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Giving Thanks in November 
 
With cooler weather, family gatherings, and holidays on the horizon, November brings the opportunity to show gratitude to those who have made our lives a little brighter this year. 
 
At BRPL, we are thankful for our library patrons who enjoy our various spaces, materials, and programs year-round, checking out 1,235,482 materials last year! We are thankful for our volunteers contributing over 1300 hours of their time, supporting our staff across programs and services. We are thankful for our partners, presenters, and others who give their time, energy, and knowledge to our staff and the public by supporting our commitment to top-tier programming. We are thankful to our staff, who provide exceptional materials, services, and programs to our community.
 
We are also very thankful to our Friends of the Library organization, which has donated over $1 million to library programs, services, and materials over the years. 
 
There is always much to be thankful for at the Boca Raton Public Library. We, the BRPL staff, are thankful to serve this incredible community and to work with such amazing partners and supporters; we couldn’t do it without you!
Isabel Hidalgo
Events & Community Engagement Librarian
Events for Adults 
Draft to Screen
Thursday, November 5, 5:45-7:30pm
Spanish River Library
Draft to Screen is a community-led group for filmmakers, writers, animators, musicians, and artists who want to connect, grow, and find resources to finish their creative work. This group, which meets monthly, is completely free to join and open to all experience levels.
 
Led by Nabil Sealy alongside co-founder Wilandy Castelin, monthly group meetings will feature time for connection and networking, project pitching and a review of the accountability board for those working on projects, and workshops from industry professionals and accomplished creatives.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome. 

Sunday Music Matinee: Boca Jazz Union
Sunday, November 8, 3:00-4:00pm
Downtown Library
Join us for the monthly Sunday Music Matinee and "jazz it up" a little with a concert from Boca Jazz Union!
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.

Monday Movies - Documentary: Every Little Thing
directed by Sally Aitken
Monday, November 9, 5:30-8:00pm
Downtown Library
Author and wildlife rehabber Terry Masear has an ambitious goal: to save every injured hummingbird in Los Angeles. But the path to survival is fraught with danger. This heart-expanding Sundance hit introduces audiences to Terry's diminutive patients through breathtaking slow-motion photography and emotional storytelling. Her compassion and empathy serves as a reminder that grace can be found in the smallest of acts and the tiniest of creatures.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.

Jewish Venice: A Virtual Walk with Dr. Ilaria Serra -
Thursday Night Speaker Series
Thursday, November 12, 6:00-7:30pm
Downtown Library
Join us for a visual exploration of the Venetian sites that define the Jewish experience in the lagoon. While Venice gave the world the word "ghetto," the reality behind the walls was a vibrant crossroads of culture. This talk focuses on the three campos and five historic synagogues where a melting pot of languages and traditions once thrived.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
 
Reserve a seat to receive a reminder, but all drop-ins welcome.

Lynn Conservatory of Music: Meet the Percussion
Instruments - Mallets, Drums, and Toys
Saturday, November 14, 2:30-4:00pm
Downtown Library
Learn about the techniques used during the Revolutionary War all the way up to today in a musical piece for four paper bags.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. 
 
Register to receive a reminder, but all drop-ins welcome.

Acoustic Musicians
Monday, November 16, 5:30-7:30pm
Spanish River Library
Bring your own instrument and come join in a monthly musical jam session at the Spanish River Library. Space is limited. Must be 18 years or older.
 
Seat reservation required.
Versed in Verse: Poetry Reading with Poets
on the Fringe and Community Open Mic
Tuesday, November 17, 5:00-6:30pm
Downtown Library
Come listen to the talented poets of Poets on the Fringe, our weekly poetry group, share their poems. Feel free to bring a poem of your own to share for the open mic. 
 
Reserve a seat to receive a reminder, but all drop-ins welcome.
Short Stories for Writers with Dr. Caren Neile 
Saturdays, November 21, 28, 10:00-11:30am
Virtual Program
Part-literature class, part-writing class, this course digs deeply into the techniques used by acclaimed short story writers to make their work sing. Participants will receive each story online in advance in order to thoughtfully engage in 90-minute lecture/discussion sessions on the texts. In addition, they will receive prompts based on the stories in order to create work they may choose to submit to the group for feedback
 
Seat reservation required.
More Info

Story Central Storytelling Slam
Sunday, November 22, 3:00-4:30pm
Downtown Library
It's a community storytelling concert. It's a friendly competition. It's a chance to make new connections and renew old ones. Join us for the delightful cafe atmosphere, coffee and tea, and 5-7-minute true first-person stories (not read or memorized) from the audience.
 
Reservations for storytelling preferred but not required. For more information email Caren Neile at cneile@fau.edu
 
Drop-ins welcome to listen in on shared stories.
 
 

Monday Movies - Feature Film: The Producers
directed by Mel Brooks 
Monday, November 23, 5:30-8:00pm
Downtown Library
"Low-rent Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his high-strung accountant Leo Bloom discover that, with the help of a few gullible investors, they can make more money on a flop than on a hit. Armed with the worst show ever written and an equally horrific cast, this double-dealing duo is banking on disaster. But when their sure-to-offend musical becomes a surprise hit, they find themselves in the middle of a Broadway blitzkrieg"
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.

Poets on the Fringe (POTF)
Tuesdays in November, 3:30-5:45pm
Spanish River Library
Poets from all walks of life, both established and emerging, are encouraged to share their work and offer positive feedback and support to each other. This weekly series is hosted by Pamela Passaretta, who coordinated this program for 10 years in Washington, DC. Open to ages 18 and up.
 
Seat reservation not required but seating is limited.

Socrates Cafè
Mondays, Spanish River Library, 1:00-3:00pm
Tuesdays, Downtown Library, 1:30-3:00pm
At Socrates Cafe, people from different backgrounds get together and exchange thoughtful ideas and experiences. Gatherings are free and open to any member of the public who wishes to freely discuss a question, which is chosen by vote.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome. 
Know Your Digital Library
Your BRPL card gives you access to Morningstar's independent market research. Discover opportunities, evaluate investments, and build a stronger portfolio for the long term. Access Morningstar through our Business, Investments and Jobs site.
Instructional Classes for Adults
Tracing Your Ancestry
Monday, November 16, 1:30-3:00pm
Spanish River Library
Start researching your family history with library databases such as AncestryLE and MyHeritageLE.
 
Prerequisite: Must know how to use computer or laptop.
 
Library card required for seat reservation.
French Conversation Corner
Tuesday, November 17, 1:30-3:00pm
Spanish River Library
Parlez-vous français? Join our French Conversation Corner to help you practice and improve your speaking skills in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Perfect for intermediate and advanced learners, this collaborative group focuses on everyday vocabulary, casual dialogue, and cultural nuances without the pressure of formal grades.
 
Library card required for seat reservation.
ESOL Conversation Corner
Tuesdays in November, 11:30am-1:00pm
Downtown Library
Come practice your conversational English skills. We will improve our speaking and reading skills through a variety of everyday conversation topics and fun activities. We meet every Tuesday morning. Recommended for participants with advanced-beginner to intermediate speaking ability.
 
Reserve a seat to receive a reminder but all drop-ins welcome.

US Citizenship Test Preparation
Tuesdays in November, 6:15-7:45pm
Spanish River Library
Do you need help preparing for the Citizenship and Interview Test? This 4-5 class series offers a range of resources and services for those preparing to become a United States citizen and repeats monthly. 
 
Classes are designed to help prepare adult immigrants to successfully complete the naturalization process. This preparation includes developing civic knowledge, learning about form N-400, practicing 100 (2008 Version) and 128 (2025 Version) civic questions, and the naturalization interview one-on-one preparation.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
 
Seat reservation required.

iPhone/iPad Workshop
Thursdays, 1:30-3:00pm
Downtown Library
Bring your iPhone, iPad, or both. An instructor will answer your questions in a group discussion setting that’s fun for all.
 
Seat reservation required.
Choose your date(s):
 

Our Instructional Services team is offering many classes for adults this month. Click on the links below or visit the library calendar to reserve a seat. Seat reservations are required for all programs.
Book Talks for Adults
Book Talks - An Hour to Kill: Clown Town
by Mick Herron
Tuesday, November 3, 2:00-3:00pm
Downtown Library
David Cartwright, long buried, has left his library to the Spooks’ College in Oxford, and now one of the books is missing. Or perhaps it never existed. River, once a “slow horse” of Slough House, MI5’s outpost for demoted and disgraced spies, has some time to kill while awaiting medical clearance to return to work, and starts investigating the secrets of his grandfather’s library.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.
 
Reserve a copy of the book here.
 

Book Talks - Non-Fiction/Biographies: I Regret Almost Everything: A Memoir by Keith McNally
Tuesday, November 17, 2:00-3:00pm
Downtown Library
The entertaining, irreverent, and surprisingly moving memoir by the visionary restaurateur behind such iconic New York institutions as Balthazar and Pastis ... taking us from his gritty London childhood in the fifties to his serendipitous arrival in New York, where he founded the era-defining establishments the Odeon, Cafe Luxembourg, and Nell's. Eloquent and opinionated, Keith McNally writes about the angst of being a child actor, the instability of his two marriages and family relationships, his devastating stroke, and his Instagram notoriety.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.
 
Reserve a copy of the book here.

Friends Book Club: The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt
Tuesday, November 24, 7:00-8:00pm
Virtual Program
 
With his inimitable verve, skewed humor, and compassion for the outcast, Patrick deWitt has written a wide-ranging and ambitious document of the introvert’s condition. The Librarianist celebrates the extraordinary in the so-called ordinary life, and depicts beautifully the turbulence that sometimes exists beneath a surface of serenity.

Open to all. No pre-registration required.
 
Join with our dedicated Zoom link: 
 
Presented by the Friends of the Library.
 
Reserve a copy of the book here.
What's New for Children
New StoryWalk Book: If You're Happy and You Know It (all ages)
November, December & January
Serenoa Glade Preserve
An elephant, a monkey, and a giraffe join other animals to sing different verses of this popular song that encourages everyone to express their happiness through voice and movement.
 
StoryWalk is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s storybook along a popular walking route in the community. Different books are displayed throughout the year to keep the StoryWalk experience fresh and promote future learning.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Special Guest Storytime with Fire Rescue (ages 0-5)
 Monday, November 16, 10:00-10:30am
Spanish River Library
This fun-filled half-hour will be packed with songs, fingerplays and stories read by library staff and a special guest reader with Fire Rescue. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 
 
Seat reservation required. 

Thanksgiving Special Family Storytime (ages 0-5)
Monday, November 23, 10:00-10:30am
Downtown Library & Spanish River Library
Join us for fun stories, music and movement, songs, and rhymes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Each family will receive one free book in celebration of Thanksgiving (while supplies last). 
 
Funded by the Friends of the Library.
 
Seat reservation required.

Special Charlie Brown Storytime (ages 0-5)
Sunday, November 29, 10:00-10:30am
Downtown Library
Does your child like Charlie Brown? Come to the library and enjoy a special Charlie Brown storytime with music, stories, and activities. Child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
 
Seat reservation required.

Booktastic Book Talk (ages 8-10)
Monday, November 30, 3:30-4:15pm
Downtown Library
Book discussion for early readers with themed activities. Child attends independently.
 
Pick up a free copy of the book at the Downtown Library's Youth Services desk once registered (while supplies last).
 
Books donated by the Friends of the Library.
 
Seat reservation required.

Adventures in Reading (ages 4-5)
Thursdays in November, 4:00-4:30pm
Spanish River Library
Literacy enrichment through acting, puppetry, crafts, games, and other activities. Child attends independently. 
 
Seat reservation required for each individual class.
 

My First Book Club (ages 6-7)
Thursdays in November, 4:30-5:00pm
Downtown Library
Join our fun-filled First Book Club adventure! Kids read a beginner reader book before attending, then come together to dive deeper into the story through creative, hands-on activities that bring the book to life. It's the perfect way for young readers to explore, learn, and have a blast with friends. Books are distributed one week ahead of time to prepare for class. Child attends independently.
 
Books funded by the Friends of the Library.
 
Seat reservation required for each individual class.
 
What's New for Tweens & Teens
Hunger Games Library Challenge (ages 9-17)
Thursday, November 19, 6:00-7:00pm
Spanish River Library
Step into the world of Panem with a series of exciting activities inspired by The Hunger Games series. Tweens and teens will test their knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving skills through themed challenges here at the library.
 
Seat reservation required.
 
More to Enjoy
New Art Exhibit: "Distant Memories" by Erica Kyle
October 26 - December 4
Downtown Library
Inspired by French Impressionism from youth, Kyle is drawn to the style’s expressive quality and softer brushstrokes. She creates soft, seamless blends of color into the likeness of an oil painting. For Kyle, painting is more than an exploration of technique – it is a way to translate mood, memory, and personal experience into visual form.  
 
In “Distant Memories,” Kyle draws inspiration from her travels to Italy, France, and California, transforming sketches into works that invite viewers to slow down and look a little closer.  Read more... 

New Art Exhibit: "Spare Parts Universe" by Oliver Sarkis
October 12 - November 20
Spanish River Library
Robots have invaded the library! Or, rather, Limbots. Boca Raton Public Library will host “Spare Parts Universe” by Oliver Sarkis, a free exhibition introducing visitors to a strange, imaginative, and entirely handmade mechanical universe.

Limbots are post-industrial robot sculptures assembled from recycled and salvaged materials, including mechanical parts, discarded electronics, and an assortment of found objects. No two are quite alike. Read more...
Library Team Member Spotlight
Brian Gomez
Library Assistant II
What I Do: Working in Account Services, there are many things we do to make sure the library operates smoothly: staffing the checkout desk, pulling requested holds from the stacks, answering and directing phone calls, or checking in the hundreds upon hundreds of items returned daily. I also assist in the cataloging department, where I take new books and fill out their bibliographic records so they are ready to be searched for and circulated.
 
Why I Love My Job: I love that we provide a free service to our community here in Boca Raton. It's very fulfilling to see people so grateful for the wonderful services and wide assortment of items we have available. It's never a dull day here, and all of my coworkers are a joy to be around.
 
What I’m Reading Now:  Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Friends of the Library News
The Friends are grateful to the community for generous book donations.  
Volunteers receive book donations Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am-3:30pm at the Bookstore located in the lobby of the Downtown Library. Please review the book donation policy at the Friends Bookstore Webpage.

Support Indie Bookstores
You can purchase Friends virtual book club picks online at Bookshop.org. Search for the Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library Bookstore to see their list of book club picks, and select them as the bookstore you would like to support with your purchase.
 

Friends' Bookstore Hours & Location
400 NW 2nd Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33432
Tuesday -10:00am-7:00pm
Wednesday - Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Monday: Closed
561-544-8596

The Library will be closed on Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day and on Thursday, November 26 in observance of Thanksgiving.
 
Library Hours & Locations
400 NW 2nd Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33432
1501 NW Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33431
Monday - Thursday: 9:00am-8:00pm
Friday - Sunday: 9:00-5:00pm
561-393-7852
bocalibrary.org

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Boca Raton Public Library
400 NW 2nd Ave, Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561-393-7852
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