PORTSMOUTH — The Scioto County Public Library (SCPL) system, through its five locations and Bookmobile, provides more programming than you can properly organize in a news piece, where they plan many opportunities for local residents—from those just being released from the maternity ward to those who are elderly and homebound.

“Our programming is another way for us to interact with our community,” Scioto County Public Library’s Katie Williams said. “The library isn’t just about books. We are about using advanced technology, being a resource to our youth for new educational experiences while having fun and providing a place for adults to socialize with others and learn new skills.”

While all locations will be booking plenty of activities for the community to enjoy, Portsmouth has several large ones alone that are being highlighted this month. B

Below includes a list of some Portsmouth activities.

The annual Literary Pumpkin Painting Contest is ongoing now through Friday Oct. 18 for all ages.

“We will begin our third annual Literary Pumpkin Painting Contest on Oct. 1 at our Portsmouth Library,” Williams said before the month started. “All decorated pumpkins must have a literary theme which can come from any book, incorporate any character, or depict any scene from a book. The pumpkins cannot be carved, since they will not last the duration of the contest. Entries will be accepted until Friday, Oct. 18, and winners will be announced on Monday, Oct. 21. Submissions can be entered at the adult services desk at our Portsmouth Library. All ages can participate.”

The Library will be hosting its Family Fall Fest on Saturday, Oct. 12 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for all ages.

“Celebrate fall with a free day of fun for all ages at the Portsmouth Library,” Williams said. “We will have inflatables, train rides, pumpkin decorating, gemstone mining and more. This year’s Family Fall Fest will be at the Portsmouth Library due to construction happening at the Lucasville Library.”

The library will welcome the Ohio Night Stalkers on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2:30 p.m. for all ages.

The group will be discussing Bigfoot research, sound clips, photographic evidence, footprint casts and more.

The program will be followed by a question and answer session.

The author Philip Eil will visit with patrons on Wednesday, Oct. 16 between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. for adults.

“Author Philip Eil will be discussing his book, Prescription for Pain: How a Once Promising Doctor Became the ‘Pill Mill Killer.’

“This haunting and propulsive debut follows a journalist’s years-long investigation into his father’s old classmate: former high school valedictorian Paul Volkman,” Williams explained. “Volkman was the central figure in a massive ‘pill mill’ scheme in southern Ohio. The American opioid epidemic is, like this book, a true crime story. Through this one doctor’s story, an era of unfathomable tragedy is brought down to a tangible, and devastating, human scale.”

The events for the month extend at each location. and you can find even more programming at their website.

Please view all upcoming library events online at www.sciotolibrary.org.