Stuffie Sleepover!
Join us in the Friends Storytime Room at 6 pm on Thursday, October 8 for a special Stuffie Storytime! Kids are invited to leave their stuffies in the care of library staff overnight. What kind of shenanigans will the stuffies get into? Find out when you pick them up the next day and read their adventure journal. No registration required.
To see our full schedule of October programs, visit the library’s online calendar at missionviejo.gov/event-category/library-programs.
Spooky Season is upon us
Test your teamwork and problem-solving skills in our Haunted Escape Room and then join us for library Trick-or-Treat.
Do you have what it takes to escape the haunted room? Work together to solve eerie puzzles and uncover hidden clues in the library’s Haunted Escape Room. Escape Room sessions are offered during library hours October 9-11 for ages 8 and older. Registration is required. Register at missionviejo.gov/event-category/library-programs.
Then on Saturday, October 17 from 2-4 pm, join us for a special Trick-or-Treat event. Visit Halloween treat and activity stations throughout the library. Costumes and trick-or-treat bags are encouraged in this fun event for all ages. No registration required.
To see our full schedule of October programs, visit the library’s online calendar at missionviejo.gov/event-category/library-programs.
Family Storytime and Craft: Meet the Author - Su Moon
Join us for a featured Family Storytime and Craft in the Friends Storytime Room with children's author Su Moon at 10:30 am on Wednesday, October 14. Enjoy a staff-led reading of "Vlad is Mad" followed by a drawing presentation from the author and themed crafts inspired by the story. No registration required.
To see our full schedule of October programs, visit the library’s online calendar at missionviejo.gov/event-category/library-programs.
Heritage House Open House
The recently updated Heritage House at Melinda Park will be open for history lovers of all ages from 11 am to 1 pm on Sunday, October 18.
The little house in Melinda Park was built in the early 1980s and was used by the Mission Viejo Company as a new home finding center and was featured in the company’s advertising campaign as “The California Promise. Live it in Mission Viejo.”
In 2003, the City of Mission Viejo approved the establishment of the Heritage House as a local history museum. The historical display and monthly open houses are facilitated by the City’s Heritage Committee. The committee was formed in 1992 and is comprised of residents who meet monthly and volunteer to help the City preserve its rich history.
The house is located at 28951 Melinda Road.
For more information about Heritage House Open House events or the Heritage Committee, email localhistory@cityofmissionviejo.org.
Tales, Tails, and Treats at Mission Viejo Animal Services
Get ready for a “purr-fectly” festive time! Mission Viejo Animal Services and the library invite you to celebrate the season with Tales, Tails and Treats on Sunday, October 25 at 11 am. Enjoy themed storytime, seasonal crafts and activities, and meet adorable kittens looking for their forever homes.
The event takes place at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center located at 28095 Hillcrest. No registration required.
To see our full schedule of October programs, visit the library’s online calendar at missionviejo.gov/event-category/library-programs.
Craft, Create and Race
Gamers of all ages are invited to join us in the Friends Storytime Room for a fun-filled afternoon at 4 pm on Monday, October 26. Start your engines and race into our Mario Kart Video Tournament. Compete for the finish line then enjoy video game-themed crafts and activities. This is fun for the whole family! No registration required.
To see our full schedule of October programs, visit the library’s online calendar at missionviejo.gov/event-category/library-programs.
Exciting updates to Niche Academy
If you haven’t already, visit our online resources page to check out the latest updates to the resource Niche Academy. This online training platform helps libraries create, deliver, and track educational content for staff, volunteers, and community members. Niche Academy offers self-paced programs you can access anytime without distractions.
You will find our newly refreshed Mission Viejo Library homepage on Niche Academy that is easier to navigate with dozens of new tutorials covering social media, cybersecurity, library resources, and much more. We will soon add presentation slides from our popular Computer Basics 101 program featuring topics like setting up your email account, understanding internet browsers, organizing digital files and more.
All you need to access these materials is your Mission Viejo Library card. Visit missionviejo.gov/online-resources and start learning at your own pace today.
SOCCGS Annual Seminar – DNA and AI
The South Orange County California Genealogical Society (SOCCGS) is hosting its annual seminar from 10:45 am to 2:30 pm Saturday, October 3 at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way.
Guest speaker Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for genealogical research, will present the topics at this year’s biggest event.
If DNA and AI have been too intimidating to broach, Blaine is great at explaining these two fields in a comprehensive, easy-to-understand manner. This seminar will teach you how to use DNA and AI to your advantage when it comes to genealogy research. Register today at soccgs.org/annual-seminar.
Blaine is a leading voice in the field since the early days of DNA testing for ancestry research. He is best known for founding The Genetic Genealogist blog in 2007, one of the first blogs dedicated to genetic genealogy, and for his collaborative research projects such as the Shared cM Project, which compiles DNA sharing data for hundreds of genealogical relationships. Blaine’s professional background is an intellectual property attorney by day and a genetic genealogist by night. He is the author of “The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy” and co-author with Debbie Parker Wayne of the award-winning “Genetic Genealogy in Practice.” He also co-authored “Genetics for Genealogy” with Judy Russell in 2018’s “Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards” (Elizabeth Shown Mills, Author and Editor). Blaine has been interviewed and quoted in publications such as “Newsweek,” “New Scientist,” and “Wired.” He has been an instructor for genetic genealogy courses at multiple institutions including the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) and Family Tree.
For more information about the South Orange County California Genealogical Society, visit soccgs.org. For questions about the annual seminar, email seminar@soccgs.org.