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Library News for Adults
October 2026
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Cardholders with Extended Access are able to use SCL libraries (excluding the Shakopee Library) from 6am to 10pm.
Information on signing up for Extended Access can be found HERE.
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Library Hours Update:
Beginning October 5th, all library locations will close at 7pm instead of 8pm. This change better reflects community use patterns while helping us continue to provide consistent, high-quality library services and programming.
Thank you for being part of our library community! We look forward to seeing you during our updated hours.
| | Image created to represent the welcoming spaces and services offered by county libraries | A library is more than a place to borrow books. It is a place where neighbors discover new ideas, connect with local resources, explore their interests, and feel a little more rooted in their community. Whether you visit often or have not stopped by in a while, your library is here for you; a welcoming space to learn, gather, create, and belong. | |
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Club Book Presents Lisa Unger
Tuesday October 6th 7pm
Prior Lake Library
With nearly two dozen compulsive page-turners to her credit, Lisa Unger is a reigning titan of psychological suspense. Her debut, Angel Fire (2002), introduced readers to Lydia Strong, a reclusive crime writer and investigative consultant with a dark past – and darker obsession. In a starred review, Library Journal praised the novel’s “taut prose [and] insidious suspense,” traits that would become the author’s hallmarks. In addition to four entries in the Lydia Strong series, Unger is the pen behind the loosely linked The Hollows series, mysteries set in the atmospheric hamlet of The Hollows, New York. Unger’s standalone novels are equally acclaimed. In the Blood (2014) won a Silver Falchion Award, and Confessions on the 7:45 (2020) an equally prestigious ITW Thriller Award. Unger’s newest, Served Him Right, spotlights one of history’s oldest and most sinister murder weapons: poisonous plants. After her manipulative ex-boyfriend Paul is poisoned, Ana Blacksmith quickly emerges as the chief suspect – an accusation lent weight by her ancestral ties to deadly herbology.
This FREE event will be held at the Prior Lake Public Library/Club Prior, located at 16210 Eagle Creek Ave. in Prior Lake. Seating is first-come first served, and doors will open 45 minutes before the program begins. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Arrive early to guarantee your spot.
Club Book is a program of the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) and is coordinated by Library Strategies, the nonprofit consulting group of the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. The program is made possible through Minnesota's Arts & Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Amendment.
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One Book - One New Prague: William Kent Krueger Author Visit
Join us and your neighbors in a community read! One Book-One New Prague is an annual event designed to bring our community together to discuss a selected title and share the joy of reading together.
Event Details
This free event will be held at Next Chapter Winery, located at 16945 320th St. in New Prague. Find it on Google Maps.
3:00 - 4:00pm: Social Hour
4:00 - 5:00pm: Author visit and questions
Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase. Content Bookstore from Northfield will be selling copies of the author’s books.
Register below to RSVP!
About the Book & How to Read
The River We Remember by Minnesota author William Kent Krueger is a standalone novel set in 1958 in the fictional town of Jewel, Minnesota, where the murder of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn on Memorial Day exposes the community's buried secrets, prejudices, and the lingering trauma of war, focusing on Sheriff Brody Dern's investigation and the suspicion falling on Native American veteran Noah Bluestone. The story explores themes of prejudice, the cost of war, and the hidden lives of its characters, all set against the backdrop of the Alabaster River, which serves as both a setting and a symbol.
Reserve a copy with your library card
Starting August 17, free copies will be available for pickup at the New Prague Library while supplies last.
Sponsors
This event is generously sponsored by the Diane J. Sachs Trust, Scott County Library (New Prague branch), New Prague Friends of the Library, NP CAN and Next Chapter Winery. This program is funded in part by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Amendment through the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA).
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Reading Through History: America’s 250th Book Bingo
Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday with a special American history themed book bingo! You can pick up bingo sheets beginning on October 1 in all library branches. Read new books about a variety of historical topics/themes, get bingos, and win stickers and entries towards a $25 Amazon gift card.
Open to all ages. Participate individually or as a family.
| | Fun events that require registration: | | |
Jordan Fall Art Series - Singed Satchels
Jordan
Monday October 5th
4:30-6:30pm
Create a one-of-a-kind canvas tote in this hands-on thermal etching workshop! Choose from six unique patterns and learn how to permanently etch your design into the fabric using burn gel and stencils. You’ll leave with a beautiful, personalized tote ready to show off around town!
Funded by the Jordan Friends of the Library.
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Maple Metamorphosis: An Early Autumn Color Walk & Watercolor Evening
Cleary Lake Park
Thursday October 8th
5-7pm
Take a gentle one-mile turf-trail hike as native Minnesota maples-Mountain, Red, Sugar, Boxelder and Silver-begin their early fall transformation. We'll return to the pavilion for sunset views over Cleary Lake, warm tea, and a crackling fire then settle in to watercolor the leaf that captivated us most.
This program is offered by Scott County Library in partnership with Scott County Parks and Three Rivers Park District.
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Air Dry Clay Creations
New Prague
Tuesday October 13th
5-6pm
Come and play around with air-dry clay! ZERO artistic skills required and you will leave with handmade crafts and some new skills!
Choose between making: a small planter, a moon-phase wall hanger, a bowl, or your own creation.
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Chair Yoga
Savage
Friday October 23rd
11am-12pm
Join us at the Savage Library for a chair yoga flow created for adults of all body types and levels. Learn how to boost your circulation and flexibility while releasing tension from muscles and joints. Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga that is performed while seated in a chair or using a chair for support. No experience necessary. Mats are not necessary but feel free to bring one if you would like.
This class is taught by certified Yoga teacher Kelly Larson.
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Learn to Play Mahjong
Prior Lake
Thursday October 22nd
5-7pm
Curious about mahjong? Join us at the Prior Lake Library for a fun, beginner-friendly introduction to this classic tile game. Learn the basics of the game, including the tiles, setup, rules, and simple strategies. No prior experience is necessary. We bring the supplies you bring your curiosity and a willingness to learn! Playing Mahjong enhances memory and concentration while enjoying social time.
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Drop-in events we would love to see you at:
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Fiber Arts Night
Shakopee
Wednesday October 14th
5:30-6:30pm
Join us the second Wednesday of each month for a night of community and crafting! Bring your own fiber arts project(s) for this drop-in program. Any project from knitting to crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, felting, weaving, and more are welcomed! Ages 15+; all skill levels are welcome at this time for creativity, conversation, encouragement, and shared inspiration.
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Book Bingo
Shakopee
Friday October 16th
2-3pm
Join us for a game of bingo where books are the prizes!
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The Price is Right: 1970s Edition
Shakopee
Monday October 26th
5:30-6:30pm
Take a groovy trip back to the 1970s and put your pricing skills to the test! How close can you get without going over? Come test your knowledge, have some fun, and see how much or how little things cost back in the day!
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Senior Social: Puzzles and Pie!
Belle Plaine
Thursday October 8th
10-11am
Best for ages 55 and better! How about some pie with that puzzle! Stop into the library to enjoy this cozy morning of pies and puzzles. Bring a friend or make a new one. All supplies provided.
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Ghost-Hunting, the Supernatural, and History of Witchcraft with MN Authors: Natalie Fowler & Jessica Freeburg
New Prague
Monday October 26th
6-7pm
Join us to hear local Minnesota authors and paranormal investigators, Natalie Fowler and Jessica Freeburg, talk about their adventures in some of our Nation’s most historic and haunted locations. Learn about how they use those experiences to inspire their craft. They will also discuss their newest release, Witches of New England, that uses a narrative style to tell the historically accurate stories of those accused of (and sometimes killed) for witchcraft in the earliest days of our country’s history.
All 13+ persons welcome.
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Tech Help
Public Computer Help
Our volunteer computer aides work one-on-one with you in the library, to help you with basic computer skills, using the Internet, or other online applications provided by the library system. The computer aide can also assist you with printing, scanning and faxing services. No appointment necessary - just drop by the library during the day and time listed below.
Shakopee Library
Sundays 12:05-3:45pm
Mondays 4-7pm
Tuesdays 11:30am-2pm
Wednesdays 1-3pm
Thursdays 1-3pm
Fridays 10-12pm
Saturdays 9:15-1:45pm
Prior Lake Library
Mondays 10am-12pm, Tuesdays 3-5pm
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FREE Family Legal Clinics
Free Legal Clinic
Thursday October 27th 2-4pm
Scott County Law Library (200 4th Ave. W., Shakopee)
952-496-8713
In-Person consultations (30-minutes) with a volunteer lawyer for matters such as child support, custody, divorce/dissolution, parenting, paternity. Appointments are required. Call 952-496-8713 to schedule.
Free Family Law Legal Clinic
Monday October 26th 2-4pm
Family Resource Center (1615 Weston Court, Shakopee)
952-818-3795
Have questions about family matters? Make an appointment or stop by the Family Resource Center for legal assistance. Appointments are required. Call 952-818-3795 to schedule.
Scott County Law Library visit at Jordan Library
Tuesday October 20th 10am-3pm
Chat with Scott County Law Librarian about Court forms, Court process, other County forms and Legal Resources.
No appointments required.
Free Workers Compensation Legal Clinic
Wednesday October 21st 2-4pm
Meet with a lawyer for a 30-minute consultation about any workers compensation law. *Call for an appointment: (952) 496–8713 Appointment Required
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Scott County Eligibility Specialists
Drop in and chat with a Scott County Specialist about applying for SNAP, CASH, Emergency Assistance, and Medical Assistance. No appointment required!
Jordan Library
Monday, October 5th, 3-6pm
Elko New Market Library
Wednesday, October 21st, 3-6pm
Belle Plaine Library
Wednesday, October 28th, 2-5pm
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Book Clubs
All library-facilitated book clubs, except Beans & Books, meet in-person at the library.
Beans and Books
Saturday October 3rd 9-10am
Shakopee Brewhall (124 1st Ave. E., Shakopee)
James by Percival Everett
Bound by Books
Friday October 2nd 1-2pm
Belle Plaine Library
The Dog Says How by Kevin Kling.
Registration required
Savage Library Daytime
Monday October 19th 1-2pm
Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley
Pros & Cons
Tuesday October 27th 5:30-6:30pm
Prior Lake
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
The Prior Lake Prose & Cons book club recently ventured outside of the library for their discussion. Cleary Lake Park welcomed us for our September meeting. We laughed, discussed a great book and shared our love of reading while enjoying a lakeside view.
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"Cook the Book"
Participants meet quarterly; February, May, August and November. They bring prepared recipes to share from the previously chosen cookbook or author. They discuss the cookbook, the success (or failure) of the recipe and enjoy the food!
Wednesday November 4th 6-8pm
Prior Lake
| | Have your own book club? Find book club kits easily in the catalog by using the dark blue Category menu below the search bar and choose "Book Club Kits". | | |
October Brain Boo-st
October brings cozy reads, colorful leaves, and a few delightfully spooky facts!
The multiple-choice challenge is timed, so the faster you respond, the more points you get! You have 3 weeks, until October 23rd, to take the challenge. We’ve built our trivia challenge in Kahoot! but there’s no need for you to create an account. Just click the link, spin for a randomly generated player name, and play!
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Library Staff Recommends
The Stolen Hour by Allen Eskens
Lila Nash is on the verge of landing her dream job--working as a prosecutor under the Hennepin County Attorney--and has settled into a happy life with her boyfriend, Joe Talbert. But when a woman is pulled from the Mississippi River, barely alive, things in the office take a personal turn
Available in print and on Libby.
The Winners by Fredrik Backman
The Winners by Fredrik Backman is the third and final installation of the Beartown trilogy. Preceded by Beartown and Us Against You, the novel focuses on the intertwining lives of an ensemble of characters who live in the Swedish towns of Beartown and Hed. Following a colossal storm, tensions rise as resources dwindle and must be shared. The characters grapple with past traumas that will shape their futures, and the novel ends with a shocking act of violence.
Available in print and on Libby.
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez
The story centers on the effects of a missed opportunity after a concert, when Larissa went home with Mike instead of Chris, the man with whom she’s more compatible. The novel follows Larissa and Chris as they move through emotionally constrained friends-to-lovers and boyfriend’s-best-friend dynamics.
Available in print and on Libby.
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Step right up! Step right up! It's book sale time!
Great books, great finds, and a great reason to shop! Every purchase helps support programs and activities at your library.
Savage Friends of the Library Book Sale
This will be a two-day book sale. Friday, October 9 from 10 am to 4:00 pm and Saturday, October 10 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Choose from non-fiction, adult fiction, young adult fiction, kids fiction, and children's books, as well as DVD's and more! No set prices - just a donation to the Friends. Payment may be made by a free-will cash donation or by an online QR code.
New Prague Friends of the Library
Czech out all of the fantastic items at the New Prague Friends of the Library Fall Booksale! Non-fiction, adult fiction, young adult fiction, junior fiction, children's books, DVD's, music CD's, books on CD and more!
Lots of great previously enjoyed items and new items! All money supports programming at the New Prague Library!
Saturday October 10th from 9am-3pm
Jordan Friends of the Library
Free Will Donations accepted. Come pick out some great books and donate what you can!
All proceeds go towards funding library programs and services at the Jordan Library. We will also be accepting food shelf donations!
Saturday, October 24th: 9:00am - 2:00pm
Monday, October 26th: 2:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday, October 27th: 10:00am - 3:00pm
| | Scott County Library | 952-496-8010 | 1615 Weston Ct., Shakopee, MN 55379 | www.scottlib.org | | | | |
