Traverse Area District Library - April 2026 ** What's new? ------------------------------------------------------------ Happy Poetry Month! Welcome to the 312 new cardholders who joined us during the first 25 days of March :) Reminder - Woodmere (and all other TADL libraries) will be closed on Easter Sunday April 5. Our spring favorites are back and more! * Mon. 4/6 - Happy 4th Birthday Bookmobile! It's a birthday made FOUR reading, join Library Director Michele P. Howard in the McGuire Room at 4 pm for special snacks and make the bookmobile a birthday card! * 4/10 to 4/12 - It's the Friends of TADL Spring Book Sale! Find all the details below - * Tues. 4/14 - Volunteer Fair! Visit the McGuire Room from 2:30 to 5:30 pm and chat with groups who have local projects to work on. * Sat. 4/18 - Living history display on the front lawn! 102nd U.S. Colored Troops Company C, 11 am - 5:30 pm (Stay for the 4 pm author talk (https://www.tadl.org/mauriceimhoff) !) * Sat. 4/25 - MakerFest 2026: Join us at the GTC Civic Center for this free extravaganza of making! Tables upon tables of hands-on activities and crafts, learn more below! * Sun. 4/26 - Poets' Night Out 2026: Celebrate local writers with this free evening of readings and community, details below. * Sat. 5/16 - Save the date, it's our next Repair Cafe (http://tadl.org/repaircafe) ! Our partners at Green Door Folk School are back, start thinking about what item you want to bring for repair! Mobile App Update! A new TADL Mobile app is on the way the first week of April! The refreshed app now uses our Aspen Discovery catalog for searching and includes electronic resources, making it easier to search for any format you prefer all in one place. You can even search the library by scanning the barcode (ISBN) on the back of a book. We’ve also improved event listings, added closure alerts, driving directions, enhanced newsletter browsing, featured items, and more. If you have automatic updates enabled on your device, it should appear as soon as it becomes available. You will need to log in to the app again after the update, but after that it should be smooth sailing. Our April democracy focus is How a bill becomes a law! Explore the process of how a bill becomes a law with TADL's resources at tadl.org/democracy! Pick up a free copy of the Citizens' Guide to State Government (which covers the state-level law-making process) from our Civics Celebration display by the front desk. We have copies of the state and federal constitutions as well. * 4/14 - LWV-GTA Voter Information Table, 11 am to 1 pm * Sat. 4/18 - Schoolhouse Rock Singalong, 11 am o Join us to craft and sing along with all the favorites - including I'm just a Bill! Make your own Bill pins to wear and decorative paper fireworks too. Fresh Coast Film Festival We're partnering with Fresh Coast! The McGuire Room will host a slate of movies May 1 - 3. Some seats will be available at no charge for TADL cardholders. Find details here! (https://www.tadl.org/FCFF-TC) Skim what’s new at TADL: discover.tadl.org Youth (https://www.tadl.org/youth) Summer Reading Club 2026 We're excited to announce the theme for SRC2026: Unearth a story! The library decor transformation will begin next month and registration opens June 1. Look for more details in the May newsletter, but plan to join us for six weeks of free fun and of course, reading! TADL Summer Reading Club 2026 (http://tadl.org/summerreading) April Weekly Storytime Calendar (Starting the week of 4/6) * Mondays - Storytime with Miss Carrie, 10 am * Tuesdays - Babytime, 9:15 am; Toddler Time, 10 am * Wednesdays - Make-Believers Storytime with Miss Kate, 10 am * Thursdays - Storytime for Bigs, 10 am * Fridays - Storytime, 10 am * 4/12 - Preschool Family Storytime with Miss Kate, 1 pm Other Events & Programs * Build & Create - Wednesdays at 4 pm (4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29) * 4/6 - Happy birthday Bookmobile! 4 pm * 4/9 - Homeschool Thematic Thursday, 1 pm (Must register in advance via email) * 4/13 - DIY Delights, 4 pm * 4/14 - Tell-a-Tail, 4 pm * 4/20 - 4-H at the Library, 4 pm * 4/23 - Homeschool Thematic Thursday, 1 pm (Must register in advance via email) Teen (https://www.tadl.org/teen) ** Ongoing Events ------------------------------------------------------------ * Twisted Quills Teen Writing Group - Every Tuesday at 4 pm 4/6 - Happy birthday Bookmobile! 4 pm (McGuire) 4/7 - Make your own magnet poetry! 4 pm 4/9 - Teen Luddite Club, 4 pm 4/17 - After Hours Poetry & Pizza Night!, 6 pm 4/20 - Anime Club, 4 pm 4/21 - Sashiko Denim Embroidery, 3:30 pm 4/28 - Read It Keep It Teen Book Club, 4 pm 4/28 - Michigan Youth Challenge Academy, 5 pm Read our teen blog! (https://www.tadl.org/teen) Local History Collection ** Cradle of Democracy: Reflections of the Civil War, Portraits, Prose, and Remembrance ------------------------------------------------------------ The Local History Collection cordially invites you to view our latest exhibit, "Cradle of Democracy, Reflections of The Civil War, Portraits, Prose, and Remembrance," in the 2nd floor display case during the month of April 2026. This exhibit presents a glimpse into the American Civil War, an era that changed lives in our region, state, and the nation. Featured materials include photographs of returned veterans and correspondence from those who did not return. We also highlight the Grand Army of the Republic, Ladies' Aid Societies, and Civil War Memorials in still images. Adults (https://www.tadl.org/adults) Book Groups & Author Events * 4/2 - Stay Golden Book Club, 9:30 am * 4/18 - Maurice Imhoff on his book The 1st Michigan Colored Regiment (https://www.tadl.org/mauriceimhoff) , 4 pm (Come early for the outdoor living history display!) * 4/21 - Queer Tales (https://www.tadl.org/event/queer-tales-book-club-12123) , 7 pm + Selection: Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong (https://discover.tadl.org/Union/Search?view=list&searchIndex=Keyword&searchSource=local&lookfor=night%20sky%20with%20exit%20wounds) * 4/27 - Books & Brewskis (https://www.tadl.org/event/books-brewskis-28372) at Silver Spruce Brewing, 7 pm + Selection: All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (https://discover.tadl.org/GroupedWork/c7bcf0e2-83fd-1034-924c-40134307b177-eng/Home?searchId=165841&recordIndex=1&page=1&searchSource=local&referred=resultIndex) * 4/28 - Tuesdays @ Two (https://www.tadl.org/event/tuesdays-two-book-club-29) , 2 pm Health & Wellness * 4/7 - Guided Meditation for a Calm Mind & a Kind Heart, 1 pm * 4/9 - Ageless Grace, 10 am * 4/21 - Guided Meditation for a Calm Mind & a Kind Heart, 1 pm * 4/17 - Tai Chi, Noon * 4/23 - Parkinson's Disease 101, 5:30 pm * 4/24 - Chair Yoga, 12:15 pm * 4/27 - Ageless Grace, Noon Living history display April 14 - details below! Let's Learn Together! * 4/9 - Freestyle Writing Workshop, 6 pm (FULL) * 4/14 + Voter Information Table with the LWVGTA, 11 am - 1 pm (Lobby) + Freestyle Writing Workshop, Noon (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/copy-copy-freestyle-writing-workshop-30968) ) * 4/15 - Family Law Clinic (Free drop-in services), 5:30 pm * 4/18 + Spanish Language Conversation Meet-Up, 10:30 am + 102nd U.S. Colored Troops Company C Outdoor Living History Display (Front Lawn), 11 am - 5:30 pm o Author talk (https://www.tadl.org/mauriceimhoff) , 4 pm! * 4/19 - Traverse Area Historical Society program, 2 pm * 4/21 - Mind Your Money: Smart Finances for Seniors, 11 am * 4/23 - Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Society, 1 pm Just for Fun TADL Stitchers - Every Tuesday evening at 6 pm (Join us to work on your own needlecraft project.) * 4/6 + Happy birthday Bookmobile! 4 pm + How to organize your photos, 6 pm * 4/14 + TADL Volunteer Happy Hour, 1:30 pm + Volunteer Fair, 2:30 to 5:30 pm * 4/20 - Anime Club, 4 pm * 4/22 - Adult Craft & Coloring Night, 4 - 7 pm Friends of TADL ** Spring Book Sale April 10-12! ------------------------------------------------------------ The Spring Book Sale will be the second weekend of April! Friday, April 10 Members-Only Preview Sale, 5:30 - 8 pm * Friends members get first pick of the collection. Not a member yet? Sign up today (http://tadl.org/friends) and shop early! Saturday, April 11 Public Sale, 9 am - 6 pm * Open to everyone. Browse a wide variety of books at unbeatable prices. Sunday, April 12 All-Day Bag Sale, Noon - 4:30 pm * Fill a bag of books for one low price. East Bay Branch Library (https://www.tadl.org/eastbay) Ongoing Sing & Stomp Wednesdays - 11 am Sing & Stomp Fridays - 10 am * 4/7 - Adult Coloring Night, 5:30 pm * 4/10 - Tai Chi, Noon * 4/14 - Stress Management, 5:30 pm * 4/21 - French Language Discussion Group, 5:30 pm * 4/23 - Afternoon Tea & Stitch, 2 pm * 4/30 - Birdwatching Basics, 6 pm Kingsley Branch Library (https://www.tadl.org/kingsley) Calling ALL actors and performers! OpenSpot Theatre will be at KBL for a 6-week session, starting April 11-May 16! (Register (https://openspottheatre.com/programs/kingsley-library/) ) Ongoing Wigglers Storytime Tuesdays and Wednesdays - 10:30 am Big Kids Storytime Thursdays - 11:30 am Open Spot Theatre Saturdays (4/11 - 5/16) - 11 am * 4/9 - Everyone Has a Story, 5:30 pm * 4/29 - Afternoon Book Club 2 pm From the Director's Desk with Library Director Michele P. Howard While there is still snow on the ground, I know it’s almost spring because we are celebrating the Bookmobile’s 4th birthday on April 6. While only 4 years old, the bookmobile has been put to great use - reaching those community members that can’t reach us. This includes preschools, grade schools, high schools, many senior living facilities, the baby pantry, literacy nights, seed swaps, garden events, WinterFest, Cherry Fest, Pumpkin Smashes, and parades to name a few. In 2025, the bookmobile reached over 6,000 patrons! The bookmobile, and many of the library programs, are focused on increased literacy and access to books and library materials. While we regularly note that maintaining your "reading fitness" is a lifelong endeavor, I was recently reading about the idea of exercising or stretching your brain as a way to prevent dementia. One recent study linked a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline to lifelong learning, that includes reading (we’ve got books and magazines, puzzles (have you seen our free puzzle exchange area?), games (we’ve got these too) and hobbies (check out our Library of Things). It’s good to know that it’s never too late to protect brain health, so put down that phone and grab a book or puzzle! Just this morning our first double-bingo finish happened! Our Democracy Bingo card is part of our year long Civics Programming celebrations - tied to the 250th anniversary for our great country. April will focus on How a Bill Becomes a Law. If you remember the old School House Rocks video from Saturday morning cartoons, you might want to stop by on April 18th at 11am for a singalong & craft time. That will be in conjunction with a Living history display on the front law with the 1022nd US Colored Troops Company C. Remember, you have the whole year to complete your bingo card but it's never too early to get started. Speaking of legislation, there continue to be bills introduced in many state and the federal jurisdictions (HR 7661) that would limit what libraries can provide and what patrons can read. The names and purposes keep changing but the intent is always censorship. The current federal bill HR 7661 directed at elementary and secondary education institutions, contains many prohibitions to reading that are purposely vague and contain overbroad language, but also a provision on “lewd or lascivious dancing”. As someone who grew up watching Footloose, Dirty Dancing, the Solid Gold Dancers, Dance Fever, American Bandstand,and MTV, I have a few thoughts about this legislation. And looking up my elected officials is also a square on my bingo card! Keep reading anything you like, and dancing any way you like! Michele ============================================================ ** Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TraverseAreaDistrictLibrary) ** Link (http://www.instagram.com/notjustbooks) ** Website (http://tadl.org) ** YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/TADLnotjustbooks)