NEWS RELEASE — Events for kids top the list of events the West Florida Public Libraries will host in the month of October.

Colonial Heritage Month

• Through Oct. 31 – Main Library
• Explore America’s colonial heritage this month through two historical displays. The Florida Public Archaeology Network presents Catastrophe! Documents of the 1559 De Luna Expedition, which tells the story of the ill-fated attempt to establish a colony Pensacola. The second display is Where Are Your Colonial Roots? Presented by the Fort San Carlos Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century, it encourages all people to get to know their heritage and to learn how their ancestors fit into the grand scheme of American history.

Art Exhibits

• Through Oct. 31 – Molino Branch
• Hanging exhibit: Ruth Gordon, member of Quayside Art Gallery and former student of the Old Molino School and Lottie Taylor Gilley, Ruth’s mother and teacher at Old Molino School from the 1940’s through the 1960’s.
• Display case: Ralph Gordon will be displaying his collection of beer steins.

Zombie Selfie

• Oct. 1-25 – Tryon Branch
• Contest to see who enters the best Zombie selfie photo. Contact the Tryon Branch for more information.

Fall GED Classes

• Weekly on Monday and Thursday, 6 p.m. – Molino Branch
• Students need to take the TABE and fill out the online application to enroll:http://bit.ly/1q5WAK9. Cost for GED class is $30 per semester and semesters run the same schedule as Escambia County Schools.

Family Game Night

• Weekly on Monday, 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Main Library

Crafternoons

• Monthly on the fourth Saturday, 1 p.m. – Main Library
• Children 8 and older are welcome to make crafts at the Main Library each month.

Saturday Chess Club

• Weekly on Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon – Tryon Branch
• Learn to play chess for ages 8-14.

Snowbird Movie Matinee Series

• Monthly on the first Thursday, 6 p.m. – Southwest Branch

Oct. 2 – Casablanca (1942, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, 102 minutes, PG)

Nov. 6 – Pillow Talk (1959, Doris Day and Rock Hudson, 105 minutes, NR)

Dec. 4 – A Christmas Story (1983, Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin, 98 minutes, PG)

West Florida Genealogical Society Monthly Meeting

• Oct. 4, 10 a.m. – Genealogy Branch
• The Doy Leal McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of South Alabama is home to important historical material relating to the history of the Alabama Black Belt, city of Mobile, southwest Alabama and the University of South Alabama. Director Carol Ellis will describe the resources available at the library and tell the story of two specific families’ lives documented in the collection. Those who have relatives or ancestors who lived in southwest Alabama will be especially interested in this program.

Introduction to Stamp Collecting

• Oct. 4, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Main Library
• All ages are invited to this introduction to stamp collecting presented by the Pensacola Philatelic Society. The program is free of charge and participants will be provided with free stamp packets to start their own collections.

In the Kitchen with Jamie and Wendy

• Oct. 6, 4 to 6 p.m. – Tryon Branch
• In the Kitchen with Jamie and Wendy will be all about good food choices for families with cooking demonstrations and a present to take home.

Dogwood Dulcimers

• Oct. 6, 6 to 7 p.m. – Tryon Branch
• All ages are in for a special treat as the Dogwood Dulcimers, a local group of musicians, share their music and introduce the audience to dulcimers and other folk instruments.

Movie Night for Grown-ups

• Oct. 7, 5 p.m. – Tryon Branch
• This month's movie will be The Fault in Our Stars (PG-13, 126 minutes)

Pensacola Ghost Stories

• Oct. 7, 6 p.m. – Molino Branch
• Enjoy a bewitching evening at the Molino Library learning about the ghosts and spirits who have never left Pensacola or Escambia County. Pattie Krakowski, owner of Pensacola History and Hauntings, will share the results of her own local paranormal investigations. Learn which famous Pensacola downtown building has ghosts with English accents and whose DJ booth was once a pulpit and the locations of other ghostly apparitions. It promises to be frightfully good fun!

Paradox Teen Book Club

• Oct. 8, 6 p.m. – Tryon Branch
• This month's teen program will be a movie night watching Beetlejuice (PG, 92 minutes)

Pirate Party Story Time

• Oct. 9, 6 p.m. – Southwest Branch
• Join us for fun on the high seas with pirate-themed stories, songs and games. Come dressed as a pirate if you like!

Celebrate Teen Read Week

• Oct. 18, 2 to 4 p.m. – Main Library
• Turn your dreams into reality at our teen cosplay event featuring anime and candy sushi. Come in costume if you'd like.

American Girl Book Club

• Oct. 18, 2 p.m. – Southwest Branch
• Girls ages 6 to 12 will learn about American life through the experiences of Caroline in 1812 America by exploring different activities from the time period. Advance registration is requested.

Kids: R.E.A.D. to the Dogs

• Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Tryon Branch
• Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Southwest Branch

With The Kids: Reading Educational Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program, your child can improve his or her reading skills by practicing reading to therapy dogs.

Topsy-Turvy Tuesday: 8 Class Pets Book Discussion

• Oct. 21, 6 p.m. – Tryon Branch
• Elementary age kids are invited to join Miss Martha for a book discussion of 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel Divided by 1 Dog = Chaos by V.V.Velde.

Book Discussion

• Oct. 27, 6 p.m. – Molino Branch
• This month’s book discussion will be about Doc, a Western by Mary Doria Russell.

Halloween Program

• Oct. 28, 5 p.m. - Century Branch
• Kids can wear their costumes and join us for spooky fun, stories and crafts.

Books to Film Book Club

• Oct. 28, 6 p.m. – Tryon Branch
• This month's book club for adults will be a discussion of This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Trooper.

Halloween Costume Party and Parade

• Oct. 29, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Main Library
• Join us in costume for safe, family-friendly Halloween festivities at the downtown library with stories, tricks and treats!

Halloween Parade

• Oct. 30, 4 p.m. – Tryon Branch
• Our special elementary age Program will be a Halloween Parade around the library - wear your costume!

Zombie Scavenger Hunt for Teens

• Oct. 30, 5 to 7 p.m. – Tryon Branch
• Dress up like a zombie and go on a zombie scavenger hunt.

It Happened One Night at the Molino Museum

• Oct. 31, 6 p.m. – Molino Branch
• Enjoy a night of skits, spooky stories and trick or treating. Tour the spooky Molino Museum if you dare!

Storytime for Children (Reoccurring)

Main

• Weekly on Wednesday (through Dec. 17), 10:30 a.m., children up to age 5

Century

• Weekly on Thursday (through Dec.18), 4 p.m.

Southwest Branch

• Weekly on Tuesday (through Dec. 16), 10:30 a.m.

Tryon Branch

Storytime for Babies

• Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, 10:30 a.m.

Preschool Storytime

• Weekly on Thursday, (through Dec. 18), 10:30 a.m.

Molino Branch

• Weekly on Wednesday (through Dec. 17), 10:30 a.m., children up to age 5

Computer Classes for Adults

Main Library

• Basic Skills I – Oct. 15 – 10:30 am to noon.
• This workshop will introduce you to the components of a computer along with basic keyboard and mouse skills.

• Microsoft Excel 2010 Basics – Oct. 18 – 10:30 a.m. to noon.
• Introduction to the basic features of Microsoft Excel, including basic Excel terminology, screen layout and data entry.

• Microsoft Word Basics – Oct. 21 – 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• Create a document by learning the basics of Word 2010. Using the ribbons, saving, printing, spelling and grammar will be covered.

• Basic Skills II – Oct. 22 – 10:30 am to 12 p.m.
• This workshop will introduce you to the Windows environment along with navigating between different programs.

• Power Point for Beginners – Oct. 25 – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Introduction to the basics of PowerPoint. Learn to add and change the background, text and objects in a computerized slide show.

• File Management – Oct. 28 – 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• In this workshop you will learn how to find, save, copy, move and delete files and folders using File Explorer.

• Internet Basics – Oct. 29 – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Come and learn the basics of exploring the Internet. Navigation and browser basics will be covered. Basic Internet safety will also be discussed.

Century Branch

• Microsoft Word Basics – Oct. 23 – 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• Create a document by learning the basics of Word 2010. Using the ribbons, saving, printing, spelling and grammar will be covered.

Southwest Branch

• Internet Basics – Oct.16 – 10 a.m. to noon.
• Come and learn the basics of exploring the Internet. Navigation and browser basics will be covered. Basic Internet safety will also be discussed.

• USB Drive Basics – Oct. 30 – 10 a.m. - noon.
• Have you heard of a USB Drive? Maybe you have. They have lots of names- Thumb Drives, Flash Drives, Pin Drives, etc. Learn how to use one and understand what and how much you can store on them.
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