Many of our patrons might be surprised to learn that as part of our training process at the library, all new employees are required to complete two courses with FEMA and receive training at Collier County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). In emergency situations, library staff and all other government employees are called upon to help out in a variety of ways. During and immediately after Hurricane Ian, several members of our library team were assisting at the EOC, assisting with childcare for first responders, shelter operations, and the non-emergency hotline (311). The library staff remains committed to helping Collier County residents as we recover and rebuild from Hurricane Ian. 

Fortunately, most of our libraries and other government facilities sustained minimal damage from Hurricane Ian, allowing us to reopen fairly quickly to help serve the public. Headquarters and South Regional were able to reopen on Monday, October 3, with most other branches resuming their normal hours of operation on Tuesday, October 4. The East Naples branch will, unfortunately, remain closed until we can guarantee that the public can safely access the building and parking lot. If you have questions regarding any branch hours, you can find hours and updates on our website at www.CollierLibrary.org or call Headquarters Library at (239) 252-7350. All normal programming is scheduled to resume on Monday, October 10.

Community members interested in participating in the recovery efforts or donating your time, visit  https://www.volunteerflorida.org/. This website lists volunteer opportunities in Collier County and throughout Southwest Florida and provides you with the information you need to begin volunteering.

If you would like to donate supplies or make a monetary donation, you can learn more by clicking the blue link or copy/pasting the web addresses of the list below:
Collier Community Foundation: www.CollierCF.org
American Red Cross: www.RedCross.org/Donate, 
Salvation Army of Collier County: www.SalvationArmyFlorida.org/Naples
United Way of Collier and the Keys: www.UWCollierKeys.org.

Read for the Record
Thursday, October 27!

Celebrate with children around the world and join us for a special reading of the book Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady. Enjoy a science-based edible craft using Oreo cookies to demonstrate the phases of the moon. See our website for participating library branches and times.  

Family History Month is a terrific opportunity to start your journey into your own genealogy, learn about new resources, and meet people who share your interest in history. Individual family histories are always a significantly personal and unique thing that brings meaning into your life, and researching them has become extremely popular. Take advantage of some of Collier County Public Library’s free resources and talk to our passionate staff!

Here are several activities that you can start doing to keep in the spirit of Family History Month.

- Start researching your family tree
- Record some of your parents’ memories of their younger years
- Post old family photographs on the internet for others to enjoy
- Begin writing down some of your own life stories
- Record the voices of your young children or grandchildren and keep them to listen to when they are older
- Visit a cemetery and take in the differences in family tombstones
- Call a relative you haven’t heard from in a long time and reestablish those family connections
- Cook a family favorite dish and invite family or friends over to enjoy it with you
- Make an appointment at Naples Regional Library and visit our genealogy room staffed with assistants to help you with your research

Contact us at 239-252-5135 to make your appointment to begin your journey today!

Virtual Book Discussions

CCPL Virtual Book Club – "Sea of Tranquility"

by Emily St. John Mandel

Zoom Discussion, Tuesday, Oct 25 at 2pm 
Email [email protected] to receive an invite.

There will be a preview of the book in a Facebook Live discussion on Tuesday, Oct 11 at 2pm!
In-Person Discussions

Mystery Book Club - Monday, Oct 10, 2pm Naples Regional Library

"The Lincoln Highway" by Amor Towles - Wednesday, Oct 26, 2pm South Regional Library

Find us at collierlibrary.org/events to check for more events and sign up online to get back to talking about books!

Collection Corner: Metaphysical, Medicinal, & Meditative

Weedy Wisdom for the Curious Forager: Common Wild Plants to Nourish Your Body & Soul by Rebecca Randall Gilbert
With more than fifty recipes, hands-on activities, and thought-provoking social themes, Rebecca Randall Gilbert shows you exciting ways to incorporate common wild plants into your life.

Kitchen Witchery: Unlocking the Magick in Everyday Ingredients by Laurel Woodward
Kitchen Witchery provides recipes for the seasons and holidays, oil and seasoning blends, and clever ways to turn your pantry items into magickal tools. From homemade hummus to herbal teas and so much more, this book nourishes your practice and shows you the bountiful magick right in your kitchen.

Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation by Mat Auryn
Popular writer Mat Auryn reveals his most closely guarded tips, practices, and meditations for unlocking your psychic abilities and elevating your witchcraft into exciting new territory. Featuring over ninety exercises, this groundbreaking book helps your magick and your senses reach their full potential.

Ptsdreams: Transform Your Nightmares from Trauma Through Healing Dreamwork by Linda Yael Schiller
Nightmares, especially those caused by trauma, not only disrupt your sleep but can leave you exhausted and on edge, haunting your daylight hours. With in-depth information on the nature of nightmares, international speaker, author, and psychotherapist Linda Yael Schiller shows you how to turn anxiety-filled or heart-pounding dreams into resources for spiritual growth.

Unlock the Power of Your Chakras: An Immersive Experience Through Exercises, Yoga Sets & Meditations by Masuda Mohamadi
This engaging book shows you how to achieve physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness through the seven chakras. Masuda Mohamadi shares many accessible practices, including meditations and kriyas, for increased prosperity, strength, confidence, and clarity.

Shamanism: Your Personal Journey to Healing and Self-discovery by Mark Nelson
This comprehensive guide takes you into the highly experiential world of shamanism. You'll learn a variety of foundational topics, including how to take shamanic journeys and perform rituals such as divination and healing, as well as intermediate skills such as long-distance healing and dream work. Mark Nelson shares transversal beliefs and practices not connected to a specific culture or religion, making this book accessible to everyone.

Enchanted Kitchen: Connect to Spirit with Recipes & Rituals Through the Year by Gail Bussi
Turn your kitchen into the true heart of your home with inspiring rituals, meditations, spells, crafts, and foods specific to each month. From the author of Enchanted Herbal, this book provides more than seventy-five seasonal recipes, several with vegan or vegetarian adaptations.

Wake Me When You Leave: Love and Encouragement Via Dreams from the Other Side by Elisa Donovan
After prominent roles in Clueless; Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; and Beverly Hills 90210; Elisa's career was on the fast track. Until her show is unexpectedly cancelled, her relationship ends, and her father is diagnosed with terminal cancer. This book chronicles Elisa's journey out of despair and heartbreak, with awe-inspiring visitations, dreams, and inexplicable synchronicities that could only be her father letting her know that he's watching over her from the afterlife.

Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World by Asia Suler
Combining poetic nature writing with exercises and reflection prompts at the end of each essay, Mirrors in the Earth coaxes us to come as we are: to discover and tend the inherent brilliance and medicine that lives in each of us. From the manatee-calm springs of wild Florida to the flower-dotted coves of the world’s most biodiverse mountains, Mirrors in the Earth is an invitation and encounter with the benevolence of the living world--and a nature therapy session for the soul.

Energetic Herbalism: A Guide to Sacred Plant Traditions Integrating Elements of Vitalism, Ayurveda, and Chinese Medicine by Kat Maier
By honoring ancient wisdom and presenting it in an innovative way, Energetic Herbalism is a profound and practical guide to family and community care for those seeking to move beyond symptom relief and into a truly holistic framework of health. Throughout, author Kat Maier invites readers to explore their personal relationships with plants and their environs as they discover diverse models of healing.

Drinkable Healing Herbal Infusions: 100 Beverages to Soothe Your Ailments and Boost Your Immunity by Brighid Doherty
Herbs possess powerful medicinal properties—and they are all around us. You can find plants in your own garden or local grocery store that calm nerves or fight infections. This guide shows you how to tap into this healing power through the process of herbal infusion. Learn how to use herbs to brew teas, syrups, honeys, and tinctures that can boost your health—and taste great.

Talking Zen: Reflections on Mind, Myth, and the Magic of Life by Alan Watts and Mark Watts
Insightful and entertaining essays spanning 40 years of lectures by Alan Watts on Zen, Taoism, psychedelics, and comparative philosophy.

Crystal Healing for Women: A Modern Guide to the Power of Crystals for Renewed Energy, Strength, and Wellness by Mariah K. Lyons and Amy Dickerson
Revered for their restorative powers over our health, crystals have served humanity for millennia. With Crystal Healing for Women, you can unlock the ancient secrets of healing and wisdom held within these stones. crystal healer and reiki master Mariah K. Lyons shares her knowledge in this beautifully-illustrated, practical guide that helps woman awaken to their feminine divinity and healing powers, and rekindle their instinctual relationship with nature.

Why Woo-Woo Works: The Surprising Science Behind Meditation, Reiki, Crystals, and Other Alternative Practices by David R. Hamilton Ph.D.
Alternative therapies, healing modalities, and spiritual practices are often referred to as 'woo-woo,' - but many of these approaches are actually supported by compelling scientific evidence.
In this dynamic and thought-provoking book, David R. Hamilton PhD dives deeper into the true nature of consciousness and presents the cutting-edge research behind energy healing, crystals, meditation, and more.

Crystal Rx: Daily Rituals for Cultivating Calm, Achieving Your Goals, and Rocking Your Inner Gem Boss by Colleen McCann
Colleen McCann is a certified Shamanic Energy Practitioner who has travelled the world researching and teaching the ancient art of crystal healing. Now, she shares all that she's learned, offering insight and clear directions for harnessing the power of these magical minerals.  Packed with gorgeous images, Crystal Rx is the sophisticated handbook every girl needs to guide her on her spiritual journey.

The Art & Practice of Spiritual Herbalism: Transform, Heal, & Remember with the Power of Plants and Ancestral Medicine by Karen M. Rose
Master Herbalist Karen Rose is a first-generation immigrant from Guyana with ancestors from Ghana, the Congo, China, and India who continues her grandmother’s legacy as a healer and herbalist. In The Art & Practice of Spiritual Herbalism, she shares her wisdom on how to partner plants and rituals to guide the process of self-healing. As you alleviate physical symptoms and heal emotional and spiritual imbalances, you will see how plants can help you stand in your power, strengthen your intuition, and provide protection.