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!
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
SILENT BOOK CLUB
Wednesday, May 1st @ 6pm Looking to find a community of fellow readers, but intimidated by traditional book clubs? Put down your phone, pick up a book, and spend quality time with fellow book lovers – no homework or chit chat required! Bring the book (and hot beverage) of your choice to the library for a quiet hour of reading in peace. (You can also choose a book from the library shelves!) We’ll have cozy blankets and comfortable seating for all attendees. Colored lanyards will be available for participants to wear, to help indicate who is down for some book chit chat and who is not. (Red lanyards = Please let me read in silence; Green lanyards = Let’s talk a little bit.) Known as the introvert’s happy hour, NMPL’s Silent Book Club is the perfect place to retreat with your book for a designated hour of reading. This is the perfect activity for those whose social battery is low, but who still want company. Readers and introverts unite! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: NMPL Adult Department, by the computer area |
MOVE YOUR BODY
Every Thursday at 5:45pm through April 11th NMPL will host a series of Move Your Body classes for all ages in March and April! Classes will be led by Heather Winger, a certified Revelation Wellness Fitness Teacher (https://www.revelationwellness.org/ ) accredited through the American Council on Exercise. The sessions will be held in the Blocher Community Room for 30 minutes on Thursday evenings, are free of charge, and open to the public. Move Your Body are positive, family friendly low-impact workout sessions where everyone will feel welcome and encouraged on their fitness journey! Whether you're a beginner or just looking for a more relaxed way to stay fit, our sessions provide a friendly and supportive environment to move your body. No commitments necessary, so you can join us whenever it suits you. These classes will show you how to move YOUR body and as long as you are doing that, you are doing it right. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: All ages Registration: No Location: NMPL Blocher Room |
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
Thursday, April 11th; Thursday, April 18th; Friday, May 3rd, Wednesday, May 22nd 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
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING AND GLASSES DISTRIBUTION
Monday, April 8th @ 1pm Pick up your free pair of solar eclipse viewing glasses (one per person, while supplies last) from the friendly staff of the North Manchester Public Library and then head outside to the library’s spacious lawn to watch the Total Solar Eclipse! Glasses distribution will not begin until 1pm and is funded by the generous support of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and NASA @ My Library. During the eclipse the corona (the Sun’s outer atmosphere) will become visible as a faint glow around the dark disk of the Moon. The eclipse will become visible at approximately 1:53 pm in North Manchester, reaching maximum coverage for our area around 3:09 pm with 98%+ obscurity, and ending at 4:24 pm. Children will enjoy playing on the library’s five piece Flat Playground (Snakes & Ladders, Twister, Darts, Standing Long Jump, 4 Square and Activity Track) while they wait for the eclipse. Adults are welcome to bring lawn chairs, sit on a bench, or borrow a picnic blanket from the library for a comfortable viewing experience. A live stream of the eclipse will be shown on the big screen in the Library’s Blocher Community Room for those who prefer to be indoors and in case of inclement weather. Public restrooms and drinking fountains will be open to the public. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: Library lawn and Blocher Community Room |
EASTER EGG WREATHS (FEATURING NMPL'S FUTURE LIBRARIANS)
Tuesday, April 9th @ 6pm on Facebook Looking for a simple and creative DIY project to celebrate the Easter season? Our Easter Egg Wreath kits are the answer! Grab yours from the Makerspace-2-Go (while supplies last), then tune into Facebook, and enjoy a festive crafting experience with the whole family. 🐣🌼🌷 Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: NMPL Facebook Page |
NMPL'S WRITER'S RETREAT
Saturday, April 13th from 11am to 1pm in the Conference Room Calling all writers! NMPL's Writer's Retreat is here to help you cultivate creativity and connect with fellow aspiring authors. Spend the first hour bouncing ideas off like-minded individuals, then dive into your writing project for the second hour. Take your writing to the next level with Writer's Retreat! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Teens and adults Registration: None Location: Conference Room |
PLANT & SEED GIVEAWAY & SWAP
Monday, April 15th from 4pm to 6pm The North Manchester Pollinator Educators will host a Plant & Seed Giveaway & Swap at the library just in time for spring cleanup and spring planting! If you have extra bulbs, starts, seeds or plants and are hoping for some new herbs, veggies or flowers; this is definitely the program for you! Show up anytime between the hours of 4pm and 6pm with your giveaways and trades, and enjoy a fun time with fellow plant lovers, gardeners and amateur landscapers. Don’t have anything to trade? No problem! Members of the North Manchester Pollinator Educators and Purdue Extension of Wabash County will be on hand to answer questions and give away seeds and seedlings (we hear there may even be aloe vera plants!). Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: The event will be held on the library lawn if weather permits, with the Blocher Community Room serving as the backup location. |
SPRING FLOWER WREATHS (FEATURING NMPL'S FUTURE LIBRARIANS)
Tuesday, April 16th @ 6pm on Facebook Get crafty and festive with our easy-to-make Spring Flower Wreath! Grab a kit from our Makerspace-2-Go (while supplies last), then tune into Facebook to learn how to bring some spring vibes to your doorstep with just a few simple steps. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: NMPL Facebook Page |
NO SEW SOCK BUNNIES (FEATURING NMPL'S FUTURE LIBRARIANS)
Tuesday, April 23rd @ 6pm on Facebook Tired of boring old Easter decorations? Say hello to the No Sew Sock Bunny - the cutest, easiest, and softest addition to your holiday décor! Grab a kit from the Makerspace-2-Go (while supplies last), and tune into Facebook for the instructional video. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: NMPL Facebook Page |
CHIT CHAT CLUB
Wednesday, April 24th @ 6pm Are you a social butterfly who thrives on meeting new people? If so, we have the perfect solution to brighten up your evenings. Join NMPL's Chit Chat Club, where you can indulge in engaging conversations and make lasting connections. Our club offers optional Conversation Cards, which are designed to ignite interesting topics and foster meaningful discussions. For those who prefer to keep busy, we also have puzzles available, ensuring that there's something for everyone. Expand your social circle and enjoy the warmth of companionship during these colder months! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: All ages Registration: None Location: Board Game & Puzzle Area by the Adult Graphic Novels |
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY SPRING BOOK SALE
Thursday, April 25th from 9am to 7pm; Friday & Saturday, April 26th & 27th from 9am to 5pm Love books? Don't miss out on the FOL Book Sale - your go-to spot for amazing deals on gently used books, DVDs, children's materials, audios, yearbooks and more! Purchasing books from the semi-annual book sale is an excellent way of supporting our library. The event is a significant fundraiser for FOL, and in turn, supports library programs and updates each year. You just never know what great book adventure awaits you at the FOL Book Sale! |
FELTING CLASS WITH KRUGER CRAFTS: OWLS
Tuesday, May 7th @ 5pm Come learn the art of needle felting at the library! "It's so EASY!" is the common refrain from those who try felting for the first time. It’s not hard to see why: These woodland cuties require no sewing, knitting, or crocheting skills! Taught by experience crafter Rachel Kruger of Kruger Krafts, this class will provide expert step-by-step instruction and helpful hands-on guidance. Participants will be able to customize their owls by choosing their own yarn colors and accessories. Simply follow along and watch your owl come to life! Program Cost: $30 to make one owl (includes needle, wool roving, instruction, pads, and decorations). 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 |
NMPL'S WRITER'S RETREAT
Saturday, May 11th from 11am-1pm Calling all writers! NMPL's Writer's Retreat is here to help you cultivate creativity and connect with fellow aspiring authors. Spend the first hour bouncing ideas off like-minded individuals, then dive into your writing project for the second hour. Take your writing to the next level with Writer's Retreat! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Teens and adults Registration: None Location: Conference Room |
TEA & BISCUIT VINTAGE BOOK TASTING
Monday, May 13th @ 6pm Described as "literary speed dating", NMPL Book Tastings will help adult readers broaden their reading horizons and discover exciting new book adventures. Participants will have the chance to sample a variety of books in 5 minute time increments and when the bell sounds, they can decide to bring the book home, try another title, or do both! Explore new authors, genres, and series that you might not have tried before. No more complaints of "I don't have anything to read!" Plus we'll have iced tea and goodies from The Brit-ish Baker! Book Menu: We’re celebrating our Summer Reading theme of “Life In the Past Lane” with vintage reads from the decades spanning the 20s through the 90s! Biscuit Menu: The Brit-ish Baker will be serving up some truly delicious bakes for our attendees!
Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: 16+ Registration: None Location: Blocher Community Room |
PUZZLE SWAP
Tuesday, May 14th from 4pm to 6pm Rainy spring days are the perfect time to brew a cup of tea and pull out a puzzle! The library has a great selection of kids’ and adult puzzles available for checkout but maybe you’re looking for a little something more? Or perhaps your shelves are already overflowing with puzzles you’ve already put together? Never fear, the Puzzle Swap is here! Bring your puzzles to the Blocher Community Room and enjoy swapping old puzzles for “new” ones with other puzzling fans. What a great way to refresh your collection for free! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: All ages Registration: None Location: Blocher Community Room |
WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO? WITH PURDUE EXTENSION
Wednesday, May 14th @ 4pm Have you ever stopped to ponder where your hard-earned money goes each month? It's easy to lose track of our spending habits in the hustle and bustle of daily life. We swipe our cards or make online purchases without giving it much thought. But understanding where our money goes is crucial for making informed financial decisions. This program is designed to help you better understand how you spend your money so you can protect your financial well-being. With awareness comes the ability to budget effectively and plan for the future! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Adult but other ages are welcome to attend Registration: None Location: Blocher Community Room |
FORAGING FOR WILD TEAS
Tuesday, May 28th @ 6pm Based on the number of gallons consumed, tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, only behind water, and far ahead of coffee. In the United States, tea drops to the fourth most popular beverage, behind water, coffee, and soda. Why is tea so popular in the world? Perhaps in part, due to its accessibility. You can make tea from so many different things, in fact, many ingredients for tasty teas are probably growing in your own backyard. Taught by Manchester University professor Tim Brauch, this program will teach attendees all about foraging tea ingredients right in North Manchester. Attendees will also learn some different techniques for brewing tea, and will get to taste a variety of hot and cold teas made from things Tim has collected in his backyard. Each participant will receive an information handout with ideas and recipes for making your own tea at home. About Tim: Tim Brauch has been hiking and camping his whole life. He's backpacked the Manistee River Trail and parts of the Appalachian Trail. Tim taught hiking at Manchester University for 7 years. For the last 4 years he has led hikes throughout northeast Indiana for private groups and friends. In 2019 he became an Indiana Master Naturalist and has recertified as an Advanced Master Naturalist every year since then. In 2021, he earned his National Association for Interpretation Certified Interpretive Guide credentials. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: All ages Registration: No Location: NMPL Blocher Room |
CHIT CHAT CLUB
Wednesday, May 29th @ 6pm Are you a social butterfly who thrives on meeting new people? If so, we have the perfect solution to brighten up your evenings. Join NMPL's Chit Chat Club, where you can indulge in engaging conversations and make lasting connections. Our club offers optional Conversation Cards, which are designed to ignite interesting topics and foster meaningful discussions. For those who prefer to keep busy, we also have puzzles available, ensuring that there's something for everyone. Expand your social circle and enjoy the warmth of companionship with others! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: All ages Registration: None Location: Board Game & Puzzle Area by the Adult Graphic Novel |