(Edited by Anne-Allegra Bennett)
Eugene Public Library locations
Downtown: 100 W. 10th Ave
Bethel Branch: 1990 Echo Hollow Road
Sheldon Branch: 1566 Coburg Road
Information: 541-682-5450 or eugene-or.gov/library
Free admission to all events
ON THE SEPTEMBER CALENDAR
Art exhibits
Oil Paintings by Maureen Campbell — On the walls in the 2nd Floor Magazines and Newspapers Room in September and October.
“The Believer” Magazine — In the cases in the 2nd Floor Magazines and Newspapers room in September and October. “The Believer,” a five-time National Magazine Award finalist, is a bimonthly literature, arts, and culture magazine. In each issue, readers find “journalism and essays that are frequently very long, book reviews that are not necessarily timely, and interviews that are intimate, frank, and also very long.” The magazine features intricate illustrations by Tony Millionaire and a rotating cast of guest artists, poems, a comics section, and regular columns by Nick Hornby and Daniel Handler.
Art and Exhibits by Adventure! – In the Children’s Center on the 1st Floor. Children’s Museum, Cascadia Learning Cooperative, Daughters of the American Revolution, Eugene Waldorf School, and Vivian Olum Child Development Center.
Classes and events
Family Music Time — 10:15 a.m. every Saturday, downtown library. Kids and families sing and dance their way into the weekend with a different performer every week. On Sept. 1, Bryan Reed makes learning rock. Singer/songwriter Rob Tobias brings classics, originals, and tunes made up on the spot on Sept. 8. On Sept. 15, share musical fun with Chuck Coxon. Emily Fox plays lively banjo tunes on Sept. 22. Sing, move, and play with Kris Olsen on Sept. 29.
Kids and Legos — 10:15 a.m. every Saturday, Bethel and Sheldon branches. Bring the kids to build, play, and explore with Eugene Public Library’s big and varied collection of Lego blocks; for ages 5-12 years.
eBooks and More — Drop in 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday, downtown library. Have fun and save money: learn how to get downloadable and streaming eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, music, movies, and TV shows free with your Eugene Public Library card. Tens of thousands of titles are available. See demonstrations of online services using devices including Kindle, Android tablet, iPad, and laptops. Bring your own device, or just your curiosity.
Family STEAM — 4 p.m. every Wednesday, Sheldon branch; 4 p.m. every Thursday, Bethel branch. Hands-on fun and learning together for kids and families. STEAM activities emphasize the fun of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Nature Kids: Draw Birds — 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, downtown library. Kids ages 6-12 years learn how to draw colorful birds with Cynthia Black of Dragonfly Studio Art Classes.
One-on-One Help for Job Hunters — 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6 and Sept. 20, downtown library. Pre-register for individual 30-minute appointments at 541-682-5450. Get expert advice and assistance to address your specific questions and concerns. Employment counselors will help you find employment opportunities, complete applications, write online and traditional resumes, learn and practice interview techniques, or explore new job or career directions. This service is provided in partnership by Eugene Public Library, Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Coast Counties, and United Way of Lane County.
Capital and Grants for Your Small Business — 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, downtown library. Learn how to find funding to start or grow your business with Ross Kanaga of NEDCO and Maia Hardy of Community Lending Works. Topics include NEDCO’s Individual Development Account (IDA) 3-1 Match Savings Program and the loan program at Community Lending Works. Maia Hardy is a Loan Officer at Community Lending Works. Ross Kanaga is Financial Innovation Manager at NEDCO (Neighborhood Economic Development Corp). This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.
Layers of Lear — 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, downtown library. Enjoy and explore Shakespeare’s King Lear with performances by Fools Haven actors and commentary by Judith “Sparky” Roberts, MFA. This classic play finds King Lear at the onset of senility. He decides to abdicate his throne and bequeath the realm to his three daughters, yet irrationally disowns his favorite. Wandering through a minefield of madness, he falls victim to his other heirs’ greed and neglect. Exposure to raw nature brings Lear brief flashes of insight. The play features wild and whimsical dialogue for three vagabonds: King Lear, his Fool, and a nobleman disguised as a lunatic beggar. Performers from Fools Haven acting company include Jennifer Appleby, Nathan Blakely, Joe Cronin, Mark Huisenga, Jorah LaFleur, Richard Leebrick, Reese Madden, Pat Purdue, Marc Siegel, Tony Stirpe, Penta Swanson, and Erica Towe. The audience will also be invited to read some passages aloud.
Koto and Shamisen: Masumi Timson — 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, downtown library. Masumi Timson gives a concert and talk about the traditional Japanese instruments koto and shamisen, with pieces from ancient and present times. The history of these instruments dates back many centuries, influencing and being influenced by larger changes in Japanese culture and, more recently, by western music as well. An accomplished international performer and teacher, Masumi Timson is the director of the Sakura Koto Ensemble and a frequent guest musician with Pink Martini.
Yarn & Thread — Drop in anytime 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, Sheldon branch; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, Bethel branch. Get together to knit, crochet, embroider, cross stitch, or hand sew – and share tips and ideas. Bring your current project or try something new with the library’s needles, hooks, hoops, loom, and more.
Preschool STEAM — 10:15 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 10, Bethel branch. Hands-on exploring, learning, and fun for ages 3-5 years. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Intro to Online Genealogy — 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 10, Bethel branch; 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17, Sheldon branch. Start exploring your family tree at this introduction to user-friendly online tools available free through Eugene Public Library including Ancestry, HeritageQuest, Fold3 military records, and the Info Hub at the library’s website. Also learn about 40+ recommended Internet sites including USGenweb, Rootsweb, Family Search, and Cyndi’s List. Internet skills required.
Teen Movie: Ready Player One — 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, downtown library. Free showing of the new blockbuster film, “Ready Player One.”
Control Your Cash — 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, downtown library. At this user-friendly workshop, learn how to manage your cash flow effectively and prevent the problems caused by spending without a plan. Expert Mark Brauer covers strategies for tracking income and expenses, finding spending leaks, and identifying potential ways to save. Brauer has been a certified financial planner for more than 30 years and currently serves as prosperity planner for Goodwill’s Prosperity Center. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library, Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Coast Counties, and United Way of Lane County.
How Prepared Are You? Earthquake Readiness — 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, downtown library. During National Preparedness Month, Patience Winningham of the city of Eugene’s Emergency Management Department teaches personal preparation for a large-scale earthquake, including basic earthquake science as well as practical actions to take before and after a large quake. Much of the information also applies to other types of disasters. Presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and City of Eugene Emergency Management.
Violence in the Universe: Supernovae, Gamma Ray Bursts, and the Big Bang — 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12, downtown library. The night sky looks beautiful and peaceful, but enormously violent forces are at work there, and without them the universe would never have come to be. Learn more about supernovae (exploding stars), gamma ray bursts, and the Big Bang theory at a science-for-everyone talk by Jim Brau, University of Oregon Philip H. Knight Professor of Natural Science and director of the Center for High Energy Physics.
Intro to Virtual Reality — 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, downtown library. Learn about virtual reality experiences and how to use the Oculus Rift headsets available in the downtown library’s Media Lab. For adults and teens. Library card required.
Try It: Bloxels — 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15; 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, downtown library. Kids can learn how to build a 2D video game with fun and easy Bloxels. Bring a mobile device or use one of the library’s. No experience needed. For ages 9-12 years.
Make Crepe Paper Flowers — 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 17, Bethel branch; 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, Sheldon branch. Adults learn to create realistic paper flowers with craft paper and florist tools.
Stay Safe Online: Secure Passwords — 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18, downtown library. Learn how to create a truly secure password, plus get an overview of password managers. This workshop is designed for computer users familiar with navigating the internet, completing forms, and downloading software.
Holistic Detoxification with nutritionist Ellen Syversen — 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18, Bethel branch; 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, Sheldon branch. Learn about the body’s natural detoxification process and how healthy eating choices can support it. Toxins can enter the body through the air, food, medications, and chemicals in products. The natural ongoing detoxification process keeps a body’s kidneys, liver, lungs, skin, and colon busy every day. Learn how the detoxification process works and what is required from a nutritional perspective. Syversen has a master’s degree in Public Health and is trained as a nutritional therapy practitioner. She provides holistic nutritional counseling, therapy, and education at Pathways for Health, LLC.
Windfall Reading: Alicia Cohen and Sara Burant — 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18, downtown library. This month’s Windfall Reading features poets Alicia Cohen and Sara Burant. Alicia Cohen is the author of three books of poetry: “bEAR,” “Debts and Obligations” (nominated for the Oregon Book Award) and most recently “Coherer.” Her work is concerned with global warming and the intersections of ecological thought and experience and has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. Burant is currently writing poems that evoke complex psycho-emotional states that interact with an awareness of our imperiled earth, in the form of poems of grief and praise, using relatively plain, unadorned language. Her poems have appeared in a number of journals including Potomac Review and Calyx. She is the author of the book of poetry “Verge.” The Windfall Reading Series is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and Lane Literary Guild. Refreshments served at intermission.
Family Night — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18, Sheldon branch; 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, Bethel branch. In September, the Family Night theme is “Stuffies Visit the Farm.” Bring teddy bears and other plush companions to enjoy farm-themed stories, songs, and crafts. Stuffed friends may be left to spend the night at the library, then picked up later with photos of their fun “sleepover.”
Quilts as Art: Nancy Kibbey — 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, Sheldon branch. Visitors to Eugene Public Library’s Sheldon Branch often compliment the colorful art quilts decorating the walls. For many years, creator Nancy Kibbey has lent these works as a rotating display. Kibbey will talk about her inspirations and methods, as well as showing a special exhibit of additional pieces.
New “Stuck in the Middle Book Club” — 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, downtown library. The Library already hosts one book group for tweens and another for teens – now here’s a new book group for readers who feel “in the middle.” This month’s book is “Walk on Earth a Stranger’” by Rae Carson. The novel shares the adventures of a girl whose magical ability to sense gold leads her to impersonate a boy and head for the California Gold Rush. Pre-register and pick up the book at the Downtown Library’s Teen Center. For ages 11-14 years.
Writing and Producing Podcasts — 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, downtown library. Get an introduction to creating a podcast with professional Danny Ledonne. Learn about writing and producing an audio-based storytelling project, including how to design a consistent format and theme for a podcast series. For adults and teens. Library card required. Ledonne is the owner/operator of Emberwilde Productions and has taught widely, including at Lane Community College. His documentaries and new media projects have been shown worldwide at film festivals, academic and industry events, and through non-profit and commercial distribution.
Teens: Ani-Manga Club — 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, downtown library. Watch “Little Witch Academia” with friends who share your love of anime and manga, along with snacks and a manga raffle.
Cantonese Opera in the Northwest — 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, downtown library. Cantonese opera, one of more than 300 genres of Chinese opera, has been named by UNESCO to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At this illustrated talk by Dr. Maoqing Chen, learn about the history of Cantonese opera in Oregon and Washington since the late 19th century. Featuring vintage photos, newspaper clips, and more, the presentation highlights the relationship between Cantonese opera and American mainstream society, including Cantonese opera’s contribution to American cultural diversity. Dr. Maoqing Chen is a research scholar and courtesy co-director at the University of Oregon’s Confucius Institute. Previously a Fulbright Research Scholar at the University of California at Irvine, he is working on the project titled “The Performance and Reception of Chinese Opera in the United States”. This event is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and University of Oregon Confucius Institute.
3D-Print a Window Hanger — 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23, downtown library. Learn how to create patterns with Tinkercad software, then 3D-print them. The Spirograph-like objects can be used as decorative window hangers, phone bling, zipper pulls, key rings, and more. Library card required.
Cuentos y Canciones: Stories & Songs in Spanish — 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, downtown library. Stories and songs in Spanish for the whole family. Information: in Spanish, 541-682-5450 (press 5); in English, 541-682-8316.
Fall Teen Team — 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Sept. 25to Nov. 13, downtown library. Teens volunteer to help staff prepare items for check out, set up crafts projects for kids’ programs, create displays, clean and organize books, and more.
A Glimpse of China in Dance and Music — 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, downtown library. Authentic traditional Chinese dance, costumes, instruments, martialarts and music performed by the visiting Art Troupe of Xiamen University, featuring Li Jing on guzheng (zither) and Ye Feisheng on xiao (bamboo flute). The troupe has performed in Germany, Britain, Turkey, Thailand, Nigeria, Libya, and the Philippines, as well as the United States. Xiamen University is located in Fujian Province, Peoples Republic of China. This event is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and University of Oregon Confucius Institute.
Evening the Odds Through Asian Exclusion: Gambling, Immigration, and “Cheap Chinese Labor” in 19th Century America — 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, downtown library. During 19th century debates on immigration exclusion in the U.S., gambling was a key issue raised against Chinese Americans. Tara Fickle, Oregon Humanities Center Fellow, Assistant Professor of English, and an affiliated faculty member in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Oregon, talks about these issues. Her academic interests include Asian/Asian American literature, digital humanities, game studies, graphic fiction and comics. She is currently working on a book titled “Serious Play: Assimilating Games in Asian America.”
See Something, Say Something — 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, downtown library. During National Preparedness Month, hear a talk titled “See Something, Say Something” by Marie Longworth, communications xupervisor for the Eugene Police Department and Central Lane 911. Familiarize yourself with the signs of terrorism-related suspicious activity and when you notice something out of the ordinary, report it. Presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library, Eugene Police Department, and the city of Eugene Emergency Management Department.
Tween Scene — 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27, downtown library. This month’s book is “Wings of Fire #1: The Dragonet Prophecy” by Tui Sutherland. In this fantasy novel, five young dragons must end the war between dragon tribes. Pre-register and pick up the book at the Downtown Library’s Children’s Center. For ages 9-12 years.
Teen Book Group — 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27, downtown library. This month’s title is “Lies We Tell Ourselves” by Robin Talley. In this novel set in 1959, two girls on opposing sides of the battle for civil rights are changed forever when they’re forced to work together on a school project. Visit the Downtown Teen Desk to pre-register and pick up the book.
Create a One Page Marketing Plan — 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27, downtown library. Businesses that succeed in marketing their products and services start with a well-articulated marketing strategy. Gary Smith. business instructor at Lane Community College, explains how to focus on a few key questions to write an effective one-page marketing plan to keep your business on budget and build a consistent message. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library, Lane Community College’s Small Business Development Center, and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.
Kids: Make a Reusable Lunch Bag — 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, downtown library. Learn basic sewing skills and how to use the library’s computerized sewing machines to make a reusable, lined lunch bag. For ages 9-12 years. No experience needed. All supplies provided. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required. Sign up starting September 10 by calling 541-682-8316.
Dog Tale Time — 2 pm. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, Bethel and Sheldon branches. Kids have fun and build reading skills in short one-on-one sessions as they read to trained dogs. Pre-register starting one week in advance in person or by calling 541-682-8316.
Poetry Writing Workshop with Kim Stafford — 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, downtown library. Oregon Poet Laureate Kim Stafford leads a poetry writing workshop titled “Settling Your Accounts Through Poetry, aimed at writing poems “to advance your calm, clarity, and readiness for what comes next,” using poetry to address fears, regret, anger, worry, and other emotions. Presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and the Oregon Cultural Trust.
Oregon Rail History — 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, downtown library. Darrell Jabin shows and talks about his new film, “Oregon Rail History.” The arrival of trains in the state meant more than just increased mobility. Towns were created, named, grew, shrank, and moved as a direct result of the influence of the railroad. His previous films have covered topics including Oregon’s carousels, amusement parks, theaters, and the state’s century of the Oregon Blue Book.
STORYTIMES — New Schedule for September
Talkers Storytime — 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Tuesdays, downtown library. For toddlers who are starting to string words together, with their caregivers.
Pajama Storytime — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, downtown library. For young children with their caregivers.
Preschool Storytime — 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Wednesdays, downtown library. For preschoolers with their caregivers.
Walkers Storytime — 10:15 s.m. and 11 a.m. on Thursdays, downtown library. For babies up on their feet, with their caregivers.
Baby Storytime — 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on Fridays, downtown library. For babies from birth to first steps, with their caregivers.
Family Storytime at Sheldon — 10:15 a.m. on Fridays, Sheldon branch. For kids of all ages, with their caregivers.
Family Storytime at Bethel — 10:15 a.m. on Fridays, Bethel branch. For kids of all ages, with their caregivers.
