A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Library

If you've read my blog for any amount of time you probably know that I LOVE my library. All libraries. I actually visit libraries on my vacations. You may think I'm crazy but have you ever been in a library that is a boat?

I seem to have gotten off track. I was on my way to the library this Saturday to pick up the latest Janet Evanovich for my mom. As I walked down the sidewalk a man got out of a van and he was carrying a huge tray piled high with baked potatoes (I know this because they were all individually wrapped in tinfoil). Weird, right? As I was wondering where he could be going with all those potatoes on a Saturday morning he turned into the library.

Of course, the first question out of my mouth when I got to the circulation desk was, "What's the deal with all the potatoes?" Turns out they were part of the food truck (moved indoors) providing refreshments for sale at the Metaphysical Market. What's a Metaphysical Market? Tarot card readings, crystals, candles, spooky books for sale, dream catchers. A little bit of everything that local artists, writers and creative people could tie into the spooky season. Plus kittens looking for their forever home!

Plus a Used Book sale! They have a sale the first Monday of every month but it's during the day and [sigh] I have to work. So I got to buy five books I don't need but really wanted for $2 and change.

So I just wanted to do my part to spread the word about all the things going on at my local library (and maybe yours too) in addition to the whole book lending. Here's what I've done in my local library just in the past 30 days.

• Led a writing workshop on submitting to Chicken Soup for the Soul

• Took a class and made a chunky blanket - check out my photo. I am not a really crafty person but somehow I did it!

• Attended a program held in conjunction with the Smithsonian called the Armchair Traveler about the Cahokia Mounds. (This was more for hubby who loves this kind of stuff.)

• Went to the Library Board Meeting.

• Finally joined the Pageturners Book Club. Gina, who taught the blanket class talked me into it. We read Beautiful Bright Creatures; next up is The Mayflower. I must say the highlight was cupcakes with candy octopi on top and everyone sporting shirts or accessories with an ocean theme. I'm going to have to step it up for the next meeting.

• Picked up a mum I ordered. Sadly, I was late and had to take a dreaded orange one(my least favorite color of mum).

• Ordered pretzels for the above mentioned hubby for Christmas. Shh, don't tell him.

• Accidentally wandered into a Metaphysical Market and Used Book Sale.

Those were just the things I did. There were so many other things going on. The traditional events like children's story time, toddler playgroups and Teen Group. But also events to mark Banned Book Week, a Monster themed craft for kids, a Mahjong Open Play, 3D Printing for Kids, Hobbit Day Family Night, Talk Like a Pirate Day, a giveaway of copies of the Constitution to celebrate Constitution Day on Sept. 17, Sewing Class and a Puzzle Race.

So get yourself to the library! Your library doesn't have these activities? Could you volunteer to teach a workshop or organize an event? We all have something interesting that we know. Why not share with the community through your library?