Thanksgiving is a holiday that celebrates our connections to immediate and extended friends and family, and all other earthly associations. One is not expected to shop much (thank goodness!) and the worst competition might be about whose pie or stuffing was the best.

There are many interesting books, videos and websites on the history and philosophy of the Thanksgiving Thanksgiving. Its true origins are not quite like the one I had imagined back in grade school; the happy Pilgrim and Indian plays of my childhood left out many tragic details. Also, the date of the "4th Thursday of November” was not permanently established until 1941, when President Roosevelt signed it into law. The combination of an older harvest holiday with religious ethic and secular consumer frenzy is an interesting one, and it's still my favorite holiday. For more info on Thanksgiving's origins check out Wikipedia's article here.

Our new Evergreen catalog has a nice feature called "browse." Once you performed a search and chosen to look at one particular item, you can see the materials that are shelved near the one that you have chosen. It's as if you were standing right in the aisle looking at the books. Just click on the “browse” link at the individual item record page (to the right of the Call #). Some items will also have a “reviews” tab, but not all will have this feature. So if you want to see what other holiday cookery books are available at the library, click “browse” from a holiday cookbook record and page through as many cookbooks as you want.

Ah perfect -- maybe this has one of those Tofu Turkey recipes -- Happy Holidays!

You're right! It is a book return. Not just any book return either, it's a highly convenient drive-up book drop. Just roll down your windows, deposit your items, and continue on your way!

To participate, you first need to stop into any GRPL library and sign up. Then, read or listen to 10 books of your choice, write them down on a reading record and turn it in to any GRPL location by 5:30 on February 28. This gets you a gift and a Culture Pass featuring special offers from area attractions and arts organizations. Signing up also registers you for a chance to win a gift certificate from Schuler Books. Don't forget, this book club is for adults only, so if you aren't 16 or over there is no need to apply.

For ideas on what to read next, check out Goodreads.com and LibraryThing.com My first book will be Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway. I've only read 35 pages and I'm already in love with it. Check out our catalog to read reviews and an excerpt of it! Are there any exciting books in your future? Do tell.

I am about to have my curiosity satisfied on Wednesday, November 5 when I attend a dress rehearsal of Tosca, the latest offering from Opera Grand Rapids. The show is described as "Romantic. Shocking. Violent." And yes, we are talking about the opera and not the latest prime time offering.

The best thing about tickets to the dress rehearsal? You can get them for free at any Grand Rapids Public Library location. Just show your Grand Rapids Public Library card and check out a pair.

Open Mic Night is back! If you love poetry let your voice be heard. We'll read our favorite poems out loud. We'll share original works. We'll listen. We'll have an enjoyable evening.

On Wednesday, November 5th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., join us in the Main Library's Ryerson Auditorium for “Celebrating Caregivers,” an informative and enjoyable evening featuring Karen Libman, Grand Valley State University Theater Professor, as she explores the challenges of balancing work, family, and caregiving. Hors d'oeuvres will be served and there will be drawings for door prizes. Registration is required for this event by Wednesday, October 29. Reserve your spot by e-mailing the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at registration@aaawm.org or by calling 616-456-5664.

A second event will be held later in the month on Saturday, November 22nd, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., also in the Main Library's Ryerson Auditorium. This will be a free open house focusing on the “Life of a Caregiver: Navigating the Maze of Services” and will provide caregivers of all ages an opportunity to hear expert presentations and learn about available caregiver resources. No registration is required for this event.

If you have questions, call 988-5402, ext. 5465.

Both events will have approximately thirty sponsors who will have information booths set up outside of the auditorium to provide timely caregiving resources. The sponsors include:

• A Place for Mom
• Airway Oxygen
• Alzheimer's Association - West Michigan Chapter

Kids check out the inside of an ambulance after To the Rescue Storytime with Life EMS.

Tim Gleisner of the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department shares one of many Treasures from the Vault.

The day's featured authors signed their books in the Reading Room.

Kids learn to enjoy books using motion.

The final event of the day was a fascinating talk by reporter and author Tom DeFrank whose bestselling book Write It When I'm Gone features stories of President Ford.

The day finishes with a special appearance by Tom DeFrank, reporter and author of Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford. The book is based on 30 years of private conversations with President Ford and is a New York Times and Washington Post bestseller. You won't want to miss this entertaining evening. DeFrank will be speaking at 7:00 pm in the Ryerson Auditorium.

And did I mention all the programs are free? There's really no excuse for boredom on Saturday!

Check out the full schedule.

There are just two easy rules:
1. you have to be a Grand Rapids Public Library cardholder
2. after checking out Griffins tickets you have to wait a year before checking out Griffins tickets again

Attendance is free, and you can bring movies or just watch your neighbors. Home Movie Day is taking place concurrently with those held at many other local venues worldwide. It's a day to celebrate amateur film making and a chance to discover why to care about these films and to learn how best to care for them.

Film drop-off and inspection begins at 1 pm.

Visit the offical website or find more info here.

We have put together an online resource guide to provide access to books, videos, pamphlets and web sites, as well as to local and national organizations dealing with breast cancer. Let us know if you find this helpful. If you happen to be in the Main Library downtown during October, stop by the Breast Cancer display on the Lower Level where we have books to check out and free informational items.

It's our very first all-inclusive, plan-your-life, don't-miss-awesome-events newsletter. In it you will find a full schedule for all our programs at all our locations. The first issue covers September, October, and November. If you read books, use computers, appreciate vampires, pet ferrets, run a business, or live in the state of Michigan you're bound to find something of interest inside. So read up!

Plus you can save items in virtual bookbags that can be shared with your friends. So go ahead and create a bookbag of "my favorite mysteries" or "books to check out" or "yummiest cookbooks."

Are your ready to dive right in? Then check out Evergreen right now.

Have questions on how it all works? Read up with our online tutorials.