November-December 2021 Edition

From the Director

November is National Gratitude Month, and I can think of no better time to express my appreciation for all of our supporters: library cardholders; occasional and regular visitors (both in person and online); our Volunteers; Library Advisory Board members; and Friends of the Library. Each of you helps bring meaning to the work we do and gives us many reasons to smile. Thank you!

As I look toward retirement in December, I am grateful for the opportunity to have served as your Library Director for three years. It has been an honor and a challenge like no other, and certainly a memorable way to close my 43-year career in libraries. I take many happy memories with me and look forward to joining you “on the other side” as a library patron.

It is my pleasure to announce that Pamela Monroe, our Library’s first Innovation Officer, will become the next Library Director. I am confident that the library will thrive under her leadership. The best is yet to be!

With thanks and best wishes,

Debra Sears

Did You Know...?

In partnership with WFSU, the Leon County Main Library will be hosting the StoryCorps MobileBooth from November 18 to December 20, 2021.

For the first time ever, participants will have the option to record in-person or remotely in StoryCorps' “virtual recording booth.” Both options will be guided by one of the trained StoryCorps staff members. In-person recordings will take place at the Main Library.

In celebration of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November, the Leon County Public Library is teaming up with the Tallahassee Writers Association to provide hybrid (in-person and live-streamed) workshops on writing.

Saturdays in November we are hosting local experts from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in-person at the Leon County Main Library in Program Room A and live streamed online through Zoom or Discord. Each presentation will be followed by in-person open time to write in Program Room A at the Leon County Main Library from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

The speakers include:

Marina Brown (Nov. 13, through Discord): Enter here.

M.R. Street (Nov. 20, through Zoom): Sign up here.

Susan Koehler (Nov 27, through Zoom): Sign up here.

In partnership with the Leon County Sheriff's Office, Leon County Government recently launched the Family Time & Tales video visitation and family literacy program for the inmates at the Leon County Detention Facility and their families.

Video visitation is available to families at the Leon County Main Library and helps children build and strengthen relationships with an incarcerated parent in a family-friendly environment. During the visit, children connect with their incarcerated loved ones through a live video feed between the Leon County Main Library and the Leon County Detention Facility, allowing them to talk, read, and share stories together. This program is the first-of-its-kind partnership between a library and detention facility in the Southeast.

Learn more about the program here.

Digital Resources at Your Fingertips!

Begin your job search and skill building with EBSCO's LearningExpress Job and Career Accelerator and Peterson's Career Prep Courses, search local jobs and build your resume with TalentHub, or connect with CareerSource Capital Region's one-on-one career advising service!

Choose from more than 500 courses listed on our Career and Business Development website, including career certification exam practice tests through LearningExpress and Universal Class.

Visit our Career and Business Development page to get started!

All Ages Events

Sugar and spice and all things nice are in store for the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library's 3rd annual Gingerbread House Competition!

This year, the library is offering a variety of ways for patrons to participate, including an in-person gingerbread house competition and exhibition, a virtual gingerbread fan art competition, a virtual gingerbread house competition, and grab-and-go gingerbread-themed STEAM youth activity bags. Prizes will be offered for participants in the contests.

For more information, dates, and rules, visit our website.

Adult Services

Talk about your favorite books and read new ones in one of our many book clubs. Pop-Up Book Club, Mystery Book Club, History Book Club, Bucket List Book Club, Fiction/Non-Fiction Book Club and Young (Adult) at Heart Book Club read a variety of works paired with engaging discussions.

**Some of our book clubs have moved to in-person meetings at their respective Branch Library locations. 

For times, dates and more information, visit our calendar. 

Children and Teens

Each Library location now offers an in-person Story Time!  

Virtual Sensory StoryTime will continue to be held via Zoom on Fridays at 11:30 a.m.
Virtual Preschool StoryTime with Ms.Lauren will continue to be held via Zoom on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

See our full schedule and locations here.

Does your K-8th grade student need help working on a tough homework assignment or have questions about a lesson?

Homework Hub is a free program pairing students with tutors in a one-on-one environment. Our volunteer tutors are ready to help your student with math, English, social studies and science!

Tutoring sessions are held in-person and virtually through Zoom. 

To sign up or learn more, visit our website. To become a volunteer tutor, visit VolunteerLeon.

Family Literacy Stay and Make Children's Craft Event
November 6
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
In-Person at All Library Locations

To celebrate National Family Literacy Month, children and their families are invited to visit their local Leon County Public Library location on Saturday, November 6, from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. to make crafts and do activities together.

Complete the "Library Bingo" card and be entered to win a prize! Not able to make the event? Library Bingo cards will be available at all library locations through November.

Andy's Room Life-Size Toy Box
For children and adults of all ages
In-Person at Library Locations Below

Experience the magic of being inside a life-sized Andy's Room this December!

Play and learn from our fun STEAM activities, including: making a potato light up and creating your own Forky! There will be photo ops and more.

Leon County Main Library
December 4 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Eastside Branch Library
December 11 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Northeast Branch Library
December 18 from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Jane G. Sauls Fort Braden Branch Library
December 28 and 29 all day

Dr. B.L. Perry, Jr. Branch Library
December 29 and 30 all day

Lake Jackson Branch Library
January 8 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Science Nights with The MagLab

The Science Night 2021-2022 season will bring hands-on science and exploration right to your home through Zoom!

Join us for fun and family-friendly Science Night once a month at 6:30 p.m. from September through April. We’ll be LIVE on Zoom exploring different scientific concepts each month with interactive Q&A sessions and hands-on activities using household items.

• November 18: Molecular Gastronomy
• January 20: Mighty MagLab Magnets
• February 17: Atoms R Us
• March 24: Rocking Ancient Climate Change
• April 21: Fun Experiments with Vacuums

Join the Zoom webinar here.

Bedtime Math's Crazy 8s Club
For Grades 1-3
Every Saturday from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. through November 13
In-Person at the Eastside Branch Library

Join Bedtime Math's Crazy 8s Club, where you'll build stuff, run and jump, make music, make a mess - it's a totally new kind of math club! You'll get to take home some cool gadgets, too. 

All events are free and sponsored by the Bedtime Math Foundation.

• November 6: Bouncy Dice Explosion: Your big chance to throw things because you're supposed to. 
• November 13: Pirate Treasure Hunt: Map out coordinates to create a secret picture. Use your skills to find the treasure before the pirates do!

First Friday Fun with 4-H
For ages 5-18
First Friday of every month at 4:00 p.m. through Zoom

Explore different topics every month with the UF/IFAS Extension 4-H Club!

• November 5: Cooking
• December 3: Mindfulness
• January 7: Books
• February 4: Horticulture
• March 4: Music
• April 1: Poetry

Register here for the Zoom link. 

Virtual LEGO Club

Take on a new LEGO challenge each month! Monthly challenges can be found by visiting our website. 

Submit a photo of your design, and we'll add it to our online gallery. 

View new LEGO creations made by our young patrons each month in our virtual gallery. 

The Tween Scene
First Thursday of every month from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
In-Person at the Dr. B.L. Perry, Jr. Branch Library

The Tween Scene invites students in grades 4-6 to meet together and have fun.

Check out these exciting programs designed especially for you!

• January 6: Starry Night w/Telescope
• February 3: Dance off
• March 3: Lit Lit 
• April 7: Poetry Night
• May 5: Science Night

For more information, visit our website. 

Teen Advisory Board
First and third Thursday of every month at 4:00 p.m.
In-Person at the Leon County Main Library

The Teen Advisory Board is an opportunity for teens to have a voice in the development of teen programs at the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library.

While earning volunteer service hours, members will plan and implement programming as a group, as well as market programs to local teens.

For more information, visit our website. 

Hybrid Teen Book Club
First Saturday of every month at 2:30 p.m.
In-person at the Lake Jackson Branch Library and via Zoom

• November 6: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
• December 4: King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Register here for the Zoom link. 

You will only need to register once for all future Teen Book Club meetings. An email with the Zoom link will be sent automatically. 

Free Masks Available at All Leon County Public Libraries The County is continuing to offer reusable cloth face masks at all LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library locations during regular hours. Citizens can pick up masks inside of the Library or request curbside pickup upon arrival. For hours and locations, visit our website.

• Did You Know...?
• Digital Resources at Your Fingertips!
• All Ages Events
• Adult Services
• Children and Teens

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