Medicare Open Enrollment period has begun! We're teaming up with the Trellis Area Agency on Aging to bring Medicare information sessions to a library near you. These in-person classes make it easier to ask questions as they occur to you, and handouts will be provided to all attendees. Register by clicking on the blue class links below.

Learn about Medicare Parts A, B, C and D and additional insurance options. We'll help you understand the enrollment process and options that affect personal costs.

Discover the most recent changes in Medicare benefits and coverage, and how these changes affect you.

Saturday, November 6th, 10:00-11:30am

The reality of today's book industry is that everyone has a different experience, from how a book is written to how (and if) the writer finds an agent. Yet there are specific best practices every writer should be aware of, so that they have a better publishing experience. In this class, we'll talk about some of the best practices to implement as you guide your book from manuscript to publication. Registration required.

Wednesday, November 17th, 2:00-3:00pm

Online via Zoom

If you’re starting or operating a business, you'll need to be prepared to file your upcoming business taxes. Attend this workshop to hear about how your business entity selection affects tax reporting. Learn how to address your business’ sales and use taxes, as well as payroll and home office taxes. Gain a better understanding of record retention, the tax cuts & jobs acts business provisions, and learn about new tax rates.

Good news for those of you who enjoyed last winter's Cozy Up activity packets and Make-It projects. We will be offering a scaled-down version again this winter!

Keep your eye on the library website for forthcoming details and information on when you can sign up!

All library-facilitated book clubs are now meeting in-person at the library.

Second Wednesday, 7:00-8:00pm

Savage Library

November selection: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Fourth Tuesday, 6:00-7:15pm

Prior Lake Library

November selection: This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

Fourth Wednesday, 6:30-7:30pm *

Savage Library

November selection: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Have your own book club? Find book club kits easily in the catalog by using the dark blue Category menu below the search bar, and choose "Book Club Kits".

All events listed below are presented by CareerForce, and ALL require advance registration.

Annual Minnesota Veterans Career Fair - Wednesday, November 3rd, 2:00-6:00pm - IN-PERSON event in Brooklyn Center. Are you looking for a higher salary and a great career? Employers are currently offering full-time jobs paying family-sustaining wages with benefits. Over 100 veteran-friendly employers on site. Work for an employer that recognizes and appreciates your military service and the value you bring to the team!

Resume Writing Workshop - Wednesday, November 3rd, 1:00-2:30pm - Online workshop. Learn best practices for creating a resume that meets the specific requirements of a position. We will also demonstrate the different types of resumes and when to use them, as well some common mistakes to avoid.

South of the River Hiring Event - Thursday, November 4th, 10:00am-12:00pm - Meet virtually on your phone or laptop with 14 companies such as Speedway, Presbyterian Homes & Services, Treasure Island Resort & Casino, Buttweiler Environmental, and many more.

Tips for Networking with LinkedIn - Wednesday, November 17th, 10:00-11:30am - Online workshop. Networking is essential to job search and that includes accessing social media tools such as LinkedIn. Join us to discover the full networking capabilities of this tool and learn how to continuously build and monitor your network.

The Song Poet by Kao Kalia Yang

In the Hmong tradition, the song poet recounts the story of his people, their history and tragedies, joys and losses. He keeps the past alive, invokes the spirits and the homeland, and records courtships, births, weddings, and wishes. In The Song Poet, Kao Kalia Yang retells the life of her father, Bee Yang, the song poet―a Hmong refugee in Minnesota, driven from the mountains of Laos by America’s Secret War.

Kao Kalia Yang is a Hmong-American writer. She is the author of The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir, as well as several children's books.

Check out the book or audio book from the library, or download electronic versions from Libby. There are also free downloads available on eBooks Minnesota through December 19th.

Saturday, November 13th, 10:00am-4:00pm

Hoċokata Ti Cultural Center

Celebrate National Native American Heritage Month by attending CommUNITY Day, a free event hosted by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. This free event is dedicated to sharing and learning about Dakota culture and history. From traditional games and nature walks to Indigenous food and arts and crafts, this family-friendly event is a unique opportunity for visitors to learn and understand more about Dakota people.

Want to learn more about our Native American neighbors? Check out the SMSC website!

This week's challenge: 1960s Movies trivia. Good luck!

Ready, Set, Action! Try this movie trivia, by Kyle in New Prague, and see if you know your 1960s films! The multiple choice challenge is timed, so the faster you respond, the more points you get! You have 3 weeks, until November 21, to take the challenge.

We’ve built our trivia challenge in Kahoot!, but there’s no need for you to create an account. Just click the link, spin for a randomly-generated player name, and play!

For those of you who remember your "name" in the 1970s Movies challenge in September, here are the final standings:

All titles are available (or will soon be available) in print at the library, and/or in eBook and eAudiobook form on Libby.

Books Getting a Lot of Hype that I Loved - recommended by Katy, Library Associate at the Prior Lake Library

The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson - A haunting novel spanning several generations, The Seed Keeper follows a Dakota family's struggle to preserve their way of life, and their sacrifices to protect what matters most.

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell - A luminous portrait of a marriage, a shattering evocation of a family ravaged by grief and loss, and a tender and unforgettable re-imagining of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, and whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays of all time.

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley - Daunis, who is part Ojibwe, defers attending the University of Michigan to care for her mother and reluctantly becomes involved in the investigation of a series of drug-related deaths.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston - For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don't exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. But August's subway crush soon becomes the best part of her day, but she discovers there's one big problem: Jane is literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her.