Welcome to fall! Our Library is already getting decorated in our best Halloween picks. It is still warm outside so come on in to enjoy the air conditioning, events, and all the fall feelings we can provide. Something that just wrapped up in September was the Best of the Bay by Creative Loafing. Thank you SO much to everyone that voted for us! We came in for a finalist and we look forward to taking home the title next year. We also want to thank you all for the outstanding response we got in support of our potential budget cuts. We are working on a video for you to hopefully express just some of the gratitude we feel! It has been quite the summer!

Keep an eye on our socials for pictures of library updates. We have new bookshelves in the Youth Department, new seats by the New Arrival section, a new collection of large print books, and a new long table WITH plugs right in the middle of our adult computer area. Soon, we will be setting up a Little Free Art library in our garden. This means you can take and leave art supplies! How cool?! The support for our now official Little Free Library has been outstanding. Always new books in there!

This month we are honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month with pink name tags and ribbons. We are also still collecting for Welcoming Week (more info below!). Look out on our socials this month for pictures of our amazing Halloween and Banned Book Week displays by Kaitlin!

Speaking of Banned Book Week, we are holding a drawing at the library to win a themed box. The box was sent to us by Little Free Library and contains, The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, The Hate U Give, and Banned Book gear. You must come into the library and fill out the contact card at the front desk to be entered! Your library is here to provide you with what you would like and our great staff is here to help you on your journey.

This newsletter is jam packed so be sure you see it all!

The library will be closed to the public on October 9th.

Check out our Full calendar of events here

Be sure to follow our socials linked at the bottom of the newsletter for daily updates.

Featured Events

Something Spooky - Interactive Movie Night: Join us for an interactive movie experience featuring "Haunted Mansion" (2023). We'll have props, snacks, and more! This is for ages 13 plus and adults. Register, here.

Halloween Costume Swap: Throughout the month of October, bring new or clean, gently used, infant - teen size costumes, to the Children's Room desk to swap for a different one. Don't have one to swap? Make a $5 per costume cash donation to the Youth Services Department. Donations benefit children’s programming at the Palm Harbor Library.

Costumes subject to staff approval. Limit 1 costume per child.

Trick-or-Treat at the Library!: Happy Halloween! Visit the Children’s Room and say those special “trick or treat” words. Our Youth Services staff will be in costume to greet you and treat you!

In the spirit of Welcoming Week, Largo Public Library, Palm Harbor Library, and Barbara S. Ponce Public Library will be collecting in-person and online donations for local refugee families in need for the WHOLE month of September. All donations will be distributed to Pinellas refugee families through local organizations.

PHL will have a collection basket in our lobby from September 7th until October 8th. Thanks in advance!

Contact [email protected] for additional questions.

Pizza & a Movie: "I, Frankenstein". Frankenstein's monster gets swept up in an epic battle between gargoyles and demons seeking the key to his immortality in this gothic-flavored fantasy adventure. 2014, PG-13. This is an 18+ event and register, here.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Come join us for a trip down nostalgia lane as we watch your favorite 90's and early 2000's cartoons. We have blankets and all the sugary breakfast treats to make you feel like a kid again. No registration and ages 18+.
This month we'll be watching "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy" to help set the vibe for spooky season.

Meet our local authors and get those Holiday gifts bought early! Talk to our local authors and learn about how they got inspired to write. Come in between 11-3 PM on Saturday, November 4th. Look for our "Love Our Local Authors" sticker (pictured above) on books here at the library to see what we have in stock.

See the list of current attending authors, here.

Calling all local artists!

We're looking for artists from the Tampa Bay area interested in exhibiting two- or three-dimensional artwork in the library’s John Brock Art Alcove or Yoffredo Center. Artists selected will exhibit their work two consecutive months. There are no set criteria for artwork, though the pieces should be crafted or framed to a professional standard and have strong public appeal. To be considered, please submit an application here. The Art Selection Committee will be meeting in December to pick exhibiting artists.

Applications are due 12/8.

A new collectible rubber duck will be revealed on the first day of each new month. Supplies are limited!!

Our October ducks are pink to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month!!

A big Thank You to the Pediatric Dentistry office of Dr. Susan Blankenship for sponsoring this year-long event! Visit Dr. Blankenship's website here.

Book Clubs

Do you love cozy mysteries? Join our monthly group to discuss which cozy you're currently reading and learn about new ones!

Everyone reads their own choice of cozy mystery and comes prepared to share. We have a featured cozy author handout available at the library to hopefully give you more book suggestions.

PHiL's Book Club: Join our Head of Adult Services, Peter Cannon, in a discussion of Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. Copies of the book are available at the front desk. See the book's summary here. Monday, 10/16 at 11 am.

Ales & Tales: This month you can join us at Stilt House Brewery at 625 Alt 19 for a discussion of The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Thursday, 10/12 at 6 pm.

Adult Events and Programs

We are looking for adult volunteers! Email Winona at: [email protected]

Monthly Class

Tech Tuesday for October

The topic today is e-Readers - Libby & Cloud Library; Overdrive is gone, but these two platforms are going strong.

Tuesday, 10/3 at 9 am. Register here.

See November's class here.

Jigsaw Puzzle Club on 10/6

Join our once a month Puzzle Club and put the pieces together! Join us on Friday, 10/6 at 10 am!

Master Gardener Lecture & Plant Clinic on 10/17

Join us monthly for Master Gardener events on Tuesday, 10/17! The Plant Clinic will be held at 12:30 and at 3:30. Sign up for the monthly lecture "Florida-Friendly Landscaping Essentials" at 2 PM through Eventbrite.

Advanced Tai Chi: Prerequisite: must have completed Beginners' Tai Chi for Balance course. Come early to the session to see the Instructor in order to register. No session 10/9.

Beginners' Tai Chi for Seniors: Registration is required as there is limited space. Sign up is with the instructor, Bruce Johnson. See the event page here for the first class date in the month.

Sound Healing on Wed. 10/13 at 11 am: Led by a certified Sound Healing Practitioner. Enjoy a session of deep relaxation. We highly recommend bringing a mat, pillow, and blanket. Sign up for Sound Healing here. Space is limited but check back to see if a spot opens up if event is full. Keep an eye on our event calendar to see when the next classes will be!

Meditation & Mindfulness on Wed. 10/18 at 6 pm: Join Tamara in a meditation and mindfulness session to calm the monkey mind, reduce stress, and begin a meditative self-care routine. Register for this event here.

Needle Felting Club on 10/7

Join us for our monthly needle felting program where we will take raw wool and turn it into various shapes and creations.

Register here so we have enough supplies for everyone.

Let's make pasta! Join us Tuesday, Oct 17th at 11 am. Register here!

Sponsored by Friends of the Palm Harbor Library

Palm Harbor Museum: Dreams in the New Century on 10/4

Author Gary R. Mormino Ph.D, Professor Emeritus, Florida Studies Program Faculty presents Dreams in the New Century: Instant Cities, Shattered Hopes, and Florida's Turning Point.
Please reserve your spot at eventbrite.com.

Create some fun Greeting Cards for the season!

Wednesday, 10/25 @ 4:30 PM

Thursday, 10/26 @ 10:30 AM

Click Here to view the Palm Harbor Library Newsletter - October 2, 2023