November brings cooler weather, color-changing leaves, and exciting programs at your library! We’ve highlighted a few of our favorites below, but be sure to check out the Library Events Calendar for the full schedule of events for all ages this month.
Goleta Valley Library
Writers’ Workshop: “Speaking of Characters: Dialogue as Action”
Saturday, November 5th, 12:30 p.m.
This month, the Writers’ Workshop will discuss some fundamentals (along with some finer points) of writing compelling dialogue. The Writers’ Workshop is open to adults and teens who write in any genre, fiction or non-fiction. The workshop meets on the first Saturday of each month to share work, exchange feedback, offer mutual support and discuss the tools of the trade.
Pumpkin Centerpiece Workshop
Wednesday, November 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.
Mystery Book Club: “The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro”
Tuesday, November 22nd, 5:30 p.m.
Almost twenty-five years after the infamous art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum—still the largest unsolved art theft in history—one of the stolen Degas paintings is delivered to the Boston studio of a young artist. Claire Roth has entered into a Faustian bargain with a powerful gallery owner by agreeing to forge the Degas in exchange for a one-woman show in his renowned gallery. But as she begins her work, she starts to suspect that this long-missing masterpiece—the very one that had been hanging at the Gardner for one hundred years—may itself be a forgery. The Art Forger is a thrilling novel about seeing—and not seeing—the secrets that lie beneath the canvas.
Goodland Yarn Works
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
This wonderful group meets every month at Goleta Valley Library to knit and crochet items for local and national charities. This group is for people that enjoy knitting, crocheting, socializing and catching up on the latest stitches! Feel free to stop by the Goleta Valley Library and see what it is all about! Upcoming meetings will be on Wednesdays November 23rd, December 7th, December 14th, and December 21st.
Coming Soon: Senior Happy Hour
First Thursday of the month starting December 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!
Live Poetry Series
Sunday, December 11th, 2:00 p.m.; Submission deadline: November 19th, 2022
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.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Year-round
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is an early literacy program popular at libraries across the country. It encourages parents and caregivers to read to their children, which helps prepare them for school readiness and lifelong success by building a strong foundation for later reading and writing.
At the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries, the program is open to all families whose children are below kindergarten age. To get started, stop by the library to pick up your first reading log. As you read to your child, mark off a circle for each book you read. You can mark off a circle for each time you read the same book, too, as repetition is an important part of learning to read. When you’re finished, you and your child can bring the completed log back to the library to receive a prize and your next reading log! Once you have completed all ten logs and read 1,000 books, you will receive a free book to keep and we will contact you with an invitation to our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten graduation party.
Buellton Library
Buellton Bookworms Book Club
Friday, November 18th, 1:00 p.m.
Hosted in the Council Chambers inside the Buellton Library. Come and join the conversation and meet new friends. Join in the conversation in the library council chambers. The book chosen for November is Radium Girls: The Dark Story of American’s Shining Women by Kate Moore. Copies of the book are available at the library and able to requested to be put on hold at gvl.blackgold.org. 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.
Solvang Library
LIVE ONLINE: Solvang Library’s Book Club for Kids
Wednesday, November 16th, 4:30 p.m.
For readers 8-11 years old. Join us to explore some great new books! The November title is Coyote Tales by Thomas King. These two trickster tales from award-winning First Nations author Thomas King are set “a long time ago” “before humans and animals stopped talking to each other” and are full of cheeky humor and master storytelling. Please register to receive the link for the online meetings – the first 10 readers to register receive a free copy of the book!
All About Opossums: a Talk with Dawn Summerlin
Thursday, November 17th, 4:00 p.m.
Dawn 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.
Dashing Through Dementia with Lauren Mahakian
Wednesday, November 30th, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Join us for a timely presentation on How to Enjoy the Holidays with your Memory Impaired Loved One. The event will be held both in person and livestreamed via Zoom. Please register to attend in either manner.
Lauren Mahakian is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and an Elder Care Specialist, and is the founder of Family Connect Memory Care.
We hope to see you this month at the library! For full programs details, visit our website at www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org and sign up for the monthly Library Corner Newsletter to stay in-the-know on all things library.