This October, the Huron Public Library is participating in the Young Adult Library Services Association’s (YALSA) annual TeenTober celebration. Developed by YALSA, this month-long event strives to raise awareness of the importance of year-round teen services.

It also connects teens with services and materials provided by their local library that will help them develop new skills and fuel their passions. TeenTober merges YALSA’s successful and long-standing Teen Tech Week™ and Teen Read Week™ into one program to celebrate teen services and enhance relationships with community partners. The following schedule of events will provide opportunities for teens to explore what the library has to offer.

• Week 1: Saturday, Oct. 9, 6:45 p.m. is the annual Zombie Walk. The walk will be followed by the Zombies presenting a dance in Campbell Park and a party which will include a Zombie Walking Taco buffet, and a candy scavenger hunt. Participants will meet at the library at 6:45 p.m. to get organized, with the walk starting at 7 p.m. Zombies will amble along Dakota Avenue from Fifth Avenue to Seventh Avenue. The walk is open to everyone who feels like a Zombie.

Children third grade and younger must be accompanied by an adult and spectators are welcome. The Zombie dance, party, and candy scavenger hunt are only open to children from fourth-12th grade. Honk if you see the Zombies and stop by Campbell Park to watch the dance and see the scarecrows!    

• Week 2: Saturday, Oct. 16, 1-3 p.m., Spooky Spell Book Craft. Join Reference Librarian Jennifer Littlefield in painting and decorating a plain wooden box transforming it into a spooky spell book with a secret drawer to hold all of your Halloween spells. Registration required.

• Week 3: Wednesday, Oct. 20, 3:45-5 p.m. is Chess Basics. Have you always wanted to learn chess? This is your chance! Teens will be available to demonstrate the basic moves of the game. This is open to everyone. Please remember children 11 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

• Week 4: Saturday, Oct. 30, 1-2 p.m. is a Haunted Gingerbread House Competition. Open to four teams of youth grades four through 12th, this program will challenge the creativity of young minds.

Each team will receive a gingerbread house kit. From items supplied by the library, and items brought from home, each team will compete to create the spookiest house. Houses will be posted on the HPL Tween/Teen Facebook page for public vote. Winners will be announced Friday, Nov. 5.

Teens can always visit the library any time to relax and enjoy activities such as jigsaw puzzles, Grab & Go crafts, board games, video gaming, and Lego building.

“We are ecstatic to bring this type of programming to our teens in the Huron community,” said Mary Olson. “We are committed to providing materials and services to our teens, help them learn new skills, discover interests, and fuel their passions.”

For a full list of activities, and more information about the TeenTober celebration at Huron Public Library, follow us on Facebook HPL Tween/Teen Scene or visit library.huronsd.com. To learn more about YALSA and the TeenTober national initiative visit www.ala.org/yalsa/teentober .

Kids’ Korner
Kids’ Korner invites third graders and under to attend a variety of monthly programs which include Lego Club, Pokémon Club, Elementary Explorers, Read & Play, and Baby Jiggles!

The first Early Release Lalapalooza is Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 1:45 p.m. A waiver is required for all children to attend. Parents and caregivers are asked to contact Children’s Librarian Glenda Maxted for more information.  Kids’ Korner will be celebrating National Cookie Month on Oct. 15. Beginning at 3:30 p.m., kids can decorate their own cookie! They are inviting all Halloween Trick o’ Treaters to stop by the library on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a treat!

Adult activities for October
• Oct. 4 – Dec. 3 —“At Home & Abroad: South Dakota in World War II,” a traveling exhibit from the South Dakota State Historical Society will be on display at the library. It documents the state’s experiences overseas and on the home front during WWII. The exhibition features photographs and artifacts from the State Archives and the museum collection to tell the story of South Dakotans during the war.

• Oct. 4 at 9:30 a.m. — Monday Morning Movies will be showing the movie “The Philadelphia Story” (1940). Donuts and coffee will be provided for attendees.

• Oct. 18 at 2 and 6 p.m. — Adult crafts will be held at the library. Participants will be making safety pin bracelets. Registration is required.

• Oct. 18-23 — Huron Community Swap: Yarn, Knit & Crochet items. Drop off clean knitting, crocheting, or tatting supplies (yarn, thread, hooks, needles, books, patterns, etc.) at the library. Then, come back on Monday to select “new-to-you” items.

• Oct. 25 — Huron Community Swap Selection Day! Patrons who brought knit and crochet items the previous week can stop in from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. to pick out “new-to-you” items. Swap items will be available to purchase for all patrons from 5 to 7 p.m. Fill a bag with yarn for $5. Individual items will be sold for $1.

• Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Local Author Showcase. Come hear the creative accomplishments of writers in the Huron and Beadle County region. This event highlights the diverse and abundant talent we have locally. Authors will have 30 minutes to speak and discuss their books. Books will be available to purchase. Featured authors include Sallianne Hines, Judy DeJean, Mark Smith, Jim Schmidt, Shirley Apley and Heidi Herman. This event will available via ZOOM or in person. Please contact the library or see the library’s online calendar for the Zoom link.  

Adult book clubs for October are as follows:
• Mystery book club will meet Thursday, Oct. 14, at 5:30 p.m. and the Senior Center book club will meet on Friday, Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m. Both book clubs will be reading “Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty.

• History book club will meet Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. They will be reading “The Aviator’s Wife” by Melanie Benjamin.

For more information about this service stop by the Huron Public Library or phone 353-8530.  You may visit the library’s webpage library.huronsd.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram.