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

MYTHICAL AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
Every Monday @ 11am, beginning June 12th
American Sign Language is a natural language that serves as the predominant language of deaf communities in the United States. ASL is a complete and organized visual language that is utilized through facial expression as well as movements and motions with the hands and body. At these sessions, we'll celebrate our Once Upon a Summer Reading theme by learning magical, fairy tale, and mythical themed signs. These signs will also be used in our ASL Storytime sessions!

This class will be taught by Elliot Sklar. He is a recent graduate from Goshen College with a bachelors in American Sign Language and Secondary Education. Throughout his four years at Goshen he has learned and taught ASL as well as taken a semester at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. Elliot is excited to teach you all more about American Sign Language as much as you are excited to learn it!
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Program Cost: None
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration: None
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
March 28th, April 7th, and April 17th 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

​MOLLY'S MINI PROJECTS: MODERN PLANTER
Tuesday, May 16th @ 3:45pm
It’s back by popular demand, Molly’s mini projects round 2! Come hang out and create adorably mini things. A one time registration for all 4 weeks is required for this program due to limited supplies. Spots will go quickly, so call the library to register. 

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: 12+
Registration: Yes
Location: Conference Room

​COOKIES & CANVAS: MYTHICAL MUSHROOMS
Wednesday, May 17th @ 6pm
Hobby painters and beginners will love our Cookies and Canvas series! Step-by-step instructions take participants on a journey towards a beautiful masterpiece. The fun themes are perfect for porch hangings, mantel decorations, and special gifts for family and friends. Love painting but in a dry spell? Let us provide the inspiration for your next piece. Are you a watercolor fiend or an oil painting master? Why not give acrylics a whirl!? Not too confident in your art skills? Give C & C a try - you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results (plus, there will be cookies!).

Program Cost: Non-refundable $8 fee per person
Program Age Requirements: 13 and up
Registration? Yes, registration is required. Sign up at the front desk!
Location: NMPL Blocher Room

MOLLY'S MINI PROJECTS: BOOKS
Tuesday, May 23rd @ 3:45pm
It’s back by popular demand, Molly’s mini projects round 2! Come hang out and create adorably mini things. A one time registration for all 4 weeks is required for this program due to limited supplies. Spots will go quickly, so call the library to register.

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: 12+
Registration: Yes
Location: Conference Room

MACRAME RAINBOW WALL HANGING
Wednesday, May 24th @ 6pm on Facebook
Wrap colorful yarn around macramé cord to create a beautiful, modern rainbow! Grab a kit from the M2G shelf and tune into Facebook for the tutorial video.

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: No
Registration: No
Location: NMPL Facebook Page

​PASSIVE PAINTING PROGRAM: PRE-DRAWN PLANT
Wednesday, May 31st 
Paint on your time and your way with our first ever Passive Painting Program! Stop by the Makerspace-2-Go and grab a pre-drawn picture (limit one per patron) and paint it whenever it's convenient for you. 
No tutorial video. No instructions. No time limit. Just relax and paint.

Paint will NOT be included, however, if you do not own paint, we will have paint and space set up in the Conference Room on May 31st from 6:00-7:00 PM for our Passive Artists!

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: 12+
Registration: No
Location: Patron’s Home OR Conference Room

ONCE UPON A SUMMER READING BEGINS!
Thursday, June 1st 
Get ready for a magical, fantastical Summer!  Our theme this year is Once Upon a Summer Reading and we're going to explore fairy tales and mythical creatures, tales of fantasy and magic with special events all summer long!

Patrons of all ages will enjoy reading or listening to books (any kind you want!) all summer long through one of our three reading programs, all while winning some fabulous prizes! Children will also have the option to join the House competition and to earn points for their Houses by Attending (library programs), Borrowing (from special collections), Giving Back (helping out the library and their community), and Activity (daily math challenges, Firefly voting, crafting, etc). 

For more information on our Summer Reading programs, click HERE.

​Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: All ages
Registration? Yes! Sign up in person or through our free Beanstack app.

SUMMER ART SERIES: SMALL ACCORDION BOOKS IN BOXES
Tuesday, June 6th from 3pm to 4:30pm
Have you ever wanted to create your own book? Hannah Burnworth of Milk House Studio will lead participants through all the steps to create a one-of-a-kind miniature book! Come create your own covers, your own accordion book block, and put it all in a cute little box. You will learn basic bookbinding skills and you will have a fun item to take with you.
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We want to thank the Community Foundation of Wabash County, Inc. for sponsoring this Summer Art Series at no cost to our patrons!

Program Cost: FREE
Program Age Requirements: All ages welcome, but kiddos under 8 should bring a helper.
Registration: Required. Space is limited to 15 participants. Click to sign up - https://www.signupgenius.com/.../10c0944a9ab28a7f5cf8...
Location: NMPL Blocher Room

LAWN GAMES & PICNIC ON THE LIBRARY LAWN
Wednesday, June 7th @ 1pm
Join us for a fun pre-show before the Magic Show at 2pm on the library lawn! The Eastern Star Order of the Ivy and the Masonic Lodge, Deming #88 have purchased a variety of fun yard games for everyone to enjoy. The Kiwanis will be serving up Philadelphia Water Ice from Summer Reading Sponsor Grand’s Ice Cream Shoppe - feel free to bring your lunch and picnic on the library lawn!

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration: No
Location: Library lawn​

"WANDS AT THE READY" MAGIC SHOW WITH ILLUSIONIST RUSTY AMMERMAN
Wednesday, June 7th @ 2pm 
Join us for a magical performance in the Harry Potter universe!  Illusionist Rusty Ammerman transforms into the character of a visiting professor from livermorny (the Hogwarts of America).  As such, Professor Ammerman has been granted special permission from the Ministry of Magic to present a seminar for No-Majs (muggles) explaining and demonstrating the various wizard spells.  The attendants will witness Transfiguration, Legilimency, Apparition, Disapparition, Teleportation and even Levitation, causing a volunteer to magically float before their very eyes!  The audience participation, lighthearted humor, music and sound effects will make this an unforgettable experience for everyone!  

Bonus: Join us for a fun pre-show on the library lawn beginning at 1pm!  The Eastern Star Order of the Ivy and the Masonic Lodge, Deming #88 have purchased a variety of fun yard games for everyone to enjoy.  The Kiwanis will be serving up treats - feel free to bring your lunch and picnic on the library lawn! (NMPL thanks the Kiwanis for sponsoring this program.)

​Program Cost: FREE
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration: None
Location: NMPL lawn and Blocher Room

CEREAL BOX ART: PRISM POSSIBILITIES
Wednesday, June 14th @ 6pm
Geometry is everywhere. You simply need to know where to look. Look no further than Joshua Steely’s “Prism Possibilities” workshop. There you will learn the geometrical concept of nets and how to utilize the knowledge in an artistic way. Josh uses these simple prisms in his art all the time, and would love to share his methods with you!

Program Cost: FREE
Program Age Requirements: 13+
Registration: None
Location: BCR

​LITTLE BOOKSHOP ON MARKET STREET
Friday, June 16th and Saturday, June 17th from 10am to 3pm
Block party meets booksale!  One of our favorite events of the year, Little Bookshop is an amazing time with friends, food, fun, and books!  Browse new and gently used books (all proceeds support Friends of the Library and library programming), play lawn games, and chat with friends.  Tacos Los Gordos will be selling their delicious Mexican food and drinks both days and we have special events happening as well!

On Friday, come and get your caricature drawn by artist Randy M between 12pm and 3pm! These fun sketches are a great way to remember your summer at the library. First come, first drawn, no cost!

On Saturday, Juliette the Unicorn will be on the library lawn from 10am to 12pm greeting her fans and taking photos. We'll have our professional photographer on set as well, so you can get some truly magical photos to share with your friends and loved ones!

Program Cost: FREE
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration: None
Location: Library Lawn & Market Street entrance

​LEGENDARY BINGO
Wednesday, June 21st @ 2pm
NMPL Bingo is always a blast! We’ll have fantastic prizes for all ages to win and enjoy special challenges like Postage Stamp and Four Corners. Attendees are invited to dress up as a character from their favorite fairy tale, myth or legend for extra fun!
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Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration: No
Location: NMPL Blocher Community Room

​COOKIES & CANVAS: PATIO LIGHTS AT NIGHT
Wednesday, June 21st @ 6pm
Hobby painters and beginners will love our Cookies and Canvas series! Step-by-step instructions take participants on a journey towards a beautiful masterpiece. The fun themes are perfect for porch hangings, mantel decorations, and special gifts for family and friends.

Love painting but in a dry spell? Let us provide the inspiration for your next piece. Are you a watercolor fiend or an oil painting master? Why not give acrylics a whirl!? Not too confident in your art skills? Give C & C a try - you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results (plus, there will be cookies!).

Program Cost: Non-refundable $8 fee per person
Program Age Requirements: 13 and up
Registration? Yes, registration is required. Sign up at the front desk!
Location: NMPL Blocher Room

3D PRINTER CLUB
Friday, June 23rd @ 2:00pm
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!

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: Ages 6 and up
Registration? None
Location: 3D Printer Station near the Adult Department Computer Lab

SUMMER PICNIC WITH THE NORTH MANCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY & ROTARY CLUB
Saturday, June 24th from 3pm-5pm
Join us and our friends from the NMHS for a very special summer picnic for the entire community!  Bring a blanket and a picnic and settle in on the Thomas Marshall or library lawns.  Enjoy tours of the Thomas Marshall House and play yard and Flat Playground games at the library.  Listen to a story while munching on hot dogs provided by the North Manchester Rotary Club.  Do a fun craft in the shade.  There’s plenty to do for the whole family!

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration: No
Location: Thomas Marshall house and Library Lawn

SUMMER ART SERIES: RED WINGED BLACK BIRD COLLAGE
Tuesday, June 27th from 3:00pm-5:00pm
Come make a mixed media collage with Milk House Studio artist Hannah Burnworth! Participants will learn about some basic cutting and adhesive methods for collage. Each attendee will create their own bird collage on wood using a variety of found and handmade papers. No collage experience needed. We want to thank the Community Foundation of Wabash County, Inc. for sponsoring this Summer Art Series at no cost to our patrons!

Program Cost: FREE
Program Age Requirements: Ages 13 and up
Registration: Required. Space is limited to 20 participants. Click to sign up - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0944A9AB28A7F5CF8-8x8
Location: NMPL Blocher Room

NMPL AT THE NORTH MANCHESTER FARMER'S MARKET
Saturday, July 1st from 10am to 12pm
​​Embark on an epic adventure around the North Manchester Farmer’s Market!  Famous characters from folklore and fairy tales are hiding in the vendor booths - can you find them all?  Complete your quest and win tokens to spend at the Farmer’s Market on their amazing selection of flowers, berries, vegetables, handicrafts, baked goods and more!

Program Cost: Free
Program Age Requirements: None
Registration: No
Location: North Manchester Farmer's Market (Ogan's Landing - South Mill St.)