Greetings from the Great Bend Public Library! Happy early St. Valentine’s day! We have been celebrating this week at the library on our social media and in the library with interactive posts about your favorite romantic media, romantic book displays, and our board of hearts to tell us what you love about your library! Be sure to fill one out when you stop by for a rom-com or a sweeping romantic epic.

We have lots of fun in-person and virtual events to look forward to next week as well. Tuesday we have our Open Book Club meeting at 7 p.m. in the library lobby. We will be discussing this month’s book “Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors.” This modern retelling of “Pride and Prejudice” set in San Francisco follows Dr. Trisha Raje, an acclaimed neurosurgeon, and up-and-coming chef DJ Caine. Their worlds clash when DJ realizes Trisha may be the only person who can save his sister’s life. Copies of the book are available at the front desk and on our digital service Hoopla as well. 

Thursday, Feb. 18, our Teen Manga and Anime Club will be meeting in person at 6 p.m. We will discuss the manga “Toilet-bound Hanano-kun.” Hanano-kun is one of the seven legendary mysteries of Kamome Academy. Said to occupy a stall of the third-floor girls’ bathroom of the old school building, rumor has it that when summoned Hanako-kun will grant any wish. High school girl Nene Yashiro, who dreams of romance, ventures into the haunted bathroom in order to summon the spirit but is stunned to find the spirit in the bathroom is a boy! We will be discussing this fun supernatural manga before watching the anime, then making our very own Mokke plush! Any teen, age 13-18, is welcome to join in on the fun. Masks for this, as with any in person event, will be required.

Last but not least, we also have our online story time on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., as well as Miss Jessica’s Virtual Library Learning Room on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

Keep an eye on our Facebook and our website, greatbendpl.info, for upcoming programs and updates. You can also message us on Facebook or email us at gbcirc@gmail.com. We can also be reached by calling 620-792-2409.

Hannah Grippin is the outreach manager at the Great Bend Public Library.