October is always a big month for us at the Northampton Area Public Library.

Not only does the team love Halloween and all things spooky, it’s also the month we run our largest fundraisers. I’m sure you’ve seen the advertisements floating around cyberspace and in the newspapers for our annual autumn online auction and basket social. In addition, we have Papa Sarge’s pierogies to order for something warm in your tummy as it begins to get cold.

Best of all, the Northampton Area Public Library is now a book sanctuary.

Before we get too far, let’s make sure you’re filled in for our annual autumn online auction and basket social.

Bidding began Oct. 1 for our online auction and continues through 11:59 p.m. Oct. 7.

To check out the items on auction or to place a bid, visit napl.tiny.us/oa2023. Winners may pick up their items at the library beginning 1 p.m. Oct. 9.

Tickets for the basket social are now on sale at the library, and it’s best to get them before the day of the event since the presale special only goes until 8 p.m. Oct. 12. Tickets prices are $10 for 26 tickets. The presale special is: buy three sheets and get one free.

The basket social is 6-8 p.m. Oct. 13.

Specials will be called 7:45 p.m., but winners do not need to be present to win. Basket social winners will be contacted by phone beginning Oct. 16. All items may be picked up from the library.

Only cash and checks may be accepted for the basket social by law, so make sure to bring extra for food from the event center and our bake sale.

As noted above, we are accepting orders for Papa Sarge’s pierogies through Oct. 14. Papa Sarge’s pierogies are top quality and handmade, like the pierogies available through churches.

Each flavor is sold by the dozen and comes frozen. There are seven flavors, including potato and cheese; bacon, potato and cheese; sauerkraut, potato and cheese; jalapeño cheddar; dill pickle; buffalo chicken; and apple.

Pierogi orders will end 4 p.m. Oct. 14. Orders can be made at the basket social.

Pickup from the library will be Oct. 30. We will give all purchasers a call when they come in.

Finally, the library is celebrating the freedom to read during Banned Books Week - Oct. 1-7. This year’s theme is Let Freedom Read, and our team decided there’s no better way to celebrate that freedom than by becoming a book sanctuary to highlight the value of free and open access to information and to support the freedom to seek and express ideas.

Therefore, the library is committed to collecting, protecting and making accessible banned, challenged and endangered books to anyone and everyone who is interested in the information and experiences they contain. A diverse collection is a healthy collection!

If we only keep books with opinions that our community agrees with, then we’re not properly doing our jobs, and we like to make certain we have something for everyone.

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The library also continues to host a number of programs for children, teens and adults.

Pickup your craft kits at the library.

A new kids’ craft bag became available Oct. 2. Another bag will be available starting Oct. 18. There is a limit of two per family.

The teen craft pickup to make a mini cemetarium started Oct. 2.

Adults can pick up their craft kits Oct. 9 to make a mini Halloween candy jar.

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The library board of trustees is scheduled to meet 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12.

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The Stitch and Chat group will meet 6-7 p.m. Oct. 17.

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The Teen Advisory Board meets 5-6 p.m. Oct. 18.

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The library will close 5 p.m. Oct. 19 for the Jack Frost parade.

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There will be a teen spatial poetry workshop 6-7 p.m. Oct. 23 for grades 6-12.

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Storytimes restart for October.

Lapsit storytime resumes 10:30 a.m. Oct. 24 for ages 0-24 months.

Toddler storytime restarts 10 a.m. Oct. 25 for ages 18-36 months.

Preschool storytime will be 10 a.m. Oct. 26 for ages 3-5 years.

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The library will host a program on Medicare guidance led by Toni Schaller. It is planned for 1-2:30 p.m. Oct. 24.

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The Well Read, Badly Behaved Book Club will be meeting 1:30-2:30 p.m. Oct. 24 to discuss “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

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The Friends of NAPL group will meet 7 p.m. Oct. 24.

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Youth book clubs meet Oct. 25.

The tween book club for grades 6-8 will meet 5-6 p.m., and the teen book club for grades 9-12 meets 6-7 p.m.

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The library will host a storycraft for kids in kindergarten through second grade, set for 4:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 26.

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Kids ages 6-11 can register to read to Sunshine the therapy dog 6-7 p.m. Oct. 26.

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The Once Upon a Crime group, for ages 18 and older, meets 6-7 p.m. Oct. 30. The event will feature author James T. Bartlett.

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The Laid Back Book Club for adults will read “My Roommate Is a Vampire” by Jenna Levine.

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See our website, northamptonapl.org, or call 610-262-7537 to register for any program.