Greetings from the Great Bend Public Library and Happy Banned Books Week! Celebrate your freedom to read by coming to the library and checking out a banned or challenged book. Did you know that “Charlotte’s Web” was once a challenged book because its talking animals were considered an abomination? Many classic titles, from “The Great Gatsby” to “Winnie the Pooh” and more have at one point been banned or challenged. Throw a dart in the library, and chances are it’s on the list. Notice from the editor: the library does not condone the throwing of darts in the library, nor lawn darts on library property. Please choose a book the normal way via the library catalog or by asking a librarian who will help you find the book via dowsing rod or summoning magic, better known as interlibrary loan.
Today, Oct. 9, after Genealogy Corner at 11 a.m., we have an exciting Adult Craft, perfect to get you into the holiday spirit. Join us at 6 p.m. to turn ordinary bottles into beautiful glass pumpkins! Supplies are limited and are first-come, first-served.
Friday, Oct. 10, we have our next Tabletop Teens D&D group meeting. While the table for players is full, you can still witness all the out-of-this-world craziness unfold firsthand. Watch as six spacefaring adventurers enter the Nexus, an extradimensional warzone where fantasy and sci-fi collide! Our team will have to work together to keep the Nexus from spiraling into chaos and being overrun by . . . space jellyfish? Any teens are welcome to come watch as part of the audience.
Missing bingo at the Senior Center? Adults 18+ can come to the library at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 13, to play a round for the chance to win some prizes. The first bingo card is free, but if you like the thrill of running multiple cards at a time, make a donation for up to four more (while supplies last). Your generous donations will help fund this event and future rounds of bingo.
Next Tuesday is another full day, starting off with Early Literacy Story Time at 10:30 a.m., followed by Tech Tuesday at 11 a.m. and Writing Club at 5:30 p.m. Take a breather from Novelvember prep to listen to our guest speaker, Laurie Murray, talk about nonfiction narratives. Murray, a former assistant professor, teaching fellow, lecturer of English, and writing center director, taught creative nonfiction in Tennessee and South Carolina. Her essay “Maidenhair” was the runner up in “The Iowa Review 2015 Awards” and was published in the winter edition 2015/2016.
Wednesday is our next Tweentober event. Too old for story time but not quite a teen yet? Get a chance to hang out in the Teen Spot this October. Each Wednesday, we will have a different teen program for tweens in grades 3-5 to try out. This time join us for Tween Café, where you can enjoy some hot cocoa and make pizza slime!
Lastly, Thursday, Oct. 16, in addition to Genealogy Thursday at 11 a.m., we have our Teen Manga & Anime Club. For October’s club meeting, we’ll be covering “The Case Study of Vanitas” by Jun Mochizuki. “Rumors revolving around the Book of Vanitas, a clockwork grimoire of dubious reputation, draw Noé, a young vampire in search of a friend’s salvation, to Paris. What awaits him in the City of Flowers, however, is not long hours treading the pavement or rifling through dusty bookshops in search of the tome. Instead, his quarry comes to him ... in the arms of a man claiming to be a vampire doctor! Thrust into a conflict that threatens the peace between humans and vampires, will Noé cast in his lot with the curious and slightly unbalanced Vanitas and his quest to save vampirekind?” (Anime Planet) Afterwards, we’ll be making some macabre crafts perfect for spooky season. Copies of November’s title, “Fullmetal Alchemist,” by Hiromu Arakawa, will be available for pickup.
Hannah Glass is the outreach coordinator at the Great Bend Public Library. To see what else the staff are up to at the library, stop by and grab the fall newsletter. Find GBPL us on social media @greatbendpl and visit the website, greatbendpl.info; message the staff us on Facebook and Instagram, send email togbcirc@gmail.com, or call at 620-792-2409 with any questions about programming or services.
