November, 2026 Edition
The Perry Cook Chronicle is a monthly newsletter featuring news, services, and events at Perry Cook Memorial Public Library. Print copies are available for reading at the library. Get library information and news straight to your inbox by subscribing to The Chronicle.
New Event for Parents and Kids at Perry Cook!
All Aboard for Parents' Day Out! A Polar Express Holiday Drop Off Event.
All Aboard for a magical afternoon at Perry Cook Memorial Library! While parents shop, wrap gifts, or tackle their holiday to-do lists, little elves can enjoy an afternoon filled with Christmas fun at the library.
Join us on Saturday, November 28, from 2:00-5:00 pm, after regular library hours, for a special Polar Express-themed afternoon featuring The Polar Express movie, festive crafts, games, and Christmas fun. Wear your best Christmas jammies!
Registration is required, and space is limited, so be sure to reserve your child's spot early.
Ages 3 and up. Must be potty trained.
Let us keep the little ones busy with holiday magic while you enjoy a little time to yourself this Christmas season. We can't wait to welcome our little passengers aboard the Parent Express!
Back By Popular Demand! Kids in the Kitchen (Sloppy Joe Nachos & Caramel Apple in a Cup)
Crunch, drizzle, and munch! Big flavors in two easily customizable treats. Your kids will love chopping, layering, and drizzling their way to the perfect snack and dessert.
We'll also have a story and a scavenger hunt.
Ages 5-12 years old. Limit 20 kids.
Parental assistance required for younger kids, recommended for all ages.
Registration required and opens October 25.
Date: Saturday, November 14
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Kids in the Kitchen Registration
Now Accepting Applications - Seeking New Library Board Member
The Ohio Library Council Board of Directors provides leadership and governance for the organization, helping to advance the interests of Ohio libraries through strategic planning, advocacy, professional development, and fiscal oversight.
Board members serve as representatives of Ohio's library community, contributing their expertise and perspectives to support libraries and the communities they serve throughout the state.
This appointment carries a four-year term beginning in January, 2027, with the member expected to actively participate in board meetings, committee work, and organizational initiatives during their tenure.
Meetings are second Tuesdays of the month at 7pm.
Crafting with Rita
Repurpose jewelry into one-of-a-kind art pieces.
Take antique/vintage, thrift store, or broken jewelry and upcycle it into framed mosaic wall art.
Open to adults. All supplies provided.
Registration is required. Class costs $5.00, payable day of via cash or Venmo.
Saturday, November 21
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Crafting with Rita Registration
Special Event: Spooky Season Filmmaking With AI
Teens and adults are invited to join Coen for a special Spooky Season Filmmaking session on Friday, November 6, from 4:00-5:00 pm.
Learn how to plan, edit, and add sound to your own mini horror movie using AI!
Bring your phone, laptop, or tablet, and discover tricks and tips for creating your own spooky video content.
Technology Help Here at Perry Cook!
Need help with your phone, computer, or navigating the digital world? Coen White, Perry Cook Memorial Library's Guiding Ohio Online grant recipient, will be at the library on the first and third Friday of each month to help patrons build their digital skills and feel more confident with technology.
Patrons can register for one-on-one tech help session or simply stop by with their phones, laptops, or tablets for individual assistance.
Whether you need help figuring out your device, navigating an app, or learning something new, Coen is here to help!
Coen will also host two themed Appy Hours: Passwords Without the Headache, with tips for making password management easier, and Practical Uses for AI, exploring ways AI can be useful in everyday life.
Tech Help Sessions Registration, November 6 and Tech Help Sessions Registration, November 20
Curious About AI? Let's Make It Simple!
Our first AI learning sessions have brought wonderful community participation, and we're excited to continue helping people better understand the technology shaping our everyday lives. As AI becomes more common it's important to know not only how to use it, but also how to recognize the risks that come with it.
In November, we'll take a closer look at AI Safety, Scams, Privacy, & Deep Fakes. Learn how scammers use technology to trick people, how to spot suspicious messages and calls, and how AI-generated images, videos, and voices can fool even the most careful person. This is an especially important session to attend, so bring a friend! The more we know, the better prepared we are to protect ourselves, our families, and one another.
Whether you're comfortable with technology or just want to feel safer navigating today's digital world, this free session is for you!
The remaining series sessions will be held on Mondays at 5:00 pm:
November 16 - AI Safety, Scams, Privacy, & Deep Fakes
December 14 - AI for Work, Home, & Retirement
This series will be presented by Barb Scott, M.B.A., a Business and AI faculty member at Marion Technical College. Barb is currently developing a technical course in artificial intelligence designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills identified by industry partners for AI-related careers.
This programming is made possible through funding from the National Science Foundation, Award #2500324, helping bring educational opportunities and emerging technology conversations to communities throughout our area.
Can't make every session at Perry Cook? Don't worry! This programming will also be offered at other Morrow County libraries. Be sure to check their event calendars for additional dates and times.
AI is changing the way we live, work, communicate, and access information - and Perry Cook Memorial Library is excited to provide a welcoming place for our community to learn, ask questions, and explore what these changes might mean for all of us. We hope you'll join us as we make AI a little less intimidating - and a lot more understandable!
Perry Cook Bookmobile Outreach
On the second Friday of each month, the Perry Cook bookmobile travels throughout Morrow County, visiting nine different Amish schools. Each visit includes a selection of approximately 60 books, catering to children ages 5 to 12 and covering a wide range of interests. Popular titles include the Laura Ingalls Wilder and Sugar Creek Gang series, as well as various age-appropriate non-fiction educational books. Additionally, we exchange book bins, with adult fiction and non-fiction selections, at Country Meadows Retirement Home.
We are continually seeking new locations to expand our service. If you, or someone you know, would benefit from having books delivered regularly, please do not hesitate to contact us. To be added to the route or for more information, please call 419-362-7181 or email JenC@perrycooklibrary.org.
Are You Sew Curious?
Learn the basics of hand sewing and work on simple sewing projects.
No sewing experience needed.
Youth program, ages 6-12 years old. Parental assistance recommended.
Date: Friday, November 27
Time: 1:00-2:30 pm
GED Classed Offered Every Wednesday
Earn a High School Equivalency (GED) or an Adult Workforce Diploma through one of two programs presented by Knox Technical Center at Perry Cook.
If you need a GED (General Equivalency Diploma), register for weekly GED classes. Open to anyone age 16 or older. You will need to complete an orientation session, where you will learn more about the classes covered (usually math and writing skills), the four GED subject tests you need to pass, how the material can be customized to fit your needs, and get an assessment to determine your individual education plan and goals. Some of the class work can be done online, but in-person classes are held weekly on Wednesdays.
There is not cost to you for these GED or Adult Workforce Diploma classes. If you want to register for either program or need additional information, please call Knox Technical Center at 740-393-2933, ext. 1121.
Jen's Corner
I like to use this space in the newsletter to recommend outstanding books to the patrons of Perry Cook. However, sometimes my reading experiences are less than ideal. Last month, I read three books: "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles, which I found exceptional and highly recommend; followed by two books that did not resonate with me as much - "The Hot Girl Murder Club" and "The Ministry of Time". At the encouragement of a staff member, I have decided to share my thoughts on these less engaging reads, and explain why they did not meet my expectations.
Starting with "The Hot Girl Murder Club" by Ashley Winstead, the book was described in a webinar as "Feminist Rage Bait," which sparked my interest, given my engagement with both feminism and social commentary. While the murder mysteries were intriguing, I found it difficult to connect with the characters' focus on fashion labels and social status. Although I empathize with the challenges women face across industries, I personally find labels and fashion quite tedious, which made relating to these characters a challenge.
The second book, "The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley, had significant potential. I enjoy time travel novels, especially those exploring scenarios where characters from the past adapt to the modern world. Unfortunately, this book attempted to incorporate multiple complex elements - a time travel plot, an Arctic expedition, a Cambodian immigrant mother, and am MI-6 spy subplot involving six time travelers - which became overwhelming. However, the author's note revealed that the story was intended to entertain friends, which added a charming and redeeming perspective. We all should be blessed with such friends!
The key takeaway from reading - even when the book does not fully engage you - is the mental exercise involved. Reading requires visualization, critical thinking, narrative analysis, and self-reflection, which offers benefits that passive activities, like scrolling through social media or watching television cannot provide. This cognitive engagement is as essential to the mind as physical exercise is to the body.
I invite our patrons to share their experiences with books that did not meet their expectations. Hearing about such reads demonstrates active engagement with literature, and I look forward to learning about your perspectives.
