Traverse Area District Library - February 2026 Newsletter To kickoff Library Lovers' Month we hope you enjoy this new video - created with an entire cast and crew of your fellow TADL cardholders! (https://youtu.be/VSD1V8bfOxg) What's new on the shelves: New Fiction (https://discover.tadl.org/) New Non-Fiction (https://discover.tadl.org/) New in Large Print (https://tinyurl.com/tadllargeprint) New Audiobooks (https://discover.tadl.org/) New DVDs (https://discover.tadl.org/) New Music (https://discover.tadl.org/) ** What's new? ------------------------------------------------------------ Happy Library Lovers' Month! Welcome to the 204 new cardholders who joined us in January :) 1) Try BATA! Did you know that you can check out the BATA Zoom Commuter Card (https://discover.tadl.org/Record/48312875?searchId=610668&recordIndex=1&page=1) for unlimited free rides on BATA's City Loop and Village Loop routes for 31 Days? 2) Blind Date with a Book time! It's February so it's time to plan your Blind Date with a Book - the Woodmere display is at the top of the main staircase on the 2nd floor. 3) Our Cradle of Democracy series has a new focus for February! Find details in the feature below. ** Our 2026 Cradle of Democracy Civics Celebration ------------------------------------------------------------ Our January focus was the State of Michigan, in honor of Michigan's statehood anniversary. Our February focus will be the federal checks and balances system. Our civics celebration page is updated with lots of resources related to this topic. Reminder - special civics celebration events will be flagged with a * in the newsletter. Upcoming highlights at Woodmere include * 2/10 - *Voter Information Table (League of Women Voters), 11 am to 1 pm * 2/12 - *Hamilton Sing-along, 6 pm * 2/25 - *Our Town, Our Democracy: Local Press Panel Event, 6 pm (Link (https://www.tadl.org/event/freedom-press-event-29227) ) Pick up a democracy bingo card at your closest library (Woodmere, East Bay, or Kingsley) and follow along. You can find all the details here: tadl.org/democracy Youth (https://www.tadl.org/services/youth) * Special Ballet Performance - Live at the Library! o Sat. 2/21 - The Northwest Michigan Ballet Theatre presents A Midsummer Night's Faery Tale, at 11 am. * Fri. 2/27 KPOP Idol Party! 6 pm o This is a free event but you must click here to reserve your tickets online in advance (https://events.humanitix.com/faerytale_nmbt) . o Free family Friday night fun - Cure that cabin fever with some catchy K-Pop karaoke! Crafts and activities, sing or just practice your dance moves with us! o ** Did you know... * If you have KPop fans in your family you can learn Korean for free via our Mango language learning tools! There are versions for both kids and adults. Get started today: tadl.org/download-stream (https://www.tadl.org/download-stream) Storytime Calendar Note: Our storytime schedule will pause beginning 2/21, so we have time to welcome all the TCAPS first grade classes for their library tours. Our March newsletter will have a storytime schedule restart date. Thank you for helping us get the first graders excited about using the library! * Mondays - Storytime 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, 10 am 2/8 - Sunday Preschool Family Storytime with Miss Kate, 1 pm Other Events & Programs Build & Create - Wednesdays at 4 pm (2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25) * 2/2 - Make Something, 4 pm * 2/5 - Tween Time, 4 pm * 2/5 - Tween Time, 4 pm * 2/7 - Musical Storytime with the TC Philharmonic, 11 am * 2/9 - DIY Delights, 4 pm * 2/10 - Tell-a-Tail, 4 pm * 2/12 + Homeschool Group Thematic Thursday, 1 pm + Bricks & Build Motorized Lego© Models (Ages 9-12), 4 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/bricks-build-learn-build-motorized-legoc-models-ages-9-12-30184) ) * 2/14 - Valentine Cardmaking, 10 am * 2/19 - Tween Time, 4 pm * 2/16 - 4-H at the Library, 4:30 pm * 2/17 - TADLKids Bingo, 4 pm * 2/23 - Coding Club with Mr. Andy, 4 pm * 2/24 - Pokemon Club, 4 pm * 2/26 - Homeschool Group Thematic Thursday, 1 pm (Must register via email) Teen (https://www.tadl.org/teen) ** Ongoing Events ------------------------------------------------------------ * Twisted Quills Teen Writing Group - Every Tuesday at 4 pm * NEW! TADL Teen Election 2026 (See feature below) 2/2 - Teen Escape Room, 4 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/teen-escape-room-29466) ) 2/4 - French Conversation Group for Teens, 6 pm 2/5 - Teen Luddite Club, 4 pm 2/7 - D&D For Teens "Call of the Piper" Group 2, 1 pm (Full - Waitlist) 2/14 - D&D For Teens "Call of the Piper" Group 1, 1 pm (Full - Waitlist) 2/16 - Anime Club, 4 pm 2/17 - Teen Drop-in Craft: Hot Foil Lucky Envelopes for Lunar New Year!, 4 pm 2/21 - D&D For Teens "Call of the Piper" Group 2, 1 pm (Full - Waitlist) 2/24 - Read It, Keep It! (Teen Book Club), 4 pm ** TADL Teen Election 2026: Which book will win? ------------------------------------------------------------ The election process starts NOW - with nominations! Nominations are being accepted from January 2-February 21. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfc6m_dTP_Oc0Inj82Ut6gAZGA8B5qq_JvYN-inPVIhWqevBA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=106152240674643811654) Nominate your favorite book today! All formats are eligible, print novels, novelas, audio books, e-books, and graphic novels. After the nominations there will be primary elections for each of 8 genres: Detective & Mystery/ Murder Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction/ Dystopian, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Romance, Thriller & Suspense/ Horror, and Contemporary Fiction. Winners will be announced after the general election November 3, 2026. Early voting starts on October 1, 2026. Persons under the age of 20 are eligible to vote in this election. Each voter may vote once in each primary and once in the general election. Local History Collection Just in time for Library Lovers' Month (and our Civics program!), the Local History Collection will be featuring an exhibit titled A Cradle of Democracy, Andrew Carnegie's legacy in Traverse City: From the Local History Collection. Find it in the 2nd floor display case at Woodmere during the month of February! The photo is a view of Sixth Street in 1910 across the Boardman/Ottaway River, showing the Perry Hannah house (now Reynolds-Jonkhoff) on the left, and the new Carnegie Library building just to its right. Adults (https://www.tadl.org/adults) Book Groups & Author Events * 2/5 - Stay Golden Book Club, 9:30 am * 2/17 - Queer Tales, 7 pm * 2/23 - Books & Brewskis, 7 pm (Sliver Spruce Brewing on 8th St.) * 2/24 - Tuesdays @ 2 Book Club, 2 pm Health & Wellness * 2/6 - Tai Chi, Noon * 2/12 - Ageless Grace, 10 am * 2/13 - Chair Yoga, Noon * 2/20 - Tai Chi, Noon * 2/23 - Ageless Grace, Noon * 2/26 - Parkinson's Disease 101 (Series (https://www.tadl.org/event/parkinsons-101-presentation-28529) ), 5 pm Let's Learn Together! Great Decisions 2026: Community Conversations about Current World Affairs The Wednesday and Thursday Great Decisions series are full, with a waitlist, so we are not including them in the list below. We are opening a third Monday series, starting 2/16. Register online here! (https://www.tadl.org/GDMondays) * 2/4 + Bookmobile Visit to The Dennos Museum! The Librarians, An Indie Lens Pop-Up Film Screening & Conversation, Free Admission, 4 pm + French Language Conversation Meet-Up, 6:30 pm * 2/5 - Mind Your Money! SCAMS, 6 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/mind-your-money-smart-finances-everyone-28797) ) * 2/7 - Spanish Language Conversation Meet-Up, 10:30 am * 2/10 - *Voter Information Table with the League of Women Voters, 11 am to 1 pm (Link (https://www.tadl.org/LWVinfoTable) ) * 2/12 - Freestyle Writing Workshop, 6 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/freestyle-writing-workshop-26077) ) * 2/15 - Traverse Area Historical Society, 2 pm + The Search for Anna & Levi: A Lost History of Black Homesteaders in Leelanau County (Link (https://www.tadl.org/event/traverse-area-historical-society-27845) ) * 2/18 - Family Law Clinic (Drop-in Legal Services), 5:30 pm (Link (https://www.tadl.org/event/family-law-clinic-legal-services-northern-michigan-24522) ) * 2/25 - *Our Town, Our Democracy: Local Press Panel Event, 6 pm (Link (https://www.tadl.org/event/freedom-press-event-29227) ) Photo: One of our D&D miniature print-and-paint programs! Just for Fun TADL Stitchers - Every Tuesday evening at 6 pm (Join us to work on your own needlecraft project.) * 2/9 - Adult Escape Room, 6 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/adult-escape-room-26921) ) * 2/12 + TADL Volunteer Happy Hour!, 3 pm - Come help the library with projects + *Hamilton Sing-along (http://tadl.org/singhamilton) , 6 pm * 2/16 - Anime Club, 4 pm * 2/25 - Adult Craft & Coloring Night, Drop-in 4 to 7 pm East Bay Branch Library (https://www.tadl.org/eastbay) The East Bay staff welcomes Miss Amanda to the team! (You may know her from the Woodmere Youth Department.) Join us at Sing & Stomp in February to meet her and wish Mr. Matt good luck in his new position at Bayliss Public Library! Ongoing Sing & Stomp Wednesdays - 11 am Sing & Stomp Fridays - 10 am * 2/3 - Adult Coloring Night, 5:30 pm * 2/5 + Baby Bookworms, 10:30 am + Ageless Grace at East Bay, 11:30 am * 2/13 - Valentine Creation Station, 1 to 5 pm * 2/14 + Cardio Drumming at East Bay I, 11 am (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/cardio-drumming-east-bay-i-28705) ) + Cardio Drumming at East Bay II, Noon (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/cardio-drumming-east-bay-ii-28707) ) * 2/17 - French Language Discussion Group at East Bay, 5:30 pm * 2/19 - Afternoon Tea & Stitch, 2 pm * 2/20 - Chair Yoga at East Bay, 11:30 am * 2/24 - East Bay Book Club, 6 pm Kingsley Branch Library (https://www.tadl.org/kingsley) Choose your cozy reading spot by the crackling fireplace! Ongoing Wigglers Storytime Tuesdays and Wednesdays - 10:30 am Big Kids Storytime, Thursdays - 11:30 am * 2/12 - Everyone Has a Story, 5:30 pm * 2/25 + Afternoon Book Club, 2 pm + Adult Game Night, 5:30 pm * 2/28 - Bake & Tell Challenge, 10 am - 3 pm From the Director’s Desk with Library Director Michele P. Howard Happy Library Lovers Month! I know you are thinking, isn’t every month Library Lovers' Month in our area? Of course yes, but this is the official National Library Lovers' Month. A nationwide celebration of our libraries and the important role they play in our communities. Not only are libraries here for people who enjoy the beauty of a well organized space, we are a community commons. If you ask me, libraries have never been more important. If you read the news, you will notice quite a bit of turmoil in our world today, regardless of the source of the news. But if you walk into the library, we hope you feel a sense of calm. A space where people who disagree can gather peacefully to explore new music, books, movies, or create something. Our collection represents our entire community so you will find items that you disagree with, and maybe even offend you. I worry that as a society we have forgotten how to “agree to disagree” but still recognize the goodness in another person. It’s not easy to do in our hyper-connected and quick-to-react world. But at the library, you can walk in and share a smile and a common interest without any chatbots interfering! I know I repeat this and will repeat it again throughout the year, Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy. So don’t forget to keep an eye on our democracy page, tadl.org/democracy. This year-long civics celebration of our Nation’s 250th (1776-2026) is just getting underway. We had great turnout in January for our focus on the State of Michigan. In February we’ll focus on Federal Checks and Balances. Highlights include: Feb. 4 - The Librarians (Free movie at The Dennos Museum) Feb. 12 - Hamilton Sing-along (Sing Hamilton) Feb. 25 - Our Town, Our Democracy: Local Press Panel Event Pick up a bingo card in our lobby and join us! I'll wrap up with a warm welcome to our newly appointed TADL Trustee, Marika BeVier. Ms. BeVier spent 8 years on the board of the TADL Friends of the Library and loves the library. Welcome Marika! It’s always a good day for a great story - Michele ============================================================ ** Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TraverseAreaDistrictLibrary) ** Link (http://www.instagram.com/notjustbooks) ** Website (http://tadl.org) ** YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/TADLnotjustbooks)