EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Online Collaborative Story
Location: Online

Try your hand at writing by contributing to Irving Public Library's online collaborative mystery. Two collaborative stories, one for adults and one for teens, will be available on the website throughout the month of October. The community is invited to add to the story and direct where the mystery goes. To contribute or follow the story, click here.

Where in the City is Malty, the Maltese Falcon?
Location: Online

A femme fatale has stolen Malty, the Maltese Falcon from the city council meeting and hidden it in the city; the library needs your help finding him. Take a picture of Malty when you find him and submit it to the Big Read site. The femme fatale moves him often so check the Web site for clues on where to find Malty.

The Maltese Falcon Discussion Blog
Location: Online

Irving Public Library and NeighborsGo have teamed up to offer participants a way to join in on the discussion of The Maltese Falcon online. The blog address is http://www.neighborsgo.com/blog/bigread_discussion.

Wednesday, October 1

Midweek Mysteries Book Club, featuring William Manchee
Time: noon
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

Irving Public Library's monthly mystery book club presents the first opportunity to discuss Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon. The discussion will be led by Texas mystery and suspense author, William Manchee. Be the first to join in on the Big Read discussions!

Thursday, October 2

Valley Ranch Live!, Falcons Aren't the Only Ones
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center demonstrates the wonders of falcons and other raptor birds. Space is limited. Tickets will be available at each location the day of the program.

Saturday, October 4

Falcons Aren't the Only Ones
Time: 2:30 pm
Location: Northwest Branch, 2928 N. Beltline Rd.

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center demonstrates the wonders of falcons and other raptor birds. Space is limited. Tickets will be available at each location the day of the program.

Tough Guys and Deadly Dames, Pulp Fiction and Hard-Boiled Detectives of the Past
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Southwest Branch, 2216 W. Shady Grove Rd.

Erin Smith, author of Hard-Boiled: Working Class Readers and Pulp Magazines will lecture on American detective fiction of the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s, as well as the pulp magazine genre.

Monday, October 6

From the Maltese to Meltzer: The Big Read Kick-off
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd.

The Big Read kicks off with "From the Maltese to Meltzer", a talk from bestselling author Brad Meltzer. Meltzer, the author of The New York Times bestsellers The Tenth Justice, The First Counsel, The Book of Fate, and the forthcoming title, The Book of Lies, will speak at the Irving Arts Center. He will be available to greet the public and sign books afterwards.

Tuesday, October 7

Dashiell Hammett: Detective, Writer
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

Irving Public Library screens the PBS special "American Masters", focusing on the man and his life with interviews from scholars and biographers, readings and reenactments of scenes from the books, and newsreel clips.

Thursday, October 9

Tea & Talk about Hammett, featuring Dr. Joan McGettigan
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

Dr. Joan McGettigan, Assistant Professor of Radio-TV-Film at Texas Christian University, will moderate a lively discussion of The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett and the movie adaptations over a cup of tea.

Friday, October 10

What's in Your Backpack? Teen Book Club
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail, Irving

Teens, grades 6 through 12, will meet to discuss The Maltese Falcon and other young adult mysteries.

Falcons Aren’t the Only Ones
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Southwest Branch, 2216 W. Shady Grove Rd.

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center demonstrates the wonders of falcons and other raptor birds. Space is limited. Tickets will be available at each location the day of the program.

Get a Clue, CSI Investigations
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Lively Pointe Youth Center, 909 N. O'Connor Rd.

Irving Public Library invites teens to test their CSI skills at Lively Pointe Youth Center.

Saturday, October 11

Irving Chautauqua, The Roaring ’20s
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd, Irving, TX 75060

The Joe Janes Quartet of Denton brings the sound of jazz from the roaring 20s, the time period of The Maltese Falcon, to Irving Public Library. A swing dance demonstration will be presented by Acme Swing Company.

Sunday, October 12

Anime Club meeting - The Mysteries of Anime
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

The Anime Club will feature the anime detective series, “Case Closed”, during the monthly meeting that occurs on the second Sunday. The club is open to anime fans ages 14 and up. Registration for the club is available during the event.

Avoiding Identity Theft
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail

Irving Public Library will host an identity theft prevention seminar. Presented by CoAmerica Bank this lecture will educate participants on how to avoid the theft of something even more precious than a Maltese Falcon statue.

Monday, October 13

Mysterious Monday Morning Movies - The Thin Man, starring William Powell and Myrna Loy
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

Irving Public Library screens the movie based on Dashiell Hammett's classic tale of murder in Manhattan that began one of the most successful detective series in film history.

Arsenic & Old Pesticides, Poisons in Your Home
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: East Branch, 440 S. Nursery Rd. 

Are the poisons that mystery writers use to kill off characters actually in your home? Find out as a local poison expert lectures about poisonous products that are common in homes.

Thursday, October 16

CSI vs. Reality
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail

Teens will explore the career of a real life crime scene investigator, Lori Lane, as TV crime scene investigation myths are exposed.

Mysterious Movies @ Valley Ranch
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail

Valley Ranch will screen the classic comedy based on the board game Clue.

Friday, October 17

Got Games? Clue Tournament
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail

Valley Ranch Library's "Got Games?" gaming club invites mystery-solving enthusiasts to test their skills in a tournament featuring the classic board game, Clue.

Speakeasy and Carry a Big Gun, Mystery Dinner Theater
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Heritage Senior Center, 200 S. Jefferson St.

Find out "who-dunnit" at dinner mystery theater production presented by Irving Public Library and the Senior Heritage Center. Harry Hunsicker, local mystery writer, will serve as the master of ceremonies. Tickets are sold through the library. Call (972) 721-4612 to reserve your tickets.

Saturday, October 18

The Maltese Falcon Book Discussion @ Mustangs of Las Colinas Museum
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Mustangs of Las Colinas Museum, 5205 N. O'Connor Drive, Suite 155

Irving Public Library and the Mustangs of Las Colinas Museum present a book discussion on Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon and his other works. The event will be moderated by local and New York Times Notable Book of the Year author Carole Nelson Douglas, commonly known for her two series, the Irene Adler mysteries and the Midnight Louie mystery series. Participants will have a chance to visit the museum and exhibits after the discussion. Parking at Williams Square is free on Saturdays.

African American Authors Book Circle, featuring Frankie Bailey
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Northwest Branch, 2928 N. Belt Line Road

Frankie Bailey, a local mystery writer, moderates Northwest Branch's adult book discussion of The Maltese Falcon and various African-American crime fiction authors.

Classic Car Demonstration and Family Mystery Matinee
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail

Explore the 30s and 40s through automobiles at Valley Ranch Library's classic car demonstration. After viewing the cars on display, join staff in the program room for a screening of a kid-friendly mystery starting at 2 p.m.

Teen Zine Workshop, Exploring Pulp Fiction Magazines
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

Teens, grades 6 through 12, are invited to explore the history of pulp fiction magazines and the creative characters that fascinated audiences in the first half of the 20th century. Participants will also create their own "zine".

Monday, October 20

Discovering the Maltese Falcon and Sam Spade
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: University of Dallas, 1845 East Northgate Drive

Richard Layman, author of Discovering the Maltese Falcon and Sam Spade, will present a book discussion to students of the University of Dallas.

Discovering the Maltese Falcon and Same Spade: Book Discussion & Reception, featuring Richard Layman
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: National Scouting Museum, 1329 W. Walnut Hill Lane

Richard Layman, Dashiell Hammett expert and author of Discovering the Maltese Falcon and Sam Spade, hosts a book discussion and reception at the National Scouting Museum. Admission into the museum is free so come early to pay tribute to the rich history of the Boy Scouts of America and explore the Norman Rockwell art gallery, hands-on learning experiences, and a historical collection that traces the Scouting movement from its beginnings. Refreshments served following the discussion.

Tuesday, October 21

Get a Clue!: TeenScene Movie
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

The monthly TeenScene program will screen the classic comedy based on the board game Clue.

Wednesday, October 22

Ident-A-Kid: Free Kids ID Program
Time: 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., 4 p.m.
Location: Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail

Representatives from the City of Irving Police Department will be available at Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail, to help parents prepare identity kits for children during the regularly scheduled storytimes. Children will enjoy stories and activities about Community Helpers while the police are on hand to talk to parents about ways to keep their little ones from getting lost. For more information, call (972) 721-4669.

Thursday, October 23

Anime Movie Night
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

The monthly Anime Movie Night program, open to ages 14 and up, will present a full-length anime film featuring detective stories and continue showing the anime series, “Case Closed”.

Valley Ranch Reads!
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail

Valley Ranch Reads!, an adult book discussion group, will feature The Maltese Falcon for October's selected title. The discussion will be moderated by local mystery writer, Laura Starks.

Friday, October 24

Thin Man Marathon & Mocktails
Time: noon
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

Enjoy all six of the movies based on Dashiell Hammett's classic tale of murder in Manhattan on the big screen over tasty mocktails. Bring your own lawn chair, blanket, and picnic basket to settle in for hours of entertainment.

12-1:30 p.m.        Movie 1 (1934)
1:40-3:30 p.m.     Movie 2 (1936)
3:40-5:20 p.m.     Movie 3 (1939)
5:30-7:10 p.m.     Movie 4 (1941)
7:15-9 p.m.          Movie 5 (1944)
9:05-10:30 p.m.    Movie 6 (1947)

Please call 972-721-2608 for the names of the movies to be shown.

CSI vs. Reality
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Southwest Branch, 2216 W. Shady Grove Rd.

Teens will explore the career of a real life crime scene investigator, Ron Singer, as TV crime scene investigation myths are exposed.

Saturday, October 25

Falcons Aren’t the Only Ones
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center demonstrates the wonders of falcons and other raptor birds. Space is limited. Tickets will be available at each location the day of the program.

Get a Clue, CSI Investigations
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Northwest Branch, 2928 N. Beltline Rd.

Irving Public Library invites teens, grades 6 through 12, to test their CSI skills at Northwest Branch Library. A crime has happened at Northwest Branch Library; help us scour the evidence to solve the murder!

Solve the Mystery: Mystery Writer's Workshop
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

David Morrell, award-winning author of First Blood (the first Rambo movie was based on this novel) and co-president of the International Thriller Writers organization, leads a mystery writing workshop for aspiring authors.

Sunday, October 26

Edible Falcon Contest
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

A take off of the International Edible Book Festival, booklovers, cooks, and craftspeople of all ages are invited to participate in the Edible Falcon Contest. Contestants will manipulate cake batter, spam, chocolate, marshmallows, or other edible products into falcon statues. Contestants are asked to display their creations during the Meet & Greet event at Central Library. Judging will take place during the program with winners announced at the end. For more information on the Edible Falcon Contest, click here.

Mystery Author Meet & Greet, featuring Mark Gimenez
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd.

Irving Public Library invites everyone to come out and meet a number of Dallas/Ft.Worth area mystery writers. The event will feature Dallas resident and author of The Color of Law, Mark Gimenez. Also, the “Edible Book” contestants will show off their creations and the winners will be announced.

Thursday, October 30

Hammett @ the Movies
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Central Library, 801 W Irving Blvd.

Movie presentation of classic film noir based on Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor.

Hammett @ the Movies
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail

Movie presentation of classic film noir based on Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.