📚 Community Book Care: Let’s Keep Our Library Thriving

At MEL, our collection grows thanks to the dedication of our Library Collections Committee, the generosity of donors, and the ongoing support of our members. We take great care in curating books that reflect our community’s interests — from new releases to beloved classics.

As we head into the high season, we’d like to gently remind everyone of the importance of responsible book stewardship:

• Return or renew your books on time, so others can enjoy them too.

• If you’re finished with a book early, you can drop it off anytime using our front drop slot.

• And if you notice a book that seems out of place on the shelf, feel free to hand it to a volunteer — we’re always happy to help get it where it belongs!

We are also deeply grateful to our volunteers, who give their time and energy to keep the library organized, welcoming, and accessible. Their work , alongside yours, helps preserve this collection as a shared treasure for everyone.

Thank you for helping us keep MEL vibrant, thoughtful, and full of life. 💛

THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED ON NOVEMBER 17 FOR NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

MEL’s Wine Tastings on Thursday November 20 brings us to the SOHO Galleries, offering the very best of fine contemporary art in the heart of Colonia Santa Ana.  The delightful and talented Adele Aguirre is our host for the evening.  Music will be performed by Maurico Gallardo Ponce, who will share both his music and art.  Mauricio is a multi-disciplinary artist, painter, composer and pianist.  Please join us in sharing wine, tapas, art and music.  Admission for this special event will sell quickly!

Tickets for MEL Members go on sale online in the MEL Shop on Thursday November 6 beginning at 9:00 AM.  During this presale-period, library members may purchase two tickets at MX$700 each per Family or Individual membership number.  Please visit our website for information about our ticket sales policies.

Tickets go on sale without restriction both online and in person at MEL at 9:00 AM on Monday October 10.  Tickets for non-members are MX$800 each.  Please note that tickets are NOT AVAILABLE at the door of the event, so make sure to buy yours in advance.

There are still Season Tickets available for the remaining five wine events! We encourage supporters of MEL and those who want to enjoy a fun evening with art, music, good wine and tasty tapas to buy a Season Ticket for $3,500. This will guarantee your spot at the remaining five events, including the exciting November 20th event. These Season Tickets are only available to MEL members, so join today if you are not already a member!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

The Original MEL House & Garden Tour returns in November, every Wednesday through March except December 24 and December 31.  We have another exciting set of tours to present this season, including the return of the breath-taking and very popular Evening Tours.  Please visit our website for more information, and plan to join us!

If you have a home in centro (including Santiago, Santa Ana, Mejorada, La Ermita, San Sebastian, and surrounding neighborhoods) then we need you!  Including your home on the tour is the easiest way to support MEL programs, and only requires about 90 minutes of your time on a Wednesday morning.  A team of people led by Ana Cristina Alaluf and Alfonso Lopez will be running the tour this year.  Please contact them at tours@meridaenglishlibrary.com if you have any questions or if you want to discuss the logistics of including your home on the tour.  You’ll be glad you did!

Tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale now at MEL or online in the MEL Shop.  Tickets cost $400 for MEL Members and $500 for non-members.

MEL members who intend to attend several tours have the option to purchase a discounted six-session pass for $2000.  These passes can be shared with one other person, and are transferable but not refundable.  Buy them online in the MEL Shop.

The Mérida Rotary Art Auction

💬 "Where every brushstroke makes a difference."

The Mérida English Library is thrilled to partner with the Mérida Rotary Club for their annual Art Auction.  This is the third art auction, in which we bring together Yucatecan society, both local and international, to raise funds to support vulnerable groups in our state.  The event will be held once again at the Palacio de Musica in Santa Lucia, on November 15 beginning at 7:30 PM.  Read more on the Rotary web site.

Join us for an unforgettable evening, meet the artists, enjoy a glass of wine, and explore the exhibition with our expert curators while discovering works from emerging and established artists.  This Art Auction has more than 20 artists and over 100 pieces of art committed to this event.  This event includes a Live Auction and a wide array of artists sharing their experiences and selling their creations.  During the morning, about 150 school children will be viewing the art work and meeting with local artists on hand. 

Proceeds from this event will go to help our community with a variety of programs focused on helping children and women. This event, organized by the Mérida Rotary Clubs, is partnering with many local charities such as the International Women’s Club, Progreso Apoyo Program, and Renacer Children’s Art Program sponsored by Yucatan Giving Outreach. This event is also supported by our corporate sponsors: Easy Legal Mexico, White City Properties, Mayan Home Properties, Espacio 3, Soho Galleries, Nahualli Galaria and Galaria Urbana.

Tickets are on sale now at MEL or online in the MEL Shop, at a cost of $1000 each but your family or individual library membership entitles you to a special “buy one get one free” opportunity.  We invite you to discover works from emerging and established artists, bid on your favorites, and enjoy live music and food in a world-class venue.  Please join us for this worthy cause!

November 7 – December 12
Fridays | 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
@ MEL’s A/C Classroom

Calling all teens who love a challenge or who want to learn something new!

Our new Chess Club for Teens is starting soon! This is a space to sharpen strategy skills, strengthen concentration, build confidence, and connect with others, all through friendly, fun, and thoughtful gameplay.

Cost:
• $30 MXN per session
• $150 MXN for all 6 classes

This club is made possible thanks to a generous donation of professional chess sets from our friend Jae Om, and the support of our wonderful volunteers and former instructors, Tammy and Ron Morris. All funds raised will go toward purchasing professional chess clocks, so we can host official MEL tournaments soon  and maybe even form our first MEL Teen Chess Team!

Whether you’re a beginner or already a strategic mastermind, you are welcome.

👉 Registration: https://meridaenglishlibrary.com/register

Join us for a fun and cozy MEL Bingo Night as we celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving together!
This month, our bingo will be Potluck style so bring a dish to share (big or small, store-bought or homemade  all are welcome!) and enjoy an evening of games, laughter, and community.

Whether you’re a bingo regular or it’s your first time, we promise a warm, friendly atmosphere and lots of joy. Come connect, play, eat, and celebrate what makes MEL so special ,the wonderful community we create together. 💛

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Millsaps Puuc Archaeological Research Center (MPARC), Tomás Gallareta Negrón will make a special presentation at the Mérida English Library: “New Archaeological Research in the Bolonchen District of the Puuc Región”.

Dr. Gallareta Negrón’s lecture explores how cutting-edge LiDAR technology is transforming our understanding of ancient Maya civilization, particularly in the Puuc region of Yucatán. By penetrating dense vegetation and revealing hidden architectural features, LiDAR has uncovered previously unknown settlements and reshaped interpretations of Maya urbanism and chronology. This lecture will highlight new evidence of early occupation sites and offer insights into the organization and development of Late and Terminal Classic communities.

Bolochen’s landscape, now digitally mapped with unprecedented precision, reveals a complex network of residential compounds, ceremonial structures, and agricultural modifications that challenge earlier assumptions about the scale and sophistication of Maya life in this zone. Dr. Gallareta Negrón will present recent findings that illuminate how Bolochen fits into broader regional patterns and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of Maya settlement dynamics.

Please join us on Thursday November 20 starting at 11:00 AM to learn more about this fascinating project.  You can read more on our website.

We are excited about hosting this presentation and providing information about the accompanying tours but this should not be considered an endorsement by the Mérida English Library’s staff or volunteers.

The two-thousand year old death mask of a Maya king holds clues to the murders of an archaeology professor and a graduate student.Travel photographer Tampa de Leon is assigned to photograph the Spring Equinox at the ruins of Chichen Itzá in Yucatán, México. What he hasn’t bargained for is finding the dead body of a prestigious university professor floating in the Sacred Well of Sacrifice at Chichen and the body of a graduate student at the ruins of Coba. A web of professional jealousy, academic fraud, violent tomb looters, an over-eager journalist keen to capture a scoop, and millions of dollars of ancient Maya art makes for a treacherous atmosphere among the ancient Maya ruins of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Jonathan Harrington will read from his new book Blood in the Ruins, followed by a conversation with the audience.  Harrington moved to Mérida in 1983 after receiving a MFA from the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop and is the author of books of all types.Read more about him on our MEL Blog.

Join us at 11:00 AM on November 18, 2025 in MEL’s classroom.

Join Mónica González to explore the Wiquinxi style that imitates the movements of five animals, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 – 10:30 AM.  Classes are $100 per session or you can purchase eight sessions for the reduced price of $600.  Visit the MEL Shop to reserve your spots.

Richard Poe is a classically trained, fourth generation Pilates teacher. All student levels will feel comfortable in attending.  Students should only bring a mat; a Pilates–specific mat is preferred but not required.

Join Richie at MEL on Fridays 10:45 am – 11:30 am in our air-conditioned classroom.  Register online in the MEL Shop for a single session for $200 or take advantage of a special $700 monthly fee.

AND FOR OUR YOUNGEST MEMBERS IN NOVEMBER...

Children’s Storytime

MEL Storytime takes place every other Saturday at the patio of the Mérida English Library at 10:00 am. Dates in November 8th and 22nd.

Brought to MEL by SENSORIA REHAB CENTER - Playful Physical Exercise

We’re excited to host a free Playful Physical Exercise Workshop designed especially for children ages 5 to 10! Led by a specialized physiotherapist, this 60-minute session uses creative movement and fun physical activities to help kids build body awareness, coordination, balance, and confidence. Through games, animal movements, obstacle play, and expressive movement, children will strengthen both body and heart all in a joyful and supportive environment.

Limited spaces , please reserve your spot in advance contact us at info@meridaenglishlibrary.com  

On Monday evenings we meet at MEL to practice English and Spanish during Conversaciones con Amigos. This is a language exchange program.

We open the doors at 6:45 pm. We start the practice at 7 with a suggested topic, though you can talk about anything you wish as long as you avoid controversial topics. We finish at 9:00 pm. The program is designed for adults only. Free for members, $20 for non-members.

Please note that Conversaciones con amigos will not take place on november 17th. 

Our Open Mic Night gathering is on hiatus until a new coordinator can be found.  Please look for a future announcement.

The Mérida Writers Group meets in our classroom every-other-week, including November 15 and November 19.  This is an opportunity for writers of all levels and genres to share their work.  Join them starting at 11:00 AM.

Our Fiction & Friends book club meets on the last Thursday of each month, including November 27 starting at 10:00 AM.  The selection for November is “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles.  You can read a synopsis here, and please visit our website for more information or to join.

The Climate Solutions Group will meet on Saturday November 15 at 11:30 AM in our classroom. In this group, we learn, grow, and build a community of people concerned about preparing for climate change. These meetings are open to the public – we look forward to seeing you there!

Since 2012, hats and toys made by a group of crafters have been distributed weekly to children in the cancer unit of O’Horán Hospital. Besides a gorro (brimless hat), each child gets a toy and activity book, crayons or colored pencils.

 If you can knit, crochet, or sew, please join us in the classroom at MEL on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30 - 12:30, from October through March. We have patterns and some materials to share, but please bring your own equipment and supplies if you have them. 

Questions?  Please send an email to Marie Barchus, Marianne Kehoe, or Irma O'Meara.

There’s a place for you to be part of the students who are already learning this fascinating language! You can still join the groups on Wednesdays and Fridays: Level 1 Beginners at 4 pm, Level 2 Basic Intermediate at 5:00 pm, and Level 3 Intermedio at 6:00 pm. 

We meet in the air conditioned classroom of the Mérida English Library. Register now online or in person and live the experience with teacher Alfonso, language instructor. Learn more about our classes here.

AA holds their regular weekly sessions in English at MEL every Thursday starting at 7:00 PM.  Visit our website for more information.

Help Wanted! ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️

The Library Collections Committee (LCC) is always in need of volunteers to bring books to MEL from the US. If you are planning a visit north, and have room in your return luggage for anywhere between two and 200 books, please send an email to Marianne Kehoe kehoedds@gmail.com. We appreciate your support in this valuable service.  

Audrey Osmanski - Jane Custer - Susanna McKibben - Jen Petersen - Helena Barker - Matt Hanewald - Linda Nicholson - Alan Worline - Phoebe Waller - Gail Nankervis - Julie Stevens - George McClellan- Susan Trapnell - Sippican Cottage - Astrid Carrillo - Jeff George - July Stanford - Soraya Peters - Liz Walser - Christine Angeles - Cinthya Stobbe - Kathy Field - Tee Ase - Misty Gardner .

Do not miss it! Download it here

The Petopia Art Show 2025 will be Dec. 5th and 6th at the NUTUM gallery on Calle 70 #481a x 53 y 55 Centro Merida and will feature the work of about 25 artists from Merida. It is the third annual fund raiser to support the Evolucion animal shelter and the Ester y Liza dog/cat sterilization program. The artists donate their artwork and the gallery waives its commission, so 100% of the proceeds from the sales go directly to these two organizations.