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!
CALENDARS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED IN PERSON & ONLINE PROGRAMS
SILENT BOOK CLUB
Wednesday, November 6th; Wednesday, November 20th @ 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 |
BABYTIME
Every Thursday at 10am Designed for children from birth to 3 years old and their caregivers, Babytime features books, rhymes, and simple sensory play just right for your little one. Build your baby's foundation for lifelong reading and learning with this engaging program! Families are invited to bring older kids, who can play in the Playroom, craft at the Passive Craft table, or enjoy our computer lab. Caregivers are welcome to stay with the babies, but if you need to choose some books for yourself, or keep an eye on the other kids, your babies will be looked after for you during Babytime! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: 0-3 (and caregivers) Registration: No Location: Picture Book Room |
QUILTING & CRAFTING CLUB
Friday, November 8th; Thursday, November 21st 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 |
KNITTING & CROCHET GROUP
Every Friday @ 3:00pm 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 Location: NMPL Conference Room |
SPECIAL IN PERSON & ONLINE PROGRAMS
PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: PAPER PLATE JACK O' LANTERNS
Monday, October 28th through Saturday, November 2nd Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: Children's Department |
HOMESCHOOL ART: PICTURE FRAME ART
Friday, November 2nd @ 2pm Usually it’s about the picture but sometimes it’s about the frame. That is certainly the case with this month’s Homeschool Art! We have a fabulous selection of picture frames and raw materials and we’re inviting you to use your creativity to transform them into something extra special. When you’re done, you can take your jazzed up frame home to display a favorite photograph or artwork you completed at a previous Homeschool Art program! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Kindergarten - High School Registration: Yes. Sign up HERE. Location: Blocher Community Room |
PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: POM POM CORN COBS
Monday, November 4th through Saturday, November 9th Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: Children's Department |
HERB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: FOCACCIA
Monday, November 4th @ 6pm Focaccia is a delicious bread that’s soft and pillowy in the middle, crisp and golden around the edges, and filled with rich flavor from olive oil and sea salt. And that’s just the start! This versatile Italian style of bread is easy to customize and is the perfect accompaniment to any meal. It pairs particularly well with anything acidic or light, like tomato soup, a lemon citrus salad, white fish, or chicken. It can even serve as a base for a delicious pizza! Join us in the Blocher Community Room for a lesson on the history of focaccia, followed by a focaccia making demonstration, and see for yourself just how easy it is to make at home with simple kitchen equipment. Then enjoy tasting several different kinds of focaccia with ingredients sourced from our Tower Garden and outdoor raised beds. We'll be sampling:
You won't want to miss this flavorful and educational event! Allergen Notice: Flour, dairy in some focaccias Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
OPEN MAKERSPACE
Monday, November 4th from 6pm-7pm During Open Makerspace hours, you are invited to unlock a world full of crafts, games, and creativity! Play games on the Wii or challenge someone to a game of air hockey. Get creative with Perler bead crafts, coloring, or even scrapbooking. Grab your friends, family, or come solo and join us - all ages are welcome! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None. Registration: No Location: NMPL Makerspace |
SPANISH STORYTIME
Tuesday, November 5th @ 10am Introduce your little ones to the wonderful world of languages with Spanish Storytime! Enjoy songs, a craft, and a special story read in both Spanish and English by Mackenzie Coulter-Kern of the Wabash County Diversity Coalition. Start building a love for languages with your little ones at this Storytime event! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None, but recommended for ages 0-5. Registration? None Location: Children's Department |
MOLLY'S MINI PROJECTS: TIN LIBRARY
Tuesday, November 5th @ 3:45pm Get ready to dive into the whimsical world of miniature crafting with Molly's Mini Projects! Join us for two weeks of creativity and fun as we create our very own tin library, bursting with color and personality. Registration is required due to limited supplies. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: 10+ Registration: Yes. Sign up for both sessions HERE. Location: Blocher Room |
LEGO LEAGUE: THANKFUL BUILDS
Wednesday, November 6th @ 4pm As we head into the close of the year it’s a great time to think about all the wonderful experiences we’ve had. What are you thankful for this year? Use your creativity to show us what you appreciate using the library’s collection of thousands of Lego bricks. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: No Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
FOOD PRESERVATION: SAUERKRAUT
Wednesday, November 6th @ 6pm Lacto-fermented foods are rich in enzymes and probiotics. When salt is combined with vegetables like cabbage and provided an anaerobic environment, a transformation occurs and the result is more flavor and higher nutritional content. Learn how to create your own fermented condiments that can improve your gut health and strengthen your immune system. We will discuss the basics of lacto fermentation and vessel options. We will make a batch of sauerkraut together and have a tasting afterward from a previous batch. Everyone will go home with a 4oz jar of sauerkraut. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
NMPL WRITER'S RETREAT
Saturday, November 9th from 11am-1pm Calling all writers! NMPL's Writers 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 Writers Retreat! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Teens and adults Registration: None Location: Conference Room |
PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: FALL TREES
Tuesday, November 12th through Saturday, November 16th Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: Children's Department |
MOLLY'S MINI PROJECTS: TIN LIBRARY
Tuesday, November 12th @ 3:45pm Get ready to dive into the whimsical world of miniature crafting with Molly's Mini Projects! Join us for two weeks of creativity and fun as we create our very own tin library, bursting with color and personality. Registration is required due to limited supplies. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: 10+ Registration: Yes. Sign up for both sessions HERE. Location: Blocher Room |
ALL THAT SHE CARRIED BOOK DISCUSSION
Tuesday, November 12th @ 6pm Mackenzie Coulter-Kern of the Wabash County Diversity Coalition and Sarah Morbitzer of the North Manchester Public Library will facilitate a discussion of All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, A Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles at the North Manchester Public Library. Winner of the 2021 National Book Award in nonfiction, Miles’ work dives deeply into the history of a single object: a cotton sack embroidered with a few deceptively simple lines. "My great grandmother Rose mother of Ashley gave her this sack when she was sold at age 9 in South Carolina it held a tattered dress 3 handfulls of pecans a braid of Roses hair. Told her It be filled with my Love always she never saw her again Ashley is my grandmother Ruth Middleton 1921" From the sparse information contained in these carefully embroidered lines, Miles opens up the potential worlds of Ashley, Ruth, and Rose. Her analysis of the sack reveals what we can and can’t know about the past, particularly of Black individuals who were brought here by force and enslaved. The discussion will dive into the big questions raised by the presence of those few lines stitched on Ashley's sack. This book discussion is open to teens and adults and free copies of "All That She Carried" can be claimed at NMPL’s circulation desk while supplies last. Refreshments will be provided by the Roann Paw Paw Township Public Library. All three libraries would like to thank the Indiana Humanities Foundation for sponsoring this event as part of 2024's One State/One Story Community Read! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Teen - Adult Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
LEGO LEAGUE: THANKSGIVING BUILDS
Wednesday, November 13th @ 4pm What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving? Food, Family, or Football? (Or something that doesn’t even start with an F!?) There are so many things about this holiday to make our hearts warm and we invite you to immortalize it in Lego form. Let's get building! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: No Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
SWEET TREAT WEDNESDAY: PUMPKIN PIE TWISTS
Wednesday, November 13th @ 6pm Wondering what to bring to your Thanksgiving gathering? Take a classic, like pumpkin pie and put a spin on it! These pumpkin pie twists are SO easy and fast to make. Plus it’s cheap - wins all around! Tune into NMPL’s Facebook page at the designated date (or any time after) to learn how to make this sweet treat. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None! Registration: No Location: NMPL’s Facebook Page |
PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: PAPER TURKEY
Monday, November 18th through Saturday, November 23rd Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: Children's Department |
BLACK QUILTERS: HARD TOPICS, SOFT BLOWS
Monday, November 18th @ 6pm The North Manchester Public Library is honored to host Dr. Tony Jean Dickerson for a presentation of Black Quilters: Hard Topics, Soft Blows. Arts hold a vital place of importance in our society. Quilts, often seen as "women's work" and "sheer arts and crafts" by some, actually have a prominent place in telling the struggles and triumphs of many cultures. Moreover, the African American community has fought to tell its stories and quilts have been used as an important vehicle for these efforts. From individuals and guilds alike, the artistry of African American quilters can no longer be denied as frontrunners of the quilting scene. The presentation will be followed by a Q & A and attendees will enjoy viewing quilts on display. Dr. Dickerson is a member of the Advancing Racial Equity Speakers Bureau and founding president of the Akoma Ntoso Modern Quilt Guild of Central Indiana. The North Manchester Public Library would like to thank the Indiana Humanities Foundation for sponsoring this event as part of 2024's One State/One Story Community Read! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Teen - Adult Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
FUTURE LIBRARIANS 2.0: THE CARD CATALOG
Tuesday, November 19th @ 4pm Did you graduate from our Future Librarian class but feel like you want to learn more? Are you eager to go to the next level in learning about being a librarian? Then we’d love for you to participate in Future Librarians 2.0*! (*Please note: As we will be building on previous knowledge learned in Future Librarians 1.0, only existing graduates can attend these classes. But don’t worry! Future Librarians 1.0 will be coming back in Spring of 2025!) This week: The Card Catalog - Our students will uncover the secrets to Apollo, learn helpful tips and tricks to navigating the system, and play Card Catalog Bingo! Students are encouraged to Dress Like A Librarian for this first session as we’ll be taking our new "staff" photos! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: 8 to 16 Registration: Yes. This class is only open for students who have graduated from Future Librarians. Call the library to register! Location: Blocher Community Room |
THE GREAT COOKIE SWAP WITH PURDUE EXTENSION
Wednesday, November 20th @ 4pm It’s time for another wonderful program with our friends from Purdue Extension of Wabash County! Mindy and Jessi will bring their favorite holiday cookie recipes (Maple Brown Sugar Cookies and Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies) to share so we can bake up some delicious treats. Participants, you are invited to bring a batch of your favorite cookies to share along with copies of your recipe card for others to use! (Not required in order to attend this program.) Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE LAB WITH MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY
Friday, November 22nd @ 2:30pm Ready to learn even more about DNA? Join us for part 2 of the Manchester University Science Labs! DNA is the genetic information of the body's cells. It gives instructions for all of the body's processes and helps make you, you. Come explore the world of DNA with Manchester University students through a multi-station, hands-on science lab. Didn’t make it to Part 1? No problem! You can still register to participate! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Kindergarten - High School Registration: Yes. Click HERE to register. Location: Blocher Community Room |
PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: SCARECROW
Monday, November 25th through Saturday, November 30th Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: None Location: Children's Department |
TEA & BISCUIT BOOK TASTING: JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER
Monday, November 25th @ 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 hot tea and delicious treats from The Brit-ish Baker! Book Menu:
Biscuit Menu:
Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Ages 16+ Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
OPEN MAKERSPACE
Monday, November 25th from 6pm-7pm During Open Makerspace hours, you are invited to unlock a world full of crafts, games, and creativity! Play games on the Wii or challenge someone to a game of air hockey. Get creative with Perler bead crafts, coloring, or even scrapbooking. Grab your friends, family, or come solo and join us - all ages are welcome! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None. Registration: No Location: NMPL Makerspace |
FUTURE LIBRARIANS 2.0: MARKETING DAY
Tuesday, November 26th @ 4pm Did you graduate from our Future Librarian class but feel like you want to learn more? Are you eager to go to the next level in learning about being a librarian? Then we’d love for you to participate in Future Librarians 2.0*! (*Please note: As we will be building on previous knowledge learned in Future Librarians 1.0, only existing graduates can attend these classes. But don’t worry! Future Librarians 1.0 will be coming back in Spring of 2025!) This week: Our students are going to learn all about marketing! What does it take to successfully promote an event? What are some mistakes that are made? What information is important to include? Using the skills they learn from the lesson, each Future Librarian will design an official flier for an actual NMPL program! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: 8 to 16 Registration: Yes. This class is only open for students who have graduated from Future Librarians. Call the library to register! Location: Blocher Community Room |
MOVIE MATINEE: FREE BIRDS
Wednesday, November 27th @ 11am Need to get the kids out of the house while you’re prepping for Thanksgiving Dinner or cleaning for visiting relatives? Bring them to our movie matinee and enjoy hot buttered popcorn while we watch this Thanksgiving classic! “Pardoned by the president, a lucky turkey (Owen Wilson) named Reggie gets to live a carefree lifestyle, until fellow fowl Jake (Woody Harrelson) recruits him for a history-changing mission. Jake and Reggie travel back in time to the year 1621, just before the first Thanksgiving. The plan: Prevent all turkeys from ever becoming holiday dinners. Unfortunately, the two birds encounter colonist Myles Standish (Colm Meaney), out to capture feathered friends for all the hungry Pilgrims.” Rating: PG Length: 1 hour and 31 minutes Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |