I unofficially retired from working as a public health nurse in late 2009 and started my stint volunteering for our wonderful library two or so years later. I started working transit Thursday mornings. I love being a substitute for transit as it enables me to be able to work different days of the week and with different teams, so I find this variety very appealing. At that time Rebecca Lowe was the Volunteer Coordinator, and now we work with Tracy Dietz. We had a fabulous team and the three of us became friends which is a pattern I think is very prevalent among the library volunteers. As the new library was nearing completion, I decided I’d like to try a new task so I volunteered to work in the shop. I was a cashier on Thursday mornings until the pandemic hit. 

Details.

The Sussex County STEM Alliance in collaboration with the Library is hosting the first annual K-5 Sussex County STEM Fair.

Come see the individual and group projects within the various STEM categories. Projects will be judged by local STEM professionals. All students will be recognized for their efforts, and exceptional entries will be awarded exciting prizes.

Details.

Homeschool Connection | Natural Winter Decor Workshop

Come learn how to make items for gifts and decor with what you can find in nature. We'll learn about the different aromas found in fall/winter, including cinnamon, clove, and evergreen, and experiment putting together our own homemade decorations. Everyone can take their handmade decor home to keep!

***PLEASE REGISTER SO WE HAVE ENOUGH MATERIALS FOR ALL***

Details.

Let's learn about our Community Helpers! We'll gather outside in the library's backyard to get an up-close look at some of the trucks and vehicles in our community, and talk to the people who drive them.

No registration required.

Details.

Back by popular demand - Sensory Bins!!!

Join us at the Library immediately after Children's Story Time to learn about the benefits of sensory exploration and play with your kiddo! Families will learn how to incorporate strategies that enhance learning and child development. With the support of Child Inspired's therapy team, children will create a fall-themed sensory bin just in time for those longer holiday weekends!

Please register so we have enough materials for all.

** REGISTRATION REQUIRED **

PLEASE REGISTER JUST PARTICIPATING CHILDREN, NO ADULTS

Details.

Workout with your stroller-aged kiddo(s) in tow at MamaTot's Halloween-themed stroller-based workout. Mama will receive an incredible workout while interacting with her child from the safety of their stroller. Water bottles and a yoga mat/towel are recommended.

No registration required.

Details.

Drop in for some early literacy and developmental play time with our friends from Child Inspired. Multiple play stations are set up in our programming room for you and your baby (0 - 18 months) to enjoy and interact with that will aid in cognitive, motor, and early literacy development. Professional occupational therapists from Child Inspired will be on hand to answer questions and connect you with resources. Stay for 10 minutes, or the whole hour.

Details.

Enjoy books, music, and fingerplays for preschoolers.

No registration required.

Check out our library story time visits on our YouTube Channel.

The Imagination Library provides FREE books by mail for children ages birth up to 5, throughout Delaware, to develop the habit of reading, and to develop the library habit, too!

4:30 PM | In-person

This program is reserved for teens that applied, then were interviewed and selected by library staff.

Teens work together to build a robot.

For questions about VEX, please email leweslibraryteens@gmail.com.

Details.

Magic: The Gathering is a fantasy tabletop card game open to teens 12 and up. It meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday in the Quiet Room.

Please bring your own Magic card deck. If you do not have one, you can borrow one from the club.

Registration is requested.

Details and registration.

Details.

Details and registration.

Thursday, November 10 | 6:00 PM | In-person

Details and registration.

Friday, November 11 | 10:00 AM | In-person

Sylvan Learning Center of Lewes offers a FREE SAT/ACT practice test hosted by the Library. Practice tests will take place in the Computer Training Room. Tests are 3-4 hours long.

Space is limited so registration is required. 

Details and registration.

Thursday, November 17 | 6:00 PM | In-person

R.O.O.T.S. Youth Development Program will teach teens about orienteering.

Teens will learn what a compass is and how to use it. They will learn Cardinal direction and why it is important to know these. They will also learn how to read a map and how to create one.

Teens will participate in an interactive game where they will be given a compass and directions they must follow. They will create their own map with a legend. They may choose to create a map of their neighborhood, school, or library.

Details and registration.

Teen Movie Night | Top Gun Maverick (2022)

Saturday, November 19 | 6:00 PM | In-person

This month's teen movie is Top Gun Maverick (2022)

Rated PG-13 | Action, Drama | 2 hr. 10 min.

Top Gun: Maverick is a 2022 American action drama film directed by Joseph Kosinski. It is the sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun and the second installment in the film series. For more information about this film and its rating, click here.

Registration is required for this program. Must be 12+ to participate.

Details and registration.

Saturdays | 12:00 PM | In-person

Details and registration.

Conversation with Jennifer Coburn | Cradles of the Reich

Join us in-person in the library or online for a conversation with Jennifer Coburn, author of Cradles of the Reich, a historical novel about three very different women living at a Nazi Lebensborn breeding home at the start of World War II.

Details and registration.

Conversation with Josh Hitchens | Haunted History of Philadelphia

Join us in-person in the library or online for a conversation with Josh Hitchens, author of Haunted History of Philadelphia, which details the spooky stories of Philadelphia's past and present. Together we will discover the historic haunts and frightful specters that make the city of brotherly love a haven for unexplained phenomena.

Details and registration.

Conversation with Miriam Scharfman Zadek | Miriam Hearing Sister

Join us for a conversation with Miriam Scharfman Zadek, author of Miriam Hearing Sister: A Memoir, which documents her experiences growing up in a family with both deaf and hearing members from the 1930s through World War II and beyond. Throughout this journey, she presents a narrative of historical and cultural importance centered on the lives of deaf and hearing Jewish people in the mid-twentieth century.

Co-sponsored by Seaside Jewish Community. American Sign Language interpretation and closed captioning will be available during this event.

Details and registration.

Conversation with Stacey D’Erasmo | The Complicities

Join us in-person in the library or online for a conversation with Stacey D’Erasmo, award-winning author of The Complicities, a haunting and emotionally affecting story about a woman trying to rebuild her life after her husband’s arrest, and what she knew— or pretended not to know — about where their family’s money came from. Joining Stacey in conversation is Suzanne Thurman of the Marine Education, Research, and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR).

Details and registration.

History Book Festival Presents Katherine J. Chen | Joan: A Novel of Joan of Arc

In collaboration with the History Book Festival, join us for a talk with Katherine J. Chen, author of Joan: A Novel of Joan of Arc, an offering of the 2022 History Book Festival.

In 1412, France is mired in a losing war against England. Its people are starving, and its king is in hiding. From this chaos emerges a teenage girl who will turn the tide of battle. In Chen’s hands, the legend of Joan of Arc is transformed into a flesh-and-blood young woman: reckless, steel-willed, and brilliant. Navigating the perils of the battlefield and the equally treacherous politics of the royal court, Joan draws wrath and suspicion from all corners, while her first taste of fame and glory leaves her vulnerable to her own powerful ambition.

Details and registration.

Conversation with Greg Melville | Over My Dead Body

Join us in the library or online for a conversation with Greg Melville, author of Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries, a lively tour through the history of US cemeteries that explores how, where, and why we bury our dead. Joining Greg is Todd Harra, author of Last Rites: The Evolution of the American Funeral, the untold story of American funeral and mourning tradition.

Details and registration.

Conversation with Ernest Thompson | The Book of Maps

Join us in the library or online for a conversation with author Ernest Thompson on his debut novel, The Book of Maps.

In the summer of 2002, Brendan Tibbet, a filmmaker whose luck has run low, takes his ten-year-old son Brenlyn on a raucous road trip across America. Following a 1930s travel guide Brendan purchased at a yard sale, the two-week trek from LA to New Hampshire covers 16 states, hitting the iconic stops along the way, replete with wild exploits both hilarious and perilous, but it's the interior journey that is enlightening, deeply poignant and life-changing. With its powerful father-son relationship and one man's relentless albeit unintentional quest to evolve into the better angel, this book captures the imagination of readers.

Details and registration.

Conversation with Maya K. van Rossum | The Green Amendment

Join us in the library or online for a conversation with Maya K. van Rossum, author of The Green Amendment: The People's Fight for a Clean, Safe, and Healthy Environment, a roadmap to a healthier world—one that uses the law to empower activists and provide hope for communities everywhere. Joining van Rossum are Delaware State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton, lead sponsor of Delaware's proposed Green Amendment and veteran, activist, community advocate, and organizer Kerri Evelyn Harris.

Details and registration.

Conversation with Ethan Joella | A Quiet Life

Join us in the library or online for a conversation with Ethan Joella, author of A Quiet Life: A Novel, an enormously powerful and life-affirming novel about three individuals whose lives intersect in unforeseen ways. Joining Ethan in conversation is Susan Kehoe, owner of Browseabout Books.

Set in a close-knit Pennsylvania suburb in the grip of winter, A Quiet Life follows three people grappling with loss and finding a tender wisdom in their grief. In this beautifully crafted and profoundly moving novel, three parallel narratives converge in poignant and unexpected ways, as each character bravely presses onward, trying to recover something they have lost. Emotionally riveting and infused with hope, A Quiet Life celebrates humanity in the midst of uncertainty.

Details and registration.

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS

Cooks & Books | Thanksgiving Dinner Edition

For November's meeting, we will celebrate Thanksgiving early. Please bring a favorite dish to share. Stop by the Circulation Desk to sign up for your dish.

Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rush

A highly original work of lyric reportage and a haunting meditation on how to let go of the places we love.

Details and registration.

The American Association of University Women Coastal-Georgetown Branch sponsors a Notable Books discussion.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan's personal librarian - who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true.

Details and registration.

Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker

Want to join a book club that meets online or in the evening? Try out our Evening Book Club!

The heartrending story of a mid-century American family with twelve children, six of them diagnosed with schizophrenia, that became science's great hope in the quest to understand the disease.

Details and registration.

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

This month's selection is The Sentence by New York Times bestselling novel, Pulitzer Prize, and National Book Award–winning author Louise Erdrich, a wickedly funny ghost story, a tale of passion, of a complex marriage, and of a woman's relentless errors.

Details and registration.

Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford

One of the most prominent voices of her generation debuts with an extraordinarily powerful memoir: the story of a childhood defined by the looming absence of her incarcerated father.

Details and registration.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

A breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond in Depression-era America.

Details and registration.

Sign up for the Library’s BookLetters newsletters by email.

Details and registration.

Details and registration.

Details and registration.

These groups are made possible by the support of Roy Fitzgerald and Jennie Keith.

English Conversation Group

Details and registration.

Details and registration.

Details and registration.

Friday, December 9 | 10:30 AM ET | In-person | TBD

Registration is not required. Attendees are strongly encouraged to wear a mask.

Details.

Weekly meeting of the Rehoboth Beach Writers' Guild Poetry FreeWrite. ​Explore your writing passion! Attending a Free Write is a fun, low commitment way to dip your toes into the writing pool. Writers at all levels are welcome; you do not need to be a member to attend.

Details.

Details and registration.

FreeWrite! is an weekly informal gathering of writers of ALL skill levels who meet to practice their writing in a friendly and nurturing atmosphere. The goal of the FreeWrites is to provide a place and an opportunity for people to have fun with their writing, to explore different genres, and to do this in the company of other writing enthusiasts. Registration is not required.

Co-sponsored by Rehoboth Beach Writers' Guild

Details.

Tuesdays, November 1 - December 13 | 11:00 AM ET | In-person

The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program is providing hands-on nutrition education through a series of lessons offering simple solutions to help families Eat Smart and Move More! 

Details and registration.

In celebration of Transgender Awareness Month, join the ACLU of Delaware, the Lewes Public Library, and other organizations for a public discussion of a landmark LGBTQ+ case, the current state of LGBTQ+ rights, and the launch of a new Know Your Rights resource. The evening's schedule is:

Details and registration.

Saturday, November 5 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET | In-Person

Join the Library at Cape Henlopen High School for the Annual 55+ Expo. Learn how you can provide access for generations to come with a Legacy or Underwriters Endowment gift.

The event is free, open to the public, and all ages are welcome.

Details.

November 7 | Session 1: Communication and relationships

November 14 | Session 2: Behavior changes and safety

November 21 | Session 3: Finding assistance and coping

A presentation by the Alzheimer’s Association on the Middle Stage of Alzheimer’s. This 3-part series is designed to provide caregivers with the knowledge, tools and strategies needed to cope with a diagnosis and provide optimal care during the middle stage of the disease in order to maintain quality of life. A participant guide and workbook will be provided.  

Details and registration.

Sussex Bird Club | Owls of the Mid-Atlantic

Explore the fascinating natural history of the owls of the Mid-Atlantic with naturalist and photographer Jim White. Jim will explore the habits and habitats of the eight species of owls that can be found in our area. Learn how to identify them by sight and sound, and where to observe our common and not so common species.

Details and registration.

Science and Society | Handmade: A Scientist's Search for Meaning Through Making

From atomic structures to theories about magnetic forces, scientific progress has given us a good grasp on the properties of many different materials. However, most scientists can’t measure the temperature of steel just by looking at it, or sculpt stone into intricate statuary, or know how it feels to blow up a balloon of glass.

Handmade is the story of materials through making and doing. Join author and materials scientist Dr Anna Ploszajski as she journeys into the domain of makers and craftspeople to comprehend how the most popular materials really work.

Details and registration.

Details and registration.

Details.

Presented by instructors with The Money School, a program of the Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council (DCRAC).

Registration required. Walk-ins welcome, as space allows.

Details and registration.

The end of the year is a great time to take a look at your finances and make any necessary changes to ensure that you're taking advantage of all the tax breaks available to you. Join this Money School seminar for some action tips to help you maximize your IRA and reduce your tax burden for 2022.

Details and registration.

The Lewes Public Library Spoken Word Society presents Suzanne Savoy and Jack Herholdt in a live reading of “The Thanksgiving Visitor” by Truman Capote.

Nine-year-old Buddy has a problem. Every day, he gets stopped on the way to school by Odd Henderson, who calls Buddy a sissy, pins him to the ground and rubs burrs into his head. Miss Sook, Buddy’s older cousin and best friend, invites Odd to her big Thanksgiving dinner, where important lessons await both Odd and Buddy.

Details and registration.

The Lewes Public Library’s Spoken Word Society presents acclaimed professional actress Michèle LaRue in a dramatic reading adaptation of Elsie Singmaster’s powerful 1913 collection Gettysburg; Stories of the Red Harvest and the Aftermath.

Michèle embodies seven characters—most prominently Singmaster’s fictional wife and mother, Mary Bowman. With her we travel the emotional and physical terrain of 50 years: from the cannons’ first roar to the grief and devastation that follow; from the promise of Lincoln’s visit and commemoration, to the healing only time can bring.

Details and registration.

BeachORIGINALS Dining Cards Now Available!

The BeachORIGINALS dining card is back! Buy one entrée, get up to $15 off the second entrée (of equal or lesser value) at many of the area's most exceptional restaurants! Cards are available for sale from the Friends of the Lewes Public Library for $20.00 each (cash, check or credit card).

You may purchase your card at the Friends Shop during operating hours or at the Circulation Desk when the Shop is closed.

A portion of your card purchase will benefit the Lewes Public Library. More information about the card, including policies and restrictions, may be found here. Cards are good until April 30, 2023 and will be available at the Library until Saturday, December 10, 2022.

What's New at Lewes Public Library | Come Visit the Friends Shop

See how the Friends of the Lewes Public Library supports the library's collections and programs with the Just Between Friends Shop. There you can purchase new and used books, and start your holiday shopping with lots of gifts to choose from.

Check out this video of the Shop and all we offer!

Friends is able to accept up to 10 donated books per person. Due to volunteer and space limitations, this donation limit will be in effect for the near term. Thank you for understanding.

Before bringing in your donations, please review our Book Donation Policy to determine whether we can accept the items.

Click here for more information or to access Kanopy with your Delaware library card!

Drop in Tech Help (First and Third Friday of Every Month)

Meeting rooms in the library are available for use by outside groups, as outlined on our website under Meeting Room Descriptions.

A certified Consumer Health Information Specialist is here to help you!

a trained staff person is available to help with:

Services are free, confidential, and available to everyone. More information here. _____________________________________________

Looking for a job? Need a career change? Hoping to land a better job? Re-entering the work force? This FREE program offers resources designed to help you be successful.

Schedule a FREE 30 minute phone consultation! An Employment/Career Advisor will call you at the appointed time to discuss any questions you have regarding career and related needs.

Mid-Atlantic Hearing Organization is offering free hearing screenings for anyone age 5 years or older at the Library. Screenings take about 5 minutes. No appointment is necessary.

Mid-Atlantic Hearing Organization is a non-profit organization run by local audiologists who provide hearing screenings and donated hearing aids for qualifying individuals.

Details.

Representatives from the Delaware Senior Medical Patrol will have a table in the lobby. They will provide information and answer questions.

The library is free to use, but running it is not. As an independent library, every year the Lewes Public Library must raise 50% of its annual operating budget.

If you value your local library and appreciate everything it does for your community, your friends, family, and neighbors, please consider supporting the library.