November comes from the Latin word novem, “nine,” because this had been the ninth month in the early Roman calendar. Although it is our eleventh month, the name has never changed. November’s birthstone is the yellow topaz, and the flower is the chrysanthemum. Some observances in November are: Adopt A Senior Pet Month, American Indian Heritage Month, Banana Pudding Lovers Month, National Diabetes Month, National Family Literacy Month, and World Vegan Month just to name a few.

With the current circumstances across the country, the Library is asking patrons to “Think Beyond the Can.” The Library is asking patrons to consider putting together Dollar Tree Pantry Meals, and provide shelf-stable items like milk, bags of beans and rice, boxed meals, potato and rice mixes, peanut butter, jelly, just add water mixes, canned and pouch meats, birthday cake boxes, and other creative ideas to ensure that local families in need are taken care of during these economically challenging times. We will be listing resources, creative ideas, website links, and other information in the upcoming weeks on our own website, and other social media accounts. You can visit 211 Virginia at: https://211virginia.org/ to get connected for extra help. Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is at https://foodfinder.brafb.org/ to seek more help. Dollar Tree Pantry Meals are at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26y9Jyy2xQc for some creative ways to cook or donate at the Library. The Library will be printing recipes from the Dollar Tree Pantry Meals for patrons to pick up so that they can shop, pack, add the recipe card, and donate directly to us for redistribution.

It was BIGFOOT week at the Library! Patrons had the opportunity to get their photo taken at the Bigfoot photo booth and pick up craft projects and activity sheets. Bigfoot’s footprints were found throughout the Library, including the large print section.

Craig York, voice actor and Library employee, presented a reading of the classic tale “The Cask of Amontillado,” a short story by Edgar Allen Poe on Tuesday, October 21st. This was the last of a three-part series to introduce haunting tales by this famous American writer, poet, editor and literary critic.

Getting into the spirit of Halloween! For Wednesday, October 22nd’s Family Story & Craft Time an employee read the book “My Monsterpiece” by Amalia Hoffman. What’s the SCARIEST, MEANEST, most TERRIBLE monster you can imagine? The kids enjoyed making their own artistic interpretation of a monster using precut monster parts, googly eyes, glue, glitter and other embellishments while enjoying snacks. Everyone family who showed up received a hardback copy of the book to take home! Our next Story & Craft Time will be on Wednesday, October 29th, starting at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for preschool patrons.

Also, on Wednesday, the Library hosted their Cookbook Book Club featuring the theme almost homemade. Library employee Katharine Bloodworth introduced her copy of the book “Almost Homemade” by Gooseberry Patch. Her recipes including green bean salad and crescent chive rolls. Patrons were given the opportunity to talk about their own cookbooks, sample each other’s dishes, and exchange recipes. Due to holiday observances and closings, the staff will be taking a break from Cookbook Book Club until next spring. If you are interested in being emailed reminders about upcoming Cookbook Book Club meetings please email Katharine at [email protected] .

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and on Thursday, October 23rd, a witness advocate from the County office was at the Jamerson Library to offer information and resources on domestic violence and advocacy information.

On Thursday, Library Fairy MaKayla traded in her fairy wings for bat wings for the After School Crafts with MaKayla. This month’s Bad Art theme was “Haunted House,” the kids enjoyed snacks while creating spooky houses using a variety of craft supplies.

Again, on Thursday, ACLA (Appomattox County Library Association) held their first meeting, this was a casual gathering to see if there was any interest in re-establishing volunteers and fundraising on behalf of the Library. ACLA was established in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) friends of the library style group with a mission statement of fundraising, providing volunteers, applying for grants and making special purchases for this Library. ACLA is a separate entity from Library Board. ACLA is its own organization, with its own board, for the purpose of supporting the Library under their own mission statement. If you are interested in joining ACLA please email Jenny at [email protected] .

On Saturday, October 25th the Library Director and an employee were guest vendors at the American Museum of the Civil War’s Fall Festival. They had fun passing out free books, bubbles, coloring sheets, craft projects, the latest Library newsletter, and other library-related information.

Don’t fear the reader raffle, or the Library staff! For the past several weeks you may have noticed Library staff walking around with “Don’t Fear The Reader” t-shirts. We love these t-shirts so much that we are hosting a free raffle to win one of these shirts. We will announce the winners on Thursday, October 30th. It is one chance per patron, per visit.

In observation of Election Day, the Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 4th. We will reopen for normal business hours on Wednesday, November 5th, starting at 9:30 am. The book drop, located at the back of the building, will remain open.

In observation of Veterans Day, the Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th. We will reopen for normal business hours on Wednesday, November 12th, starting at 9:30 am. The book drop, located at the back of the building, will remain open.

In observation of the Thanksgiving Holiday the Library will be closed from Wednesday, November 26th, through Friday, November 28th. We will reopen normal business hours on Saturday, November 29th, starting at 9:30 am. The book drop, located at the back of the building, will remain open.

If you have any questions or concerns about this article or other library-related topics, please feel free to call us during normal business hours.

Article / Photo Submitted by
Katharine G. Bloodworth
Assistant Director
J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library

Community Calendar

October 27th, Monday – GED Outreach @ the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library. From 1:00pm – 3:00pm. Doriane Mills from the Adult Learning Center will be at the Library to answer your questions and help you sign-up for classes to earn your GED.

October 27th, Monday – Legal Aid at the Jamerson Library starting at 4:00 pm. Representatives from Virginia Legal Aid Society will present information about common legal issues, including general guidelines, applicable eligibility, and helpful tools.

October 28th, Tuesday – Jamerson Library’s Teen Crafts for patrons 13 – 19 years of age, starting at 3:30 pm in the community room. We will be featuring Halloween and fall-themed craft projects and serving snacks!

October 29th, Wednesday – Preschool Story & Craft Time at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for preschool patrons.

October 30th, Thursday – Library to be a guest vendor at the Elementary School’s Fall Festival from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Stop by our booth from the latest edition of the Library’s newsletter and other Library information, a craft project, activities sheets and more.

November 3rd, Monday– GED Outreach @ the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library. From 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Doriane Mills from the Adult Learning Center will be at the Library to answer your questions and help you sign up for classes to earn your GED.

November 4th, Tuesday – Library Closed in observance of Election day.

November 5th, Wednesday – Preschool Story & Craft Time at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for preschool patrons.

November 6th, Thursday – United Healthcare presents a 2026 Medicare Informational meeting at the Jamerson Library from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm to discuss the upcoming changes in Medicare.

November 10th, Monday – Bonnet Stitchers will meet at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 10:00 am. Anyone interested in sharing or learning a skill like crocheting, knitting, quilting, needlework, sewing, or other related hobbies is encouraged to attend. Enjoy good company while sharing patterns, exchanging ideas, learning new projects, or teaching others. This meeting is open to anyone willing to teach or learn, yes gentleman, this includes you too!

November 11th, Tuesday – Library Closed in observance of Veterans Day.

November 12, Wednesday – Preschool Story & Craft Time at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for preschool patrons.

November 12th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library’s Christmas Photos from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the community room. Family, friends, and small groups, bring your cameras or phones to have your photos taken against a Christmas fireplace backdrop surrounded by a Christmas tree and other props. Well-behaved pets are welcome but must be kept in a crate or on leash until your scheduled appointment. Perfect for cards, screensavers, mugs, mouse pads, and more! A staff member will take photos. If you do not have a phone/camera, we will take pictures on your behalf and email them to you. Please call the Library at 434.352.5340 to reserve your time slot as appointment times are limited.

November 12th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library’s Teen Book Club in the Library’s community room starting at 3:30 pm. This month’s book is “The Lake” by Natasha Preston. Esme and Kayla were once campers at Camp Pine Lake. Now they’re back as counselors-in-training. Esme and Kayla did something terrible when they were campers, a secret they had kept all these years. They get a message: The lake never forgets. The secret they’ve kept buried for so many years is about to resurface. Patrons 13 – 19 years of age can find out more by picking up a copy and joining us for the Teen Book Club.

November 13th, Thursday – Girls Who Code at the Jamerson Library starting at 4:00 pm in the community room. Girls Who Code is a club designed to help young women learn about science, technology, engineering and math and how they integrate into their everyday lives. The Jamerson GWC club welcomes new members from 3rd grade to 12th grade please register at https://www.jrjml.org/girlswhocoderegistration/.

November 13th, Thursday – Jamerson Library’s Book Club for Adults will meet in the Library’s community room at 5:30 pm. This month’s book is “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” by Rachel Joyce. Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack of quotidian minutiae is a letter addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl from a woman he hasn’t seen or heard from in twenty years. Patrons 18+ years of age can find out more by picking up a copy and joining us for the Jamerson Library’s Book Club for Adults.

November 15th, Saturday – Jamerson Library’s Creative Class for Adults starting at 11:00 am in the community room. This month we will be introducing patrons 18+ years of age the art of scrapbooking and junk journaling. Just in time for the upcoming holidays, learn how to turn your photos and memorabilia into fun and crafty pages using fancy papers, stickers, glue, punches, and other embellishments to create your very own photo album / junk journal. You must be registered at: https://www.jrjml.org/adult-program-registration/ to attend.

November 17th, Monday – GED Outreach @ the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library. From 1:00pm – 3:00pm. Doriane Mills from the Adult Learning Center will be at the Library to answer your questions and help you sign-up for classes to earn your GED.

November 18th, Tuesday – United Healthcare presents a 2026 Medicare Information meeting at the Jamerson Library from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm to discuss the upcoming changes in Medicare.

November 18th, Tuesday – Library Board to meet at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 4:00 pm. These meetings are open to the public; this month the board will be accepting public comments and concerns.

November 19th, Wednesday – Preschool Story & Craft Time at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for preschool patrons.

November 19th, Wednesday – Humana Medicare Educational Seminar at the Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 5:30 pm. Calling all seniors who may be effected by the 2026 changes in Medicare. Get your questions answered and receive important information that may affect your future Medicare benefits.

November 20th, Thursday – Jamerson Library’s After School Crafts With MaKayla (Bad Art, Thanksgiving Edition) in the Library’s community room starting at 4:00 pm. This month’s Bad Art challenge will be to create a turkey with a selection of traditional and unique supplies.

November 20th, Thursday – Jamerson Library’s Family Retro Movie Night starting at 6:00 pm in the Library’s community room. This movie is inspired by a short story about a high-society woman in late-1800’s New York. When her estranged daughter becomes ill and is too proud to ask her mother for assistance, the granddaughter takes it upon herself to contact her grandmother and plead for help. Upon the daughter’s arrival, it causes an upheaval in many lives but may also lead to reconciliation within the family.

November 22nd, Saturday – Jamerson Library Christmas Photos from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm in the community room. Family, friends and small groups bring your cameras or phones to have your photos taken against a Christmas fireplace backdrop surrounded by a Christmas tree and other props. Well-behaved pets are welcome but must be kept in a crate or on leash until your scheduled appointment. Perfect for cards, screensavers, mugs, mouse pads and more! Photos will be taken by a staff member, if you do not have a phone / camera we will take photos on your behalf, and email them to you. Please call the Library at 434.352.5340 to reserve your time slot as appointment times are limited.

November 24th, Monday – GED Outreach @ the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library. From 1:00pm – 3:00pm. Doriane Mills from the Adult Learning Center will be at the Library to answer your questions and help you sign-up for classes to earn your GED.

November 26th, Wednesday to November 28, Friday – the Library will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.