We’ve added a new Juvenile Biography display just inside the Library’s front doors, replacing the Juvenile Biography section in the Children’s Room. The Young Adult and Teens & Tweens sections have also had their layouts changed; the former has been moved to the left of the front doors (as seen from inside), while the latter has been shifted to fill the area to the right of the doors and reorganized, with multiple new displays! We hope that the new layout will make the upstairs areas feel less crowded and easier to navigate, while also encouraging young patrons to check out our nonfiction offerings. Stay tuned for future updates!
October is in full swing, and it’s scream season on the Library’s film app, Kanopy! Dive into Fright Fest – a spell-binding lineup horror hits, creepy thrillers, and spine-tingling cult classics to satisfy every scare craving – and see what frights lurk within… if you dare.
All you need to access this collection – as well as hundreds of other classic and indie films, TV shows, and documentaries – is your library card. For a quick walkthrough of how to set up and use a Kanopy account, visit their Getting Started webpage; if you already have an account, just sign in and enjoy. New media and watchlists are added on a regular basis!
The leaves are changing colors, the days are getting shorter, and Books & Spooks is back at the Library! Our themed book displays are stuffed with tales of ghosts and goblins galore this month as Halloween looms on the horizon; whether you’re looking for serious scares or just a few spine-tingles, we’ve got something for you. Stop by and take a look!
Clark Memorial Library will have a table at the 2025 Bethany Senior Health Fair & Flu Clinic on Wednesday, October 15, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM! Stop by to chat with a Library staff member and renew your library card – or get a new one. We hope to see you there!
Local artists Liz Orsini & Ann Wiley will have their work on display in the Library’s Community Room and display cabinets throughout October and November.
Liz Orsini’s artistic journey has led her through four decades of diverse life experiences and has included watercolor, pastels, acrylics, and collage study. She is particularly drawn to the interplay of color and contrast. Each piece becomes a meditation on balance – between planning and spontaneity, between the known and the discovered. Her current work focuses on abstract compositions that marry original collage materials with acrylic paint and expressive mark-making.
Ann Wiley‘s creative adventure began with designing homes, both inside and out, like her dad did, and learning about fabrics, patterns, and designs with her mom. Art classes, art teachers, local art shows, museums, and fellow artists have all influenced her; after trying out many mediums, acrylic painting and collage have proven to be both her favorite and most enduring courses of study. The pieces of hers being shared have been created over the course of 15 years.
There will be an artist reception on Saturday, October 25th from 2:00 – 4:00 PM in the Library’s Community Room. Stop by to meet the artists and see their work!
Owl Pellet Dissection Workshop
Learn about owls and the role they play in the ecosystem by dissecting real owl pellets!
Owls swallow their prey whole, so they eventually have to spit what they can’t digest back up, packed into a tight bundle – an owl pellet. Owl pellets are valuable to scientists because they provide information about an owl’s diet and the types of prey available in its habitat. For this hands-on learning experience, participants will examine and identify the contents of their owl pellet – bones, fur, feathers, etc.
This program is intended for children ages 5 and up; all materials are provided. It is a drop-in event, and will take place during Library hours on Saturday, October 18.
From October to December, the Library will be hosting Homeschool Hangouts on the third Thursday of each month. These are opportunities for home schooled children and their families to meet and enjoy all that the Library has to offer, together!
Stop by between 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM on October 16, November 20, and December 18 to take part!
Next time you stop by the Children’s Room, pick up an Autumn Scavenger Hunt & Exploration Kit! They include an Autumn Scavenger Hunt featuring signs of the changing seasons and local wildlife to keep an eye out for, as well as a journal ready to be filled with notes and sketches, and assorted supplies for exploring and celebrating the great outdoors. The kits will only be available while supplies last, so don’t miss your chance to get one of these fun goodie bags as we officially move into autumn!
Clark Memorial Library is partnering with the Library Speakers Consortium to give our community access to a growing catalog of virtual talks featuring bestselling authors, innovators and influencers, and experts in a variety of fields. Multiple new webinars will be added each month. Patrons can visit the Library’s LCS microsite (libraryc.org/bethanylibrary) to register for upcoming live events – all of which will be recorded and remain available to watch on-demand as well! The archive already includes talks with authors like Kate Quinn (The Diamond Eye), Bonnie Garmus (Lessons in Chemistry), Geraldine Brooks (People of the Book), & Frieda McFadden (The Housemaid).
We hope this service will empower the members of our community to continue their journeys of lifelong learning and personal growth! The following LSC webinars will be taking place during October:
“Nuestra América: Stories of 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States” with Smithsonian educators – Thursday, October 2 at 2:00 PM EDT,
“10 Years of Daring Heists and Lovable Outcasts in YA Fantasy” with Six of Crows author Leigh Bardugo – Thursday, October 9 at 7:00 PM EDT,
“Finding My Way” with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai – Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 PM EDT,
& “Courtly Intrigue and Whispers as Weapons” with historical fiction author Philippa Gregory – Wednesday, October 29 at 2:00 PM EDT.
Clark Memorial Library and the Friends of the Library will be at the 2025 Bethany Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 5!
Stop by to grab a tasty treat from the Friends of the Library Bake Sale, enter a FREE raffle to win a seasonal gift basket, and sign up for a library card if you don’t have one already!
The Festival takes place at the Old Bethany Airport (696 Amity Road), and lasts from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. We hope to see you there!
