Celebrate Banned Books Week with us from October 5th-11th! |
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 | Join the library in celebrating everyone's freedom to read throughout Banned Books Week from October 5th-11th! Our locations will be filled with displays featuring books that have been banned or challenged across the USA over time. But, knowing that the idea of “banned books” has been a divisive topic for a while now, we wanted to clear up some confusion by providing definitions of what “banned books” mean and answering some frequent questions about book banning. What does book banning or challenging mean? A banned book is a title that has been removed from a school or library collection after a complaint about its inclusion in the collection has been made. This can be at any library or school. Importantly, a book ban does not apply to every library or school. A challenged book is a title that has been targeted by a request to either remove it from a library/school or restrict its access. Why are books challenged? Most challenges stem from concerns about protecting children, similar to how music or TV gets censored. Does Centre County Library & Historical Museum (CCLHM) ban books? No—we do not ban books. As per our collection development policy, library patrons may submit a “request for withdrawal of material” form, but it’s been years since one was filed. Instead, we offer Banned Book Kits so groups can read and discuss commonly banned/challenged titles together. Find them near the adult nonfiction section at the Centre County Library - Bellefonte or online in our catalog. Is there a list of banned books? Yes and no. There is no singular list of every book that has ever been banned. Since book bans can apply to any of thousands of individual schools and libraries, and even occasionally whole states, municipalities, and provinces, they are effortful to track and study. Research of book bans is necessary to develop lists of the banned books. Banned books research is regularly accomplished by the American Library Association (ALA), PEN America, various academic researchers and more. The ALA has been publishing a list of 10 books every year since 1990 that make up the titles most commonly challenged or banned that year (according to their research and cataloguing of ban/challenge reports). You can check out these lists here. Want to learn more? You can find recent fiction and nonfiction titles on the topic in our collections, including: Consider this closing quote: a favorite of many librarians “Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created or recreated by the author. When lighting conditions are just right, however, a window can also be a mirror. Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of a larger human experience. Reading, then, becomes a means of self-affirmation, and readers often seek their mirrors in books.” ― Rudine Sims Bishop, Professor Emerita of Children’s Literature at Ohio State University |
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National Friends of Libraries Week is from October 19th to 25th! |
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During National Friends of Libraries Week, we celebrate the work that each of our current friends groups (Bellefonte Library Friends, Friends of the Holt Memorial Library, and Partnership for Penns Valley Library Services) do to support our libraries. You can celebrate by attending one of their upcoming events or, if you're interested, learning about how you can become a library friend! Check out what each of our friends groups is doing this month below: |
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 | Join Bellefonte Library Friends (BLF) for Murder and Mocktails at the Centre County Library on Friday, October 17th at 6 PM! BLF is excited to partner with Sock & Buskin Theater Co. for a thrilling evening of mystery and fun at the Centre County Library. Get ready to enjoy an interactive murder mystery while sipping on delicious mocktails. This in-person event is perfect for mystery enthusiasts and cocktail lovers alike. While there, we hope that you get a chance to get to know the Bellefonte Library Friends and what they do for the community! Mocktails and Appetizers are provided. The interactive murder mystery takes place at a Halloween Party. Feel free to dress in costume. Doors open at 6pm for Mocktails and Apps. Performance begins at 6:30 PM and ends approximately 2 hours later.
$33.85/person, limited tickets available on Eventbrite.
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|  | Join the Partnership for Penns Valley Services for dinner or take-out at the Centre Hall American Legion on Saturday, Oct. 25th at 6:30 PM in order to help raise money for library resources and services in Penns Valley! A ticket of $30 will get an attendee 1 dinner (choice of steak or vegetarian lasagna). Entry into a basket raffle and 50/50 raffle are available for an extra cost. Before dinner, enjoy a social hour with other library supporters, staff, and PPVLS members. Order tickets via phone, email, or at the Centre Hall Area Branch Library: 814-364-258 ppvls-president@outlook.com |  | The Friends of the Holt Memorial Library will be popping up at our regular library programs all week long from Oct. 20th to 25th! Stop by their table at the Holt Memorial Library to discover how this amazing group supports the library—and how you can be part of the fun. Don’t miss your chance to join, connect, and make a difference as a Friend! |
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Join us virtually or at one of our locations for any of our book clubs! We even have book clubs for book lovers who prefer talking about books in general rather than a specific book. See below for details. Wednesday, October 1st, 1 PM: Holt Afternoon Book Club. Discuss the novel, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, by Jesse Sutanto with other book lovers at Holt Memorial Library (no registration required). Call the library at 814-342-1987 if you would like to reserve a copy of the book or if you have any questions. Thursday, October 9th, 6 PM: The Centre Hall Mystery Book Club will discuss the novel, The Woman in the Library, by Sulari Gentill. There is no need to register, but you may call 814-364-2580 if you have any questions. We always welcome new book club members! Saturday, October 11th, 10 AM: Book Lovers Coffee Hour. Come discuss what you are reading with other book lovers! Please register to attend by clicking the button below and receive a Zoom link via email! | | | Wednesday, October 15th, 6:30 PM: All adults are invited to join us at our monthly virtual book club. This month, we will discuss the novel, 1984, by George Orwell. It’s a great time to connect with fellow readers and discover how their responses to the text are different or similar to your own. We'll also be discussing the movie based on the book during Film Talk (see event posting below). Click the button below to register! | | | Thursday, October 23rd, 6 PM: Bellefonte Mystery Book Club. Calling all mystery lovers! Join us to take a deep dive into thrilling whodunnits, puzzling crime novels, and suspense-filled adventures. Whether you're a fan of classic detective stories or modern-day mysteries, there's a place for you! There's no need to register, but feel free to sign up for a text reminder by clicking the button below. This month we will be reading, The Sun Down Motel, by Simone St. James. Books are available for check out at the Bellefonte Circulation Desk. | | |
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Events for Adults at the Bellefonte Library |
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 | You have been summoned to enjoy a horrifying night of undead trivia at the Bellefonte Library on Monday, Oct. 27th at 5:30 PM! Play against ghoulish strangers to win prizes! Questions range from classic vampire novels to the disgustingly fun zombie films of today, (with some folklore dribbled throughout). This event is intended for adults. We will be using the Kahoot! app which can be downloaded for free for iOS and Android. Please click the link below to register as space is limited: | | |
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|  | Join us in repurposing old books into decorative Book Witches on Monday, October 6th at 5:30 PM! This is an easy craft for adults and teens, but it requires manual dexterity for repeated page-folding to make the witch's dress. All materials are provided. Space is limited, and registration is required. Click the button below to register: | | |
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| | | | Families, parents, caregivers, and young adults (18-25) are invited to come to the library for a series of 6 FREE nutrition lessons presented by Leoni Georgiou, Nutrition Education Advisor from Penn State Extension! Learn healthy habits, budgeting, new recipes, and tips and tricks for cooking at home. Attend a majority of classes to earn a certificate of achievement, a raffle entry for Ninja blender and graduation incentive items. Attendance at the last class on Dec. 17th is mandatory for these benefits. Each class will feature new recipes, cooking, taste testing, and a weekly raffle! Please call Megan Strommer (Library Children’s Services Coordinator) at 814-355-1516x1003 to register! Nutrition Links class dates are as follows: Wednesday, Oct. 22nd from 5:15 PM - 6:45 PM Wednesday, Oct. 29th from 5:15 PM - 6:45 PM Wednesday, Nov. 12th from 5:15 PM - 6:45 PM Wednesday, Nov. 19th from 5:15 PM - 6:45 PM Wednesday, Dec. 10th from 5:15 PM - 6:45 PM Wednesday, Dec. 17th from 5:15 PM - 6:45 PM |
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Special Upcoming Children and Family Events in Bellefonte! |
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 | Caregivers and their children aged 1-3 are invited to join us for a 5 session workshop all about parenting, parent-child bonding, early childhood, and early learning. Each session will be a place for you to play with your child and talk with other parents. You’ll have the opportunity to speak with and learn from early childhood specialists in our local community as well. Registration is required (link below) and registrants must be able to attend at least 4 programs to be eligible. Program Dates: Tuesday, October 7th, 10:45am-12pm Tuesday, October 14th,10:45am-12pm Tuesday, October 21st, 10:45am-12pm Tuesday, October 28th, 10:45-12pm Tuesday, November 4th, 10:45-12pm | | |
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|  | On Wednesday, October 1st from 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM, kids are invited to create ghost portraits with egg cartons at the library! Please click the button below to register as space and supplies are limited. | | | | |  | On Saturday, October 11th from 10:30 AM to 11 AM, families are invited to join us on the story rug at the library for a weekend storytime! This event is great for those who are new to storytime and seasoned readers alike! |
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| | On Halloween, Friday, October 31st between 10:30 and 11:30 AM, toddlers and their caregivers are invited to come down to the library and dance along to familiar children's favorite songs! Halloween costumes encouraged! No registration is necessary. |
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Special Upcoming Children and Family Events in Centre Hall! |
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 | On Saturday, October 4th from 10 AM to 1:30 PM, everyone is invited to drop in the Centre Hall Area Branch Library to play a variety of board and card games from the library’s collection! |
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|  | Last month, our presenter became ill and had to cancel the Backyard Birding program. It has now been rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 14th at 10 AM. We had some more seats open up with the rescheduling. Click the link below to register and reserve your seat if you didn't already! | | |
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 | On Friday, October 17th from 10 AM - 3:30 PM, children and their families are invited to stop in at the library to make a spooky craft! There is no need to register. Craft supplies will be available to use with directions in the Children’s Section. |
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|  | Children and their families are invited to stop by and play with the Centre Hall Area Branch Library's LEGO collection while the library is open on the following dates: - Saturday, October, 18th
- Saturday, November 8th
LEGOs will be available for playing from 10 AM to 1:30 PM. We're excited to see all of the LEGO creations! |
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Special Events Upcoming at the Holt Memorial Library |
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| | On Thursday, Oct. 2nd at 6 PM, kids ages 5-13 are invited to come to the library and learn to budget! Kids will “shop” for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a family of four! The budget is $25. Can attendees complete the challenge? Special guest, Chad Feather, from Timberland Federal Credit Union will be leading the class! Please call 814-342-1987 to register as space and supplies are limited. |
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 | On Wednesday, Oct. 15th, 10:30 AM, kids ages 3-5 are invited to join us at the library for fun stories, songs, calendar time, crafts and play! This storytime, we’ll have special guests from the Hope Fire Department and learn about fire safety! There is no need to register. |
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|  | Adults and teens are invited to join us for book BINGO on Saturday, October 18th at 11 AM! The event is very simple: you play BINGO and win books! Please call the library at 814-342-1987 to register as space is limited. |
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Mission Centre County Library & Historical Museum is a free community destination providing books, information, Internet access, and technology resources to preserve our heritage and promote a lifetime of reading and learning. |
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| Vision Centre County Library & Historical Museum will be an inviting and vital part of our community by providing access to current technology and services to foster education and to enhance our community’s quality of life. |
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| | We are a PA Forward Library PA Forward is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Library Association designed to increase awareness of the vital role libraries play in the well-being of their communities. |
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