Perry Public Library, Carnegie Library Museum announce October 2024 programs

Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum Presents: Iowa’s Most Haunted Locations – Sept. 24 through Oct. 31

Step into the Carnegie Library Museum this October – if you dare! Visit us to hear the stories of Iowa’s famous ghost sightings and learn about locations where paranormal investigators have reported unusual activity. Plus, discover more famous Iowa haunted locations to visit or even spend the night. This is a free exhibit during the Carnegie Library Museum's regular hours: Sunday and Monday: closed; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

New-To-You Halloween Costumes at the Library: Oct. 1-31

Boo! It's new to you! Come to the Perry Public Library in September and October and find a New-To-You Halloween Costume. Donated costumes are for everyone. You do not need to donate in order to take a costume home. Donations are greatly appreciated and you're invited to donate any new or gently used costumes that you no longer want or need. Please take only what you need and help ensure costumes are available for everyone to enjoy this Halloween.

October Grab and Go Adult Craft Kit – Free DIY Beaded Corn Decor

Prepare to decorate for Thanksgiving with this month’s Grab and Go Adult Craft Kit! Create a colorful, beaded corn on the cob that will be a lovely addition to your Thanksgiving décor and beyond. Adult patrons can bring home one Free Adult Grab and Go Adult Craft Kit from the Perry Public Library. This craft kit includes materials and instructions for one DIY Beaded Corn Decor. This October Grab and Go Craft is free, courtesy of the Perry Public Library, and available while supplies last.

October Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit – Free DIY Decorative Corn

Prepare to decorate for Thanksgiving with this month’s Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit! Create a colorful, beaded corn on the cob that will be a lovely addition to your Thanksgiving décor and beyond. Teens, 12 to 18, are invited to come into the library during October to pick up a Free Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to make your own DIY Decorative Corn. Teen patrons can bring home one Free October Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit from the Perry Public Library. This October Grab and Go Craft is free, courtesy of the Perry Public Library, and available while supplies last.

Novel-Teas Book Match: A Monthly Program for Adults

We think a good book and a delicious cup of tea are the perfect pairing. With our Adult Novel-Teas Book Match program, participants can sign up each month to receive an individualized book recommendation, with a complementary tea pairing. Simply register, and complete the personalized Book Match Form by Oct. 15, and our Adult Services Librarian, Mindy, will help you find your next book, while our tea enthusiast, Trista, will select your tea. October Book Matches will be available for patrons to pick up beginning Nov. 1. Patrons must be 18+ to participate and spots are limited. To register and complete your survey, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us for an online form or visit the library for a paper version. This is a free program. For questions, call 515-465-3569.

Tween Zone (3rd to 5th Grades): Tuesdays – Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

This fall, Tween Zone is a weekly library program for students in 3rd through 5th grades, from 4-5 p.m. every Tuesday in the Community Room. Each week will include a fun activity. We may make crafts, play games, or even watch a movie! Our October activities include: Oct. 1 - We will make candy sushi with Rice Krispy Treats, Fruit Roll-Ups, and other tasty treats. Oct. 8 - We will make Halloween crafts. Oct. 15 - We will read and create our own scary stories. Oct. 22 - We will make magic wands. Oct. 29 (4-5:45 p.m.) - We will watch a PG-rated Halloween-themed movie featuring mischievous witches. Please note that the program will last as long as the movie this day, which is 1 hour and 36 minutes. This is a free, weekly activity and no registration is required.

Adventure in the World of Dungeons and Dragons: Tuesdays – Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Welcome to a world of Dungeons and Dragons! Dungeons and Dragons is a communal storytelling adventure where you get to play a character of your own creation and make decisions (and rolls) to decide the path of our story and the destiny of your character. Great for newcomers and experienced players alike, our adventures in Candlekeep are based around short one-shot-like adventures that make popping in or coming every time a fun adventure! Patrons 10+ are invited to join us as we explore the magic books of Candlekeep in the Perry Public Library Community Room on Tuesday nights in October. We will meet from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 1, 8, 15, and 22. We will meet in the Board Room on Oct. 29. This is a free program and no registration is required.

Budding Bookworms Storytime (Ages 2 to 5): Wednesdays – Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

The Perry Public Library is excited to announce our new storytime, Budding Bookworms, a weekly Wednesday storytime for ages 2 to 5 from 10:30-11:15 a.m. in the Community Room. This storytime combines our Toddler and Preschool storytimes into a fun, engaging 45-minute program that includes books, singing and dancing, and simple crafts. Our goal is to provide caregivers with an opportunity to introduce their children to good literature, encourage growth in children's literacy skills (reading, talking, singing, playing, and writing), and promote the library as an enjoyable place where learning is fun. The theme for October is Emotions and Feelings. We will read books and talk about some basic emotions and how to recognize them, as well as learn some basic mindfulness tools and affirmations. We may even try a little bit of yoga! This program is free to the public, but please register your child, so we can be prepared with supplies to enhance their experience. To register, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on our Events Calendar, call the library at 515-465-3569, or speak with a librarian.

NEW! “Next Chapter” Senior Group at the Library: Wednesdays – Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Join us for our new, weekly “Next Chapter” group for patrons 55+, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. every Wednesday in the Perry Public Library Community Room. We will offer a variety of activities each month, including ISU Extension Stay Independent courses, Lifetime Fitness sessions with Judy Tomenga, and social gatherings and conversation opportunities. October’s schedule includes: Oct. 2: ISU “Spot, Stop, Avoid Fraud;” Oct. 9: Games and Puzzles; Oct. 16: Lifetime Fitness with Judy Tomenga; Oct. 23: Create DIY Bean Bag Weights for home and use with Lifetime Fitness Course; Oct. 30: Lifetime Fitness with Judy Tomenga. This is a free, weekly activity held each Wednesday for adults 55+, and no registration is required.

WOW! Wednesdays STEM Program (K-5th Grades): Wednesdays – Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

New this year, our WOW! Wednesdays STEM program will meet from 4-5 p.m. every Wednesday (excluding holidays), in the Community Room! Each week will include elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade. During October, we will explore optical illusions. October’s schedule includes: Oct. 2: Stations and demonstrations of various optical illusions, plus make your own thaumatropes & floating dice & optical illusion critters. Oct. 9: Stations and demonstrations of various optical illusions, plus make your own penny spinners and mobius strips. Oct. 16: Stations and demonstrations of animation, plus make your own flip books and agamographs. Oct. 23: Magic Tricks: Learn and watch multiple magic tricks! Oct. 30: Halloween Illusions: Learn and watch Halloween illusions. We will also have LEGOs, Snap Circuits, and our Maker Space cart available for tinkering at each WOW! Wednesday. This is a free, weekly activity and no registration is required.

Wee Wonders Storytime (Ages Birth to 24 Months): Thursdays – Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Wee Wonders is an early literacy lapsit program for babies birth through 24 months and their caregivers held from 10:30-11:15 a.m. every Thursday in the Community Room. We sing songs and rhymes, read simple books, do fingerplays and bounces, and incorporate motor skills with shakers and scarves. There is also a period of social play at the end of each program. Plus, each participating baby gets a free board book every time they come to the program. This program is free to the public, but please register your child, so we can be prepared with supplies to enhance their experience. To register, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on our Events Calendar, call the library at 515-465-3569, or speak with a librarian.

Chess Club at the Library: Thursdays – Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Are you interested in learning how to play chess? Do you already know how to play, but are looking for some local players to challenge? Could you use some tips and practice to improve your skill level? Local chess instructor David Oliveira is partnering with the Perry Public Library to teach, mentor, and play chess with players of all ages and experience levels. Whether you are new to chess or looking for a challenging game, mark your Thursday evenings in October for chess instruction and walk-in play at the Library. Students, grades K-12, will meet from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Library Board Room. Chess players of all ages are then welcome to meet from 5:30-7:30 p.m., also in the Board Room, for instruction or competition. David Oliveira leads the group meetings and also offers chess instruction by individual appointments as part of the library program. Call the library for more information or to arrange a time at 515-465-3569. This is a free program and no registration is required.

Teen Lounge (6th to 12th Grades): Fridays – Oct. 4, 11, 18

Welcome to the Teen Lounge, our new weekly library program from 4-5 p.m. on Fridays in the Community Room for teens in middle and high school! Every week will be different: crafts, games, speakers, a movie, karaoke, or just a place to hang out. This month's planned activities include: Oct. 4: Gross-Out Taste Test Challenge - Can you guess what went into the concoctions that Miss Laura cooked up? (Please be alert if you have food allergies) Oct. 11: We will create creepy spell books out of discarded library books. Oct. 18: Who is up for the challenge of facing our Beetlejuice Escape Room? No program on October 25 due to Spooktacular. No registration is required for this free program.

Friends of the Library Crafting with Friends Fundraiser Event – Oct. 5

8 a.m. - p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at McCreary Community Center, 1800 Pattee St., Perry.

Come and support the Perry Public Library at a fun and creative craft event from 8 a.m. to p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. This event helps raise money for the Friends of the Library, who are a major source of financial support for the library's programs and services. All crafters are welcome – card makers, scrapbookers, yarn enthusiasts, quilters – whatever you can craft on a 6-foot table. Bring your friends for a get-away day filled with laughter and crafting. Your $50 registration fee includes a 6-foot table, beverages, lunch, supper, snacks, desserts, door prizes, vendor access and 12 hours of crafting and fun. Register online through the Perry Public Library's website, in person at the Perry Library or email Misty at mvonbehren@perry.lib.ia.us. Everyone is welcome! Registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 27. Any questions, call Kathy at 515-822-6097.

Evening Family Storytime (Ages Birth to 11): Mondays – Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28

Can't make it to our daytime storytimes? Do you want to enjoy some family time with your children at the library? Come to our Monday Evening Family Storytime from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in our Children’s Area. We will follow the same theme as our Budding Bookworms storytime each month and incorporate different songs and activities, depending on the ages of the children who attend. The theme for October is Emotions and Feelings and we may discuss basic mindfulness techniques, and affirmations, and even do some simple yoga! No registration is required for this free program.

Quarterly Classics Book Club – Oct. 8

Explore literary classics from a variety of authors with our Quarterly Classics Book Club. Join the club in October as we discuss Aldous Huxley’s "Brave New World," which explores issues of mass-entertainment, technology, medicine and pharmaceuticals, the arts of persuasion, and the hidden influence of elites. The Quarterly Classics Book Club will meet from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8 in the Carnegie Library Museum. Books may be purchased in advance for a small fee from the library or borrowed with your Perry Public Library card.

Perry Public Library Annual Shred Event – Oct. 12

The Perry Public Library will host its annual Shred Event for the public from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. The shredder truck will be located in the library south parking lot, accessible from Railroad Street. This event is an opportunity for Perry area residents to dispose of outdated personal documents, free of charge, in a safe and secure way. The shred event is sponsored by the Perry Public Library and the City of Perry, and donations are accepted!

October Adult Craft Club: Sweater Pumpkin Set – Oct. 14

Join our Adult Monthly Craft Club as we make a set of sweater pumpkins! These cute pumpkins are easy to craft and require minimal skill. We will be making a set of three unique pumpkins. All supplies will be provided and you get to take home some cute pumpkins to leave out for the rest of the fall season! The October Adult Craft Club will meet on from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14 in the Community Room. Supplies and instruction are provided free of charge, but space is limited and registration is required by Oct. 12. To register, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on our Events Calendar, call the library at 515-465-3569, or speak with a librarian.

Monthly Book Club – Oct. 15

Our Monthly Book Club selection is the highly contested novel, "Lawn Boy," our 2024 Banned Book selection. We will meet from 1-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15 in the Library Community Room. Our discussion will center on Evison’s "Lawn Boy," a “moving, humorous, and insightful portrait of a young man searching for the American Dream” that focuses on themes of race, class, and economic disparity. Everyone interested is invited to join the discussion and participation is free. Books can be purchased in advance for a small fee from the library or borrowed with your Perry Public Library card.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt (Ages 5 to 11) – Oct. 18-31

Children ages 5-11 are welcome to try our Halloween Scavenger Hunt from Oct. 18-31. Participants will find the spooky creatures hidden in the Children's Area of the library, then solve the riddle to win a prize! No registration is required for this free activity.

Perry Spooktacular – Oct. 25

Remember to visit the library during the Perry Chamber of Commerce Downtown Spooktacular on Friday, Oct. 25. This can’t-miss, annual Halloween event offers safe trick-or-treating at downtown Perry businesses and organizations. Be sure to stop by to say hello to our friendly librarians and bring home a brand-new book to enjoy! Enjoy a safe and fun Spooktacular in downtown Perry from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25.

No October Paper Crafting with Kathy or October Crafternoons Makerspace

While we won’t have our usual Paper Crafting with Kathy or Crafternoons Makerspace in October, the Friends of the Library WILL be hosting their amazing crafting fundraiser on Oct. 5 instead.

Children’s Halloween Party (Ages 2 to 11) – Oct. 31

Bring your little ghosts and goblins to our Children's Halloween Party at the Liboooorary this Halloween from 4-5 p.m. on Oct. 31. We will paint and decorate tiny foam pumpkins, color and cut Halloween masks, play "What's in the Box?" with creepy and silly Halloween-themed items, and Miss Laura will conduct a Halloween-themed experiment! There will be spooky fun for ages 2-11. Costumes are welcome, but not required! No registration is required for this free program.

This article originally appeared on Perry Chief: Perry Public Library Carnegie Library Museum announce October programs