noon Let's Learn Together! * 9/3 - French Language Conversation Meet-Up (https://www.tadl.org/event/french-language-discussion-group-17714) , 6:30 pm * 9/4 - Mind Your Money (https://www.tadl.org/event/mind-your-money-smart-finances-everyone-25709) - Considering Home Ownership, 6 pm * 9/6 - Spanish Language Conversation Meet-Up (https://www.tadl.org/event/spanish-language-conversation-meet-20037) , 10:30 am * 9/8 - Michigan Youth Challenge Academy (https://www.tadl.org/event/michigan-youth-challenge-academy-national-guard-25112) , 6 pm - For Teens and Their Adults * 9/13 - Know Your Rights Fair with TC Human Rights Commission (https://www.tadl.org/RightsFair) , 10 am (McGuire Rm.) * 9/21 - Traverse Area Historical Society monthly program (https://www.tadl.org/event/traverse-area-historical-society-12106) , 2 pm * 9/23 - LWV-GTA Candidate Forum: TC Mayor & TC Commission (https://www.tadl.org/event/lwv-gta-candidate-forum-traverse-city-mayor-and-traverse-city-commission-25155) , 6 pm * 9/24 - Cottage Food Law: Selling Honey & Maple Syrup (https://www.tadl.org/cottagefoodlaw) , 6 pm * 9/16 - Mind Your Money (https://www.tadl.org/MindYourMoney) - Mobile/Digital Banking, 11 am * 9/24 - Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Society monthly program (https://www.tadl.org/event/grand-traverse-area-genealogical-society-17863) , 1 pm * 9/25 - Climate Change Film Series with Citizens Climate Lobby (https://www.tadl.org/ClimateFIlms) , 6 pm * 9/29 - Letting Go and Getting Organized (https://www.tadl.org/letgogetorganized) , 6 pm Just for Fun TADL Stitchers - Every Tuesday evening at 6 pm (Join us to work on your own needlecraft project.) * 9/6 - Birds Doing Stuff: Photography by Steve Jessmore (https://www.tadl.org/Birdsdoingstuff) , 2 pm * 9/7 - Books to Movies (https://www.tadl.org/event/books-movies-17880) - Mickey 17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osYpGSz_0i4&t=2s) , 1 pm * 9/16 - Volunteer Fair & Appreciation Event (https://www.tadl.org/VolunteerFair) , 4 pm * 9/22 - Anime Club (https://www.tadl.org/event/anime-club-25421) , 4 pm (Open to teens & adults) * 9/26 - Nature Walk - Pyatt Lake: The Bill Carls Nature Preserve (https://www.tadl.org/event/nature-walk-turtle-cove-nature-preserve-22343) + 9am - Meet at Pyatt Lake on Pyatt Rd. Dress for the weather and wear your walking shoes. ** Local History Collection Sept. Display ------------------------------------------------------------ The second floor display case will feature photographs of vintage automobiles. Stop up to see it! Beep beep! East Bay Branch Library (https://www.tadl.org/eastbay) Sat. Sept. 13 - Join us for fun and ice cream 1 to 3 pm! Ongoing Sing & Stomp Wednesdays - 10 am Sing & Stomp Fridays - 10 am * 9/2 - Adult Coloring Night, 5:30 - 7 pm * 9/4 - Baby Bookworms, 10:30 am * 9/9 - Picture Book Club for Grown-Ups, 5:30 - 6:30 pm * 9/12 - Chair Yoga, 11 am * 9/12 - Introduction to Tai Chi, Noon * 9/13 - Ice Cream Social, 1 - 3 pm * 9/16 - French Conversation Group, 5:30 - 6:30 pm * 9/18 - Adult Crafternoon - Pebble Art, 2 - 3:30 pm * 9/20 - Cardio Drumming + 11 am (register (https://www.tadl.org/event/cardio-drumming-east-bay-i-25019) ) + Noon (register (https://www.tadl.org/event/cardio-drumming-east-bay-ii-25020) ) * 9/30 - East Bay Book Club, 6 pm Kingsley Branch Library (https://www.tadl.org/kingsley) Ongoing Wigglers Storytime Tuesdays and Wednesdays - 10:30 am Big Kid Storytime Thursdays - 11 am * 9/11 - Everyone has a Story, 5:30 pm * 9/24 - Afternoon Book Club 2 pm * 9/27 - Simply Delicious with Chef Tom, 10 am From the Director’s Desk with Library Director Michele P. Howard September is Library card signup month! If you are getting this newsletter, you probably already have a library card and understand the endless possibilities that come along with that one card. BUT - studies show that the number of people who read for pleasure continues to drop steeply. How can we can turn this around? If you have a story or author you love, encourage others to try it. Foster a book group, you don't even all have to read the same thing - some groups just choose a different genre each time, everyone reads a different book, and shares the storyline. It's a win-win, combating loneliness AND reading at the same time :) A new strategic plan The survey is open (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TADL2025) now until Sep. 17! Please share your thoughts with us, we'll be using them to develop our direction for the next three years. With our last plan we refreshed the front lawn (because you told us you love outdoor programs) and made many other improvements. What shall we all do next?! A new school year There's a chill in the air and I still have to fight the urge to browse the new school supplies! TADL has resources (tadl.org/homework) for all parents and students, sorted by grade level and topic - available to you 24/7. Starting in September, there will be a Homeschool Group - Thematic Thursday at Woodmere, the first Thursday of the month (homeschool resources (https://www.tadl.org/homeschooling-resources) ). We also have incredible learning tools for all ages at all of our locations. MeLCat Finally, a number of people have asked me about the future of MeL and MeLCat. The simple answer is we still don’t know! The complicated answer is that the Library of Michigan has received confirmation that the Federal Institute for Museum and Library services has allotted funds to the State. Unfortunately, unless the money is appropriated in the Budget for the State of Michigan, the money cannot be spent! Currently, the Senate version of the Budget has the money in it, but the House does not. The Library of Michigan needs both legislative chambers to pass budgets that include those funds in the Library of Michigan budget, otherwise, it can’t be spent. If you have thoughts about this, you can share them with your elected officials. Links at info at tadl.org/imlsfunding. Keep reading! Michele ============================================================ ** Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TraverseAreaDistrictLibrary) ** Link (http://www.instagram.com/notjustbooks) ** Website (http://tadl.org) ** YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/TADLnotjustbooks)