Main Branch 
October 2025
We have a lot of exciting events planned this month! Check out a selection of program highlights below and scroll down to access the full calendar of free events for all ages.
Featured Programs
Ya'll Yoga
Wednesday, October 1
Wednesday, October 8
Wednesday, October 15
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
 
Lowcountry Power Yoga - Spry Chair & Mat Class (60 minutes).
Access balance, strength, and independence in chair and floor-based poses. You will learn to transition from seated to standing to reclining on the mat using the chair as a tool. If getting up and down from the floor is challenging for you, we will teach you how to do this with and without the help of a chair. This class is great if you are looking for low-impact movements, recovering from an injury, or focusing on joint and spine health.
This class will be held in the Auditorium.
 
Simply Delicious: Pretzels
Thursday, October 2
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
 
Join us as we learn how to make soft pretzels and learn a little bit about the history behind this food and Oktoberfest! Participants will be able to hand roll their own pretzels and eat it when the class is finished. 
Common allergens present during this class include dairy, wheat/gluten, and eggs. Please note that some products may be manufactured in facilities that process other allergens. Special accommodations and substitutions can be made, but please notify us ahead of time! If you have any additional allergy or dietary concerns, please contact us at askaquestion@ccpl.org or 843-805-6930 for more detailed information and we will try to accommodate your needs.
 
Book Discussion:
Pain Killer by Barry Meier
Thursday, October 2
2-3 p.m.
 
Join community members to discuss Barry Meier's Painkiller: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic. Complimentary copies of this title for book discussion participants are available for pickup at the Fiction desk starting September 12th.
 
This fall, join Charleston County Public Library and partners for a series of FREE programs where teens and adults are invited to explore the dangers of opioid misuse through workshops, interactive activities, and more. 
 
Preserving a Survivor:
The Hutchinson House
Thursday, October 2
6-7 p.m.
 
Join us for a conversation with Hutchinson House Director, Sarah Stroud Clarke, on the nine-year long preservation process of the iconic Edisto Island home, the Hutchinson House. A rare surviving 19th century home with an entirely African American story, the Hutchinson House remained in the Hutchinson family until 2016 when it was sold to the Edisto Island Open Land Trust. Learn about the efforts to save the home and transform it into a historic house museum focused on the African American history of Edisto Island. 
 
CPR/First Aid Training
Saturday, October 4
12-1 p.m.
 
Join us for a free, hands-on training session on life-saving techniques led by the Charleston Fire Department. Learn how to perform CPR, control bleeding, and respond to an opiate overdose. This important class will equip you with the knowledge and skills to help in an emergency. Spots are limited, registration required.
 
 Gallery Night: 
"Aura of Our Ancestors:
Gullah Souls and Blues"
by
Nathalie Watson 
Saturday, October 4
3:30-4:30 p.m.
 
My creative process is immersive and deeply rooted in nature. I draw inspiration from the interplay of light, color, and texture in coastal waters, grassy fields, and marshes. These environments shape my visual language, enhancing the brilliance of melanin-rich skin tones and celebrating the beauty of my subjects in harmony with the earth’s elements. By intertwining the similarities of remembrance of my Caribbean and Gullah Geechee culture, I intentionally use the land that has sustained our communities for generations by blending in historical awareness. In my Aura of Our Ancestors Gullah Souls and Blues of Praise series, I explore the spiritual significance of Black, Gullah Geechee, and Caribbean traditions through a visual narrative of cultural preservation and celebration of my community while exploring themes of history, education, and wellness across the African diaspora by representing the community’s legacy with authenticity and reverence.
 
Introduction to Business Databases
Monday, October 6
9:30-10:30 a.m.
 
Explore CCPL’s powerful collection of business databases to support research, entrepreneurship, and investment.
 
Comparing Productivity Software
Wednesday, October 8
1-2 p.m.
 
Join us as we talk about different productivity software and choose which one will best fit your needs!
We will be discussing:
Google Workspace
Office 365
iWork (Apple)
 
Short Fiction Book Discussion
Wednesday, October 8
6:30-7:30 p.m.
 
Join us for a discussion series on selections from The Best American Short Stories 2024, edited by Lauren Groff. This program will also be streamed live on Microsoft Teams. Register below and a Teams event will be shared with you. If you would like to join through Teams, and registration is full, please register anyway.
 
Tech Team Help Lab
Thursday, October 9
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
 
Do you need a little help with your new laptop, phone, or tablet? Would you like to see some popular laptop and tablet options before making a purchase? Drop in and play with our “tech toy box” or see a Tech Team member for assistance with your own device.  First come, first served. 
 
Parking is free under the library for the first hour; $1 for every 30 minutes after that.
 
Thursday Turntable
Thursday, October 9
6-7 p.m.
 
Bring your favorite album to share a song, artist or story about the music in your life.
 
 
Fox : a novel by Joyce Carol Oates
Charleston Literary Festival: 
Fox Book Talk
Saturday, October 11
1-2:30 p.m.
 
Enjoy community and literature in collaboration with the Charleston Literary Festival as we read and discuss Fox by Joyce Carol Oates. Light refreshments will be served, and attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share with the group! The book discussion will be hosted in the main branch auditorium. Reserve a copy of the novel at the Fiction desk.
 
AI for All
Tuesday, October 14
11 a.m.-12:30 pm.
 
Artificial Intelligence isn't just for tech experts—it's for everyone! Join the CCPL Tech Team as we share how to become more confident using various kinds of AI technology. We'll discuss the pros and cons, and explore how it can be a practical, creative, and powerful tool in your daily life.
Parking is free underneath the library for the first hour; $1 for each additional 30 minutes after that.
 
Create Your Own Fantasy Map!
Wednesday, October 15
6-7:30 p.m.
 
Join us for this map making program using dried beans! Make maps for your worldbuilding, TTRPG campaigns, novel writing, and so much more. Materials for this program will be provided. 
 
 Job Search Drop-In
Thursday, October 16
9:30-10:30 a.m.
 
Stop by for one-on-one assistance with creating or formatting your resume, navigating online applications, and exploring helpful career resources.
 
Online Horror Stories
Monday, October 20
6-7:30 p.m.
 
Join us for a class where we talk about the scary parts of the internet! From online dating stories to chatroom nightmares, we guarantee you will leave spooked!
 
Cobblestone Mysteries:
Lavinia Fisher
Thursday, October 23
6:30-7:30 p.m.
 
Many locals know the story of Lavinia Fisher: allegedly the first woman serial killer in America! In the early 1800s, she and her husband are said to have murdered visitors staying at their boarding house in the Charleston Neck. Lavinia's ghost is also said to haunt Charleston to this day. But what really happened? 
Join the discussion with Charleston history experts, crime enthusiasts, and Charleston ghost fans alike at the Main Library!
Feel free to research ahead of the event to give us your thoughts! Recommended read: Six Miles to Charleston: the True Story of John and Lavinia Fisher by Bruce Orr. Copies are available for check out.
 
Hot Off the Press: Accessing Current and Historical Newspapers
Saturday, October, 25
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
 
Extra! Extra! Learn All About It!!
Join us to learn how to use the NewsBank Newspaper Database for research and genealogy. Access news articles at home or at the library for free with your library card! Attendees will have the opportunity to perform their own search(es) with guidance from South Carolina History Room experts.
 
There is parking in the garage below the library - free for the 1st hour, then $1 per half hour.
 
Autumn String Art
Monday, October 27
6-7 p.m.
 
Bring in the cozy season with a fun fall craft! Join us to make your own rustic string art, choosing from a selection of templates such as pumpkins, leaves, acorns, and more. Wood slices, nails, and colorful string will be provided.
Parking under the library is free for up to one hour.
 
More Than Chronic
Tuesday, October 28
6-7 p.m.
 
Join a positive community of adults and teens (ages 16 and older) who live with chronic conditions. All are welcome to listen, learn, and participate in supportive conversation. 
 
Master Microsoft Word
Thursday, October 30
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
 
Join the CCPL Tech Team as we help you conquer the basics of Microsoft Word! Whether you're a student, a job seeker, or simply want to create professional-looking documents, this hands-on class will equip you with the essential skills you need. This program is perfect for beginners with little to no experience using Microsoft Word.
Parking is free underneath the library for the first hour; $1 for each additional 30 minutes
 
 
Staff Picks
Books
 
Houston's Pick
 
Beartown : a novel by Fredrik Backman
 
Beartown
by
Fredrik Backman 
 
A poignant novel set in a small, hockey-obsessed town struggling with the aftermath of a violent act that shakes its tight-knit community. As tensions rise and loyalties are tested, the story explores themes of identity, belonging, and the cost of silence. Through richly drawn characters and emotional depth, Backman reveals how a town’s hopes can rest on a game—and how easily they can be shattered.  
 
Available in our catalog.


 
T.V/Movies
 
Michael's Pick

Changeling by George C. Scott
 
The Changeling
(1980) 
Starring
George C. Scott

The Changeling is a masterclass in atmospheric horror. George C. Scott plays a grieving music professor who, after losing his wife and child in a tragic accident, relocates from New York to the outskirts of Seattle. There he rents a sprawling old mansion—unaware of its dark history.  What follows is an eerie tale of a ghostly child, murdered in the early 1900s, who demands justice from beyond the grave. The haunting gradually unravels into a chilling mystery tied to political corruption and cover-ups, echoing the paranoia of the Watergate era.  Equal parts intelligent and unsettling, The Changeling delivers both genuine frights and a gripping story. If you’re looking for a horror film with depth as well as scares, this is one to seek out. Also starring Trish Van Devere and Melvyn Douglas.  
 
Available on DVD. 
 
 Looking for more to do? View the complete calendar of events.
(link to your branch-specific online calendar on this page:
https://www.ccpl.org/branches)
Main Branch : 68 Calhoun Street  I 843-805-6930
Main Library
68 Calhoun Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
843-805-6930

ccpl.org