Events

A Novel Idea is BMPL's book club. Join us each month to explore and discuss the month's book. Retired English teacher Steve Holland is our book guide. A Novel Idea Book Club meets in the library on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm. Newcomers are always welcome to this lively book group! The October book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep South—and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred. One of the most cherished stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has served as the basis for an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father—a crusading local lawyer—risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime. (Book Summary from amazon.com) NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. YOU CAN FIND A COPY OF THE BOOK FOR CHECK OUT ON THE NOVEL IDEA BOOK CLUB DISPLAY AT THE BMPL LIBRARY.

Aging Care Series: Home Safety for Seniors Statistics show that over 50% of all accidents occur in the home and for senior adults that statistic is even higher. The good news is there are simple changes you can make to your home, or the home of an aging loved one, that can help lessen the chances of a home accident. There is more to it than just picking up the throw rugs and staying off ladders! Join us as we move from room to room with tips on how to increase your safety in every room of the house and beyond. This series is lead by Ann Edwards of Aging Care Solutions. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. FREE EDUCATIONAL TALK - OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.

Southeast Indiana Creative Collective: a community for local artists to share, create, and explore together. Pottery, photography, painting, crafting, illustration, writing, music, fashion, theatre, sewing/quilting, embroidery, dance, printmaking, graphic design—there are no rules about what kind of creative person you have to be to join! Have Questions? Email kerseykatie@gmail.com This program is by SEI Creative Collective held at BMPL. NO REGISTRATION. OPEN TO ADULTS.

Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, is an ancient art technique that involves applying a heated wax medium mixed with pigments to a surface. This class will use these classical techniques along with embedding techniques of collage enabling each participant to create a one of a kind piece.  REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. This class will be led by professional artist Thom Maltbie. There is no cost to the program, but donations are welcomed. Sign up below for this program.

Do you have a project that you need a little motivation to finish? Do you get lonely working on your projects at home? Just want a little company? Join your fellow crafters at the Library for an afternoon of crafting and chatting. Bring your craft project(s) from home and join us for a crafty social hour!

During retirement, Ripley County resident Carl Moore started collecting coins. He is now sharing his passion with others. His main interest in coins is as they relate to historical events. During this session he will share information about early US coins to the present day. This program is geared towards Tween/Teens and Adults. Everyone who attends will receive a wheat penny and be entered in a drawing to win another coin. Everyone in attendance will also be entered into a seasonal drawing for a 1921 Morgan silver dollar. Registration requested below.

Join us for an afternoon of real-life narratives, where we share heartfelt and captivating experiences. Join us to connect, share, and embrace the beauty of real-life tales! NO REGISTRATION.  OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  FREE.

Do you have a project that you need a little motivation to finish? Do you get lonely working on your projects at home? Just want a little company? Join your fellow crafters at the Library for an afternoon of crafting and chatting. Bring your craft project(s) from home and join us for a crafty social hour!

Felting is one of the oldest forms of textile arts. Needle felting is begun by rolling a small amount of wool and stabbing it with the needle. It is a quick hobby to learn, and many find it stress-relieving. For November we will continue making our cornucopia and filling it with a variety of Thanksgiving bounty. You can still join and sign up for November even if you missed October's class. You can most definitely work on a smaller project and introduce yourself to felting! This adult group meets on the first Thursday afternoon of each month to make a project. Please join us for this NO cost program. Registration is REQUIRED for this program. Fill out the form below.

William Lee Peters is a retired aerospace engineer. Writing began as a pursuit in his retirement years to pass stories to future generations. His first book, Intertwine: A WWII Soldier’s Memoir, began with conversations with his father. As a younger man, his father was reluctant to speak about WWII experiences, but as he aged, he began sharing stories. The book is available for purchase in hardbound, paperback (large print), and in Kindle format. As a Vetern’s Day special, the book will be free on Kindle from Nov.8-13 ONLY ON AMAZON. Additionally, he will have copies available to purchase at the event and is happy to sign your copies.  I am working on several additional projects, including a family genealogy book and several Christian devotional books. FREE TALK. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. NO REGISTRATION.

Do you have a project that you need a little motivation to finish? Do you get lonely working on your projects at home? Just want a little company? Join your fellow crafters at the Library for an afternoon of crafting and chatting. Bring your craft project(s) from home and join us for a crafty social hour!

Another crafting afternoon is coming soon. Join us as we transform a simple glass jar into a stunning leaf lantern. Make new friends and enjoy time with other people who enjoy crafting. This is a FREE BMPL adult craft program. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please sign up below.

Do you have a project that you need a little motivation to finish? Do you get lonely working on your projects at home? Just want a little company? Join your fellow crafters at the Library for an afternoon of crafting and chatting. Bring your craft project(s) from home and join us for a crafty social hour!

A Novel Idea is BMPL's book club. Join us each month to explore and discuss the month's book. Retired English teacher Steve Holland is our book guide. A Novel Idea Book Club meets in the library on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm. Newcomers are always welcome to this lively book group! The November book is The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris. ***NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER***      "Will grab your heart on page one and won't let go until the end."   'Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants   On a cold night in October 1937, searchlights cut through the darkness around Alcatraz. A prison guard's only daughter, one of the youngest civilians who lives on the island has gone missing. Tending the warden's greenhouse, convicted bank robber Tommy Capello waits anxiously. Only he knows the truth about the little girl's whereabouts, and that both of their lives depend on the search's outcome. Almost two decades earlier and thousands of miles away, a young boy named Shanley Keagan ekes out a living as an aspiring vaudevillian in Dublin pubs. Talented and shrewd, Shan dreams of shedding his dingy existence and finding his real father in America. The chance finally comes to cross the Atlantic, but when tragedy strikes, Shan must summon all his ingenuity to forge a new life in a volatile and foreign world. Skillfully weaving these two stories, Kristina McMorris delivers a compelling novel that moves from Ireland to New York to San Francisco Bay. As her finely crafted characters discover the true nature of loyalty, sacrifice, and betrayal, they are forced to confront the lies we tell and believe in order to survive. (Book Summary from amazon.com) NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. YOU CAN FIND A COPY OF THE BOOK FOR CHECK OUT ON THE NOVEL IDEA BOOK CLUB DISPLAY AT THE BMPL LIBRARY.

Aging Care Series: Dementia & the Holidays - Confusion FREE Celebrations If your upcoming holidays and family gatherings include someone with dementia, there’s an extra level of planning you should think about. Seeing people we don't see often, being in places we're not familiar with or any activity outside of the "normal routine" can be confusing and overwhelming for people with dementia. In this program we will share survival tips for families coping with Alzheimer’s and other dementias during the holiday season to have fun and confusion free celebrations. This series is led by Ann Edwards of Aging Care Solutions. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. FREE EDUCATIONAL TALK - OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.

Southeast Indiana Creative Collective: a community for local artists to share, create, and explore together. Pottery, photography, painting, crafting, illustration, writing, music, fashion, theatre, sewing/quilting, embroidery, dance, printmaking, graphic design—there are no rules about what kind of creative person you have to be to join! Have Questions? Email kerseykatie@gmail.com This program is by SEI Creative Collective held at BMPL. NO REGISTRATION. OPEN TO ADULTS.

We are sorry, but the Invasive Plant presentation by Oak Heritage Conservancy is CANCELLED for Monday, November 25 at Batesville Library due to an unforeseen circumstance. We are sorry for the late notice.     Join us as we take a virtual mini tour of native Indiana habitats, review a few invasive plants, learn why they are invasive and how to manage them, and then complete our time together with a look at some native plants we can use to create living landscapes to boldly celebrate our beautiful state. Dawn Slack, Project Coordinator of the Indiana Invasives Initiative will lead this program highlighting ways to combat invasive plants and raise awareness of the devastation being caused by these non-native pests.  According to Dawn, “We will not begin to make much headway until the problem is addressed at the local level by local people using local resources”. This presentation is given by Oak Heritage Conservatory, Hanover, IN (https://oakheritageconservancy.org/) in BMPL's Meeting Room. Educational Presentation.  Open to the community. NO REGISTRATION.

Do you have a project that you need a little motivation to finish? Do you get lonely working on your projects at home? Just want a little company? Join your fellow crafters at the Library for an afternoon of crafting and chatting. Bring your craft project(s) from home and join us for a crafty social hour!

Do you have a project that you need a little motivation to finish? Do you get lonely working on your projects at home? Just want a little company? Join your fellow crafters at the Library for an afternoon of crafting and chatting. Bring your craft project(s) from home and join us for a crafty social hour!

Do you have a project that you need a little motivation to finish? Do you get lonely working on your projects at home? Just want a little company? Join your fellow crafters at the Library for an afternoon of crafting and chatting. Bring your craft project(s) from home and join us for a crafty social hour!

Get into the holiday spirit with a fun and creative workshop where we'll transform 3.5" wood slices into beautiful Christmas ornaments! 🎄✨ Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a beginner, this is the perfect opportunity to express your creativity and make something special for your tree or to give to a loved one. Bring your friends, enjoy some festive treats, and leave with a one-of-a-kind ornament that captures the joy of the season! Don’t miss out on this chance to make lasting memories—register today! We can’t wait to craft with you! This is a FREE BMPL adult craft program. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please sign up below.

Felting is one of the oldest forms of textile arts. Needle felting is begun by rolling a small amount of wool and stabbing it with the needle. It is a quick hobby to learn, and many find it stress-relieving. This month we are meeting on the 2nd Thursday of the month as BMPL is closed on our “regular” day. In December our new instructor, Nancy Laymon will take us back to the basics. This is a great time to try needle felting if you’ve never been before. December’s star project will allow you to learn what needle felting is, how it is done, and provide the foundation for future projects.  If you are already familiar with needle felting, you may also come and work on a project of your own choosing, without instruction. Please note: Due to the Friends of the Library book sale, this program will be held at the main library in Room A. Please join us for this NO cost program. Registration is REQUIRED for this program. Fill out the form below.

Join retired English Professor Ron Nicholas as he shares background, tells some amusing stories, and does some dramatic readings of some beloved Christmas poems, “A Visit from Saint Nick”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, and “I Heard the Bells” and dig into their backstories and little-known secrets. For example, I will look at the raging debate over who really wrote the quintessential Christmas poem attributed to Clement Moore. And did you know the inspiration for the Grinch was the author himself during a period of depression? I will look at the symbolism in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and “The Holly and the Ivy” and the backstories to some of the most beloved Christmas poems. Also, I will feature classic poems that became popular Christmas songs, such as “Good King Wenceslas”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, and “Come, All Ye Faithful”. I will mix in a few other wonderful but lesser-known poems such as hilarious “December 26” and “Minstrels” by Wordsworth and, of course, unpack “Old Lang Syne” by Robert Burns.  Hot chocolate and Holiday cookies will be available for added enjoyment.  NO Registration.

Do you have a project that you need a little motivation to finish? Do you get lonely working on your projects at home? Just want a little company? Join your fellow crafters at the Library for an afternoon of crafting and chatting. Bring your craft project(s) from home and join us for a crafty social hour!

A Novel Idea is BMPL's book club. Join us each month to explore and discuss the month's book. Retired English teacher Steve Holland is our book guide. A Novel Idea Book Club meets in the library on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm. Newcomers are always welcome to this lively book group! The December book is The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Ablom. #1 New York Times Bestseller What would happen if we called on God for help and God actually appeared? In Mitch Albom’s profound new novel of hope and faith, a group of shipwrecked passengers pull a strange man from the sea. He claims to be “the Lord.” And he says he can only save them if they all believe in him. Adrift in a raft after a deadly ship explosion, ten people struggle for survival at sea. Three days pass. Short on water, food and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves. They pull him in. “Thank the Lord we found you,” a passenger says. “I am the Lord,” the man whispers. So begins Mitch Albom’s most beguiling novel yet. In The Stranger in the Lifeboat, Albom keeps us guessing until the end: Is this strange man really who he claims to be? What actually happened to cause the explosion? Are the survivors in heaven, or are they in hell? The story is narrated by Benji, one of the passengers, who recounts the events in a notebook that is discovered—a year later—when the empty life raft washes up on the island of Montserrat. It falls to the island’s chief inspector, Jarty LeFleur, a man battling his own demons, to solve the mystery of what really happened.  A fast-paced, compelling novel that makes you ponder your deepest beliefs, The Stranger in the Lifeboat suggests that answers to our prayers may be found where we least expect them. (Book Summary from amazon.com) NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. YOU CAN FIND A COPY OF THE BOOK FOR CHECK OUT ON THE NOVEL IDEA BOOK CLUB DISPLAY AT THE BMPL LIBRARY.

Felting is one of the oldest forms of textile arts. Needle felting is begun by rolling a small amount of wool and stabbing it with the needle. It is a quick hobby to learn, and many find it stress-relieving. This month come and create with us either a felted applique on a winter hat, or on a set of gloves.  This beginner level project is perfect for those who are wanting to learn more about  needle felting, or want to expand their skills. Consider registering for this cute and functional Needle Felting project! Please join us for this NO cost adult program. Registration is REQUIRED for this program. Fill out the form below.

Do you have a project that you need a little motivation to finish? Do you get lonely working on your projects at home? Just want a little company? Join your fellow crafters at the  Library for an afternoon of crafting and chatting. Bring your craft project(s) from home and join us for a crafty social hour! Craft & Chat meets Tuesdays from 1-2 PM. NO REGISTRATION.

Do you have a project that you need a little motivation to finish? Do you get lonely working on your projects at home? Just want a little company? Join your fellow crafters at the  Library for an afternoon of crafting and chatting. Bring your craft project(s) from home and join us for a crafty social hour! Craft & Chat meets Tuesdays from 1-2 PM. NO REGISTRATION.

Unleash your creativity at our January craft.  Join us for an afternoon of fun as we use vibrant alcohol inks to decorate your very own trinket dish. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a complete beginner, this craft is perfect for anyone looking to unwind, express themselves, and create something uniquely beautiful. Alcohol ink’s flowing, vibrant colors will allow you to experiment with abstract patterns, blending techniques, and stunning marbling effects. And the best part? You’ll leave with a personalized, one-of-a-kind trinket dish that you can display proudly or gift to someone special. This is the perfect way to spend time with friends, make new connections, and tap into your artistic side. No experience is needed, just bring your creativity and enjoy a laid-back, enjoyable afternoon in a supportive, social environment. Don’t miss out—your next masterpiece is just an ink drop away! This class has a suggested (but not required) donation of $5. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please sign up below.

Southeast Indiana Creative Collective: a community for local artists to share, create, and explore together. Pottery, photography, painting, crafting, illustration, writing, music, fashion, theatre, sewing/quilting, embroidery, dance, printmaking, graphic design—there are no rules about what kind of creative person you have to be to join! Have Questions? Email kerseykatie@gmail.com This program is by SEI Creative Collective held at BMPL. NO REGISTRATION. OPEN TO ADULTS.