A Note from Library Director Allison Gray: 

Welcome to the November issue of the Reading Corner! November is a month where people take time to reflect on giving thanks for the good things in their lives. We wanted to thank some of the organizations that have done so much for our libraries:

-UCSB Arts & Lectures for generously donating multiple copies of books from amazing speakers which we use to create Book Club Kits in a Bag.

-Las Aletas who run our Homebound Program for seniors, Operation Bookshelf, and their annual donation of $5,000 to support the purchase of Large Print books.

-Directors of the Black Gold Cooperative Library System who work cooperatively to ensure a high level of service, pool money, share programming ideas and computer systems, and for all our patrons. Thank you to the Santa Paula, Carpinteria, Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Paso Robles Libraries

-Friends of the Goleta Valley Library, The Friends of the Buellton Library, and The Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley for their year-round support of our community programs including our Jedi Party, Stuffed Animal Sleepover, Trick-or-Treat at the Library; Book Clubs for Kids; and our Summer Reading Program.

There are many more organizations I could mention and will do so in future newsletters.  In the meantime, I just want to express my gratitude to all of the folks who help the library be a better place.

As a reminder regarding Holiday closures the Goleta Valley, Buellton, Solvang libraries, and the Isla Vista Bookvan will be closed on Friday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day, and on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Stay Connected
Love to post, tweet, or scroll through great community events? We're on 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Keep up to date on our fun programs, new materials, free resources, and more! Visit www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org for the latest information.

-Goleta Valley Library: Facebook: Facebook.com/GoletaValleyLibrary and Instagram: Instagram.com/goletavalleylibrary

-Solvang Library: Facebook: Facebook.com/SolvangLibrary and Instagram: Instagram.com/solvanglibrary

-Buellton Library: Facebook: Facebook.com/BuelltonLibraries and Instagram: Instagram.com/buelltonlibrary

B. Allison Gray
Library Director

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Did you read the Washington Post article about our Stuffed Animal Sleepover program this summer? Were you at the Star Wars Jedi Party in October? Or maybe you dressed up as your favorite Harry Potter character for this past weekend's Harry Potter Stuffed Animal Sleepover? These programs and countless others would not be possible without Ms. Linda Hori's incredible passion and dedication to the Goleta community. Linda has been providing lively family-friendly programming for many years, from craft kits to large events she has done it all. Her fun programs are perfect for visitors of all ages and keep the love of literacy vibrant in Goleta.

Hosting friends and family for the holidays? Don't worry! Check out these great collections below to help make your Holiday dinner one to remember:

Cooking 
Whether you're cooking for two or prepping for 20, our collection of Thanksgiving-themed cook books will help you tackle any culinary challenge like a master chef.

Thanksgiving Day Movies & TV Shows
Explore our vast DVD and streaming collection and enjoy some classic football with Charlie Brown, watch your favorite holiday-themed sitcom episodes on repeat, or find out why Plains, Trains, and Automobiles is a must-watch.

Thanksgiving Day Activities
Keep the kids busy with these fun Thanksgiving crafts. Kids (and their parents) will thank you for keeping them occupied. 

The Force draws more than 1,400 visitors to the library’s family- friendly Jedi Party for Star Wars Reads Month

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is an early literacy program popular at libraries across the country. 

You can now check out Book Club Kits and Binge Bags with your library card? 10 books are included in each bag!

Pumpkin Centerpiece Workshop

Wed, Nov 9th, 3:00 p.m.
Bring a pumpkin and some succulents to share and trade, for this fun and easy free crafting event. This popular craft workshop will help you create a lovely living holiday centerpiece, that will last all season!

Sign up at the library or call (805) 964-7878.

Live Poetry Series

Submission deadline: Sat, Nov 19
Event Date: Sun, Dec 11, 2:00 p.m.
Goleta Valley Library invites local poets to join the featured readers at our first semi-annual Live Poetry Series, hosted by former Santa Barbara Poet Laureate David Starkey. Our first reading will feature former Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Chryss Yost and local poet George Yatchisin. Poets are encouraged to submit three poems, up to two pages long, to be considered for the event. Full submission guidelines can be found here.

Mystery Book Club: “The Art Forger" by B.A. Shapiro

Tues, Nov 22nd, 5:30 p.m.
The Art Forger is a thrilling novel about seeing—and not seeing—the secrets that lie beneath the canvas.

Tech Tutoring

Tuesday: 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Friday: 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Saturday:
10:00a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Coming Soon! - Senior Happy Hour

First Thursday of the month
starting Dec 1st, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Just in time for the holidays! Join us at Goleta Valley Library to make fun and easy holiday gift tags. You don't have to be crafty to make this useful and beautiful paper craft. Stop by and join the fun! Upcoming Happy Hours will be held December 1st, January 5th, and February 2nd. See you there!

Family Folklore Cookbook

All November
Food brings us together, and whether you're gathering with relations or found family, there are always those recipes that connect us deeply to the past and the people around us. The Buellton Library's Family Folklore Cookbook is a blank book organized so you can write down three of these important recipes, with space for ingredients, steps, and the lore surrounding the food. All ages are invited to fill out their own custom cookbook, which will be available throughout the month of November at the front desk.

All About Opossums: A Talk with Dawn Summerlin

Thurs, Nov 17th, 4:00 p.m.
Summerlin is known locally as the "Possum Lady" as she has been rescuing and releasing baby Opossums for the past 21 years. Join her to learn all about these fascinating marsupials, and get to meet a baby opossum as well!

Dawn and her husband Jim volunteer their time and fund all expenses for their rescue and release operation except veterinary care which is funded by the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. 

Dawn encourages contributions to the Network and is always in need of bedding materials like old sweatshirts, t-shirts, pillow cases, sheets, and newspapers.

Sponsored by Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society