At Your Batavia Library: Check out spooky Halloween reads

Halloween is almost here! If you enjoy a scare, stop by the library to pick up a spooky read. Choose your level of thrills by browsing the book display of scary stories located in front of the check out desk. And if watching horror movies is your thing, try the library’s newest video streaming service, kanopy, on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV (available for free with your Batavia Public Library card).

Batavia’s favorite Halloween event, Bat Fest, takes place downtown this Saturday, Oct. 26.  Before the trick or treating begins, families can stop by the library’s Reading Garden at 11:30 a.m. for Bat Fest Stories and the Costume Parade. Families will enjoy fall songs and stories followed by the Batavia Mother’s Club costume parade that starts at the Library and travels to the Riverwalk.

You can still purchase “All Hallows’ Read” coupons at the check out desk in the library. When your doorbell rings on Halloween evening, treat your spooky visitors with a book by giving them a coupon for a free children’s or young adult book. The children can redeem their coupons anytime at the Friends Book Corner on our upper level or at the Friends’ used book sale on the second Saturday of the month. Buy “All Hallows’ Read” coupons in sheets of 10 for $2.50.

This week the Batavia Public Library is celebrating its Friends of the Library group as part of the National Friends of Libraries Week. The Friends of the Batavia Public Library are volunteers who support the library through the monthly book sales and other events. They are dedicated to promoting, improving, and assisting the library. In the past five years they have raised over $100,000 in support of the library.

“The Friends of the Batavia Public Library enrich the library in so many ways," said Library Director George H. Scheetz. "Members of the Friends organization support the library as advocates in the community and volunteers in the Library—and, of course, as fundraisers par excellence in support of such well-known programs and events as the Summer Reading Club; One Book, One Batavia; and the Winter Reading Club (its founding sponsor)."

The Friends of the Batavia Public Library invite you to join them and enjoy the camaraderie of helping with their activities. Visitors are always welcome to observe and participate in the book sorting process. The Friends meet to sort books in the Friend Space on the lower level of the library on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon.

By joining the Friends, you will make new friends, have fun, and enjoy the satisfaction that comes from helping to enrich the lives of the citizens of Batavia by promoting the library as the cultural center of the community.

You will find more information about events and the Friends of the Batavia Public Library on our website at www.BataviaPublicLibrary.org.

Patricia Leonard is the promotional services manager for the Batavia Public Library. The “@ Your Library” column runs the fourth Thursday of each month.