By KATHLEEN WILSON
With the Port Orchard Library renovations in full swing, this fall might be the perfect opportunity to “hit the road” and visit one of the other branches of Kitsap Regional Library or perhaps our bookmobile.
Nicknamed “Violet” for her show stoppingly purple presence, the bookmobile has several convenient South Kitsap stops, including an appearance every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the Sedgwick Albertsons parking lot.
Many South Kitsap residents are already familiar with the friendly Manchester Library. Situated in the heart of Manchester, just eight miles from downtown Port Orchard, the Manchester staff is always happy to see Port Orchard patrons coming in to pick up holds or use the public computers.
Another library that’s closer than you might think is our Downtown Bremerton Branch on Fifth Street. Within easy walking distance of the ferry terminal, the foot ferry makes the commute to this branch one of the most scenic.
The branch itself is interesting too. Built in 1938, this art deco building was Kitsap County’s main library until 1978 when the Sylvan Way Branch was built in East Bremerton.
While you’re out visiting different branches, check out some of KRL’s fall programming. The highlight of every fall at the library is always KRL’s annual “One Book, One Community” program.
This is the sixth year Kitsap Regional Library has brought “One Book, One Community” to Kitsap County, a program intended to bring the entire County together over one book choice with book discussions in each community and a variety of programming based on the book offered at every branch. Past choices have included “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “The Big Burn” by Timothy Egan.
This year’s choice, “The Leisure Seeker” by Michael Zadoorian is heartwarming, hilarious and thought-provoking.
Ella and John Robina have shared a full life together, and now as Ella faces terminal cancer and John becomes more lost in the fog of Alzheimer’s every day, they decide to defy the wishes of their doctors and their children and strike out on one last great road trip in their RV, “the leisure seeker.”
Author Michael Zadoorian will be coming to Kitsap County in October, and he’ll be at the McCormick Woods Clubhouse on Friday, Oct. 18 from 10-11 a.m. to discuss “The Leisure Seeker” in a free event open to all who have read the book. There are numerous events centered on The Leisure Seeker and the book’s various themes throughout Kitsap all through October.
If the One Book Programming isn’t enough, KRL is also celebrating a third annual “Fall at the Mall” with programming every Saturday throughout September and October at the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale. This week’s offering from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, is the “Swinging with Dean Show” with multi-talented musician and former opener for the Beach Boys, Dean Ratzman.
I’m looking forward to a renovated Port Orchard Library in October, but this remodel is a great excuse to get out and explore some of the other terrific libraries in the Kitsap Regional Library System.
