May Library News
2026
The May 2026 edition of Library News warmly invites you to enjoy a season of discovery and celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary. While you’re here, pick out a new book to read and let a fresh story ignite your imagination. Our shelves are ready to surprise you with something you didn’t realize you needed. New books are on display in the center aisle.
Mark your calendar for our free events, designed for all ages to enjoy, learn, and connect with fellow book lovers. And don’t miss the return of Summer Reading and the Passport Program in June. Summer Reading is a friendly challenge with stories to shape your summer and prizes to celebrate your progress. We would like to welcome our Parkland School District families to Unearth a Story, here at Parkland Community Library!
This month, we offer a range of programs and resources to help you make the most of your library time—workshops, book clubs, and ample browsing. Stay connected to stay in the loop on the latest happenings by signing up for eNews at the bottom of any web page, and following us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and our blogs like this one.
May 23, 25
The Library will be closed for Memorial Day.
Have a great holiday!
Visit our gardens to relax and explore
Spring and summer are delightful times to visit Parkland Community Library! The native plant garden is coming alive with beautiful blooms, calming sights, and the gentle hum of pollinators. Take a peaceful moment to watch birds or perhaps a friendly bunny among the lush greenery. The Friends of PCL have provided plant identification markers along the path.
Any questions can be answered on our native plant blog.
Featured Events
Take a moment to explore our wonderful lineup of free spring programs happening in May! We’ve got activities designed for everyone—families, teens, adults, and kids. We warmly invite you to join us, meet new friends, and share special moments with your neighbors! Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to connect, have fun, and create unforgettable memories. Be sure to mark your calendars and get ready for a lively and joyful month!
Remember to RSVP where needed.
Butterfly Release Days May 4-8
Thank you to everyone who joined us in the Zirkel Meeting Room for the screening of The Extraordinary Caterpillar on April 23. Your enthusiasm made the event truly special.
Our caterpillars are just beginning to crystallize, and we’re excited to share that they’ve officially been named. A few names include Leaf, Buttercup, Eshaan Jr, and Extraordinary. We can’t wait to watch their transformation together.
A huge thank‑you to the South Whitehall Township Environmental Advisory Council for partnering with us and helping bring this program to life.
PCL Entomologists “dR.” Marianne Kmetz and “dR.” Suzanne Lee moved caterpillar chrysalises to the PCL Butterfly Pavilion, where they’ll remain until they become butterflies and fly into the garden. Some chrysalises detached from their lids. We gently placed them on a paper towel near the mesh wall to ensure safe emergence.
Please stop by to see the unique transformation. Expect butterflies next week, from May 4-8, 2026. Unfortunately, we cannot give an exact date. That’s nature for you!
Craft & Fabric Swap Event
Saturday, June 20, 12:15pm
Share the Spark! Join us on June 20 to connect with fellow makers and refresh your stash sustainably!
Craft swap drop-off days at the Reference Desk
Saturday, May 16, 9am-1pm
Saturday, May 30, 9am-5pm
Thursday, June 18, 9am-9pm
Donate your gently used supplies. Please make sure the items you drop off are in good condition for reuse. Accepting buttons, beads, crafting tools, decorative papers, fabric, yarn, and so on.
Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary!
We are pleased to announce our distinguished featured events celebrating our nation’s 250th Anniversary. Kindly join us in commemorating this momentous occasion.
in Pennsylvania
May Recommendations, Collections, Celebrations, and More!
Explore the comprehensive selection of the latest collections, celebrations, and recommendations. Prepare to immerse yourself in a realm of entertainment featuring a variety of options, including audiobooks, music, films, and more. Maximize your use of leisure time.
Kanopy and hoopla are free at-home streaming apps courtesy of your library for Parkland School District and paying nonresidents only!
Check out these recommendations!
May 2, 2026, will be the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Top contenders for this year’s race include horses Paladin, Renegade, Chief Wallabee, Commandment, and Nearly. Selections on horse racing and horsemanship populate the book display, acknowledging the annual Run for the Roses, the oldest continuously held horse race in North America.
Patrons can find party-themed reads that recognize and celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Display offerings range from party-planning books and cookbooks to fun fiction, such as the psychological thriller Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox or the New Year’s Eve murder-mystery party book Fair Play by Louise Hegarty (both fiction debuts from 2025).
Universal Pictures’ film adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey opens in theaters on July 17, 2026. The summer fantasy blockbuster stars such Hollywood notables as Matt Damon (in the title role), Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong’o. In anticipation of the epic release, the library offers fiction reads that examine Greek mythology and all of its fascinating characters, from novels recalling the Trojan War (like Haynes’s feminist recounting called A Thousand Ships and Miller’s The Song of Achilles) to those starring fabled figures like Pandora, Circe, Medusa, and the Minotaur. One of the most apt contributions is The Penelopiad, Margaret Atwood’s 2005 novella that retells The Odyssey from the perspective of Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, in the afterlife in Hades.
National Mystery Month
The Mystery Writers of America have declared May to be National Mystery Month, and their Edgar Award winners (from the pool of titles nominated each January) are generally announced near the end of the month. Patrons can join in the fun by grabbing whodunits, thrillers, and cozy mysteries from the fiction genre of the month display.
Mother’s Day Movie Picks
This year, the library’s DVD display selections for the Month are inspired by Mother’s Day, which falls on Sunday, May 10. Expect fun flicks like Because I Said So (with Diane Keaton and Mandy Moore), Mermaids (starring Cher and Winona Ryder), and Mamma Mia! (with Meryl Streep and local-girl-turned-star Amanda Seigfried)…but also some cute juvenile (think Freaky Friday) and series (Mom and Gilmore Girls) picks.
PCL Learning Center
Welcome to the PCL Learning Center! Your library card grants you access to many online learning resources! Our staff has compiled an age-based educational list to help you and your family prepare for school and thrive throughout the school year and semesters. Whether you are preparing a little one to start school, priming a child…
Language Tools
Parkland Community Library is happy to offer free language tools for both native speakers and those interested in learning a new language. Our online databases and apps are perfect for language research and studying, with no ads. Our language tools are crafted to help users improve their communication skills, enrich their vocabulary, and gain a…
For Fans of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons has maintained a lasting following over the years for its creativity, engaging gameplay, social interaction, friendship-building, and storytelling within a rich, lore-filled universe. Players form guilds to strategize, solve puzzles, and immerse themselves in a vast world of magical creatures and treasures. This role-playing game (RPG) features a customizable tabletop board that…