The Kewanee Public Library is kicking off the cooler fall months with plenty of indoor activities to choose from. The events include the annual art show, the Adult Book Club, Jigsaw Puzzle Races, storytellers, recipe roundups and more. Here is the list of October activities:

Kewanee Public Library’s Annual Art Show is back. – Sept. 27 through Oct. 3

From Sept. 18 through the 22, the library accepted artwork from artists throughout the Kewanee area. And now it’s time to open the show. Judging will occur on Sept. 25, with the announcing of the winners opening night, Sept. 27 at 6 pm. Once the show has opened, it will run through Oct. 3. Patrons can stop in during regular open hours to walk through and view all of the artwork. Don’t forget the sign-in sheet when you visit. For younger emerging artists, check out the Youth Services Programming for details on their coinciding Art Exhibition.

Adult Book Club – Monday, Oct. 16 at 2 and 6 pm

Our next meeting date of our Adult Book Club is Oct. 16 where the group will be discussing Inheritance by Dani Shapiro. As always, two meetings are held, one at 2 pm and another at 6 pm. Participants are invited to attend whichever time works the best. Those attending the evening time are asked to enter the building through the elevator entrance located on the north side of the building on First Street. Not comfortable coming in to pick up a copy? We continue to offer curbside pick-up; simply call ahead to let us know when you would like to pick up.

Property Taxes and You – Oct. 17 at 10:30 am

Think you might qualify for a property tax exemption? Stop in for the Property Taxes and You program, Oct. 17 at 10:30 am. Tracey Vinavich, Chief County Assessor, and Kelly Vincent, Henry County Treasurer will discuss the various exemptions available.

Jigsaw Puzzle Race – Oct. 24 at 4 pm

Do you have what it takes to win a Jigsaw Puzzle Race? Grab a group of your friends and find out Oct. 24 at 4 pm. Don’t forget to register to make sure to receive a puzzle.

Steamboatin’ Down the Mississippi with Mark Twain

In November, keep an eye out for Steamboatin’ Down the Mississippi with Mark Twain. Brian “Fox” Ellis will be here to step into the shoes of Captain Henry Detweiler, a friend of Abraham Lincoln and a steamboat captain for 30 years in the mid-1800’s, to talk about Twain’s craft, his life as a writer, and his boyhood in Hannibal, Missouri. Check back later for more details.

Young Adult Programming – In-House and Grab ‘n Go

For the Young Adult crowd, with hectic schedules, the library is offering in-house programming throughout the week of Oct. 23, as well as a grab ‘n go craft to take home and make whenever they have time. Stop on Oct. 23 , 24, 26, and 27 between 3 pm and 6 pm to take part in the Pumpkin Magnets craft or anytime throughout October for our Pumpkin Tea Lights Grab ‘n Go.

Recipe Round-Up – Second Tuesday at Noon

Don’t forget about Recipe Round-Up! If you’ve never been a part of Recipe Round-Up, don’t panic; it’s simple to join. All that’s required is to find a recipe matching the theme of the month. Cook it, and bring it, along with copies of your recipe, to share to the group, which meets on the second Tuesday of each month at noon.

Creativity at the Carnegie

Do you enjoy knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross stitch or quilting? Come and join us at the Kewanee Public Library in the Community Room on the second Tuesday of each month from 4 pm to 6 pm. This is an adult group sponsored by the Friends of the Kewanee Public Library for those who would like to enjoy the comradery of others while creating their own fiber projects. The next meeting will be Oct. 10. For more information, contact the library at 852-4505.

Youth Programming

Do you have an emerging artist who is too young to participate in the Annual Art Show? We will be hosting an art exhibition for Preschool through 6th graders in the Youth Room, and we even provide the supplies. Children will have a choice of small art canvases or clay to create their art projects. Stop in to pick-up a kit today. Then, bring in your completed artwork for us to exhibit.

We will once again be hosting our Annual Storybook Pumpkin Display. Starting two weeks before Halloween, families are invited to decorate a pumpkin as their favorite book character for us to display through the holiday. (Please note: as the pumpkins will be on display in a heated environment, we do ask that you do not bring in carved pumpkins.)

And don’t forget one of our favorite times of the year: our Halloween Open House! Stop in, in-costume, to trick or treat through the library. There will also be special Halloween-themed Grab ‘N Go kits for you to take home with you.

The library also wishes to thank everyone who attended the weekly Story Time. Story time helps develop children’s brains, enhances their ability to focus, and raises their social and communication skills. So, we are happy to see that ours have become so popular that we had to break it into two age groups. On Tuesdays at 10:30 am, caregivers of children from newborns to two-years-old, can stop in to take part in our Baby & Toddler Time. We will be singing songs, learning action rhymes and reading short stories. Stick around afterward to explore our playroom.

Later, at 11:30 am, on Tuesdays, caregivers of children aged 2 to 4-years-old, can stop in to take part in our Preschool Story Time. Once again, we will be singing songs, learning rhymes, reading stories and playing games. Stick around afterward to spend time with our sensory toy collection.

If you’re a fan of our monthly Drop-In crafts or our monthly Grab ‘N Go’s, don’t worry we have you covered. Throughout the Fall, stop in and see what the Kewanee Public Library has to offer.

For more information on any of the programs or services, phone (309) 852-4505 or email questions to reference@kewaneelibrary.org. Visit the website at www.kewaneelibrary.org.