November Events at the Library

Guys & Dolls Vocal Group Brings Doo-Wop to Library’s Senior Social Hour

Guys & Dolls, a vocal performance trio, brings doo-wop to the Nicholson Memorial Library System’s Senior Social Hour. The group appears at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Central Library, 625 Austin St., in Downtown Garland.

The Guys & Dolls trio performs both a cappella and with recorded accompaniment. They specialize in standards of the 1950s and 60s, focusing on doo-wop for this performance. Members of the group include Bruce Smith, Gary Applegate, and Ann Grannan. The group previously appeared at Senior Social Hour in 2010 and 2013.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, Senior Social Hour programs are free and open to anyone 55 years of age and older. Donations of gently used books and media for the Friends of the Library book sale will be accepted during the program. No registration is required to attend the event, but seats do fill up quickly. Doors open 30 minutes prior to performance.

Tweens Learn about Natural Disasters at Garland Libraries

Tweens interested in natural disasters and building will enjoy the Nicholson Memorial Library System’s Tween Scene events in November.

Tween Scene is a program series designed for youth ages 10 through 13, which consists of activities related to fun and interesting themes. Participants also receive book recommendations based on each theme. The program takes place twice a month at various library locations on Thursday afternoons and evenings.

Attendees at the November Tween Scene events will discover books about natural disasters and then learn about rebuilding by making their own building block creations. The first Tween Scene takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, at the South Garland Branch Library, with the second occurring at 4 p.m. on Nov. 13, at the North Garland Branch Library.

Garland Libraries Celebrate International Games Day

The Nicholson Memorial Library System joins other libraries across the world in celebrating International Games Day from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the South Garland Branch Library.

In today’s multi-media world, libraries are much more than books. Libraries embrace sources of learning and entertainment in all formats, including computers and games. Gaming at the library helps patrons of all ages learn about strategy and teamwork while interacting with diverse groups of people and having fun.

Participants at the library’s International Games Day event may choose from different video game systems, such as Wii and Kinect, in addition to various card and board games.

This free event is open to game enthusiasts of all ages. Registration is not required.

Library’s Book Discussion Group Discusses Winter Garden

The Page Turners, the Library’s book discussion group, will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Central Library, 625 Austin St., in Downtown Garland.

The group will discuss Winter Garden, by Kristin Hannah. Sisters Nina and Meredith Whitson reunite with their parents and each other when their father falls ill. Although they love their dad, the sisters find their mother Anya still as cold and disapproving as she was throughout their childhoods. On his deathbed, Mr. Whitson makes one final request—that Anya recount a Russian fairy tale she told the girls when they were young. Though Nina and Meredith believe this legend represents the only human connection their mother ever made with them, they soon discover that it is actually much more than a story.

All interested readers are invited to join the discussion, or just come to listen.

Kids Travel Through Time at Garland Library’s Books and Beyond

Children ages 6 through 12 can experience different time periods at the Nicholson Memorial Library System’s Books and Beyond. The event takes place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Central Library.

Books and Beyond consists of book discussions and activities related to monthly themes. Children use their imaginations to explore those themes and complete activities, all while socializing with others their age and having fun.

At the November program, attendees will learn about different time periods, such as the Prehistoric Period, the Classical Age in Greece, the Middle Ages, and the American Colonial Period. Participants will then make crafts related to each time period including cave paintings, Greek sandals, catapults, and silhouettes.

No registration is required to attend this free event. Children must be aged 6 through 12 to attend.