The Highland Park Library plans to host three programs featuring a nationally recognized locksmith, a rising local author, and a friendly inter‑city mahjong competition.
On Jan. 31, experienced locksmith Arianne “Tex” Thompson will discuss smart lock security, temporary solutions for lost or stolen keys, safety considerations for children and vulnerable adults, and how to avoid costly after‑hours service calls.
The event, “Ask a Locksmith: Home Security in the Park Cities,” will provide residents with a hands‑on session addressing some of the most common home security concerns in the Park Cities
“Thompson brings a remarkable background to the program,” the library stated. “A former professor and published novelist, she transitioned into locksmithing in 2019 and earned her Certified Forensic Locksmith designation in 2023, one of only about 40 active CFLs worldwide and the only woman among them.”
In February, the library will welcome local author Katie Bernet for the Library’s Lunch Bunch Book Club. The discussion will center around her debut novel, Beth Is Dead. Participants will have the opportunity to meet Bernet, ask questions, and explore the novel’s themes of sisterhood, ambition, and modern pressures through the lens of a clever reimagining of Little Women.
Finally, the Highland Park Library is partnering with the University Park Library for a friendly and spirited Mahjong Tournament on March 7.
The top two players from each library will advance to a championship match in April, hosted in Highland Park on the Library’s automatic mahjong table. Players will compete for prizes, bragging rights, and the annual tournament trophy, which will reside at the winning library until next year’s rematch. Highland Park residents who wish to participate need only a Highland Park Library card to join the roster.
For more information about these events, please contact the Highland Park Library or visit our website.
- Ask a Locksmith: Home Security in the Park Cities
- Saturday, Jan. 31
- 1 p.m.
- Second Floor Town Hall
- Adults 18+
- February Book Club: Beth Is Dead With Author Katie Bernet
- Wednesday, Feb. 1112 p.m.
- Highland Park Library
- Highland Park vs. University Park Mahjong Tournament
- Saturday, March 7
- 1 to 5 p.m.
- University Park Public Library
A prior version of this article included an incorrect location for the Highland Park vs. University Park Mahjong Tournament and an incorrect date for the February Lunch Bunch Book Club meeting. The March 7 tournament will be held at the University Park Public Library, not the Highland Park Library. The championship match on April 18 will be held at the Highland Park Library. The Book Club will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 11, not on Tuesday.
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