October News
2024
Cool-weather reads are coming at you!
As the leaves start to change color and the temperature drops, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a good book. Our blog has curated a selection of spooky-themed reads that will surely keep you entertained. From thrilling mysteries to heartwarming romance, there’s something for everyone to enjoy during the colder months.
Of course, we’ll bring you all the latest library news and releases straight to your inbox with our free weekly eNews (sign up at the bottom of our web pages). We’ve also featured some must-attend library events. Whether you’re looking for a book club to join or a fall-themed event to attend, our eNews will keep you in the loop on the library. So grab a warm drink, get comfy, and get ready to dive into a world of captivating reads. Happy reading!
Significant October Dates
October 14-18: Storytime Break
October 31: Trick or Treat at the Library, 11am-close while supplies last!
Library of Things Update: Laptops
Through October, PCL will update our laptops with the latest security and operating systems to ensure privacy and improve functionality. While you wait, we encourage patrons to visit our self-serve computers onsite in our Tech Center. Our reference staff can place a hold on a laptop for those in need, and we will release them as soon as the updates are completed. The status of the laptop updates will be posted in our October newsletter. We’re sorry for the inconvenience but look forward to these necessary advancements.
Database Spotlight
Your library card allows you to take online classes, take practice tests, conduct research, read ebooks, listen to audiobooks, watch videos and tutorials, and much more!
Explore the list of databases alphabetically available to our patrons. You need a valid Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative (LCLC) library card to access these digital resources.
Fall Crafting with CreativeBug
- Professionally filmed & edited content taught by experienced art educators.
- New classes from top artists are released every week.
- Downloadable patterns, templates, and recipes.
How CreativeBug Works
By signing up for CreativeBug, you’ll enjoy unlimited access to thousands of online art and craft classes. Watch our classes anytime, anywhere. Since our classes never expire, you can start and stop projects at your own pace. No pressure, just possibilities! To get started, have your library card ready for free access!
Program Spotlight, Free at Your Library!
Keith Haring’s Queer Art and Activism
October is LGBT+ History Month!
In this workshop, we’ll learn about the life and work of local gay pop artist Keith Haring and create posters inspired by his bold and animated style. The history talk will explore how Haring approached topics like the AIDS Crisis and Apartheid in South Africa and his relationship with his hometown of Kutztown, Pennsylvania.
Those who attend will be invited to complete a simple craft following the program.
Baby Massage Storytime
Join Ms. Audrey & Whitney of Mama Aura Wellness! This unique bonding experience combines storytelling, creativity, and a nurturing touch for babies 8 weeks through crawling. A baby massage story activates the senses while exploring age-appropriate literature with a caregiver.
Each family gets a free copy of the book and massage instructions.
Participants will be seated on the floor. Please bring a yoga mat and/or a thick blanket for your baby to lie on.
*Registration opens two weeks before the class.
Nanny Loft Safe Sitter Program
Learn how to be a responsible babysitter on your day off from school! Instructors from the Nanny Loft will teach our local teens the basics of babysitting. The course will cover various topics, including first aid basics, such as what to do when someone is choking, standard CPR with mannequins, and weather preparedness. The Nanny Loft will also cover behavioral tips and child development basics. Attendees will learn through role-playing exercises and receive a SafeSitter Kit.
Best for aspiring sitters ages 12-18.
October Awareness, Observances,
& Celebrations
World Dyslexia Day
October 8
We want to raise awareness and inform our readers about a unique feature in our reading app, Libby. Libby offers a font to make reading easier! Try it out for free with your library card!
Turning on the dyslexic font in a book with Libby
In a book, tap the center of the screen, then “A.”
From there, tap OpenDyslexic under “Book Design.”
Dyslexia is a learning disability in reading. People with dyslexia have trouble reading at a good pace and without mistakes. They may also have trouble with reading comprehension, spelling, and writing. Some experts believe that between 5 and 17%t of people have it, and it is hereditary.
Friends of the Library Week
Oct. 20-26
Here at Parkland Community Library, we are so thankful for our Friends of the Library volunteer group! The Friends raise money, promote the library, and volunteer in many ways! We want to take this opportunity to thank you for sponsoring library events! Consider becoming a member. Or show your support by visiting the Friends Book Shop on-premise. Hours are posted on our homepage!
Computer Learning Month
Welcome to Computer Learning Month at the library! We are excited to provide you access to our Tech Center, where you can explore basic processing programs, surf the internet, and utilize our printing services. Whether you are a student, professional, or simply curious about technology, our self-serve computers are here to assist you in your learning journey.
In addition to our Tech Center, we offer free WiFi for all patrons looking for a quiet and productive space to work and study. Feel free to bring your devices and connect to our network to enhance your learning experience. Don’t forget to check out our Library of Things, where you can borrow laptops and other gadgets to expand your tech skills further.
We strive to create a welcoming environment for individuals of all backgrounds and skill levels. Our knowledgeable staff is here to assist you with any questions or concerns. Don’t hesitate to contact us for support as you embark on your computer learning journey. Happy exploring!
Halloween Booklist
Get ready for the spooky season with our Halloween-inspired booklist! From eerie thrillers to bone-chilling horror stories, we have handpicked a selection of reads to get you in the Halloween spirit. Whether you prefer classic tales of ghosts and ghouls or modern psychological thrillers, our list has something for every reader.
Immerse yourself in the supernatural world with books that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Explore haunted houses, mysterious disappearances, and otherworldly creatures as you dive into these gripping stories. With twists and turns at every corner, these books will have you guessing until the end.
So grab a cozy blanket, light a candle, and prepare for a night of reading that will leave you checking under the bed before you sleep. Join us in celebrating Halloween with these thrilling reads that will leave you wanting more. Visit our website to check out the complete list and prepare to be spooked!
We Recommend These Spirited Picks!
Check out these fantastic titles picked by our librarians!
Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop
Bailey Briggs adores her year-round Halloween-themed town of Elyan Hollow, Oregon. Still, she accidentally discovers the town’s secret dark side when she takes over her grandfather’s beloved bookshop, Lazy Bones Books. Bailey tries to stay focused on the Lit Festival, but this year’s festival begins with a murder. It’s terrible enough Bailey discovered the victim, but now, as a lead suspect with some (admittedly) damning evidence pointing her way, she’s got to clear her name! With the help of her librarian friends, Colby and Jack Skeleton, her dog, Bailey, sets out to solve a murder weaving through family secrets, rivalries, and town feuds. If Bailey doesn’t find the killer soon, Elyan Hollow’s haunted reputation will get too real.
The Monstrous Kind
Living in Regency England, beset with a mist that turns humans into monsters, her sister summoned Merrick home from London. However, her sister has secret plans that may threaten their lives and those of the ruling Manor families.
Don’t Want to Be Your Monster
Adam and Victor are brothers who have the usual fights over the remote, which movie to watch, and whether or not it’s morally acceptable to eat people. Well, not so much eat . . . drink a little blood. They’re vampires, hiding in plain sight with their eclectic yet loving family. Ten-year-old Adam knows he has a better purpose in his life (well, immortal life) than just drinking blood, but fourteen-year-old Victor wants to accept his self-image of vampirism. Everything changes when bodies appear all over town, and it becomes clear that a vampire hunter may be looking for the family. Can Adam and Victor reconcile their differences and work together to stop the killer before it’s too late?
The Full Moon Coffee Shop
Translated from the Japanese bestseller. In Japan, cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they’ll one day return the favor. And suppose you are kind to the right cat. In that case, you might find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a glittering Kyoto moon that seemingly appears randomly adrift. It’s run by talking cats that can consult star charts and offer wisdom. Every person who visits the shop feels more than a little lost and seeking guidance. There is an exceptional reason the shop appeared to each of them.
The Honey Witch
Young Marigold Claude has always preferred the company of the spirits of the meadow to any of the suitors who’ve tried to woo her. Her grandmother whisks her away to her cottage on the tiny Isle of Innisfree, offering to train her as the next Honey Witch. But her newfound magic and independence come with a price: no one can fall in love with the Honey Witch. And, when darker magic awakens and threatens to destroy her home, she must fight for much more than her new home–at the risk of losing her magic and her heart.
The Spellshop
Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her magical plant- have sequestered the last decade among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. Then a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames. She flees with all the spellbooks she can carry and heads to her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers a nosy neighbor who can’t take a hint. In need of income, Kiela discovers something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. Kiela has only found a place that feels like home and people who feel like family, and she’ll risk anything for happiness.
Top 5 Challenged Books of 2023
These are the top 5 challenged books in the U.S. in 2023. The complete list is below. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship by focusing on efforts to…
Food Collection Site
The Parkland Community Library is a dropbox location assisting Parkland CARES Food Pantry as a food collection site! We will collect the four items below to support our Parkland Snack Pack program. The program currently serves over 450 monthly students, aiming to reach 900. Please consider donating to this worthy cause! 2024 Mac and CheeseChicken…
September News
2024 National Library Card Sign-Up Month Autobots, roll out…to the library! Whether upgrading your skills, scouting for knowledge and information, or connecting with other heroic readers, a library card is your key to an arsenal of resources. Spark your creativity as a builder or programmer by tinkering in our crafting and builder programs; mine the…