As Palm Beach season nears, King Library plans a busy schedule of adult, teen programming
With fall just around the corner, the Gioconda and Joseph King Library at the Society of the Four Arts has released its 2022-23 programming schedule.
Beginning this month, the library will host a variety of book discussions, play readings, author talks and teen programming.
Most programs will continue through April, and some will run until July, said Dr. Rachel Schipper, Director of Libraries for The Society of the Four Arts.
"We have found that many people are either staying for the summer or are looking around for things to do in the summertime," Schipper said. "So May, June and July have been good times to hold these groups. We've got a lot of readers in this community."
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Popular adult programs at the library, which serves the town of Palm Beach but is open to all library members, include Talk of Kings Book Discussions, Page Turners Book Discussions, Florida Voices, and Biography Book Club.
The Talk of Kings Book Discussions group explores 'captivating' tales in history and culture.
It meets on select Tuesdays from Sept. 20 through April 4. There is no charge, but reservations are required. Discussions begin at 5:30 p.m.
The 2022-23 book list includes: "River of the Gods," by Candice Millard (Sept. 20); "The Bomber Mafia," by Malcolm Gladwell (Oct. 11); "The Mountbattens," by Andrew Lownie (Nov. 8); "The Bookseller of Florence," by Ross King (Dec. 6); "The Spymasters," by Chris Whipple (Jan. 10); "The True Flag," by Stephen Kinzer (Feb. 7); "The Age of A.I.," by Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt and Daniel Huttenlocher (March 7); and "Blowing the Bloody Doors Off," by Michael Caine (April 4).
The Page Turners Book Discussions group explores new titles and modern works of fiction.
It meets monthly on select Wednesdays from Nov. 9 to April 19. There is no charge, but reservations are required. Discussions begin at 1:30 p.m.
The 2022-23 book list includes: "Mornings with Rosemary" (Nov. 9); "Klara and the Sun" (Dec. 14); "The Paris Library" (Jan. 18); "The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post" (Feb. 15); "Beautiful Little Fools" (March 15); and "The Collector's Daughter: A Novel of the Discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb" (April 19).
For both book discussion series, participants can choose to view remotely live, via Zoom, or by a recording posted to www.fourarts.org one week following the presentation.
The Florida Voices Author Series will be held on select Wednesdays from Oct. 19 to April 12 at the Dixon Education Building, 240 Cocoanut Row, unless otherwise noted. Discussions begin at 1:30 p.m.
There is no charge, but reservations are required.
Featured authors are: Tracy Enerson Wood, "The War Nurse" (Oct. 19); Leslie Kemp Poole, "The Wilder Heart of Florida" (Nov. 16); Rick Kilby, "Florida's Healing Waters" (Dec. 7); Cynthia Barnett, "The Sound of the Sea" (Jan. 11); Deborah Goodrich Royce, "Reef Road" (Jan. 25, at the King Library); Deborah C. Pollack, "Florida Sculptors and Their Work: 1880-2020" (Feb. 8, in-person only); Les Standiford, "Battle for the Big Top" (March 8); and Debbie Babitt, "First Victim" (April 12).
The Biography Book Club meets on select Wednesdays from Oct. 26 to March 1 at 11 a.m.
A suggested reading list of books on the featured person from the King Library will be distributed once participants are registered. The book group requires attendees to come ready to discuss.
Featured subjects are: 19th century English writer Mary Shelley (Oct. 26); British writer and playwright Daphne du Maurier (Nov. 2); American socialite and actress/designer Gloria Vanderbilt (Nov. 30); American artist and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi (Jan. 4); engineer and scientist Nikola Tesla (Feb. 1); and American socialite Wallis Simpson (March 1).
Reservations for all four programs are available at www.fourarts.org, kinglibrary@fourarts.org, 561-655-2766 or on The Four Arts app.
Other programs beginning this fall at the King Library include:
• Color Create Craft. Held on select Fridays starting Oct. 7, the free program invites guests to explore a new craft or work on one they already enjoy. The library will supply all materials. Classes run 2-4 p.m. Reservations are required. For information, contact 561-655-2766 or email kinglibrary@fourarts.org.
• Teen programs: Open to ages 12-18, the free program is held on select Saturdays beginning Jan. 7. Activities include origami, calligraphy, photography and botanical drawings. All materials are provided. Reservations are required. Classes run from 10:30 a.m. to noon. For information, contact 561-655-2766 or email kinglibrary@fourarts.org.
In addition to adult and teen programming, visitors to the King Library also have access to more than 75,000 books, audiobooks, DVDs and periodicals.
A yearly membership is $25 for Town of Palm Beach residents and $30 for all others. New members may join any time throughout the year.
The King Library at the Society of the Four Arts is at 100 Four Arts Plaza. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. For information, contact 561-655-2766 or kinglibrary@fourarts.org.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: King Library in Palm Beach to host book groups, author talks
