| Parkland Community Library

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 bring holiday cheer to your home. 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 Break: November 27-January 2026.

This winter, we will temporarily suspend our traditional storytime sessions in order to introduce a series of exceptionally themed storytimes. Coming this December, join us for Krampus, Pajama, Hanukkah, and Gingerbread Storytimes! 
Learn about our Storytimes.

Holiday Closure

November 26: Closes at 5pm | Closed: November 27, 28

Baker & Taylor Prepares Plan to Shut Down

Delays Expected

Baker and Taylor, the leading book supplier for most libraries, has announced its plan to cease operations by January 2026. Parkland Community Library, along with many other institutions, has been actively working to secure a new vendor. We strive to carefully implement new book processing methods and procedures to ensure that our patrons receive timely access to new materials.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to make this transition as smooth as possible. 

If you would like to read more about Baker and Taylor, please visit here.

POWER Library-Pennsylvania Now Available on Libby

POWER Library-Pennsylvania is now searchable on Libby! Users can access both PCL and POWER Library collections. Toggle between library cards; eight checkouts are available with the LCLC, and five loans at a time with POWER Library. Enjoy collections of eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines, including backlist and YA titles – all for FREE for PA residents with your Parkland Community Library card.

How to access the POWER Library on Libby:

  1. Visit the Libby App
  2. Go to the Home Menu and click the PCL logo in the top-right corner.
  3. Scroll to the bottom and select “Add Library.”
  4. Search for “Power Library.”
  5. Select your Home Library from the list.
  6. Sign in with your library card number to start reading.
  7. Toggle between library cards to get more items!

Questions? Visit or contact the reference desk!

Now Showing: Elizabeth Kenny

November-December

Art has been a passion of Elizabeth since early childhood. She is always learning through practice, workshops, and from my peers I met through the Parkland Art League. She studied with artist Hong T. Foo, learning the Chinese style of painting on rice paper, and enjoyed a period of painting bamboo, Koi, and other Chinese motifs. Still Life has always been a favorite subject, but over the years, Elizabeth started to paint more landscapes and enjoy capturing scenes from my travels.

The Parkland Art League will rotate artist displays every two months at PCL. Head to the right of the Zirkel Meeting rooms to our gallery space. The public is welcome to view the gallery at any time the library is open. Purchase inquiries can be made through the Parkland Art League.

Language Resources Blog

Parkland Community Library is delighted to offer free language tools to everyone—whether you’re a native speaker or someone eager to learn a new language. Our online databases and apps are fantastic for language research and studying, and best of all, they come without any ads. Whether you’re a student looking to improve your language skills or a professional wanting to broaden your career opportunities, our resources can be tailored to meet your unique needs.

Need Help? Ask a Librarian!

A new translation device is available at the reference desk. You can choose a language and press the microphone button to speak. It will then translate what you said out loud and on the screen.

Bilingual and World Language Books for Adults

There is a new collection of bilingual books and books in other languages for adults. They have a yellow label and a bilingual or world language sticker. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, ask at the reference desk! We can borrow books from other libraries or order new ones for you. If you are looking for a language not in Parkland’s catalog, place a hold for titles by searching the LCLC in the catalog. Your title will be delivered to Parkland Community Library.  The Lower Macungie Library has an extensive collection of Chinese-language books.

Featured Events

Discover our featured special events! Visit Parkland Community Library for a range of programs and activities suitable for all ages. Every month, we present engaging programs and unique events. We look forward to welcoming you!

RSVP For Events

Get Caught Reading this Month

This program starts on the first day of Children’s Book Week, November 3, and runs through November 29, 2025.

How to Get Caught:

Kids can get their photo taken while reading. The more unique the setting, the more enjoyable it is! Be creative—pose on a hayride, in a tree, or on a playground! Tag us on social media with # PCLKidsReading, email your photo to kids@parklandlibrary.org, or stop by the Youth Services desk to share your photo with us.

Every kid who participates receives a free Dav Pilkey Children’s Book Week poster and an entry to win the Dav Pilkey book bundle!

The Pilkey prize pack winner will be announced on Monday, December 1, 2025.

STEM Day: November 8

Full STEAM ahead! Discover more about science, technology, art, and beyond with hoopla’s STEAM collection. Go to hoopla.

STEM Explorers: November 11

Dive into the world of science, technology, engineering, and math through fun, hands-on activities. Kids will experiment, create, and discover how STEM connects to the world around them. RSVP here.

Cast Your Vote for Fluff!

We can all agree that the 83 calves in this year’s Adopt a Cow program are adorable, but who will be named America’s Favorite Calf? From November 3-5, join the fun and vote for your favorite calf alongside your local elections. Let’s come together for a friendly competition and build some excitement for our newly adopted calf. The winning calf receives a care package for calves from our team.

Visit the events calendar for voting details.

Voting Details, Events Calendar

About the Adopt a Cow Program

Parkland Community Library adopted Fluff on October 21, 2025. She is a Holstein dairy cow born on Kurtland Farm in Elverson, PA, which was established in 1921!

Fluff was born on September 6, 2025, to her mother, a cow known as a dam, Shadow, and her father, a sire named Eastside. Fluff is currently 90 pounds, 29” tall. Cows are measured at their hip height (back legs).

Updates: Fluff’s Journey

Use the code FLUFF on discoverdairy.com to keep track of the cow’s updates, photos, etc. 

Cancellation Policy: Kindly RSVP where applicable to facilitate event planning. If you cannot attend, it is courteous to notify the organizer so that a new guest from the waitlist can be accommodated.

A minimum of two attendees must be present for a teen program to take place. Programs that require RSVP must have a minimum of 2 registrations by the RSVP deadline. The library reserves the right to cancel programs that do not meet the minimum attendance requirements. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

Please note: Book Club lists are located in the event entries.

All programming is sponsored by The Friends of the Parkland Community Library. Learn more about The Friends on their webpage.

Recomendations

Using your library card, you can enjoy complimentary access to all the fantastic eResources and streaming apps we offer at PCL. Additionally, our databases are accessible on all your devices, making it easy to explore and learn from anywhere.

Kanopy and hoopla are free at-home streaming apps, courtesy of your library, available to Parkland School District and paying nonresidents only.

With hoopla, patrons can borrow, stream, and download content on iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and more. hoopla offers access to a vast collection of books, videos, and music, all free with your library card.

ParentTV

Provided by Family Place

ParentTV offers thousands of on-demand parenting videos and courses, with content designed to support caregivers from pregnancy through the teenage years. ParentTV works with leading psychologists, pediatricians, mental health specialists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, and parenting educators worldwide. Search for and find videos on general parenting, play, behavior, child development, mental health, sleep, nutrition, technology, and more. Most videos are under 10 minutes long and can be accessed on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. You can also watch in Arabic, Cantonese, Hindi, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Native American Heritage Month

hoopla’s Collection

Kanopy’s Collection TBA

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by exploring our collection of music albums, books, graphic novels, and movies about Native Americans’ experiences, honoring their history and culture.

#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 themes of pumpkins, turkey, gratitude, family traditions, and more.

      2025 Best Debut Albums and Authors

      Go to Collection

      Meet the breakout stars of 2025! Discover debut novels, comics, and music artists that are making waves with this collection on hoopla.

        Holiday Cooking & Entertaining

        hoopla’s Collection

        Discover delightful holiday food inspiration with our collection of books, movies, and shows. From classic holiday recipes for Thanksgiving and Christmas to easy holiday appetizers, explore a feast of ideas for festive entertaining. Perfect for anyone looking to add a tasty twist to their seasonal gatherings! 

          Get Busy Crafting

          CreativeBug

          Creativebug has thousands of award-winning art & craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists. 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! 

          Exclusively available to PCL home library patrons and non-paying residents.

            Parental Advisory: Taylor Swift

            Go to ParentTV

            Parents, are you surprised by your kids singing lyrics from Taylor Swift’s latest album, on the way to school? The album has catchy tunes, big emotions, swearing, and mature themes. Wondering how to handle it? Read ParentTV’s latest blog here and listen to the ‘clean version.’ Learn to turn tricky lyrics into opportunities for connection, discussion, and growth.

            #TLOAS #Taylorswift #parenttv #swearwords #language #parenting #parentingadvice

              Fundraisers & Charity

              Nominate a Librarian You Love for the I Love My Librarian Award!

              Nominate a librarian you love for the 2026 I Love My Librarian Award—win $5,000 and recognition! Nominations close December 15, 2025! Has a librarian impacted your life or gone above and beyond for your community? The award honors exceptional librarians. Up to 10 are celebrated annually with a ceremony and $5,000 prize. Since 2008, 170 librarians have received this honor, with over 24,000 nominations highlighting their dedication to inclusivity, literacy, and digital access. Honorees get $5,000 and are celebrated at the 2026 ALA Conference in Chicago, with free registration and a travel stipend.

              Nominate a Librarian You Love for the I Love My Librarian Award here!

              New, unwrapped toys are welcome.

              Estimated pick-up: early December.

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

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

              Donation Requirements: Ages 12 and under, 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 supplement the collections of local Toys for Tots Campaigns, providing promotional and support materials, 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.

              February News

              2026, see what’s happening at your library this month! Here is the February overview of upcoming events, new items, recommendations, and monthly awareness initiatives. We are pleased to share what’s happening this month with you.  February is Library Lovers’ Month Library Lovers’ Month is here, and we want to express our gratitude to all our…

              Continue Reading February News

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