IN THE LIBRARY THIS WEEK | 05/10/24

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Library Happenings: Books Sales, Summer Fun & Salsa Canning!

Things are heating up at the Mount Pleasant Public Library and we’ve got a jam packed few weeks of bookish delights and exciting events.

Better mark your calendars! First up, it’s time for the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale! From May 30th through June 1st, bibliophiles can stock up on gently used books. But first, we need your donations! If you’ve got books looking for new homes, let us know when you’re in the parking lot and our staff will happily bring carts out to collect your generous gifts.

Speaking of gifts, we’ve got a summer jam packed with fun activities for the young readers in your life! Summer program sign-ups kick off May 20th, so swing by the library that week to get your kids registered for our stellar lineup of reading challenges, crafts, and more. We’re cooking up an activity booklet showcasing all the excitement, so stop by that week to snag your copy.

This year we’re introducing a hot new program-literally. On Saturday, June 15th at 10 am, join us for a hands-on salsa canning class. You’ll learn tips for jarring summer’s fresh flavors and create crisp, delicious salsa, a perfect quick snack for summer. Best of all, you’ll learn to customize each batch with just the right spicy kick to suit your heat preferences. With limited spots available, be sure to call the library or stop by soon to claim your place for this tasty program.

While you’re making summer plans, we have an awesome opportunity for you to de-clutter for a good cause! The library is seeking gently used items to repurpose into imaginative crafts and activities. Raid your panty for 2-liter bottles (rinsed out), dig out those old dolls, action figures, and stuffed animals your kids have outgrown, and rescue any shoe boxes before they get tossed. Our wish list also includes new or used Legos to spark young makers’ creativity, plus working electric typewriters. Simply drop off your treasures next time you swing by to stock up on books!

This week in the library:

  • Monday—Genealogy Help 2-4 p.m. (By appointment)
  • Tuesday—Genealogy Help 2-4 p.m. (Walk-in)
  • Wednesday—Baby Sensory Play 10 a.m.
  • Thursday—Family Night: Nerf Battle 5:30 p.m.

Recommended Reading:

If you are looking for a moving family drama, pick Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris. This moving story follows four siblings trying to hold onto their family property. Secrets and dubious life choices threaten to break the family apart as the siblings experience despair followed by self-discovery and self-determination, seeking what truly matters. An engaging and satisfying read, featuring believable, complex characters. (5-14) Monica McAbee

Those craving a darker, more magical tale should explore, When Among Crows by Veronica Roth. This painful and fascinating (but ultimately hopeful) urban fantasy set in Chicago is a packed novella steeped in Slavic folklore. Dymitr is on a quest to retrieve a guarded plant that might relieve the demon Ala of a deadly curse so he can bargain with her for a hint on how to seek an audience with Baba Yaga herself. (5-14) Jessica Trotter

Get ready for a riotous romantic novel with heart by Christian Lauren called The Paradise Problem. The story follows Anna Green and Liam “West” Weston, who married in college solely for access to family housing at UCLA. They thought their divorce would be straightforward after graduation, but an archaic clause in Liam’s grandfather’s will throws a wrench into their plans. Liam, one of the heirs to the wealthy Weston Foods empire, must remain happily married for five years to claim his $100 million inheritance. With the deadline approaching, his elite family demands to meet his mysterious wife, forcing Liam to re-enter the life of Anna, his decidedly unposh not-so-ex-wife. As the free-spirited Anna is thrust into the glitzy Weston world, Liam worries the toxic influence of extreme wealth could corrupt her pure spirit that he’s found himself enamored with. He must decide if keeping up the marriage of convenience charade is worth risking true love blossoming from their initial lie. (5-14)

For readers seeking an engrossing narrative exploration of a pivotal moment in American history, Erik Larson’s The Demon of Unrest delivers a gripping work of nonfiction. This captivating book vividly portrays the chaotic months preceding the shelling of Fort Sumter, with a cast of richly drawn characters caught up in the tragic errors and fiery passions that pushed America into the Civil War. At the center is Abraham Lincoln desperately trying to hold the Union together as the issue of slavery drove states toward secession. Meticulously researched, it’s a chilling reminder that major upheavals can blindside a society. (4-30)

Lupe Herrera, Director – Mount Pleasant Public Library