The North Manchester Public Library offers a great mix of in-person and online programming!  We provide a range of programming for small children to senior citizens (and everyone in between).  Take a look at our calendar to see the literary, culinary, artistic, cultural, and educational activities we have going on each month!  

Virtual programs can be accessed live on Facebook or Zoom.  Recordings are permanently available on the Library's Facebook page. 
Take home kits for many programs are available for free at the front desk and enrich the virtual experience. Attending in person? Supplies for the various activities are made available at each of our in-house programs.

We look forward to getting to know you as we explore the world around us!​

REGULARLY SCHEDULED IN PERSON & ONLINE PROGRAMS

KNITTING & CROCHET GROUP
Every Friday @ 1:30pm in the Conference Room
Whether you are new to knitting and crochet, or have been enjoying this relaxing craft for years, you'll love our weekly Knitting & Crochet Group here at the library! Come join others in the NMPL Conference Room on Friday afternoons for a relaxing time to work on your current craft projects and to meet new friends!
Beginner and eager to learn? You'll find a helpful teacher here! Beginners should bring a pair of needles (size 6 to 9), and a skein of light colored, worsted weight yarn. Worsted weight yarn is also labeled 4. Light colors are recommended as it is easier to see individual stitches with the light color.

​Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration? None

QUILTING & CRAFTING CLUB
Monday, September 11th; Wednesday, September 27th; from 10am to 4pm
If you love crafting, and enjoy gatherings of other creative minds to work on projects together, this club is for you! Gather your current projects, and head to the library to meet up, have a laugh, and share crafting tips and skills in a relaxing environment. All skill levels, mediums, and crafters are welcome!

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration? None
​Location: NMPL Blocher Room

SPECIAL IN PERSON & ONLINE PROGRAMS

NOBLE FICTION WRITERS OF NMPL
Saturday, September 16th from 11am-1pm
Are you looking for a way to improve your writing skills?

The "Noble Fiction Writers of NMPL" group can help you write better fiction using time-tested techniques. You will enjoy writing prompts to help you learn how to use your craftsmanship, daring, and insight into human nature to create stories that feel real.

You’ll be able to apply what you learn in this group to any genre of fiction – from mystery novels to science fiction. You’ll also have the opportunity to share your work with other writers and get feedback. It's a fun, creative, and safe place to write. So why wait? Mark your calendar today!

Program Cost: None
Program Age Requirements: 13+
Registration: None
Location: Blocher Room

THE NIGHT MARKET
Friday, September 22nd from 7pm-9pm
Glow in the dark tic-tac-toe. Warm drinks and yummy treats. Paint the World community canvas - night edition. One-of-a-kind handmade gifts. What do all these things have in common? NMPL’s second annual Night Market!

Come to the library after hours to enjoy an evening like no other! Local small businesses and artisans will have a variety of wonderful items for sale - jewelry, donuts, home décor, fashion items and more. Vendors include Friends of the Library, The Beverage Buggy, Chillz, Rhinestone & Roses, Beaded Beauty, Farm Girl with Curls, Nordmann's Nook, The Baker’s Daughter, and Macra-made by Kait. Each business is supporting library programming, so come on out and support the people that make our activities possible and our community such a great place to live. You may just find an incredible new treasure while you’re at it!

We’ll also have a bunch of free activities for everyone to enjoy! Paint the World is back with a glow in the dark paint version of the community canvas collaboration. We’ll have a glowing slime table for the kids, LED yard games, and more! Additionally, NMPL will have NEW Glow-In-The-Dark Night Market t-shirts for sale, or you can wear your design from last year! It’s going to be a wonderful evening of food, fun, friends and supporting the library. We hope you'll join us!

Program Cost: Free to attend, but bring money to shop!
Program Age Requirements: NONE! All ages
Registration: No
Location: Library lawn and NMPL Blocher Community Room

3D PRINTER CLUB
Tuesday, October 3rd @ 3:30pm
NMPL's 3D printer has been a source of endless fascination for many patrons - and it's not hard to see why! Succulent planters, Baby Yoda figurines, hose adapters, credit card wallets, articulated chameleons - these are just a few of the thousands of items you can print on our MakerBot Replicator.
Come learn how at our 3D Printer Club! Each participant will be shown how to work the printer, and will receive a coupon to print one small item for free - either during the club or any time after!
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Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: Ages 6 and up
Registration? None
Location: 3D Printer Station near the Adult Department Computer Lab

FALL PUMPKIN FELTING CLASS
Wednesday, October 11th @ 5pm
Come learn the art of needle felting at the library! A fun addition to your seasonal fall décor or nature table, these festive little cuties require no sewing, knitting, or crocheting skills. Participants will be able to customize their pumpkins by choosing their own scented yarn (fragranced with autumn scents like pumpkin, honey, and cinnamon), and yarn colors. Taught by experienced crafter Rachel Kruger, this class will provide expert step-by-step instruction and helpful hands-on guidance. Simply follow along and watch your pumpkin come to life!
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Program Cost: $30 to make one pumpkin (includes needle, wool roving, instruction, and pads). Extra scented pumpkins will cost an additional $20. Cash or checks (payable to Rachel Kruger) only.
Program Age Requirements: 13+ (No children under the age of 13 due to the sharp/barbed needles used for this craft.)
Registration: Yes, at the NMPL circulation desk.
Location: NMPL Blocher Room

ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING PARTY
Saturday, October 14th @ 12:30pm
A partial eclipse of the Sun will be visible in all parts of North America today. The Moon will pass in front of the Sun, producing a "ring of fire" effect. Thanks to the generosity of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the North Manchester Public Library has obtained solar eclipse viewing glasses and will be distributing them for free at our viewing event on the library lawn while supplies last.

Northeastern Indiana will experience a partial eclipse with 40% coverage of the sun for a duration of 2 hours and 44 minutes. The partial eclipse will begin at 11:41am, reach its peak at 1:02pm, and end at 2:26pm. NMPL staff recommend arriving at the library no later than 12:30pm to be ready for the best view but will be on hand beginning at 11:30pm for those who want to watch the entirety of the event.

A live stream from other parts of the country will be set up in the Blocher Community Room in case of cloudy weather and/or for those who prefer to watch on the big screen.

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: No
Registration: No
Location: Library Lawn

THERAPY DOG CUDDLE SESSION
Tuesday, October 17th @ 3:30pm
Research has shown that simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol, while the social interaction between people and dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin... which is just a fancy way to say, Ace and a few of his buddies will be returning to NMPL for another cuddle session!

Ace: a 5 year old Newfoundland who loves nothing more than a good belly rub and bringing a smile to someone’s face. He’s been a certified therapy dog for over a year now and loves his visits to places like nursing homes, schools, libraries and ARC of Wabash County.
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Bryn: a 2 year old English Shepherd rescue. She lives on a farm where she interacts with cattle, horses, chickens, and cats. She goes to ‘work’ everyday with her dad at the bair ship on the farm. She greets everyone with a tail wag and loves to get all the pets. She enjoys going for rides, playing tag with her brother, Mickey, and chewing on bones.

Finn: He is a 4 year old rottweiler who loves everyone he meets. He would rather have pets and hugs than treats and he thinks he is a tiny lap dog. He loves to sit on your lap when you sit on the floor and will give you tons of kisses. He has been a therapy dog for 15 months.
These furry friends LOVE a good cuddle, belly rub, and lots of attention, so plan to enjoy us for this fun, stress-decreasing event!

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration: No
Location: Blocher Room

YOU CAN PAINT WITH HEIDI LOVETT: GHOSTLY BONFIRE
Wednesday, October 18th @ 6pm
Have you ever looked at a gorgeous painting and thought 'I could never do that'? Now... you can!

Certified painting instructor Heidi Lovett will provide step-by-step instructions to guide you towards creating your own beautiful masterpiece in a fun and helpful environment.

This class is for teens and adults ages 13+ and requires registration. Class size is limited so painting reservations are first-come, first-serve. A materials fee of $10 per person will be due at registration. These fees are non-refundable. Register at the front desk.
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Program Cost: $10
Program Age Requirements: 13+
Registration? Yes. Register at the front desk.
​​Location: NMPL Blocher Room ​

THE MAGIC OF AI: PROMPT CRAFTING
Saturday, October 21st from 11am-1pm
Join the AI Revolution, One PROMPT at a Time... Don't let the future pass you by.

Join us at the Magic of AI Workshop and take the first step into a world where anything is possible. Whether you're curious about AI and the future, a business owner, a student, an artist, or just want to use AI for your personal growth and to save tons of time, this workshop is for you. Let's unlock the magic of AI together, and unleash a world of creativity and opportunity.

Unlock The Hidden Secrets of How to Create AI PROMPTS that Work with: ChatGPT, Google BARD, Claude 2, Bing, and more...the SECRET to making AI work for you, no matter which AI platform or tool you use, is knowing how to create effect prompts!

Unlock Creativity: Whether you're an artist looking to enhance your work or a business owner wanting to streamline operations, AI can be your secret weapon. We'll show you how to harness AI to spark creativity and innovation.
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Save Time and Effort: Learn how AI can take over mundane tasks, freeing you up to focus on what you love. From learning to generating creative content, the possibilities are endless.
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Program Cost: None
Program Age Requirements: 13+
Registration: None
Location: Blocher Room ​

THRIFT STORE GHOST PAINTING
Wednesday, October 25th @ 6pm
Thrifted ghost Halloween paintings are a new DIY trend that is taking TikTok by storm. This trend involves thrifting an inexpensive, old painting and painting little ghosts, bats, and pumpkins over top of it to create a new cute-but-spooky piece of Halloween art. Get into the Halloween spirit with us by haunting up your own thrift store painting (we recommend checking out the Manchester Fellowship of Churches Thrift Store and The Whatnot Thrift Shoppe!) and bringing it with you to this program! We’ll provide you with paints and brushes to add all the spooky touches your heart desires. Can’t find a painting? Print one out on the library computers before the program begins. The possibilities are endless and we can’t wait to see what you create!

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration: Yes. To sign up, please click this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/.../10C0944A9AB28A7F5CF8...
Location: NMPL Makerspace

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY FALL BOOKSALE
Thursday, October 26th from 9am-7pm; Friday, October 27th-Saturday, October 28th from 9am-5pm
The Friends of the Library book sale is held the last Thursday-Saturday of October each year. The FOL book sale has become a popular shopping spot for both recreational book buyers and book sellers in the area! Purchasing books from the semi-annual book sale is an excellent way of supporting our library. The book sale is a significant fundraiser for FOL, and in turn, supports library programs and updates each year. Find gently used books, DVDs, children's materials, audios, yearbooks and more! You just never know what great book adventure awaits you at the FOL Booksale!