MPL Connect
                               January 2023
 
From the Director:
 
Hello and Happy New Year to all! We have so much to look forward to at MPL in the coming months. In addition to our many services and events, we will be purchasing new furniture for our Lark and Palm View Branch Libraries, and we would like your input! The public is invited to our scheduled presentations to find out what is in store for our branches’ furniture design concepts. Watch our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mcallenlibrary) for an invite where you can indicate your interest in attending.
 
MPL’s 2022 Food for Fines efforts collected a total of 568 non-perishable food items, which were donated to the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. We were also able to recover more than 462 lost MPL items, at a saved value of $7,874.80. MPL materials were back in circulation and the food donations helped to feed others during the holiday season. Food for Fines is an annual tradition at MPL, in which we ask the public to return overdue items and donate non-perishable food items in exchange for accumulated fines.
 
Lark Branch Library received a site visit as the final step in becoming a certified Family Place® Library. The site visit had been delayed due to COVID. Family Place is a nationwide network of children's librarians who embrace the fact that literacy begins at birth, and libraries can help build healthy communities by nourishing healthy families. The Family Place Libraries network currently includes more than 500 sites in 32 states and continues to grow. A proven change agent, Family Place Libraries transforms libraries into community centers for early literacy & learning, parent education and engagement, family support and community connectivity helping to ensure all children enter school ready and able to learn. Congratulations to Lark Branch!
     
 
Marketing Coordinator Sara Montoya was selected to attend Texas Accelerated Library Leaders Institute (TALL Texans), a transformational program that helps participants learn and embrace their leadership potential and to take on new initiatives at their home institution. I was also invited to take part in TALL 2022 as a leadership mentor. The week-long Institute was held at beautiful Montserrat Retreat Center in Lake Dallas and the experience was nothing short of amazing. Congratulations to Sara Montoya and thank you to the City of McAllen for supporting our attendance!
 
 
Finally, be sure to join our Winter Reading Challenge. See below for the QR code to register. Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2023!
                               
Current Hours of Operation 
 
Main Library
Monday - Thursday
9 AM - 9 PM
 
Friday - Saturday
9 AM - 6 PM
 
Sunday
1 PM - 9 PM
 
Lark & Palm View Branches
Monday - Thursday
10 AM - 9 PM
 
Friday - Saturday
10 AM - 5 PM
 
Sunday
1 PM - 9 PM 
 





Children's Programs
 
For more information on children events, visit the MPLKids Facebook!
  
Program Highlights Girl Scouts: MLK Day 
January 13th at 4PM
Celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with fun activities and games presented by the Girl Scouts.
 
 
 
 
                    
 
Programs
 Family Storytime (LARK) 
Tuesdays at 6:30pm
 
Playdate at Lark 
January 3rd at 11am 
 
Once Upon a Time (Lark) 
January 4th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, ,26th, 30th, & 31st  at 11am
 
Coloring Day (Lark)
January 4th at  2pm 
 
Storytime with author Miriam Mora 
January 6th at 11am
 
Baby Storytime 
January 8th at 2pm
 
Baby Storytime 
January 9th, 16th, 23rd, & 30th at 1pm
 
Coloring Day (Lark) 
January 9th at 6pm
 
 Crafty Kids  (Lark)
January 11th, 18th, & 25th at 6pm 
 
Toddler Time
January 12th, 19th, &
26th at 10am
 
Saturday Storytime 
 January 14th & 28th at 11am
  
 Chinese New Year 
January 22nd at 2pm 
 
Kids Lego Club (Lark)
January 23rd at 6pm
 
S.T.E.M. Sunday 
January 29th at 2pm
 

Teen Programs
 
For more information on teen events, visit MPLTeenFacebook!
  
Program Highlight: Nerf War 
January 31st at 2PM
Learn, discover, and meet new friends! Join our Homeschool Hangout for an afternoon of art, crafts, and tech. This month's Hangout Highlight is our Nerf War. For all homeschooling students ages 8 & up.
 
                   
 
 
         
Programs
 
 
3D Printing Workshop
January 4th at 2pm 
 
Teen Makers Club DIY Candles (Lark)
January 5th at 6pm
 
Manga Pins 
January 7th at 2pm
 
Mazes and Monsters Club 
January 12th & 26th at 6pm
 
T.A.C. meeting 
January 14th v& 28th  at 12pm
 
Teen Mad Scientist :Slime (Lark)
January 14th at 2pm
  
Karaoke Night 
January15th at 6pm
 
Resume Writing 
January 17th at 6pm
 
Virtual Reality (Lark)
January 19th at 6pm
 
Paint Night 
January 24 at 6pm
 
Winter Watercolor (Lark) 
January 24th at 6pm
 
McHi Robotics 
January 29th at 6pm 
 

Adult Programs
 
For more information on adult events, visit the MPL Adults Facebook!
  
Program Highlight: Introduction to Genealogy
January 19th at 10AM
Interested in learning more about your family tree? Get an overview of getting started in your research, online resources available, and more. See the link below to register. 
 
https://mcallenlibrary.libnet.info/events
 
                
               
Programs
 
Clase de Computacion Basica
January 3rd & 10th at 3pm
 
Region One ESL + Citizenship Class
Mondays & Wednesdays 9am
 
Tech Help (Lark)
Saturdays at 10 AM & 2 PM 
 
 Knitting Group  (Lark)
Tuesdays at 2 PM
 
 Sketching Class (Lark)
January 17 at  6 PM
 
 Virtual Painting Class (Lark) 
January 20th at 2 PM 
 
 Painting Class (Lark)
January 21st at 1:30 PM
 
 Adult Coloring (Lark) 
January 25th at 6 PM 
 
 Introduction to e-mail (Lark) 
January 26th at 6 PM
 
   



Psalm for the Wild-Built  by Becky Chambers
 "Written with all of Chambers’ characteristic nuance and careful thought, this is a cozy, wholesome meditation on the nature of consciousness and its place in the natural world. Fans of gentle, smart, and hopeful science fiction will delight in this promising series starter." ― Publishers Weekly
 
Registration is required for new members.
Contact reference at 956-681-3000 to register.
 
A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable
 
The inspiration for A Paris Apartment began in 2010 when Gable's agent sent her an intriguing article with the note: 'I think you can do something with this.' A real-life Parisian flat, abandoned for 70 years, its contents frozen in time? Absolutely, she could.” ― Celeste Williams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
Registration required. Please call 681-3100 to register
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
 
“From the attention-grabbing opening paragraph, to the joyful conclusion, Ruth Hogan has stirred together a charming fairytale in which the people may be more lost than the things; and generosity and compassion may be the key to finding a way home. Also there are dogs. Delightful.” 
— Helen Simonson, author of The Summer Before the War and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
 
Registration required. Please call 681-3000 to register 
 
 In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
 
In Five Years is more than just a love story; it’s a half dozen of them, none quite what you expect. Heartwarming, heartbreaking, and hard to put down, it’s a novel about romance, friendship, the magic of good bagels, and what happens after you get everything you always wanted.” —Laurie Frakel, author of New York Times bestseller (and Reese Witherspoon Hello Sunshine pick) This Is How It Always Is
  
Registration required. Please call 681-3000 to register
 
Where the Crawdad Sings by Delia Owens
 
A lush debut novel, Owens delivers her mystery wrapped in gorgeous, lyrical prose.
It’s clear she’s from this place — the land of the southern coasts, but also the emotional terrain—
you can feel it in the pages.  A magnificent achievement, ambitious, credible and very timely.”
— Alexandra Fuller, New York Times bestselling author of Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight
 
Registration is required and limited seating is available. 
For more information, please call 956-681-3110
 
Thousands of books at your fingertips.
Overdrive and Libby have got your reading handled.
 
Check out items from the comfort of your home. We have e-books, e-audiobooks, and reads for all ages and tastes, all available with a McAllen Public Library card.
 
Download the Libby app or visit mcallen.overdrive.com!
Thousands of e-books and e-audio books. 
Cloud Library
 
Check out items from the comfort of your home. We have e-books, e-audiobooks, and reads for all ages and tastes, all available with a McAllen Public Library card.

Login to the site here with your McAllen Public Library card!
Unlimited e-books selection for kids.
AR testing at home? Need books?
 
TumbleBooks is a service full of picture books, beginning readers, read alongs, and chapter books. The books are always available and have AR testing information included.
 
Login to the site here with your McAllen Public Library card!
Free online tutoring and more!
Free online tutoring and more. 

Tutor.com combines online tutoring, homework help, test preparation, and career support with a variety of self-study resources to provide a well-balanced and flexible educational environment.
 
Login to the site here with your McAllen Public Library card!
Collection of guides listed by topic. 
Library Subject Guides
 
A wide variety of guides organized by subject featuring library and internet resources on topics of cultural, historical, literary, and local interest. 
 
 
Access the page here!
Free streaming shows with your library card.
 
 
 
Unlimited streaming shows and movies.
 
Educational, enriching, entertaining!
Stream hundreds of videos for free, brought to you by your library. 
 
Download the Kanopy app or visit mcallenlibrary.kanopy.com!
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Make the most of McAllen Public Library by following the Facebook pages that you're most interested in. All pages contain age-appropriate virtual content. It's one way MPL is keeping you connected!
  • For information about all library services and events: McAllen Public Library
  • For the parents of children birth up to 5th grade: MPL Kids
  • For teens from 6th grade through 12th grade and their parents: MPL Teens
  • For adults: MPL Adults
 
McAllen Public Library                                                        
4001 N. 23rd Street
McAllen, Texas 78504
Phone: (956) 681-3000E-mail: referencelibrarian@mcallen.netWebsite: www.mcallenlibrary.net

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