Traverse Area District Library - October 2025 Newsletter ** What's new? ------------------------------------------------------------ Happy fall! Welcome to the 252 new cardholders who joined us during Library Card Signup Month :) Have we got some treats for you this October... 1) Banned Books Week - Banned Books Week is Oct. 5 - 11! Celebrate by reading a great banned book. This year's theme is "Censorship is so 1984." Our poster display is on exhibit in the McGuire Room AND we have a new Banned Book popup swag store that will be open for the month of October. All banned proceeds will be used to purchase additional "own voices" books for the collection. 2) Not one, but two - count 'em two - book sales! Mark your calendars for the third week of October because it's a double book sale week: Kingsley Friends of the Library Oct. 18-25 and Friends of TADL Woodmere Book Sale Oct. 24-26. Details below – 3) Chili Cookoff! We hope that you can join us again this year for our Chili Cookoff on Sun. 10/19. Chili cooks wanted! Details below – 4) Staff Pumpkin Contest - It's time for the Woodmere tradition that drives librarians right out of their gourd. Pumpkins will be out for judging the week of Halloween. Vote for your favorite! 5) Repair Cafe 11/1! Our next Repair Cafe is coming up, volunteer to be a skilled repair or bring your item needing repair! 6) Need a hobby? - We're trying a new event this month (PastimePalooza) to help people who need a hobby find some ideas before winter sets in. Join us - meet some friendly people with fun hobbies from our community! 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/ youth) New to the collection! Thanks to Oryana's Groceries for Good program, and the Oryana shoppers who donated on TADL's day, we have some new "good neighbor" themed storytime kits. In the past we've received suggestions about adding items with community spirit themes, so we look forward to hearing what you think about the new kits. Oryana's Steve Clark joined us for the very first good neighbor storytime! Pumpkin Patch - Sat. 10/11, 11 am Families are invited to join us on the front lawn for fall (and pumpkin) themed games, music, activities, crafts, and snacks. We'll even have a fall-themed StoryWalk for you to walk through and read. No reservation required. ** Learn about drones! 10/18, 11 am ------------------------------------------------------------ Take flight with drones! Families are invited to join Dont’e Kelly (DKDrones) for a fun intro to the world of flying. Discover how to choose the right drone for your age, get helpful parent resources, learn safety tips and rules for Jr. pilots. Ready for takeoff?! State Theatre Movie - 10/29, 7 pm Go behind the scenes of Dolly Parton’s literacy-focused non-profit, Imagination Library, to show how Dolly developed the Imagination Library we know and love. The film celebrates all the people who helped make Dolly’s dream come true. Presented in partnership with our local chapter (https://dpil-gtregion.org/) ! Storytime Calendar Please note: no storytimes during the week 10/27 to 10/31. Schedule resumes 11/3. * 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 10/2 - Homeschool Group Thematic Thursday, 1 pm 10/12 - Preschool Family Storytime with Miss Kate, 1 pm Other Events & Programs * Build & Create - Wednesdays at 4 pm * 10/4 - Saturday Craft Time, 11 am - 1 pm * 10/6 - Make Something, 4 pm * 10/9 - Bricks & Build Motorized Lego© (Ages 9-12), 4 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/copy-bricks-build-learn-build-motorized-legoc-models-ages-9-12-25659) ) * 10/13 + Indigenous Peoples' Day Storytime at Dennos Museum, 11 am + TADLKids DIY Delights, 4 pm * 10/14 - Tell-a-Tail, 4 pm * 10/16 - Tween Time, 4 pm * 10/20 - 4-H at the Library, 4 pm * 10/27 - Coding Club with Mr. Andy, 4 pm * Halloween special events - see below Who won summer 2025? Congratulations to TADL's Summer Reading champions! TCAPS Montessori had the highest participation rate of all TCAPS elementary schools in our 2025 summer program, AND tops overall across TADL's district. The mighty Cougars of Courtade Elementary scored their second silver book award in a row - making them our only double award winner so far. Thank you to the schools to inviting us in for a quick visit to drop off the trophies! Halloween Festivities 10/25 - Halloween for all at the Dennos Museum, 1 to 4 pm 10/30 - Lord of the Gourd carving demo, 4 - 7 pm (Atrium) 10/31 - Halloween Tots Costume Parade!, 11 am Teen (https://www.tadl.org/teen) ** New! ------------------------------------------------------------ Teen Book Club - 10/21, 4 pm Do you have a book you’re just dying to talk about? Tell us all about it at TADL’s new Teen Book Club! Pick your favorite YA book from our featured genre and come prepared to talk about it– anything counts! This month we’re reading mysteries, so get out your magnifying glass and start searching for a spine-tingling book to keep you on your toes. Will you be able to guess whodunnit? Let us know at our kickoff meeting! Snacks and warm drinks will be provided for teen participants. Check out the newest Teen Blog post! (https://www.tadl.org/posts/new-programs-and-beauti-fall-views-teem-blog-19) ** Events ------------------------------------------------------------ * Twisted Quills Teen Writing Group - Every Tuesday at 4 pm (Starting 10/8) 10/6 - Teen Escape Room, 5:30 pm (Register) 10/9 - Freestyle Writing Workshop, 6 - 7:30 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/freestyle-writing-workshop-26073) ) 10/11 - Teen Chess Club, 11 am 10/14 - Teen Craft & Chill, 4 pm 10/18 - Teen Dungeons & Dragons, 1 pm 10/19 - Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tournament, 1 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/super-smash-bros-ultimate-tournament-teens-and-adults-25838) .) 10/20 - Anime Club, 5:30 pm 10/25 - Teen Chess Club, 11 am ** Access to stories for everyone ------------------------------------------------------------ Do you know someone who cannot read a standard print book? Encourage them to register now for Talking Book Services and unlock a world of accessible reading! If someone has a visual impairment, physical disability, or reading difficulty, they can get free access to audiobooks and braille materials delivered right to their door. Don’t wait—start enjoying your favorite books today by signing up online or contacting the Larry Gorton Talking Book Library! The Larry Gorton Talking Book LIbrary (tadl.org/tbl) (http://tadl.org/tbl) World Sight Day Event - 10/9, 11:30 am to 1 pm (Details (https://www.tadl.org/event/world-sight-day-25674) ) Adults (https://www.tadl.org/adults) Chili cooks wanted! Sign up today for our cookoff - http://tadl.org/chili Chili Cookoff - Sun. 10/19, 1 to 3 pm (Details (https://www.tadl.org/event/world-sight-day-25674) ) Book Groups & Author Events * NEW! - 10/2 - Stay Golden Book Club (https://www.tadl.org/event/stay-golden-book-club-new-24279) , 9:30 am + Book selection: Isadore's Secret (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/search?query=isadore%27s+secret) by local author Mardi Link * 10/2 - Author Talk with Tim Mulherin, 6 pm + Featured book: This Magnetic North: Candid Conversations on a Changing Northern Michigan (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/details?id=48568539) * 10/9 - Freestyle Writing Workshop (https://www.tadl.org/event/freestyle-writing-workshop-26073) , 6 pm * 10/16 - Shelf-Aware Readers: Wellness Book Group (https://www.tadl.org/event/copy-shelf-aware-readers-wellness-book-group-24994) , 6:30 pm + Book selection: Set Boundaries, Find Peace (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/details?id=48322854) by Nedra Glover Tawwab * 10/21 - Queer Tales (https://www.tadl.org/event/queer-tales-book-club-17695) , 7 pm + Book selection: Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu * 10/27 + Author Event with Diana Louise Webb (https://www.tadl.org/event/author-event-diana-webb-26329) , 6 pm + Books & Brewskis (https://www.tadl.org/event/books-brewskis-47) , 7pm, Silver Spruce Brewing o Book selection: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/details?id=48550641) by Stephen Graham Jones * 10/28 - Tuesdays @ Two (https://www.tadl.org/event/tuesdays-two-book-club-40) , 2pm + Book selection: Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of WWII (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/search?query=code%20girls&authors[]=Mundy%2C%20Liza) by Liza Mundy Health & Wellness * 10/3 - Tai Chi (https://www.tadl.org/event/tai-chi-20121) , Noon * 10/8 - Medicare Information Session (https://www.tadl.org/medicareinfoOct) , 6:30 pm * 10/9 - Ageless Grace (https://www.tadl.org/event/ageless-grace-23002) , 10 am * 10/17 + Chair Yoga (https://www.tadl.org/event/chair-yoga-18954) , 11:30 am + Tai Chi (https://www.tadl.org/event/tai-chi-20122) , 1 pm * 10/27 - Ageless Grace, (https://www.tadl.org/event/ageless-grace-17090) Noon Let's Learn Together! * 10/1 - French Language Conversation Meet-Up (https://www.tadl.org/event/french-language-discussion-group-26144) , 6:30pm - Meeting in McGuire Room this month! * 10/2 - Mind Your Money (https://www.tadl.org/event/mind-your-money-smart-finances-everyone-25710) : Smart Finances (https://www.tadl.org/event/mind-your-money-smart-finances-everyone-25710) : Considering Home Ownership, 6 pm * 10/4 + Copy the Constitution in Community with MI Writers (https://www.tadl.org/copytheconstitution) , 10 am + Spanish Language Conversation Meet-Up (https://www.tadl.org/event/spanish-language-conversation-meet-20038) , 10:30 am * 10/12 - Traverse Area Historical Society monthly program (https://www.tadl.org/event/traverse-area-historical-society-12107) , 2 pm * 10/14 - A Parent Like You Workshop (https://www.tadl.org/parentworkshop) , 6 pm * 10/20 - Deep Diving the Family Archives (https://www.tadl.org/event/deep-diving-family-archives-26187) , 6:30 pm * 10/21 - Mind Your Money (https://www.tadl.org/event/hold-financial-programs-seniors-22826) : Smart Finances for Seniors (https://www.tadl.org/event/hold-financial-programs-seniors-22826) : Preparing for a Financial Emergency, 11 am * 10/23 + Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Society monthly program (https://www.tadl.org/event/grand-traverse-area-genealogical-society-17864) , 1 pm + Climate Change Film Series with Citizens Climate Lobby (https://www.tadl.org/event/climate-change-film-series-citizens-climate-lobby-25620) o From Sagan's Congressional Testimony to Now: 40 Years of Climate Innovation, 6 pm * 10/28 - Safe Streets Equal Access with Grand Traverse Safe Streets Alliance (https://www.tadl.org/SafeStreets) , 6 pm Just for Fun TADL Stitchers - Every Tuesday evening at 6 pm (Join us to work on your own needlecraft project.) * 10/6 - Papercrafting Junk Journals (https://www.tadl.org/event/papercrafting-junk-journals-26173) , 6 pm * 10/13 - Adult Escape Room (https://www.tadl.org/event/adult-escape-room-18653) , 6 pm * 10/19 + Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tournament (https://www.tadl.org/event/super-smash-bros-ultimate-tournament-teens-and-adults-25838) , 1 pm - Open to Teens & Adults + Chili Cookoff, 1 to 3 pm on the front lawn * 10/20 - Anime Club (https://www.tadl.org/event/anime-club-25422) , 4 pm - Open to Teens & Adults * 10/21 - PastimePalooza! (https://www.tadl.org/event/hold-hobby-fair-24779) , 4 pm - Hobby fair! Come chat and maybe find a new hobby. * 10/23 - TADL Volunteer Happy Hour! (https://www.tadl.org/event/tadl-volunteer-happy-hour-26310) , 3:30 pm - Come help the library with projects! ** Woodmere Fall Book Sale! ------------------------------------------------------------ The Fall Book Sale is coming up - find details on tadl.org/events! * 10/24 - Friday night members only presale * 10/25 & 10/26 - Sale open to the public East Bay Branch Library (https://www.tadl.org/eastbay) Thank you to all our volunteers and everyone who stopped in to our Ice Cream Social! Ongoing Sing & Stomp Wednesdays - 11 am (No Sing & Stomp on 10/29) Sing & Stomp Fridays - 10 am (No Sing & Stomp on 10/31) * 10/2 + Baby Bookworms, 10:30 - 11:30 am + Ageless Grace, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm * 10/3 + Chair Yoga, 11:30 am + Raptor visit with North Sky Raptor Sanctuary, 4 pm * 10/7 + Book Club for Kids, 4 - 5 pm + Adult Coloring Night, 5:30 - 7 pm * 10/9 - Homeowner's Tips & Tricks with NMC, 6 - 7 pm (register (https://nmc.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation?_class_id=5357) ) Check out our tool library too! * 10/10 - Introduction to Tai Chi, Noon - 1 pm * 10/11 - Cardio Drumming * + 11 am (register (https://www.tadl.org/event/cardio-drumming-east-bay-i-26237) ) + Noon (register (https://www.tadl.org/event/cardio-drumming-east-bay-ii-26238) ) * 10/16 - Homeowner's Tips & Tricks with NMC, 6 - 7 pm (register (https://nmc.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation?_class_id=5358) ) Check out our tool library too! * 10/21 - French Language Conversation Group, 5:30 - 6:30 pm * 10/23 + Mandala Art Workshop, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (register (https://www.tadl.org/event/mandala-art-workshop-barbara-greenwood-26217) ) + Teen Escape Room, 5:30 - 6:30 pm * 10/28 - East Bay Book Club, 6 pm Kingsley Branch Library (https://www.tadl.org/kingsley) Ongoing Wigglers Storytime Tuesdays and Wednesdays - 10:30 am (No Wigglers 10/14 or 10/15) * 10/9 - Everyone Has a Story, 5:30 pm * 10/18 to 10/25: KBL Book Sale (Details (https://www.tadl.org/event/book-sale-kingsley-branch-library-26350) ) * 10/25 - Simply Delicious with Chef Tom, 10 am * 10/29 - Afternoon Book Club 2 pm From the Director’s Desk with Library Director Michele P. Howard October is Library Appreciation Month. Although this is the “official” month, I feel like our community appreciates us every day! Even people who confess to just buying all their books (I always reassure them that I buy books too!), tell me they love the library. The results of our Strategic Plan survey are starting to come in and the comments were overwhelmingly positive. I’ll write more on that in a future newsletter. October is also Michigan Right to Read Week or what we often call Banned Books Week. Libraries observe this week to help remind citizens that libraries are places that encourage curiosity, welcome discussion, and support a person’s right to explore ideas, even ideas that some would find abhorrent. The Michigan Library Association has created a Petition supporting Michiganders Right to Read, please consider signing it. https://www.mirighttoread.com/sign (http://October is Library Appreciation Month. Libraries protect the First Amendment by providing unbiased access to ideas in books, movies, music, transcription, news, and more. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, under the pseudonym Silence Dogood, “Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech ... Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom, and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech…”. Finally, October 1st marks the end of my sixth year as the library director. So far, it’s been a bit of a wild ride but every day that I come to the library, I smile at what a simple but precious space a library is. 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)