Library Announces November Programming

Library hours are Mon–Thu, 10 am–8 pm, and Fri & Sat, 10 am–5 pm.  The library will be closed on Friday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day and will close at 1 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and remain closed on Thursday, Nov. 24, for Thanksgiving.

Community Room Crash Update

Late on the morning of Friday, Oct. 7, Bellingham Police & Fire responded to the library for a vehicle that had crashed into the Community Room section of the building. Arriving personnel discovered that the vehicle had driven completely inside the building. Thankfully the room was unoccupied and no one was injured in the crash.

“We’d like to thank our first responders for their prompt response and assistance in assuring everyone was safe,” said Library Director Bernadette Rivard. “The building was evacuated for a time, but after inspection by the Bellingham building inspector, reopened shortly thereafter.”
At Bulletin deadline, the Community Room room was not available for public functions, with no estimate of how long it will take for the room to be repaired. Options are being investigated to prevent something like this from happening again, and steps will be taken before the room is reopened.

The library will continue to offer services and programs in alternate spaces in the building; however, some events may have limited attendance or be cancelled, or moved to other locations in the building or around town.

Morning programs, including Ring a Ding are being held in the new Teen Room. Because the capacity of that room is smaller, and Ring a Ding does not require registration, we are limiting attendance to the first 50 people who arrive. It would be helpful if those who usually attend both weekly sessions attend only one.

Mon–Wed after-school programs for 4th–7th graders, normally held in the Community Room, will be moved to the Children’s Room.  We are offering most of the same services in that smaller space.

Check the library calendar for cancellations and location changes of library events.
Friends Fall Book Sale Postponed

Because we will most likely have to delay the book sale that was slated for Nov. 11 & 12, we ask that you hold onto book donations until we are ready to accept them again. (Check the library calendar for updates.)

November Events

NOTE: Check the library calendar for updated details on all November events; many of them may be cancelled, rescheduled or have a change in location.

• It’s Dinovember—Drop a dinosaur off at the library before Nov. 5.  We will post pictures every day of the mischievous adventures of the dinos on our Facebook page and linked to the library website.
• A Pumpkin for Thanksgiving—Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1:30 pm (best for kids ages 4 and up). Join local author Sue Berard-Goldberg as she reads her book, A Pumpkin for Thanksgiving, which is based on true events. Following the book reading, there will be a fun seasonal craft. Details to be announced. Please register.
• Veterans Day Ceremony—On Saturday, Nov. 12, at 11 am, join us for the 5th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Library. Coordinated by Jim Hastings of the Bellingham Memorial  & Veterans Day Committee, the program will feature guest speaker Sgt. Major Tracy Linch, who is retiring after 30 years in the USMC.
• Book a Librarian—Wednesdays at 5:00 and 5:45 pm. Book a session for some undivided attention. (Please register.)
• Wild Ponies of Assateague Island Presentation—Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 6:30 pm (family program for ages 6–adult). Artist Rob Franco has followed, studied, and painted these beautiful animals; he will show a video provided by the U.S. National Parks Service and artifacts that he found on trips to the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  Please register.

Regular Events for Children

• Mondays, 2:30-4 pm—Mondays in the Middle (for students in grades 4-7). Drop in.
• Tues  & Fri, 10:15 am—Ring-A-Ding (for ages 0–5), in the Teen Room (limited to first 50 people). 
• Tues, 11:30 am and Wed, 9:30 am—Book Babies (for ages 0-23 months). Please register.
• Tues, 1:15 & 4:15 pm; Wed & Thu, 10:10 & 11 am—Alphabits (for ages 2-5). Focus on one letter per week through stories, activities, and a craft. Please register for your preferred time slot.
• Tuesdays, 2:30-4 pm—Crafternoons (for grades 4-7). Crafts, video games, board games, laptops and more.
• Wednesdays, 2:30-4 pm—Wicked Awesome Wednesdays (for grades 4-7). Video games, board games, laptops and more. Drop in, no registration required. 1st Wed. of the month, Legos and Tech Time; 2nd Wed., movie; 3rd Wed., Harry Potter Fandom; 4th Wed., Games Galore (board games, card games, etc.) Drop in to the Children’s Program Room. 
• Wednesdays, 4 pm (for all ages)Lego Club.
• Thursdays, 1:15 pm—Wild Things Story Time (for ages 3-5). This story time will feature a different wild animal each week and 3-4 stories along with activities/craft. Please register.
• Fri., 11:30 am & Sat, 10 am—Babygarten (for pre-walking babies). Please register.
• Monday, Nov. 28, 6:30 pm—Mother/Daughter Book Club (for mothers  & daughters in grades 5-7). Each month, a mother/daughter pair selects a book that the group will read. This month’s book: School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari.  Copies available on Oct 25. Please register if this is your first time attending.

Events for Teens

• Teen Room Activities (grades 6-12)—Looking for something to do after school?  Stop by the Teen Room every day after school from 2–5 pm. Use computers, play on the WiiU and XBox One, play board games, and create craft projects with your friends.
• Tuesday, Nov. 8, 6:30 pm, YA Book Lovers Book Club (for teens and adults)—If you like to read teen literature and talk about books, then join us for fun discussions and a snack. Different genres chosen by group members. This month: The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black. Copies will be available at the library. Please register if this is your first time attending.  

Events for Adults

• Monday, Nov. 7, 3 pm & 6:30 pm—Book Discussion Group. New members welcome, drop in.
• Monday, Nov. 7, 7 pm—Friends of the Library Meeting
• Monday, Nov. 14, 6 pm—Coloring for Adults. Drop in.
• Thursday, Nov. 10, 7 pm—Library Board of Trustees meeting.
• Thursdays, 6:30 pm—Bellingham Skein Artists  (adult knitting group).  Drop in.
• Thursday, Nov.17, 6:30 pm—Kid Lit Book Club (for adults). Looking for great book suggestions for your kids, yourself, or your classroom? Join us for this monthly book club where we talk only about kid lit (generally novels for 8–12 year olds). Please register.Write your article here...