Chilhowie Library Events

Join us at the Marion Library for The Quill & Gavel Society, a writers’ group connecting you with fellow writers, helping inspire motivation, and assisting you as you strive to improve your craft. Whether you are a beginner or old hand, this is a supportive and productive environment to share excerpts of your work and have scheduled writing time.  This is not primarily a critique group; however, you may receive constructive feedback, if wanted, on excerpts from members of the group. We welcome all genres and strive to create a consistent, welcoming space for writers to grow* together.  We are limited in space to 5-8 people at this time; please pre-register by emailing rachelg@scplva.net to make sure we still have space. Ages 18+.  Free

On Monday, July 20th at 6pm, join us for an on-screen tour of The Last Days of Pompeii.  This year’s Summer Reading Program theme is Unearth a Story – Dinosaurs, Archaeology & Paleontology.  Our adult events will focus mainly on ancient civilizations, their customs & historical sites.

Know how to play American-style Mahjongg?  Join us at 6pm on Thursdays  in June and July (Wednesdays the rest of the year) at the Marion Public Library for an evening of this a fascinating rummy-like game, that combines skill and luck –played with tiles rather than cards. Table space is limited to 12-16 players, so be sure to email rachelg@scplva.net to let us know you are interested.   We will provide the tile games and annual Mahjongg cards for use at the library (cannot be taken home) and even a snack to keep you going.  FREE.  Ages 18+ Don’t know how to play?  We can teach you. Players new to the game will need to either come a bit early (5:30 pm) to learn some basics beforehand and will be paired with another player for the first few times you play.  Can’t play in the evenings?  Check out Mahjongg Mornings, upstairs on Wednesdays in June & July at 10am. Have additional questions? Contact Rachel Gibson Adult Programming Librarian (276) 783-2323 ext. 231 rachelg@scplva.net

Join us Saturday, July 25th at 4pm for the first speaker of the yearly Martha Hull Copenhaver Lecture Series –John Copenhaver, an award-winning author whose latest novel, Hall of Mirrors, was selected as a New York Times Crime Novel of the Year and recently won the Left Coast Crime Award for Best Historical Mystery. Originally from Marion, Virginia, Copenhaver’s work is deeply informed by place, history, and the social pressures that shape identity and moral choice. His fiction and criticism have appeared in CrimeReads, Electric Lit, Writer’s Digest, PANK, The Washington Independent Review of Books, and other publications. He is a six-time recipient of Artist Fellowships from the D.C. Commission on the Arts. Copenhaver’s new novel, Goddess of Love, A Mystery, will be available March 2, 2027. The Martha Hull Copenhaver Lecture Series will take place in the lower level of the Marion Public Library in the (Preston) Copenhaver Meeting Room. FREE.