September is one of my favorite times of year. Autumn is just around the corner. I love the cool crisp air, the falling of leaves, and the changing of colors. It makes for a magical time before the blitz of winter’s arrival. As we begin the last quarter of the year, it’s a time to ponder what’s ahead for us at the library.

One of our overarching goals as a library is to be a community gathering space. We don’t enforce a quiet library; many think we still do because that’s unfortunately a library stereotype. Our goal is to be a bustling place of learning and resource sharing. We strive to have a robust programming schedule and encourage patron interactions. Our librarians have been busy preparing for the months ahead.

We’re excited to welcome back the Minnesota Valley Civil War Round Table group to the meeting room this month. They will be meeting on the third Tuesday of the month, September 21 at 6:30 p.m. Each presentation shares insights on historical events and people connected to the Civil War. October’s presentation will be held on the third Tuesday in October. Journalist and author Eugene L. Meyer will present on his book “Five for Freedom”, which tells the story of the African American men who accompanied John Brown on his raid to Harper’s Ferry on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. There will be a Community Emergency Preparedness Fair taking place in the library’s meeting room on Monday, September 27 from 2 to 6 p.m. featuring local emergency response organizations, Brown County Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, and more booths will be there, in addition to demonstrations and resources to educate the public on how to be better prepared for a variety of emergency situations.

When Minnesota nice flies out the window, bad behavior takes center stage. A Minnesota Not So Nice Author Panel will be held on Thursday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m. The Twin Cities Chapter of Sisters in Crime will explore what defines our legendary Minnesota nice and why bad behavior has its own rewards. Panelists will include authors and editors of their latest chapter anthology: “Minnesota Not So Nice: Eighteen Tales of Bad Behavior”: Doug Dorow, Barbara Deese, Michael Allan Mallory, and Timya Owen.

For more information on upcoming programs, check out the Library Events page at newulmlibrary.org.

The library is located at 17 N. Broadway and is open to the public Mondays to Thursdays 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday and Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.