News release

SYRACUSE — The Friends of the Syracuse Public Library will hold their last coffee social before summer from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, May 10, in the library’s upstairs sitting area. Chat with the Friends and grab a cup of coffee and some snacks when you visit the library. Don’t forget to browse the Friends’ ongoing book sale, which has a selection of books and DVDs.

Donations toward the book sale can be delivered upstairs during library hours; do not place donations in the library’s outdoor drop box. All donations should be clean and gently used. The library does not accept magazines, textbooks, Bibles, books without jacket covers, cassette tapes, ripped or stained materials, encyclopedias, dictionaries, greeting cards or VHS tapes.

Book Club Picks

The adult book club will read “The Coroner’s Lunch” by Colin Cotterill in May.

The novel takes place in Laos in 1978 and follows Dr. Siri Paiboun as he unwillingly becomes the appointed national coroner of the new socialist Laos. His lab is underfunded, his boss is incompetent and his support staff is quirky.

When the body of the wife of a prominent politician comes through his morgue, Siri has reason to suspect the woman has been murdered. To get to the truth, Siri and his team face government secrets, spying neighbors, victim hauntings, Hmong shamans, botched romances and other deadly dangers.

Discussions are at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, on Zoom and 1 p.m. Thursday, May 18, in person. Books are available at SPL or digitally through the Hoopla and Libby apps. For information about the adult book club or to receive a Zoom invitation, contact Becky Brower at [email protected].

Meanwhile, the young adult book club will read “One of Us Is Lying” by Karen M. McManus. On a Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. But Simon never makes it out of that classroom. According to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident.

Pick up copies at the library. A digital e-book and audiobook are available on Libby. The discussion occurs from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, in the Rosalyn Jones Room. Email Michelle Parker, [email protected], or Amber Weber, [email protected], with questions.

RPG Group Meets

SPL’s RPG Dice & Drama Night group will explore the pastoral fantasy role-playing game, “Wanderhome,” from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, May 11, in the Rosalyn Jones Room. The game features traveling animal-folk, the world they inhabit and the way the seasons change.

The group is geared toward players aged 16-25 and welcomes RPG beginners. Each session features a self-contained story, so there’s no need to worry about interrupting a long-running campaign.