Bluffton Public Library, 145 S. Main St. has provided an overview of programs and services that will be on offer in the coming weeks. For more information, visit www.blufftonpubliclibrary.org

Beanstack - Native American Heritage Month and Family Stories Reading Challenges begin November 1. Whatever your reading interest, there’s a challenge for you! We challenge our patrons to read during the month and keep track of their reading on our Beanstack site at http://blufftonpubliclibrary.beanstack.org. Happy reading, Bluffton! 

Noon Book Group (R) meets via Zoom with author Jess Montgomery on Wed., Nov. 2 to discuss The Echoes. The group will meet in person on Wed., Dec. 7 to discuss The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. To register for this and upcoming discussions, to receive the book(s) for upcoming discussion(s), and for the most up to date information, please call or stop by the library front desk. 

Same program, new date and time! If Bluffton is a Swiss Community, Where are the Mountains? presented by Fred Steiner (R) on Monday, Nov. 7 @ 3:00 p.m. Fred takes you on a photographic journey to the Bluffton area as it was settled by immigrants in the 1830s. Presentation will cover Bluffton's Swiss heritage and the settlement that encompassed most of the rural area between Bluffton, Pandora, Columbus Grove and Beaverdam. Our Swiss immigrants were primarily farmers. Meanwhile, English and Irish immigrants, who settled in what became the village of Bluffton, were people with trade skills other than farming. The mix of each of these immigrant groups created the larger Bluffton community we live in today. One interesting fact that will be explored is that while many people think of the Swiss as Mennonites, who founded several churches in the Bluffton and Pandora communities, other Bluffton rural Swiss were members of the German Reform Church, which is today the United Church of Christ. Steiner will point out interesting features in the photos and maps and explain their location. Please register by Nov. 4. Space is limited. 

Watercolor Workshop: Log Cabin in Winter will be held Thurs., Nov. 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Local artist Jeanne Beutler will teach on the lower level of the library. Walk away with your own watercolor piece of art, complete with mat! There is a $10 supply fee at the door (cash only please), and advance registration is required as space is limited. Open to adults and teens/children (with a participating adult). 

Jammin' @ the Library starts at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. This is a relaxed, song-circle style jam session and anyone is welcome to join. Bring your instrument, voice, or listening ears! 

Children’s Fall Storytime - will be finishing on Nov. 16, but pay close attention to exciting things in December- you wouldn’t want to miss winter-themed family storytimes and Jolly Old St. Nick. 

Mobile Health Clinic will not be at the Library in November, but will be here December 30 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 

*Library will be closed, Friday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. 

*Bluffton Public Library will close at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23 and remain closed Nov. 24-26. Regular hours resume on Monday, Nov. 28, opening at 9:30 a.m. 

Services Update 

At-Home Abbott BinaxNow test kits are available at the Library. We are limiting 2 boxes per household per day. These self-administered tests contain 2 tests per box. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, please call to schedule curbside pickup.