By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
OZARK — The Ozark Dale County Library has a full calendar of activities planned throughout September, offering something for readers, families, students, gamers, crafters, history enthusiasts, and others in the community.
The month’s schedule includes a community flea market, author appearance, children’s programs, educational seminars, gaming, crafting, chess, computer classes, and special-interest gatherings. Among the month’s featured events is Tolkien Con, a mini-convention celebrating the works of renowned fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Tolkien Con to Bring Middle-earth and fantasy to life in Ozark
Hobbits, wizards, orcs, and elves will have an opportunity to gather at the Ozark Dale County Library when the library hosts Tolkien Con on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The library describes the event as a mini-con of its own, inviting the community to journey to “Middle-Earth” — specifically, the library’s Bay Area Meeting Room — for an afternoon of fellowship and fun. Activities will include pictures with friends, light refreshments, and trivia centered around Tolkien’s works.
Costumes are encouraged, and attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a costume contest. According to the event flyer, participants will vote on the winner, and anyone wearing a costume will be eligible to vote.
The library’s September public service announcement lists Tolkien Con from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room, while the event flyer lists the time as 3 to 5 p.m. Those planning to attend should contact the library to confirm the event time before making plans.
The Tolkien celebration is one of several September programs designed to bring the community together around reading, creativity, entertainment, and education.
September Events and Programs
The month begins with the Writing Nook/Meet the Author Book Signing on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. Hometown author James Fuller will be available to answer questions and share more about his book and writing journey.
The Friends of the Library Flea Market will follow on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. The library is hosting its first annual Community Flea Market, inviting residents to shop, explore, and look for treasures.
SCAFighter Practice will be held Sundays, Sept. 6 and 20, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the library’s grassy area. Ethan Coate will lead the sessions, which will include martial arts, medieval armor, and fencing.
On Thursday, Sept. 10, the library will host Homeschool Hangout from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. Homeschoolers, virtual students, and parents can gather for a social hangout featuring a play space, coloring station, homework table, career and college preparation resources, a curated book cart, and more. Lunch will be provided.
That evening, Toddler Tales will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. The program is designed to give young children an opportunity to hear stories, participate in activities, and create something of their own.
Friday, Sept. 11, will feature two separate programs.
The library’s Sept. 11/911 Remembrance program will take place from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. Dr. Duane Gunn of Troy University will speak about his experience inside the Pentagon when the building was struck by a plane on Sept. 11, 2001. The program will honor those who lost their lives and those who sacrificed during the events of that day.
Later that afternoon, GameOn! @ the Library will run from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. Participants can play Minecraft and other games on library laptops, as well as Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic, board games, and card games. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own games to share. A Dungeons & Dragons group meets each week at GameOn! for an adventure of its own. GameOn! will also be held Sept. 18 and 25.
Saturday, Sept. 12, will feature several activities.
Basic Computer Classes will be offered from 9 to 10 a.m. on the library computers. The classes will cover basic computer skills useful in everyday business, including browsing the Internet and creating documents in Microsoft Word.
Twisted Stitches will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Teen Library. The social crafting club welcomes knitters, crocheters, cross-stitchers, and others with yarn- or thread-based hobbies. Participants can bring projects already in progress or start something new. Attendees should provide their own crafting tools, while the library has a limited amount of yarn available to share.
Children can take part in Lego Club from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Children’s Library. The club will feature building challenges, games, and free play. Duplo Legos will also be available for younger children.
The Curiosity Crew will meet from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. The program encourages young minds to explore topics ranging from stars and bugs to volcanoes and the deepest seas.
A free Social Security 101/Medicare 101 Seminar is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. The program will address Social Security myths and misconceptions, when to claim benefits, the impact of marital status, tax planning, and other considerations. The Medicare portion will cover transitioning from employment to retirement, enrollment, the different parts of Medicare, and healthcare costs during retirement.
The Knights of the Wiregrass Chess Club will meet Thursday, Sept. 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. Players of all skill levels are invited, whether they are learning the game or looking for a challenging opponent. The club meets on the third Thursday of each month.
Teens ages 14 to 18 can participate in Drawn Together Teen Art Club on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. This month’s project will involve painting signs pointing toward Narnia, Hobbiton, Oz, and beyond. The completed signs will be displayed in the library’s Teen Area.
The month will conclude with Medieval Meetup on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Bay Area Meeting Room. The library will provide games and a mini feast, while attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their best medieval attire. Loaner garb will be available for those who do not have their own.
The library will also continue its regular Story Time program each Wednesday in September — Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 — from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Children’s Library. Each session includes a story, a craft or activity, and a snack.
New Materials Added to Library Collection
Along with its busy programming schedule, the Ozark Dale County Library has added numerous new titles to its collection, including printed books from a variety of genres: bestsellers, large-print fiction, classic literature, nonfiction, and fiction. Whether you like ebooks or print, the library has what you need! If you’re interested in checking out the library’s ebooks or audiobooks, call them for help setting up your account within the Libby App. All you need is your free library card!
News: printed books added recently:
Among the Bestseller Fiction additions are
Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
Country Road Murders by James Patterson and Mike Lupica
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
Wait and See by Iris & Roy Johansen
Weddings by Danielle Steel
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
The library has also added the following bestseller large-print fiction titles:
Fever Dream by Elsie Silver
Helpless by Jessica Knoll
Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson
Sky Beneath Her by Mary Ellen Taylor
Spy Keeper of Marseille by Roseanna M. White
Storm Tide by Paul Doiron
To Echo the Past by Marcia Lynn McClure
Until Midnight by Luann Rice
The new Classic Literature selection includes Bram Stoker: Five Books, while the Bestseller Nonfiction section includes Invisible Coup by Peter Schweizer and Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
The library’s expanded Fiction collection includes:
Ambler Warning by Robert Ludlum
Apocalypse Watch by Robert Ludlum
Ascendance by R.A. Salvatore
Bad Boy by Peter Robinson
Bancroft Strategy by Robert Ludlum
Bass Reeves Trilogy by Sidney Thompson — 3 books
Blaze of Glory by Jeff Shaara
Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum
Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum
Chain of Thunder by Jeff Shaara
Clive Cussler: Desolation Code by Graham Brown
Centennial by James A. Michener
Chancellor Manuscript by Robert Ludlum
Chesapeake by James A. Michener
Dead Watch by John Sandford
The collection also includes the Decker and Lazarus series by Faye Kellerman, with Burnt House, Forgotten, Gun Games, Hangman, Jupiter’s Bones, Justice, Mercedes Coffin, Prayers for the Dead, Stalker, Serpent’s Tooth, and Stone Kiss.
The library has added the Emberverse series by S.M. Stirling, consisting of 15 books, as well as:
Fateful Lightning by Jeff Shaara
Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Glorious Cause by Jeff Shaara
Gone for Soldiers by Jeff Shaara
Immortalis by R.A. Salvatore
In the Dark Places by Peter Robinson
In Too Deep by Lee & Andrew Child
Janson Directive by Robert Ludlum
Kent Chronicles series by John Jakes — 8 books
Lone Drow by R.A. Salvatore
Long After Midnight by Iris Johansen
Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
Moon Music by Faye Kellerman
Parsifal Mosaic by Robert Ludlum
The Prey series by John Sandford includes:
Buried Prey
Gathering Prey
Hidden Prey
Invisible Prey
Mind Prey
Mortal Prey
Naked Prey
Night Prey
Secret Prey
Silent Prey
Silken Prey
Stolen Prey
Storm Prey
Sudden Prey
Wicked Prey
Additional new fiction titles include Prometheus Deception by Robert Ludlum, Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara, Scorpio Illusion by Robert Ludlum, Sigma Protocol by Robert Ludlum, Smoke at Dawn by Jeff Shaara, Thousand Orcs by R.A. Salvatore, To the Last Man by Jeff Shaara, Transcendence by R.A. Salvatore, Twilight of Courage by Bodie & Brock Thoene, and Two Swords by R.A. Salvatore.
With its wide variety of programs and new materials, the Ozark Dale County Library is offering residents numerous opportunities throughout September to learn, create, socialize, and discover something new.
The Ozark Dale County Library is located at 296 N. Union Avenue in Ozark. For questions about Tolkien Con or other library programs, contact the library at (334) 774-5480 or email [email protected].
