Riverbank Library’s monthly book club programs will help local readers connect with the library and their community in October, while Python Ron will also visit for a special program during the month.

The Riverbank Library will offer book club programs for all ages this October, giving all community members an opportunity to share their love of reading with their peers.

The first “book club” of the month is the Mayor’s Book Club on Monday, Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. Riverbank Mayor Richard O’Brien will share stories by reading to preschoolers and their families following Story Time.

“The kids enjoy listening to the Mayor read stories and talking with him,” said Victoria Holt, Riverbank Library supervisor. “He sits right down on the floor with them, at their level, to read and ask about their day.”

Teens can meet and discuss popular teen books as part of the monthly Teen Book Club. This month’s meeting will be held on Friday, Oct. 19 at 3:30 p.m. and will feature a discussion of Richard Yancey’s The 5th Wave. A limited number of copies are available for checkout at the library.

This month’s meeting of the Riverbank Library Book Club will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. Community members are invited to come to the meeting to discuss Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall.

“For the teens, there’s pizza and soda available during their book club, provided by the Friends of the Riverbank Library,” said Holt. “With the Book Club, our group has a blast talking about books and in the process, have become friends. It’s a great way to build relationships in the community.”

Book club programs are free and open to the public. Information on regularly occurring library programs, including future featured book club titles, can be found at www.stanislauslibrary.org, under the “Events and Classes” tab.

Meanwhile, reptile enthusiasts of all ages are invited to visit the library for a creepy, crawly good time.

“Python Ron” McGee and his collection of lizards and snakes will visit all 13 libraries in Stanislaus County this October, including a stop at the Riverbank Library, 3442 Santa Fe St., on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 3:30 p.m.

McGee will teach children and their families about the reptile kingdom. This free event includes up-close and personal interactions with a variety of exotic creatures.

For more information, contact Holt at the Riverbank branch, 209-869-7008.