The Nicholson Memorial Library System has announced its schedule of events and activities for October. There are fun activities for all ages.
Game Time for Adults – Enjoy a new monthly event for ages 18+. Play games with friends or learn a new one. Library will provide playing cards, board games, puzzles and video games. Next event is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Central Library. Event is free. Registration not required. 972-205-2533.
Air Fryer Demonstration – Ages 18+ learn to make State Fair-inspired dishes at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at South Garland Branch. Staff will demonstrate how to make fair foods with air fryer, offer tips and tricks and hand out recipes. Registration is required and begins Saturday, Oct. 1. 972-205-3931.
Adult Mystery Night – Ages 18+ work together to crack the case at Murder Mystery Night Friday, Oct. 28 at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Library. Participants must arrive before 6 p.m. Attendees must complete three tasks to solve case: prove the convicted person innocent, disprove the main suspect’s alibi and find the clue to the real culprit’s identity. Registration is required and begins Oct. 14. 972-205-2533.
STEAM Labs – Children 6-12 and their families can participate in STEAM Labs at Central Library the week of Oct. 10-14. Each day the library will present a different STEAM Lab at 2:30 p.m. Labs will feature activities on a centralized theme: science activities Monday, Oct. 10; technology activities Tuesday, Oct 11; engineering activities Wednesday, Oct. 12; art Thursday, Oct. 13; and math Friday, Oct. 14. Attendees may take home completed projects. Registration is required. 972-205-2517.
Families Make Candy Dispensers / Enjoy Free Movie – Make cardboard candy dispensers and enjoy a free screening of Wallace & Gromit: the Curse of the Were-Rabbit Saturday, Oct. 8 at the North Garland Branch. The craft portion is at 2 p.m. Families will make Halloween-themed candy dispensers. Candy will be provided. Registration is required and limited to 15 groups of four people or less. Each group must contain one adult. To register, call 972-205-2804 beginning Sept. 24.
The screening of Wallace & Gromit: the Curse of the Were-Rabbit – rated G – will begin at 4 p.m. In the film, a bumbling inventor and his dog attempt to trap the beast that has been ravaging the neighborhood’s vegetable patches. Registration not required for movie. Children must be accompanied by caregiver or guardian. 972-205-2804.
Friends of the Library Book Sale – The organization announces its Fall Book Sale at the South Garland Branch. Find bargains on adult and children’s books, fiction and nonfiction, paperback and hardcover and reference books. Also find puzzles, DVDs, audio books, computer games and more. Public Book Sale dates are Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21 and 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Sale will be open to Friends members Thursday, Oct. 20, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Membership forms available at all library locations and at www.Library.GarlandTX.gov. For printable form online, click on About Us, then Friends of the Library, then Membership Form. Those who plan to apply on the day of the meeting should allow 30 minutes. Call 972-205-2543 or email folgarland@gmail.com.
Garland FD Teaches Preschoolers about Fire Safety – In honor of Fire Safety Month, children of all ages are invited to meet Garland firefighters at the North Garland Branch’s Family Storytime—Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. Children will learn about fire safety and watch firefighters put on their safety gear. They may also tour fire engines and receive fire chief hats. 972-205-2804.
Families Celebrate Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos with a Fiesta – Families may celebrate Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos at the Central Library’s Fun Fright Fiesta Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2:30 p.m. Pumpkin decorating, games, crafts, treats and a piñata breaking (at 3 p.m.). Prizes for game winners. Costumes encouraged! 972-205-2533.
Families Enjoy Halloween Boo Bash – Children and families can enjoy fun, family-friendly activities at the Walnut Creek Branch Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2:30 p.m. Attendees can play a pumpkin-themed bean bag toss or a Count-the-Candy guessing game, participate in a scavenger hunt and make Halloween masks. Family-friendly costumes encouraged! 972-205-2585.
Preschool Book Club – Families with children ages 3-5 can join the Bookworm Book Club at the South Garland Branch at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18. October’s theme is space. Families are encouraged to read a picture book or age-appropriate non-fiction book matching the theme and bring it to the meeting to share. Staff will read another book aloud before book sharing and extension activities begin. Extension activities will promote early literacy practices. 972-205-3931.
Little Art Explorers Get Painting – Children 0-5 can participate in an art series for their age group at the South Garland Branch at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1. Program supports early child development by integrating activities that build motor skills, increase vocabulary, improve symbol recognition and encourage emotional awareness. Children will explore the texture of paint, mix colors and make murals using their hands, brushes and sponges. Wear paint-friendly clothes. 972-205-3933.
Middle Graders Build Mini Pumpkin Launchers – Grades 4-8 students explore STEAM concepts through hands-on learning at Walnut Creek Branch Saturday, Oct. 22 at 2:30 p.m. Attendees will build miniature pumpkin launchers, then participate in a distance challenge to win candy. Registration required and begins Saturday, Oct. 8. 972-205-2585. Supplies are provided. 972-205-2585.
Mystery Book Club – Ages 18+ can join mystery book club at the Central Library at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Book to be discussed is Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. 972-205-2533.
Nature Scavenger Hunt – Throughout October, download a nature checklist from the library website: www.Library.GarlandTX.gov. Mark off items as you find them in your backyard, in Garland parks or anywhere outdoors. Post completed checklist to Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #GarlandLibraries or by tagging us at @GarlandLibraryTX (Facebook) or @GarlandLibrary (Twitter). Patrons who complete their checklists and post them to social media will be entered into a prize drawing for a Home Depot gift card. Visit Library.GarlandTX.gov or call 972-205-2533.
Monthly STEAM Lab – North Garland Branch hosts monthly STEAM Labs. Next lab is Saturday, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. Participants will explore principles of robotics and engineering before making hydraulic judo-bots, which they can wrestle in the STEAM Lab Arena. Supplies provided. Registration required and limited to 20 families. To register, call 972-205-2804 beginning Saturday, Oct. 1.
Romancing the Book Club – Ages 18+ may join a romance book club at the South Garland Branch at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. Book to be discussed is Silver Silence by Nalini Singh. 972-205-3931.
Senior Citizens Play Card Games – Seniors 55+ can play games with friends or learn new ones. Library provides cards, dominos and board games. Next event is at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the South Garland Branch. Event is free. Registration not required. 972-205-3931.
Family Paint Event – Children 6-12 can enjoy an afternoon of painting at Canvas & Cookies at the South Garland Branch Saturday, Oct. 8 at 2:30 p.m. We will paint a colorful Mexican sugar skull to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Supplies provided. Registration required and begins Saturday, Sept. 24. 972-205-3934.
Teens Enjoy Tabletop Role-Playing Games – Teens 12-17 can play tabletop role-playing games at the Central Library’s monthly gaming event at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 and will feature single-session tabletop role-playing games that encourage critical thinking and creativity. Registration is required. To register, call 972-205-2517 beginning Sept. 28. Event is free. 972-205-2517.
Teens Form Advisory Board – Teens 13-17 can make a difference by joining the Teen Advisory Board. The next meeting is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Central Library. Teens will discuss how the library can serve their age group in terms of events, materials and services. Participants will receive volunteer hours. Serving on the Advisory Board allows teens to socialize with their peers and play games. Teens who apply for board membership need parental consent and must attend two consecutive meetings and eight meetings per year to officially serve. 972-205-2517.
Teens Host Book Club – Teens 12-17 can join Novel Ideas, a book club designed for their age group at Garland’s Central Library. Club meets to discuss books members have recently read. There is no assigned book. Members are encouraged to share recent reads or old favorites. The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Central Library. 972-205-2517.
Book Club – Adults 18+ can join the book club at the South Garland Branch. The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20. Library staff and attendees will discuss The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda and enjoy light refreshments. Registration not required. 972-205-3931.
North Garland Branch Library – 3845 North Garland Avenue at Apollo Road
Central Library – 625 Austin Street, in Downtown Garland
South Garland Branch Library – 4845 Broadway Blvd. at Oates Road
Walnut Creek Branch Library – 3319 Edgewood Drive
Please be aware that photographs and video may be taken at Library programs for use in print and/or electronic media at the library’s discretion.