I am pleased to announce that October is the first month of the Marshall Public Library's new 2006-09 plan and we are providing several events this month -- some old favorites and some new ones.

The Friends of the Marshall Libraries Book Sale takes place this weekend -- Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Murrell Library. In addition, the Friends are sponsoring a Halloween contest at the Marshall Public Library. Stop in and guess how many candies are in the bowl and you can win a Halloween prize. There will be prizes given for the closest guess in three age categories: preschool, elementary, and teen/adult. Winners will be announced on Halloween.

Teen Read Week 2006 runs from Oct. 15 through Oct. 21. The Teen Advisory Board has planned several activities around this year's theme: Get Active @ Your Library. On Sunday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m., the library will be hosting a kick-off craft program titled: Gourd Gargolyes (the modern version of couch potatoes). The Teen Book Club will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. and will discuss "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke. Books are available at the library desk. The finale will be a Teen Halloween Party on Friday, Oct. 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a costume contest with prizes and scary storytelling (ages 11 and above only, please). Registration for the Teen Halloween Party is required by Oct. 18.

On Saturday, Oct. 21, the library will host a Pitch Party for adults from 2 to 4 p.m. Please register by Oct. 18.

The local Parents As Teachers chapter has teamed up with the library to offer an early literacy workshop titled Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library. This workshop is designed for parents and caregivers of children from birth to 2 years old. It takes place at the Marshall Family Worship Center on Oct. 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A light meal will be provided.

The Up for Discussion! Book Club will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. The book this month is "The Box Children" by Sharon Wyse. The Classic Book Club meets on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. and is reading "The Man Who Would Be King and Other Stories" by Rudyard Kipling. Books are available at the library desk.

Don't miss the Halloween Puppet Show at the library on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m. Parasol Puppets will be presenting a show for all ages: The Teen Tiny Woman.

Finally, on Monday, Oct. 30, at 3:30 p.m., sixth graders are welcomed to come carve pumpkins at the library. Registration is required by Oct. 25 with a limit of 10. Pumpkins and carving tools will be provided.

Pumpkin carving

Mark Monday, Oct. 30, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on your calendar. ... Cathie is sharpening up her carving tools, getting ready for the library's annual Pumpkin Carving for sixth graders! This event is limited to sixth graders only with a limit of 10 participants. Pre-registration is required by no later than Oct. 25. So call the library, (660) 886-3391, lickedy-split to reserve your pumpkin. Pumpkins and carving tools are furnished by the library. Its a good idea to wear something washable ... those pumpkin innards can get messy, you know!

New books

Fiction:

-- "Swapping Lives" -- Jane Green

-- "On Off" -- Colleen McCullough

-- "Armageddon's Children" -- Terry Brooks

-- "Winter's Bone" -- Daniel Woodrell

-- "Onion Girl" -- Charles deLint

Non-Fiction:

-- "America Against the World" -- Andrew Kohut

-- "Wins, Losses & Lessons" -- Lou Holtz

-- "Basilica: Splendor and the Scandal Building St. Peters" -- R.A. Scotti

Library events

-- "Preschool Story Time each Tuesday,10 a.m. Games, stories, crafts. Appropriate for children approximately 3 to 7 years.

-- Pajama Story Time each Monday, 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Wear your jammies or come as you are. Games, crafts, stories.

-- Wee Ones Lap Time Story Times for babies up to 24 months, each Wednesday,10 a.m. Interactive finger play and song time for mothers and babies.

-- Travel With Lewis & Clark Series every other Tuesday of the month, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Moderated by Marvin Wilhite.

How can I support the Marshall Public Library?

-- Bring your receipts from Patricia's into the library when you're returning or checking out books. Each month, Patricia's Foods will donate a portion of the collected receipts to the library.

-- When purchasing items from Amazon.com, use the link to Amazon that appears on the Marshall Public Library's website: www.marshallpubliclibrary.com. A portion of your purchase will go to support the library.

-- Consider joining Friends of the Marshall Libraries. Membership forms are available at the library.

-- Honor a mentor. Celebrate a friend. Commemorate an event. A gift to the Marshall Public Library is a unique and enduring way to pay tribute to friends and family. Your generosity will be a lasting source of joy and enrichment for the community. For additional information, please call (660) 886-3391 with any questions.