Pages, People, and Programs: Fall Fun at Samuels Public Library

If you think libraries are just for books, you haven’t stepped into Samuels Public Library lately. With a calendar bursting with hands-on programs, special guests, and creative partnerships, November is shaping up to be one of the busiest and most colorful months yet.

“We have a tremendous amount of programs in November,” said Michal Ashby, Youth Services Supervisor, at Samuels. “So I’m just going to highlight the extra special ones.”

At the top of that list is a performance by the Hard Act to Follow Special Needs Theater Troupe, in partnership with ARC. They’ll perform If You Give a Reindeer the New Christmas Stamps on November 8 at 2 p.m. “They do a wonderful, wonderful job at a theatrical performance, and I’m so excited to have them,” Ashby said.

Later in the month, the library will host Indigenous Voices on November 22, featuring Native American stories, flute music, and traditional dancing. Another partnership with Shenandoah River State Park adds an outdoor experience to the mix, including a spear-throwing workshop, nature crafts, and talks on the importance of plants and stones in Native American life.

In keeping with the fall theme, the Master Gardeners will return on November 7 with Wee Ones in the Garden. Young children will learn about the history and purpose of scarecrows and even get to build one of their own.

And for young artists? “We’re going to make mosaic corn pictures using beautiful, different colors of corn kernels,” said Ashby. “It’s going to be really beautiful.”

There’s also a new partnership with Melissa Ichijiu Studio Gallery in downtown Front Royal, where Ashby will lead two Bright Minds Reading Hour storytimes on November 14 and 21 from 4–5 p.m. The free program will feature biographies of female scientists and artists, accompanied by snacks and time for reflection.

The chessboard is back, too — by popular demand. “I had a parent say to me that they would really appreciate it if we did more chess,” Ashby said. “So we’ve decided that as long as we’re still getting people for it, we’re going to try to do it once a month.”

Over in the adult programs department, Kaitlyn Leckliter, Adult Reference Manager, is helping job seekers get back on track with a job fair and résumé workshop on November 6 at 1 p.m., in partnership with Virginia CareerWorks. “Sometimes we need to take stuff away,” she said, referring to common résumé mistakes. “It’s not all one-size-fits-all. You really should be tailoring it for each organization.”

For seniors, a Seniors First Workshop on November 13 at 1 p.m. will cover Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help. One-on-one counseling appointments will be available afterward for those with individual questions.

Book lovers can jump into the Scary Words Book Club, which meets on November 8 to discuss Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton — perfectly timed for the library’s dinosaur-themed “Die-November” programming. Trivia fans can join the fun on November 20 at 6 p.m., when the library hosts a holiday-themed Trivia Night for teams of up to six.

For something a little lighter (and fluffier), this month’s Bad Romance Book Club takes on the theme of cats.

Meanwhile, String Theory, the weekly fiber arts group, continues to welcome knitters, crocheters, and crafters every Saturday. “It gives you the opportunity to learn something completely different,” said Leckliter. “Or just have a good conversation with other people who enjoy doing what you do.”

Printed calendars are available at the library’s front desk, but the easiest way to keep up with the schedule is to visit the online calendar at samuelslibrary.net.

“There is something almost every single day,” said Ashby.

Whether you’re five or seventy-five, there’s always something new to discover — and it’s all just one library card away.