Did you happen to catch any of the following at your library this summer?  An Emmy-award winning TV news investigative reporter.  A retired FBI agent turned private investigator.  A forensic scientist working for the state crime lab.  The dean of the U-Mass English Department and crime novel enthusiast.  A nationally renowned dog whisperer and behavior specialist.  A local veterinarian offering health tips for dogs.

How about any of these?  And be honest.  An Associated Press award-winning sports writer and host of NPR's "It's Only A Game" weekly sports radio show.  The curator from the Boston Garden's Sports Museum.  A virtual tour of our state parks from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.  A "How To Find A Good Job in 90 Days" employment seminar.  A beginner's yoga class offered by a certified instructor.  Ten local author talks, covering a wide array of genres and topics.  Screenings of eight of Hollywood's latest DVD releases. 

No?  Well, you're not alone.  "These library events [for adults] you started running this summer are the best kept secret in town," a resident recently told me.  "Thanks," I replied, "but I wish they weren't such a secret!"

Thankfully, library events will no longer be a secret to readers of the Tewksbury Patch!  Check the daily Events Calendar (http://tewksbury.patch.com/search/events) for listings of adult events.  Read this weekly "Library Corner" column (http://tewksbury.patch.com/columns/library-corner) for an exclusive once-a-month sneak-peek of upcoming adult events.  You can find out about library events here before others read about them in the Tewksbury Town Crier, Tewksbury Advocate, and Lowell Sun!

Every Wednesday night in October, your library will be hosting Halloween-inspired adult events that promise to both scare and fascinate audiences.  This 4-part series – called "Fright Nights" – are full of tricks and treats, described below.

Talking to the Dead: Introduction to Séances
Wednesday, October 6, 6:30pm
Join Rory Raven – mentalist and mindbreaker – as he explores the history of séances.  "What started as a prank by two young sisters soon grew into a worldwide controversy that attracted the attention of William James, Queen Victoria, Harry Houdini, and even Mae West.  This presentation traces the history of talking to the dead and offers some re-creations of what happened in the Victorian séance room."  Rory Raven – who delights in strange, forgotten corners of history – is the creator and guide of the Providence Ghost Walk and author of Haunted Providence: Strange Tales from the Smallest State. 

Don't Fear The Future: Astrology 101
Wednesday, October 13, 6:30pm
Join Sally Cragin – astrology author, columnist and expert – for an astrology workshop.  "Bewitched, bothered or bewildered?  Knowing your sun sign gives you a great start on understanding astrology.  But if you want to dig deeper into the mysteries of the planets, sun and moon, come to this entertaining and informative workshop.  Learn the basics of your sign and how you interact with lovers, family and friends."  Sally Cragin – author of The Astrological Elements – has written the "Moon Signs" column for the Boston Phoenix for the past 12 years.  Cragin, who can be heard on WCRN-830AM every Monday, also writes forecasts for Llewellyn's astrological calendars and teaches astrology workshops across the state.  

Haunted Lighthouses of New England
Wednesday, October 20, 6:30pm
Join Jeremy D'Entremont – lighthouse expert – as he discusses haunted New England lighthouses.  "Lighthouses are beautiful icons of coastal New England, but they also have their dark side.  In fact, lighthouses and ghost stories often seem to go hand-in-hand.  There's something about an isolated lighthouse, surrounded by wind and waves, which makes it the perfect setting for mysterious tales.  Come learn about some of the area's most fascinating lighthouse ghost stories."  Jeremy D'Entromont – who has appeared on the SyFy Channel's "Ghost Hunters" and the Travel Channel's "Haunted Lighthouses of America" – has taken part in paranormal investigations at several lighthouses and brings first hand knowledge of the spooky phenomena.    

A Supernatural Evening with Jeff Belanger
Wednesday, October 27, 6:30pm
Join Jeff Belanger - paranormal icon - for a night you'll never forget.  "Spend the evening with one of the world's most visible and prolific paranormal investigators as he takes you through the haunts, the ghost stories, and the evidence from some intriguing paranormal hot spots around the globe. This multimedia lecture - both entertaining and spooky - will offer you a glimpse of the other side." Jeff Belanger is the author of more than a dozen books on the paranormal; the writer and researcher for the Travel Channel's "Ghost Adventures;" founder and editor of the widely popular Ghostvillage.com; and a guest on more than 200 radio and television programs worldwide.

Three quick things you'll want to know about adult events at your library.  (1) All programs are FREE thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Tewksbury Public Library.  The Friends also provide refreshments and door prizes at each event.  (2)  Registration for events is strongly recommended.  Signing up couldn't be easier – call the library at 978-640-4490 x 207 OR visit the library's online calendar (www.tewksburypl.org) and fill out the simple registration form yourself.  (3)  Your library staff takes adult programming very seriously.  According to both the library's Long Range Plan and Action Plan, the library must "offer an array of enriching programming for adults."  The Tewksbury Public Library is dedicated to fulfilling its promise of providing educational, cultural, and recreational events for adults.  I encourage you to email me (rhayes@mvlc.org) with any adult programming questions, comments, or suggestions.

Thanks for reading!  I hope to see you at a library event in October.  Please tell your friends, family and neighbors about your library's adult programming!

P.S. A little library humor… The following are some rejected tag-lines for "Fright Nights":

- Fright Nights: Please keep your screaming to a whisper!
- Fright Nights: Stephen King would probably endorse these.
- Fright Nights: Scarier than finding out how much you owe for your overdue books!