Spooky Reasons to Book It to the Library in October

October and Halloween is one of the BEST times to visit your branch of the Huntsville Madison County Public Library! There’s no shortage to quality community programs they host for kids and families. We like to list them here every month, but you can see all of their other events on the HMCPL website.

Take a look at these great kid’s events happening at select branches of HMCPL! Special events are listed first, with weekly storytimes listed at the bottom.

NOTE: All branches of the Library will be closed Monday, Oct. 17 for staff development. Don’t show up for story hour that day!

Special Library Events in October

Fall Break Escape All Week Long
Branch: Russell Branch Library
Date & Time: October 3-7 at 2:00 PM
Info: Scavenger hunts, cookie decorating, movies, and more! The BKR Branch is hosting tons of fun for Fall Break!

Home School Connections – Science of Fall
Branch: Monrovia Library
Date: Tuesday, October 4 @ 1:00 PM
Info: Students from kindergarten to fourth grade learn library skills through interactive games and more covering a wide variety of topics. For more information contact Mandee Farley at 256-489-3392 or email her at [email protected].

Teen Night
Branch: Monrovia Library
Date: Friday, October 7 @ 6 PM
Info: Teens 12-16 enjoy games, food and fun at our quarterly teen night! For more information contact Mandee Farley at 256-489-3392 or email her at [email protected]

Wii Gaming
Branch: Gurley Library
Date: Friday, October 7 at 3:00 PM
Info: Wii gaming on our big screen. Bring a friend and compete.

Founder’s Day
Branch: Elizabeth Carpenter Public Library of New Hope
Date: Saturday, October 8th ALL DAY
Info: The public library will be open for Founder’s Day in downtown New Hope. We will have a bake sale and book sale, so please stop by and get yourself some baked goods and books!

Young Writers Group
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2016 2:00 PM
Bailey Cove Public Library
Description: Join us as we learn new techniques for your writing and explore different genres. This group is intended for participants interested in writing that are ages 9-18.

Board Game Night – Monopoly
Branch: Monrovia Library
Date: Tuesday, October 11 @ 5:30 PM
Info: Teens 12 and up through adults enjoy board games at the library. For more information contact Kat Carroll at 256-489-3392 or email [email protected].

LEGO® Club
Branch: Madison Library
Date: Thursday, Oct. 13 at 6 PM*
Info: Join us for a special SPOOKY LEGO club! Note the date change. No RSVP but supplies may run out! (grades K-5)

Movie Afternoon
Branch: Gurley Library
Date: Thursday, October 13 at 4:00 PM
Info: Watch a movie on our big screen. The October movie is “The Jungle Book”.

Night Owls Family Fun Night
Date: October 14, 2016 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Branch: Bailey Cove Public Library
Info: Join us at the library for a very special fall evening event. Maximus, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, of Rise Raptors will be our special guest for the evening. In addition, there will be fun family games, a wacky science center, owl crafts, and light snacks.

Family Movie Night – Ratchet & Clank
Branch: Monrovia Library
Date: Friday, October 14 @ 6 PM
Info: Free family entertainment at the library! Water and popcorn available for 25 cents each. For more information contact Cindy Hewitt at 256-489-3392 or email [email protected].

LEGO Club
Branch: Monrovia Library
Date: Saturday, October 15 @ 1:00 PM
Info: Children from 8-12 years old create Lego creations on different themes. Limit of 20 children for this event. Cost is $2 and payable at registration. For more information contact Cindy Hewitt at 256-489-3392 or email [email protected].

GTC-Gurley Teen Club
Branch: Gurley Library
Date: Tuesday, October 18 at 4:15 PM
Info: Round table teen books, movies, and music. Bring a friend for crafting, food, and conversation. Call Tina Wright for more info at 256-776-2102.

Anime Club
Branch: Gurley Library
Date: Tuesday, October 18 from 5:30-6:30 PM
Info: Round table talk sharing favorite anime and manga. Watch anime, draw, or create your own character. Japanese inspired snacks will be served.

GTC-Gurley Teen Club
Branch: Gurley Library
Date: Tuesday, October 18 at 4:15 PM
Info: Round table teen books, movies, and music. Bring a friend for crafting, food, and conversation. Call Tina Wright for more info at 256-776-2102.

Anime Club
Branch: Gurley Library
Date: Tuesday, October 18 from 5:30-6:30 PM
Info: Round table talk sharing favorite anime and manga. Watch anime, draw, or create your own character. Japanese inspired snacks will be served.

Booktopia Book Club
Branch: Madison Library
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 4 PM
Info: Join our middle grades book club on the third Wednesday each month. This month we’ll read “Doll Bones” by Holly Black. (grades 5-8)

Wild Things Puppet Show
October 19 and 20, 2016 9:15 and 10:30 AM
Bailey Cove Public Library
It’s time for the Wild Things Puppet Show! This show features one of our favorite books-Where the Wild Things Are written by Maurice Sendak and other family friendly books for the season. There will be plenty of music, movement, rhyme, and a craft.

Monrovia Masterminds Science Club – Animal Night Vision
Branch: Monrovia Library
Date: Thursday, October 20 @ 4:00 PM
Info: Students in 2nd through 5th grades learn about science through hands-on science projects and more. For more information contact Kat Carroll at 256-489-3392 or email [email protected].

Family Movie Night
Branch: Elizabeth Carpenter Public Library of New Hope
Date: Saturday, October 22nd at 4:00 PM
Info: This month’s movie is The Jungle Book. Popcorn and drink provided. Admission is FREE.

Rocket City NerdCon
Branch: Huntsville Downtown
Date: October 22-23
Info: Rocket City NerdCon is a celebration of all things nerdy…if your fanaticism for pop culture, comic books, movies, tv, books, games, collectibles, crafting, cosplay, LARPing, etc. borders on obsessively nerdy, this is the place for you! Come meet other people who geek out over similar subjects, and let your inner nerd flag fly. More Info.

Homeschool Jam
Branch: Gurley Library
Date: Monday, October 24 at 10:00 AM
Info: Multi-age lessons on qualifications of a President of the United States and the election process. Call Alisa Watson for more information at 256-776-2102.

Halloween Party
Branch: Monrovia Library
Date: Tuesday, October 25 @ 6-7 PM
Info: Children of all ages enjoy crafts, games, treats and more at our annual Halloween Party. For more information contact Mandee Farley at 256-489-3392 or email her at [email protected]

X Factor Book Club
Branch: Madison Library
Date: Thursday, Oct. 27 at 4 PM
Info:Join us on the fourth Thursday each month at our book club aimed at advanced Juvi readers. October’s selection is “The One-Eyed Giant” by Mary Pope Osborne. (grades 2-5)

Halloween Party in Madison
Branch: Madison Library
Date: Thursday, Oct. 27 at 5:30 PM
Info: Join us in the meeting room for a fall-themed puppet show. Then we’ll have trick-or-treating throughout the library and more!

Pumpkin Painting
Branch: Elizabeth Carpenter Public Library of New Hope
Date: Friday, October 28th at 5:00 PM
Info: Please join us for Pumpkin Painting at the Library! Each family will be provided with a pumpkin so please register at the library to ensure we have enough pumpkins for everyone. This will be an outside event. In the event of rain, please still come by to pick up your pumpkin.

Spooktacular Puppet Show at Main
Branch: Downtown Huntsville Library
Date: October 31 at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Info: Enjoy a fun, spooky puppet show and craft!

Trick-or-Treating at the Library
Branch: Downtown Huntsville Library
Date: October 31 All Day from 9AM – 5PM
Info: Trick or treat your library! All three floors will be stocked with treats for our little costumed patrons.

Storytime Scoop

Monrovia Storytimes
Branch: Monrovia Public Library
Date: Mondays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
Info: Stories, songs, crafts and more for children birth to age five. For more information contact Mandee Farley at 256-489-3392 or [email protected].

Madison Storytimes
Branch: Madison Public Library
Date: Toddler Storytime, Tues. Wed. Thurs. at 9:30 AM; Preschool Storytime Tues. Wed. Thurs. at 10:30 AM; Baby Sign Storytime Mondays at 9:30 AM; Family Storytime, 2nd & 4th Saturdays at 10:00 AM.
Info: The Madison Library hosts nine storytimes a week!

Bailey Cove Storytimes
Branch: Bailey Cove Public Library
Date: Wednesdays – Book Buddies at 9:!5 AM, Mother Goose Storytime at 10:30 AM; Thursdays – Mother Goose Storytime at 9:15 AM, Book Buddies at 10:30 AM; Fridays – Little Bits Lapsit at 9:30 AM.
Info: There’s always a fun story to be had at Bailey Cove!

Main Storytimes
Branch: Huntsville Public Library Downtown
Dates: Wiggles & Walking, Tuesdays at 10:30; Rockin’ Storytime, Wednesdays at 10:30; Tremendouse Toddlers, Thursdays at 10:30
Info: There’s a storytime for every child’s age at the Main Library Downtown!

Tuesday Tales
Branch: Eleanor E. Murphy
Date: Tuesdays at 10:30 am
Info: Story Time for ages 2-5, featuring stories, rhymes and music followed by a simple craft. A typically
smaller story time held in the children’s section so younger toddlers may wander as needed. Siblings
welcome! Contact Ms. Haley at [email protected] for more info.

Storytime in Gurley
Branch: Gurley Public Library
Date: Wednesdays at 10:30 AM
Info: Join Ms. Tina every Wednesday morning for a fun filled time of stories, music, & crafts.

New Hope Storytime
Branch: Elizabeth Carpenter Public LIbrary
Date: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
Info: Stories, songs, and crafts each Tuesday morning for preschoolers.

Preschool Story Hour in Triana
Branch: Triana Public Library
Date: Thursdays at 11:00 AM
Info: Storytime for children ages 3-5

More HMCPL weekly Storytimes for kids can be found HERE.