Library to host African American film festival, history exhibit, author visit with Manning

Published 9:12 am Friday, January 26, 2024

The Boyle County Public Library offers free activities, special events, online resources, and numerous services for the community. Programs often include storytimes, crafting programs, art exhibits, and gaming events. Here is a closer look at some of the upcoming events at the library:

Adult D&D

Dungeons & Dragons is often called the greatest role-playing game of all time. The library offers a D&D club for adults that meets at the library on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Adults can join a session on Sunday, January 28 at noon or 4:30 p.m. No experience is necessary, but registration is required. To register, sign up at the library or via the event listing on the library’s website, or email library@boylepublib.org. (Ages 18+)

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Baby Storytime

Baby Storytime is offered at the library on Mondays at 10 a.m. This is a special storytime for babies and their caregivers to strengthen bonds and give encouragement for playing, reading and growing. This weekly event will be held in the Community Room. (Ages birth-18 months)

Y.A. Creative Club

The library hosts a weekly YA (Young Adult) Creative Club, where tweens and teens in grades 6-12 can try out fun creative projects, learn new artistic techniques, and meet creatively-minded friends. Join us on Tuesday, January 30 from 4-5:30 p.m. for Crafternoon. Get inspired as you explore the library’s collection of artistic, writing, and crafting materials, then let your imagination guide you to create something new and exciting to take home at the end of the day! This event will be held in the Community Room. (Ages 11-17)

Storytime

Each week we will read stories and have a themed sensory activity for young children to enjoy. Storytime will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. in the youth department. Toddlers and preschoolers are all welcome to attend with their caregivers. (Ages 1-5)

Y.A. Gaming Guild: Players’ Pick

Calling all gamers! Join us at the library on Thursday, February 1 from 4-5:30 p.m. for YA Gaming Guild, where tweens and teens in grades 6-12 can relax, play games, have some snacks, and hang out with other gamers. This week, you and your fellow gamers will get to pick what you play from the library’s huge collection of board games, and multiplayer video games for the Nintendo Switch. New and returning gamers are always welcome. This event will be held in the Community Room. (Ages 11-17)

Author Visit & Book Signing with Maurice Manning

The Boyle County Public Library will host an author visit and book signing with local poet Maurice Manning on Thursday, February 1 at 6:30 p.m. Manning will read from his eighth collection, Snakedoctor. Existing between haunting memory and pastoral dreamscape, this quiet collection showcases Manning’s storytelling at its finest.  Plaid Elephant Books will be at the event to sell copies of the book. This event will be held in the Reading Room. (Ages 18+)

About the author: Manning teaches at Transylvania University in Lexington, and for the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. He is also a regular member of the faculty for the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. He is a member of Kentucky Writers and Artists for Reforestation and is vice chancellor of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. His poems and essays have appeared in various magazines and journals, including TIME, Garden & Gun, The Sewanee Review, Commonweal, Plume, Virginia Quarterly Review, Five Points, and The New Yorker. Manning lives with his family on a small farm in Kentucky.

“African American History of Danville” Exhibit: Opening Reception

On Saturday, February 3 from 1:30-2:30 PM, the Library will host the Opening Reception of the “African American History of Danville” exhibit. Offered in partnership with the Danville-Boyle County African American Historical Society (DBCAAHS), the exhibit will feature historical posters from DBCAAHS that highlight African American history of Danville. Light refreshments will be available. The exhibit will be on display in the Georgia de Araujo Gallery at the Library February 3-28, 2024. (All ages)

African American Film Festival

Join us each Saturday afternoon in February to watch movies that celebrate the achievement and recognize the struggles the African American community has gone through in the history of the United States. Films will be shown in the Community Room at the Boyle County Public Library. Film titles can be found on the library’s website. This series is offered in partnership with the Danville-Boyle County African American Historical Society.

On Saturday, February 3 at 3 p.m., watch a documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African American music and culture and promoted Black pride and unity. (Rated PG-13; 1hr 58m)

12 Days of Winter Reading Challenge

You’re invited to celebrate the season with 12 Days of Winter Reading! Everyone who completes 12 days of reading by January 31, 2024 is a winner in this winter reading challenge. Use your Beanstack account to track your reading to earn a 2024 Library calendar and chances to win our Grand Prizes. When you finish the first 12 days of reading, you’ll receive a chance to enter the Grand Prize drawings. (If you haven’t had a chance to log the days you have read, there is still time to record those days.) Every time you complete 12 days of reading you earn an additional entry into the Grand Prize drawings. All reading progress and prize drawing entries must be entered by January 31st. All ages are encouraged to participate. More information, including photos of the prize bundles, is available on the library’s website. (All ages)

Information about library resources and all upcoming events can be found online at BoylePubLib.org. The library is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m.– 8 p.m.; and Saturday from 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Chat with library staff using the live chat service on the library’s website or by texting (859)-545-8398.

The Boyle County Public Library serves the city of Danville and the surrounding communities, and is actively committed to enriching the lives of its patrons. The library is located at 307 W. Broadway in Danville.