Local library roundup

Children and youth

Batavia: 10 S. Batavia Ave., (630) 879-1393, www.batavia.lib.il.us.

• Cookie Mouse visits at 1 p.m. Friday for stories, activities and photos. No registration required.

• Halloween Hijinx at 2 p.m. Sunday as master puppeteer Dave Herzog brings his marionettes to the library for a special performance featuring Scar E. Crow, Jack O'Lantern and a gallery of ghastly ghouls in this kooky not too spooky Halloween show. Family registration requested.

• Drop In Craft from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 20 for children to make a Broom Pencil Topper. No registration required.

• Bookmark Contest through Oct. 31. Children in grades 1 - 5 are invited to use their creativity to design a bookmark that illustrates this year's theme, "Bridging Batavia with Books". Winners will be selected from each grade level and will receive a prize. Winning bookmark designs will be featured at the youth services desk during national Children's Book Week in November. Pick up an entry form at the youth services desk.

Geneva: 127 James St. (630) 232-0893, www.geneva.lib.il.us.

• Teen Read Week-LOL @ Your Library Oct 14-20. Stop by for fun freebies and read something humorous. Some suggestions are "Love Among the Walnuts" by Jean Ferris; "Son of the Mob" by Gordon Korman; "Squashed" by Joan Bauer; "Truth or Dairy" by Catherine Clark.

• TAG: Teen Advisory Group, volunteer and make a difference in your community. Registration required. Meeting dates are 5:50-6:30 p.m. today and 5:30-6:60 p.m. Nov. 14

• Anime Night, at 5 p.m. Oct. 19 for anime and snacks. Registration required.

St. Charles: 1 S. Sixth Ave., (630) 584-0076, www.stcharleslibrary.org.

• A Teen's Guide to Plastic & Credit, at 7 p.m. Thursday Susan Taylor of the U of I Extension Office will discuss the ins and outs of credit- debit card use and identity theft. Registration required.

• After Hours Movie Night from 7-10 p.m. Oct. 19. After voting on the movie to watch, students will enjoy pizza, pop, popcorn and ice cream during the film. A meal fee of $3 per person is required at registration. Students living outside the Library District may register for a fee of $5 each.

• Dave Herzog and his Marionettes at 9:30 or 11 a.m. Oct. 27 for special showings of "Halloween Hijinx." Enjoy the fun of Halloween without the fear at this all ages show. Families may register for either show.

• Scary Stories from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Tekakwitha Woods, 35W076 Villa Marie Road about 4 miles north of downtown St. Charles, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. for students in grades 3-12 and parents. Make sure to bring a blanket and flashlight. Please make other arrangements for younger children as they may not attend this event. Families living outside the Library District may register with the Kane County Forest Preserve at (847) 741-8250, ext. 10.

• Stories at the Nature Center at Tekakwitha Woods, 35w076 Villa Marie Road about 4 miles north of downtown St. Charles, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Oct. 26 for infants and children through age 5 and parents. Maps to the Nature Center are available at the Ask Me Desk. Families living outside of the library district may register with the forest preserve at (847) 742-8350.

Town and Country: 320 North St., Elburn, (630) 365-2244, FAX (630) 365-2358.

• Fall Craft Workshop from 10 to 11:30 a. m. Saturday. Children younger than 7 are welcome if a parent remains to help. This is a free craft time. Registration required.

• Ukulele Grandpa, Steve Keefe will present a jug band music workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday immediately following the Fall Craft Workshop for students in grades 1 through 5. Kids will learn how to make and play jug band instruments such as spoons, shakers, kazoos and wash boards. Everyone at the workshop will play and sing in the jug band. The songs will be recorded onto a CD, a copy of which will be given to each student. Registration required.

• Cookie Mouse visits at 1 p.m. Monday. Children will hear stories about Cookie Mouse's many adventures and have time for photos. Registration required.

• "Feelin' Good & Singin' Good" is a family concert from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Monday. Alan Lieberman offers a singalong move about program for children up to 8 years.

Adult and family

Batavia:

The October exhibit is the photography essay of Susan Duffy. The 35mm scenes of forest preserve landscapes are for sale with 10 percent of the profits going to the Batavia Friends of the Library.

• Lyric Opera Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 examines "Julius Caesar" at the St. Charles Library, 1 S. 6th Ave. and "Die Frau Ohne" at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Batavia Library. No registration required.

• "Public Art: History, Social Importance and Controversies" at 7 p.m. Oct. 18. Michael Hardesty, Instructor of sculpture at the school of the Art Institute of Chicago and one of the judges for the first Donovan bridge sculpture competition in Batavia, will address the importance of public sculpture in building a sense of community.

• Anime/Manga club meets 7 p.m. Oct. 24 for teens 13 and older who are interested in anime, a style of animation that originated in Japan, and manga a style of comics. No registration required.

Geneva:

• Meditation for Deeper Well Being from 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in the meeting room. Pam O'Brien, a certified instructor with 15 plus years of therapeutic yoga and meditation experience, will demonstrate simple techniques for getting started, breathing techniques and the proper preparation for guided meditation. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and to bring a cushion, a large firm blanket and an open mind.

• Library Computer Classes at 10 a.m.

Today, Introduction to Yahoo E-mail.

Oct. 24, Introduction to windows.

Oct. 25, Word Basics

Registration is required, (630) 232-0780, ext. 251.

• Great Decisions 2007 is intended to stimulate discussion of foreign policy issues. The Foreign Policy Association provides impartial materials, discussion guides and relevant videos designed to encourage citizens to discuss global challenges and the role the U.S. plays in helping shape foreign policy. Participants must pick up a copy of the Great Decisions guide before the discussion and are expected to attend prepared to discuss the issue for the program. Participants are encouraged to sign up for all three sessions. Go to www.fpa.org for detailed information on the mission and purpose of the Great Decisions project.

• Mexico: Neighbor in Turmoil, Oct. 17 at Geneva Public Library.

• Helping the World's Endangered Children, Nov. 14 at St. Charles Public Library.

• TAG: Teen Advisory Group; volunteer and make a difference in your community. Call (630) 232-0780, ext. 251 to register. Meeting dates: 5:30-6:30 p.m. today; 5:30-6:30 p.m. Nov. 14.

• Friends of Geneva Public Library at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6. The Friends coordinate three book sales a year that help the library purchase materials, reading club prizes and other needed equipment.

St. Charles:

On display for the month of October is the mixed media work of Sidonie Coryn.

• St. Charles Writers Group at 9:15 a.m. Oct 13. The group will focus on character and point of view and on Oct. 27 will discuss Erskine Caldwell's short story "Warm River". Moderator Richard Holinger leads the group that is designed for fledging and experienced writers ages 18 and older.

• Sunday Afternoon Concerts begin the season at 2 p.m. Oct. 14. Barbara Silverman and Steve Rosen will perform an array of Americana form early country to western swing to blues with some dance steps thrown in. On Oct. 28 the Arianna Duo will present a classical concert performed by Laura Fako Utley on harp and Lisa Fako on violin.

• The Lyric Opera Lecture Corp will present information about the eight operas of the Lyric's season on a rotating basis in the Tri-City Libraries; at 7 p.m. Oct. 16. "Julius Caesar" by George Frideric Handel will be discussed at the St. Charles Library, 1 S. 6th Ave.

• Books @ Noon Oct. 17 features a slide presentation by Annette Baldwin entitled "Treasures on the Illinois Landscape: The Carnegie Library". Bring your lunch; coffee and tea will be served.

Town and Country:

• Chicago on Screen from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday. Join historian Sara Marcus and view the history of Chicago through television and film, noting how producers of popular culture have depicted the city and its residents. Registration recommended.