Portland District Library News

Autumn Blocks

Create a fun fall decoration using small wooden blocks, fall-themed supplies, and a variety of miniature items. Add leaves, pumpkins, flowers, animals, and more to create your own unique autumn display! Registration is required. Ages 18 & older. Take & Make bags can be picked up on or after September 12. 

Fall for a Tablescape

As we move through the seasons and leave summer behind, our thoughts begin to turn toward holidays and celebrations, parties and cozy family dinners.  What better way to get yourself ready to gather around the table than by making a festive fall centerpiece out of pool noodles and autumnal décor.  We’ll even have Halloween supplies for those who love the spooky season!  Join in the fun on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m.  Registration is required, ages 18 and up.    

Burlap Buddy

Make your own adorable scarecrow using a small burlap bag, stencils, black and orange paint, and a ribbon to add the finishing touch. Registration is required, for ages 18 and older. Take & Make bags will be available for pickup on or after September 24.

Children’s and Teen

LITTLES

Tiny Tots:

Beep-beep! Make some noise at Tiny Tots! This fall, storytime is all about speech and communication. 0-2 year olds and their caregivers will wiggle, giggle, and explore the building blocks of speech together—including gestures, imitation, and first words. Join Miss Anna at the library every other Friday at 10:00 a.m., beginning September 25. Want to try storytime at home? Pick up one of our monthly caregiver packets and follow along with our videos! Registration begins Monday, September 14.

Book Cubs:

Caregivers, round up your tiny cowpokes and join us for a rootin' tootin good time this fall for Book Cubs (ages 3-5) storytime all about the Wild West! Ride your bronco into the Storytime Room at 10:00 a.m. every other Wednesday from September 30 to November 25. Did your cows escape the corral and you can't make it in person? We've got you covered! Registration and Take-and-Make bags will be available beginning Monday, September 14. 

Books & Blankets September: Dogs

Get ready for a tail-wagging good time! Books & Blankets storytime on Thursday, September 17 is all about dogs. We’ll be reading books about our furry friends, practicing our howling, and even putting on a “dog show” where we’ll pretend to be dogs ourselves! This literary adventure is perfect for little ones aged 8 and under. Register your family and meet us in the Children’s Sensory Garden at 6:00 p.m.

Messy Makers:

Messy Makers – where we take sensory play to the next level! Littles (ages 5 & under) and caregivers, dress for a mess and stay for the fun! Splish, splash, and try to stay dry as you make your way through our water play stations on Monday, September 28. Leaves, pumpkins, and spooky things galore, we’ll be celebrating all things fall and Halloween on Monday, October 19. Programs begin at 6:00 p.m. and registration is required!

MIDDLES

Paper Voyage:

Paper Voyage invites Middles aged 6-12 to take an adventure. What’s on the itinerary? Paper sculpting, painting, and handmade whimsy! Learn paper mache techniques and let your art skills take flight. This take home project will walk you through the steps to craft your own special hot air balloon. Visit the Youth Desk beginning Friday, September 11 to claim your Paper Voyage Take-and-Make bag. 

Virtual STEM Club: Jell-O Glow Lab:

Just when you thought Jell-O couldn’t get any more fun, we’re going to see if we can make it GLOW!  Patrons ages 6-12 can pick up a Take-and-Make bag for Virtual STEM Club: Jell-O Glow Lab beginning Wednesday, September 16 and discover what it takes to turn an everyday treat into a glowing, glow-in-the-dark sensation!  

Critical Hit Club: 

Ready to enter the lobby? Critical Hit Club is your chance. Challenge friends, discover new games, and meet other gamers aged 10–18. Whether you’re a board game strategist, video game pro, or just looking for your next quest, there’s a spot for you. No XP required. Sign up at the Youth Desk and join the party on Tuesday, October 27 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. Bonus power up: free pizza! 

TEENS

Virtual Teen Art Hour September: Sunbeams and Rainbow Dreams

Teens, add sparkle to your day with September's Virtual Teen Art Hour, Sunbeams and Rainbow Dreams. Grab your Take-and-Make bag, starting Tuesday, September 1, at the Youth Desk. Mix, swirl, sparkle and let your creativity shine as you turn simple supplies into a rainbow of window art. Hang your finished pieces and watch the sun turn your room into a dreamy, glittery, glowing rainbow.

Virtual STEM Club Teen Edition: Lock It Up:

Everyone needs a place to keep their treasures safe, right? Virtual STEM Club Teen Edition: Lock It Up challenges teens to build their own multipurpose safe while exploring the science behind locking mechanisms. Grab your Take-and-Make bag beginning Wednesday, September 23 and get ready to build, experiment, and keep your treasures under lock and key!

Page Turners:

Join Page Turners, PDL's teen book club, and read "Dark and Shallow Lies" by Ginny Myers Sain. Registration begins Tuesday, September 1. Simply call 517-647-6981 or stop by the Youth Desk to sign up. The best part is you get a free copy of the book! What are you waiting for?!?

Meet Grey, a teen returning to her small Mississippi hometown for the summer. But Sterling Point is no ordinary town—it has a mysterious history of psychic abilities, strange happenings, and secrets lurking beneath the surface. When Grey’s best friend Elora disappears, Grey sets out to uncover the truth.

Soon, she finds herself caught up in a mystery involving a murderer on the loose, supernatural secrets, and a town where nothing is quite as it seems. Can Grey figure out who to trust before it’s too late?

Don't miss out on the fun! Meetings are scheduled for Saturday, October 17 and Saturday, November 7 at 11:00 a.m.

Lit Loot:

Fall in love with a new book or two with Lit Loot, PDL's teen subscription box! Each month, teens will receive 2 books plus tons of themed loot inspired by that month’s genre. Think snacks, goodies, swag, and fun activities made just for book lovers.

September: Back to School-academic rivalries, heartbreaking crushes, competitive sports

October: Horror-cursed objects, haunted houses, psychological mind games

November: Indigenous Authors-tribal traditions, cultural identity and belonging, shared healing

If you want to get out of your reading rut, Lit Loot has got you covered! 

Sign up at the Youth Desk today!

Teen Advisory Board: Teen Takeover After Dark

All the best things start with an idea… and that’s what we’re looking for, directly from teens! We’ve got the time, we’ve got the money, but we’re missing what our teens want out of the library.

What kinds of programs would you come to – Movie nights? Study sessions? Mental health support groups? Lock-ins? Cover letter, resume, or college prep courses? Too busy to come to the library on a regular basis? We can talk about how to meet you where you’re already at – in school or out in the community!

What’s important to you? We want to know! 

Build our Teen Advisory Board by coming to Teen Takeover After Dark on Friday, November 20 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. We’ll provide the space and the food; we just need you, teens ages 14-18, to come as the wonderful human you are to help us brainstorm new ideas. Stop by our Youth Desk today to grab a registration form and start to help us shape a new library for teens!

ALL AGES

Adventures on the Book Bike:

Where will we be rolling up next?!? Adventures on the Book Bike is returning for another exciting round of book giveaways this fall. We’ll be out on the town Tuesday, September 22, Thursday, October 22, and Wednesday, November 11 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. We’re giving you the time, but the location is still a mystery! In the days before each outing, we’ll provide clues at the library and on Facebook letting you know how to find us. See us? Make sure to stop and say hi to get your hands on a brand new free book – and yes, including adults – the book bike is stocked with books for ages 0-100 and beyond!