Inviting all ghosts, ghouls, goblins, superheroes, and creatures alike! Halloween is this week and we are celebrating by participating this Friday, October 31, in the 3rd annual Trick or Treat with Milford Businesses. Stop by the library anytime between 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to pick up some treats and show off your awesome costume.

Ever wonder about the history of Halloween? Did you know the holiday dates back 3,000 years ago to Ireland? Halloween was started when the Celts believed that on that day the worlds of the living and the spirit were very thin and the dead could roam. They also believed that those who died in the last year would come back and walk the Earth so the Celts would leave out food and sweets to please the dead. You can learn more about the history of Halloween from a DVD in our collection The Haunted History of Halloween from The History Channel.

If you are planning a last minute party, just need some cool decorating ideas, or haven’t thought of a good costume yet, we have books for you. The Best of Halloween Tricks and Treats gives ideas on pumpkin carving, parties, costumes, drinks, food, and décor. Ghoulish Goodies has creature feature cupcakes, monster eyeballs, bat wings, funny bones, witches knuckles, and more. The Halloween Costume Book has step by step instructions on how to make classic and original costumes.

Don’t forget we have public storytime this Friday, October 31, at 10:00 a.m., and the topic is “Halloween.” Bring youngsters in to learn more about Halloween in a fun way.

The Milford Memorial Library is wishing everyone a fun and safe Halloween!

Gearing up for Halloween? Need a good scare? We recently added two books to our collection to help you find haunted sites around the area. The Iowa Road Guide to Haunted Locations and The Minnesota Road Guide to Haunted Locations both have equally scary locations to give you an adrenaline rush around Halloween. A close location is the Oak Hill Cemetery near Estherville. People claim that they have seen mysterious balls of light floating around and that if you park your car at the cemetery on a flat surface and put it in neutral it will get pushed up the hill. Stop by to check out these books and the many other great Halloween books.

Tuesday, October 21, at 1 p.m., our Open Book Discussion Group will be meeting to talk about Help for the Haunted by John Searles. This unforgettable story surrounds an unusual family who helps haunted souls find a place. The parents are killed in a terrible tragedy and their daughter goes on a revealing search to find the truth.  Anyone is welcome to join this book club and they meet every third Tuesday of the month.

The scarecrow was originally made to be put in open fields to scare away birds such as crows from feeding on crops. This Friday, October 24, at 10 a.m., come to the library to hear more about scarecrows at our public storytime. 

Whodunit? Teen Read Week is a time to encourage teens to read for the fun of it and is happening October 12 – 18. This week we are going to be playing the library version of Clue. Are you ready to be the detective who solves a murder mystery? Was it Lord Voldemort in the young adult section with the goblet of fire? Become a detective by coming in anytime between Tuesday the 14th and Friday the 17th to receive your clue from the sheriff and start figuring out whodunit.

Thursday, September 9, at 10 a.m., we will be looking for our Shelf Elves. Volunteers take on the task of organizing and cleaning a section of shelves. This helps our librarians and it will make sure you can find the book you are looking for that might have otherwise been misplaced.

If you are in preschool through 4th grade and need something to do after school on Thursday, September 9, stop by the library. Join Betty Naab, our children’s librarian, as she hosts the after school craft party. The theme for this week is “Halloween Bingo.”

                Public storytime is back. This Friday, October 10, at 10:00 a.m. is our public storytime and the theme this week is “Fire Prevention.”

                We will be closed Monday, October 13, in observance of Columbus Day. 

Haven’t had time to go to the movies recently? One of the largest blockbusters of the summer “The Fault in Our Stars” recently appeared on our shelves. Or maybe you are already missing the BBC version of “Sherlock.” Well we have something for you too! “Broadchurch,” another BBC America hit, features two detectives investigating the murder of a young boy in a seaside town. The Milford Memorial Library has a large collection of DVDs. If you have a library card you can borrow these DVDs at no cost for three days. Much better than going to the movies.

            Bill Cosby was the first black man to star in a television drama. An impressive accomplishment in the 1960’s and he has become one of the most well-known comedians. Mark Whitaker’s “Cosby: His Life and Times” is now in our new books shelf. The New York Times said, “It’s square, competent, gentle, G-rated, dignified and, in the end, a bit distant.” Check out this book and others on our new books shelf.

Wednesday, October 1, at 5:30 p.m. will be the library board meeting and immediately following the meeting is a free computer class led by Jeff Cookinham.

            This Friday, October 3, there will be no public storytime. The next public storytime will be on Friday, October 10, and the theme will be “Fire Prevention.”