November News

What’s happening this month?

November is a busy month at the library, filled with opportunities for learning, creativity, and fun. Whether you’re looking to brush up on your cooking skills for Thanksgiving or dive into some festive crafts with your loved ones, PCL has you covered.

Explore our crafting resources for ideas and supplies to sparkle your home with holiday cheer. And don’t forget to take advantage of our eResources for even more inspiration and guidance.

In addition to holiday-themed offerings, we also have a variety of programs and events to keep you engaged and entertained throughout the month. From playdates and craft classes to book clubs, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So come on in, explore what we have to offer, and make the most of this festive season at your library.

Significant November Dates

Storytime Thanksgiving Break: November 25-29.

RSVP to kick off the holidays: Tamales for Christmas Storytime Party, Sat, November 30!


Learn about our Storytimes.

Holiday Closure

November 27: 5pm Closure | Closed: November 28, 29

Aritst in Residence: Valerie Schramak

Now through December 30

Visit our latest Parkland Art League Exhibit, featuring artist Valerie Schramak, whose collection is currently at PCL, through December 30, 2024! To view it online, visit their webpage.

The Parkland Art League will rotate artist displays every two months. The public is welcome to view the gallery of about 15 art pieces anytime the library is open, currently Monday through Thursday, 9 am—9 pm, Friday, 9 am—6 pm, and Saturday, 9 am—5 pm. Sales of artwork can be completed by contacting the artist directly.

About the Artist

Val Schramak is interested in painting with pastels. The purity of the colors is fantastic, and she loves how the colors can be layered, creating new colors and variations within the subject.

Featured Events

Wordsmith at PCL
Thursday, Nov. 14, 6:30pm

RSVP

November is National Novel Writing Month! Master the art of creative writing with Patrick Crerand, Director of the Master in Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program at DeSales University.

About Novel Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month is a yearly writing challenge run by NaNoWriMo, a non-profit that provides tools and encouragement to help people achieve creative goals. Be sure to join us for Wordsmith to up your skills!

#PAForward #BasicLiteracy #NationalNovelWritingMonth #NaNoWriMo

Lego Balancing Challenge

RSVP

Zirkel Meeting Room

Kids 7+

Calling all master builders!

Are you a LEGO whiz? Do you love a challenge? Strengthen your skills and imagination as you construct the most stable creation. Join us for the LEGO Balancing Challenge! 

Space is limited. Be sure to register!

Cardmaking with Sending Sunshine

RSVP

Fridays at 4pm

Young Adult: Ages 12-18

Calling all artistic teenagers! 

Earn volunteer hours during this program by coming into the library and making cards for seniors with the nonprofit Sending Sunshine! Let your creativity shine and brighten someone’s day by creating positive messages to send to senior citizens in the Lehigh Valley!

November Holidays, Celebrations, Awareness

Native American Heritage Month

Go to Collection

The collection launches on November 1, 2024

Celebrate with Kanopy’s collection of exploration of tribes and traditions through film. This thoughtfully curated film selection highlights the histories and stories of Indigenous communities. Experience these compelling stories and gain a greater appreciation for their enduring heritage with the Native American Heritage Month collection.

Only Available to PCL Home Library Patrons (Parkland School District and Northwestern residents only).

#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

Thanksgiving for Kids

Go to Collection

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Hoopla’s Thanksgiving for Kids collection, featuring heartwarming stories and movies to watch on Thanksgiving Day. Dive into pumpkins, turkey, gratitude, family traditions, and more.

Only Available to PCL Home Library Patrons (Parkland School District and Northwestern residents only).

Explore our Library of Things!

Game and Puzzle Week: Celebrate with our Library of Things

November 20-26

During the week, borrow from our Library of Things Collection. We have an excellent selection of board games, other games, and jigsaw puzzles that you can borrow for free with your library card.

National Game and Puzzle Week was established in the 1980s and encourages everyone to set aside their devices and play board games or do puzzles. This is a great time to have fun with friends or family and to challenge your brain. This National Game and Puzzle Week, swing by the library to play any board games or grab a jigsaw puzzle to take home! Also, check out the gaming programs that we have going on this week.

#PAForward #BasicLiteracy #NationalGameAndPuzzleWeek #BoardGames #JigsawPuzzles

Recommendations

Check out these new titles! Our talented staff have some great recommendations for you! We have streaming apps and eResources to download and stream on your devices. We encourage you to stop by the library and browse our new items section in the library’s center aisle and our end cap displays!

Holiday Cooking & Entertaining

Go to hoopla

hoopla has compiled a collection of cookbooks, craft materials, and online resources to inspire and guide you through the holiday season. As you prepare for Thanksgiving, be sure to check out their selection of cookbooks, which are filled with delicious recipes and helpful tips.

Only Available to PCL Home Library Patrons (Parkland School District and Northwestern residents only).

From My Kitchen to Yours: A Month of Giftable Goods & Recipes

CreativeBug

This year, don’t miss this opportunity to bestow the gift of deliciousness upon your loved ones. Cobrina of Creativebug demystifies the creation of various costly items that can be effortlessly crafted in your kitchen’s comfort. Fancy-infused salts, decadent compound butter, and handmade candies are just a taste of what you’ll learn. CreativeBug has online classes you can take at any time, including downloadable recipe cards and gift tags for the perfect presentation. Create a thoughtful host gift or treat for yourself to a generous batch of goodies to distribute among friends and neighbors. These recipes are tailor-made for gifting and entertaining.

Exclusively available to PCL Home Library Patrons (Parkland School District and Northwestern residents).

Slow Dance: a Novel

Rowell, Rainbow 

They were best friends, allies. Cary and Shiloh dreamed about the future, leaving North Omaha. They promised each other that their friendship would never change. And yet, it did. It’s been fourteen years since the friends talked. Can their reunion at a friend’s wedding bridge the divide? It’s the story of Shiloh and Cary, who everyone thought would end up together, trying to find their way back to the start.

I’m a Mess: a Guide to a Messy Life

Tsarfati, Einat

I’M A MESS is a funny and deep exploration of messiness in people’s lives. This charming guide to living helps sort through the nature of clutter and humorously examines its characteristics and behaviors. It offers practical advice on managing and organizing clutter non-traditionally, reminding us that creativity and resourcefulness lie within the chaos.

Campingland

Dyckman, Ame

This picture book follows a family as they try their hand at camping, which does not go well, but when they find Campingland, a perfect indoor camping theme park, they realize it’s perfectly boring and decide to give outdoor camping another go!

How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain

Goodman, Peter S.

Award-winning journalist Peter S. Goodman reveals the workings of our supply chain and the factors that have led to its constant, dangerous vulnerability. His reporting showcases the human players who operate it–around the world. Through their stories, Goodman weaves a powerful argument for reforming a supply chain to become truly reliable and resilient, demanding a radical redrawing of the bargain between labor and shareholders and more profound attention paid to how we get the things we need.

Code-Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI

Murgia, Madhumita

A riveting story of what it means to be human in a world changed by artificial intelligence, revealing the perils and inequities of our growing reliance on automated decision-making. Murgia exposes how AI can strip away our collective and individual sense of agency and shatter our illusion of free will. How algorithms and their effects are governed over the coming years will profoundly impact us all. Murgia sheds light on this chilling phenomenon but also charts a resistance path. AI is already changing what it means to be human in ways large and small, and Murgia reveals what could happen if we fail to reclaim our humanity.

My Beloved Monster: Masha, the half-wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me

Carr, Caleb

In a turbulent household. Caleb Carr had unique relationships with cats. His feline relationships have outlasted most of his human ones as an adult. But only after building a home in upstate New York did he bond with Masha, an abandoned Siberian Forest cat. Caleb’s lifelong study of cat behavior and years of experience with previous cats helped him decode much of Masha’s inner life. But their bond went far beyond academic studies and experience. The story of Caleb and Masha is an inspiring and life-affirming relationship for readers of all backgrounds and interests–a love story like no other.

Fundraisers & Charity

2025 Save Around Coupon Book…..Beginning October 28th!

The Friends of the Library 2025 Save Around/Enjoy the City Books fundraiser is back! Books are on sale at the PCL Circulation Desk and The Friends Book Shop. These books include the same great coupons for restaurants, entertainment venues, and retail services.

New, unwrapped toys are welcome.

However, Toys for Tots would prefer that our donors consider an appropriate gift for their child or relative and purchase and donate the item.

PCL has boxes throughout the library: the lobby, one in the Barclay Family Children’s wing, and one in the Zirkel Meeting Room wing.

Donation Requirements: Ages up to 12, but extended to 14-16.

Does NOT accept realistic-looking weapons and gifts with food. If donated, such items will NOT be distributed.

Brief History of Toys for Tots

The mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is to assist the U. S. Marine Corps in providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. This assistance includes providing day-to-day leadership and oversight of the Program, raising funds to provide toys to supplement the collections of local Toys for Tots Campaigns, providing promotional and support material, and defraying the costs of conducting annual Toys for Tots Campaigns. Other Foundation support includes providing administrative, advisory, financial, logistic, and promotional support to local Toys for Tots Coordinators; managing funds raised and monies donated based on the use of Toys for Tots name or logo; providing other support the Marine Corps, as a federal agency, cannot provide; and conducting public education and information programs about Toys for Tots that call the general public to action in support of this patriotic community action program.

Most Circulated Young Adult Titles 2024

View the most popular young adult titles. We are thrilled to present the most circulated Young Adult titles of 2024, which include a diverse mix of traditional and graphic novels. These books have been a hit among patrons, captivating readers with engaging plots and relatable characters. From gripping mysteries to heartwarming coming-of-age stories, these titles…

Continue Reading Most Circulated Young Adult Titles 2024