UCPL observing National Book Month in October

UCPL observing National Book Month in October Celebrate National Book Month by entering our annual Pumpkin Painting Contest. Starting Monday, Oct. 19, you can pick up a pumpkin (while supplies last) at the library to paint , with pickup week running through Saturday, Oct. 24. Return your book-themed painted pumpkin by Monday, Oct. 26, to be entered into the contest. Voting will be held in person and online Oct. 27-30, and winners will be announced on Oct. 31. We can't wait to see what you create! Here's what's happening at the library this week: Adult Storytime for Friends with Special Needs Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 10:30 a.m.Join us for a welcoming storytime designed especially for adult friends with special needs, featuring stories, songs and plenty of fun for all who attend. Tech Help Drop-InThursday, Oct. 15, from 2 to 3 p.m.Need assistance with your phone, tablet, laptop or another device? Stop by during our weekly Tech Help Drop-In for one-on-one assistance with basic technology questions. No appointment is necessary. We are unable to assist with password recovery or troubleshoot broken devices. Adult Crochet PumpkinsFriday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m.Join us for a cozy afternoon of crocheting your own pumpkin to take home. Registration is required, so call (423) 743-6533 to sign up. Basement Book Sale Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Browse gently used books, DVDs, puzzles and more during our monthly basement book sale. Every purchase directly supports the library. Tiny Tales Lap-Sit Storytime Monday, Oct. 19, at 9:45 a.m.Designed for babies and toddlers ages birth to 18 months, Tiny Tales features stories, songs and movement activities that encourage early literacy and caregiver-child bonding. Kids' Crochet ClassMonday, Oct. 19, at 3:30 p.m. Young crafters are invited to continue building their crochet skills in this fun, hands-on class. Registration is required, and beginners are welcome. The Graphic Guild Monday, Oct. 19, at 4:30 p.m.Our graphic novel club for middle grade readers meets for another month of reading, art and conversation. New members are always welcome. Music Storytime Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 10:30 a.m.Little ones will enjoy a story time full of songs, rhythm and movement as we explore the joy of music together. Teen Yarn Garlands Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 4 p.m.Teens are invited to get creative and craft their own colorful yarn garlands during this fun afternoon activity. Upcoming Book Club SelectionsCozy Book Club: (TBD) BYO Book Club: (Oct. 21 at 4 p.m.) Read a book with a cozy fall feel that fits with the theme of "Fall Vibes." Come discuss your read with the group. Bring a snack to share or just yourself.Cookbook Club: (Nov. 21 at 11 a.m.) Bring your own recipe month. Bring a dish from any cookbook to share with the group.Graphic Guild- Kids' Graphic Novel Club: (Oct. 19 at 4:30 p.m.) The title is "Lightfall: Shadow of the Bird" by Tim Probert. Weekly Book Recommendation"The Unknown" by Riley Sager tackles a mystery. In 1926, five women disappeared from a remote island in Vermont. Now, 100 years later, it's happening again. Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. She's even more surprised when she learns that the role requires a weeklong research trip to that very spot. Because New Avalon isn't your ordinary island. A century ago, it was a commune for spiritual mediums—until they all vanished in 1926. The only trace of them was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree in the middle of the island, one for each missing woman. Some locals say they simply left. Others think they were murdered. But the prevailing opinion, thanks to a diary left behind by one of the vanished, a young woman named Daisy Rue, is that a séance gone wrong conjured something supernatural that took them all one by one. Not long after arriving, Marin and her castmates, including legendary actress Violet Wright and white-hot director Ronan Peters, begin to realize all is not right with New Avalon. They hear strange noises in the night and notice mysterious symbols left behind by the island's previous occupants. And after a sudden health emergency leaves Marin, Ronan and the other actors stranded on the island, the disappearances begin again. Is it the work of someone trying to derail the movie? Or is the island's alleged supernatural past catching up with the present? As fear and suspicion mount, Marin turns to Daisy's diary, hoping it holds the key to figuring out what really happened to the women of New Avalon — and how to keep the island's terrible history from repeating itself, according to information from the publisher. We hope to see you at the library soon. For more information on any of these programs, stop by the library or give us a call at (423) 743-6533.•••Morgan Olson is the director of the Unicoi County Public Library.