October arrives with plenty to do at the Galion Public Library, with the first half of the month offering programs that range from handmade publishing and poetry to pumpkin carving, bargain books and hands-on science. Several events will also take the library out into the community.
Teens Get Creative
The month’s programming gets underway Tuesday, October 6 with Zine Making Club from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Designed for teens, the program introduces participants to zines, the small handmade publications that emerged from underground music and alternative culture but have since become a way to share art, fandoms, music, personal interests and just about anything else imaginable. Teens can learn how to make their own, work on paper crafts and spend time together. Completed zines can be shared with friends or even donated to the library.
The following evening brings Teen Chat from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM on Wednesday, October 7. Open to students in grades six through 12, the gathering offers a place to meet friends, talk and unwind.
Poetry Heads To Three Bean
Adults can head to Three Bean Coffee House later that same Wednesday for a Poetry Reading from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Participants can bring their own poetry, share work by a poet who inspires them or simply come to listen. The library will also have reading material available for anyone who wants to participate but arrives without something of their own. Paper and pencils will be provided for those who want to make notes and continue the conversation afterward. Drinks and treats will be available for purchase from the coffeehouse.
Three Days Of Book Sale Browsing
One of the library’s traditional fall events returns beginning Thursday, October 8 when the Friends of the Galion Public Library open their semi-annual Fall Book Sale. The sale runs from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM Thursday, October 8; 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM Friday, October 9; and 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM Saturday, October 10.
Books will not be the only things on the tables. The sale will also include movies, music and puzzles. There are no set prices. Instead, everything will be available on a donation basis, giving visitors the chance to fill a bag while supporting the Friends and their work on behalf of the library.
Pumpkins Take Over Saturday
Saturday afternoon will bring one of the library’s more colorful annual traditions. The Pumpkin Carving Party runs from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM on October 10, with pumpkins sourced from Smith’s Country Corner and carving supplies and patterns provided by the library. Visitors can carve a pumpkin ready for the porch, while younger children will have another option: small sugar pie pumpkins and washable paint. The program is open to all ages. Anyone younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The timing also means families can combine a visit to the closing hours of the Friends book sale with an afternoon of pumpkin carving.
Coloring And Coffee Return
Three Bean Coffee House becomes the setting for another library program on Wednesday, October 14. Coffee & Coloring will run from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and is open to all ages.
The library provides coloring materials and pages, although participants can bring their own. Available designs range from fairies and horses to mandalas, zentangles and seasonal selections. There is no charge to take part. Purchasing a drink from Three Bean is optional.
Young Scientists Take Their Turn
The early-October lineup extends into Thursday, October 15 with another edition of STEAM Ahead from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. The free monthly program is designed for children in kindergarten through fifth grade and mixes learning with hands-on activities and science experiments. Each month brings a different theme, allowing young participants to explore something new through experimentation and play.
From teens turning sheets of paper into their own publications to families transforming pumpkins into porch decorations, the first half of October illustrates just how broad the modern library calendar has become. The books are still there, of course. But during these two weeks, so are poetry, conversation, art, coffee, pumpkins and a little science.