Stories & More for Preschoolers: Thursdays at 11:00 am
Preschool children and their caregivers are invited to these fun weekly gatherings. Miss Maryellen leads a lively hour of stories, songs, rhymes and hands-on craft activities, helping young learners develop vital early literacy skills, and helping families discover all the library has to offer. No advance registration is needed – just drop in and join the fun. Stories & More takes place weekly throughout the school year, with the exception of selected holidays.
Nature Drawing & Journaling: April 20 & May 18
Explore and enhance your connection to the natural world through this series of monthly workshops. Local artist, educator and environmentalist Penny Krebiehl will lead these workshops, Saturday mornings from 10:00 am until noon, gathering first here at the library before venturing out to various local natural areas. Penny will guide participants through sketching and journal writing techniques in the field, before reconvening back at the library for further discussion and sharing. Dress for outdoor temps/weather, and bring drawing supplies (notebook/journal, pencils/pens). For information, contact Penny at [email protected].
Mollie Moody / A Father’s Arms: April 25, 7:00 pm
Join us for a fascinating account of Capt. Robert Maynard’s experiences in World War II. His recently published diary A Father’s Arms: Close to Death, Across Hitler’s Path—and Home at Last recounts his time as a tank commander in Europe, culminating in his arrival at Hitler’s infamous Eagle’s Nest at the end of the war. Mr. Maynard, who died in 2022 at the age of 101, offers a unique, first-hand perspective of this historic struggle. His daughter Mollie Moody will present his posthumously published diary. Copies of the book will be available for sale, with all proceeds donated to the VFW of Michigan.
Tech Tuesday – iPad Basics: April 30
The libraries of Leelanau County continue our Tech Tuesday afternoon tutorials with an introduction to the iPad. Corey of BuchanTech will be our instructor for the month, demonstrating the many functions and capabilities of this popular Apple device. Bring your own iPad, and your questions! Corey will make the rounds of all four libraries in the county: April 9 – Leelanau Township Library; April 16 – Suttons Bay Bingham Library; April 23 – Leland Township Library; April 30 – Glen Lake Library. All sessions will take place at 3:00 pm.
Wayne Pope – Smartphone Photography: May 9, 7:00 pm
Wayne Pope, a photography instructor at Lansing Community College, will show you how to make the most of your smartphone camera. The workshop will cover common tools and techniques for both iPhone and Android devices. Wayne is also a birding enthusiast, and has previously shared his wildlife photography here at the library. Seating for this workshop is limited, so please contact the library in advance to register.
Mindfulness for Seniors: May 15, 1:00 pm
Explore techniques for stress reduction with Wendy Weckstein of Northern Michigan Psychiatric Services. She’ll discuss how mindfulness can help reduce the emotional and physical stresses often associated with aging: depression, anxiety, loneliness, physical limitations, cognitive decline and more. Presented in partnership with ShareCare and Leelanau County Senior Services. NOTE: Class size is limited. Please contact the library to register in advance.
Greeting Card Workshop: May 16, 1:00 pm
Create your own thoughtful greeting card with paper crafter Susan Schneider. Susan is a part-time Empire resident, and life-long crafting enthusiast. She’ll provide everything you need to make a colorful cherry-themed card to help celebrate spring. To save a seat, please contact the library to register by Monday, May 13.
Leelanau Reads – William Kent Krueger: May 18, 7:00 pm
The public libraries of Leelanau County are pleased to host an evening with William Kent Krueger author of the new novel The River We Remember. Mr. Krueger is the author of 25 novels, including the popular Cork O’Connell mysteries set in the north woods of Minnesota. He’ll be interviewed by Leelanau County’s own Aaron Stander, author of the Ray Elkins mysteries. Their conversation will take place at the Northport Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available now to patrons of each of our four libraries, with a limit of 2 per patron account. Remaining tickets will be available to the general public beginning in May. Many thanks to our respective Friends of the Library groups for their support of this special event.
Ali LeJeune – home organizing: May 20, 7:00 pm
Ali LeJeune, a Traverse City based professional organizer and home simplification expert, will discuss how to bring calm and clarity to your spaces. Utilizing a unique combination of philosophies, Ali helps people face the sometimes daunting task of bringing order to their homes and offices.
Robert Van Dellen – Odes to Earth: June 5, 7:00 pm
Dr. Van Dellen will discuss the life and work of five award-winning writers: Annie Dillard, Rick Bass, Terry Tempest Williams, Barry Lopez, and Bill McKibben. All environmental advocates, they invite you to explore Tinker Creek in the mountains of Virginia, the Yaak Valley in Montana, the Great Salt Lake area, a diversity of places in California, Oregon, and elsewhere. Their influential work also explores the changing political and social landscape of American life, and the most important existential challenge we currently face: Global Warming.
Get Set Up: Life-long learning for Seniors
Michigan seniors can take advantage of these great continuing education courses, offered free of charge in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Courses are accessed online, from the convenience of your own home, and can be enjoyed live or via recording. Get Set Up includes fun, social learning presentations and activities in a diverse range of subjects: personal technology training, food and cooking, health and exercise, travel, and much more. Have a look today!
History Hounds: from the Historical Society of Michigan
Explore fascinating topics in Michigan history with these weekly virtual lectures, presented by the Historical Society of Michigan, and available free of charge to patrons of the Glen Lake Library. Lectures are presented on Tuesday afternoons at noon, or Wednesday evenings at 7:00, in alternating weeks. Register in advance to receive the Zoom meeting link, specifying the Glen Lake Community Library as your member organization.
TALK: Text and Learn for Kindergarten
Here’s a great new resource to support early childhood learning, delivered right to your cell phone. Register via a brief online form, and receive 8 – 10 text messages per month, each outlining a simple activity you can share with your little one. Or, even more simply, just text TALK to 75547. Many thanks to the Ypsilanti District Library and their partners for making this service available to all Michigan residents!
