Books, board games, building blocks, singing, tutoring, knitting and more — You can do it all at the Eugene Public Library

Posted 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

November activities — participation free unless otherwise noted

Kids: LEGO Lab — 10:15 a.m. on Saturdays in November, Bethel and Sheldon branches. Build, play, and explore with Eugene Public Library’s large and varied LEGO block collection. For ages 5-12 years.

Dog Tale Time — 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays in November, downtown location. Preregister for individual short appointments at 541-682-8316. Children build reading skills in short one-on-one sessions by reading to trained dogs. Dogs and handlers courtesy of PAAWS (Project Canine and Pet Partner teams). Sign up starting one week in advance of each session.
 
Teens: Nintendo Switch Party — 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, Sheldon branch; 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, Bethel branch. Drop in to play Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros.

Preschool STEAM — 10:15 a.m. on Monday, November 4, Bethel branch. Hands-on exploring, learning, and fun for ages 3-5 years. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.


Make Greeting Cards — 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 4, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15, Bethel branch. Adults and teens learn to create greeting cards for birthdays, holidays, and special occasions using two simple folds, colorful paper, embellishments, and stamps. No experience necessary. All supplies provided.

Kids: Minecrafters — 4:00 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays in November, downtown location. Play together, share tips, and get creative with building challenges with Minecraft on Eugene Public Library’s computers. For ages 6-12 years. Sign up starting each Monday for the following week’s sessions: 541-682-8316.

Drop-In Tutoring for Adults — 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays, downtown location. Drop in for free help focused on English language skills, including reading, speaking, and preparing for GED, high school equivalency, and citizenship interviews. Tutoring will be provided by trained adult literacy volunteers and Lane Community College staff. In November, no tutoring on Monday, November 11 (Veterans Day), or on Wednesday, November 27 and Saturday, November 30 (week of Thanksgiving).

Teens Write — 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays in November, downtown location. Get together to play with writing. Come try a new activity each week.

Tabletop Game Night at the Library Branches — Drop in 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5, Sheldon and Bethel branches. Celebrate International Games Week. All ages are invited to drop in to play classic and modern board games including Dominion, Settlers of Catan, Carcassone, Tsuro, Scrabble, and chess.

Teens: Welcome to Dungeons & Dragons — 3:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, November 6 and 20, downtown. Learn how to create your D&D character, how to play, and then jump into this tabletop gaming adventure. Due to limited spaces, each teen may participate in only one session each day.

Tween Fandom: Tea Dragon Society — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, downtown location. Sign up to celebrate the ancient art of Tea Dragon care, inspired by the graphic novel series by Katie O’Neill. For ages 9-12 years. Sign up at 541-682-8316 or www.eugene-or.gov/library.

Family STEAM — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in November, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays in November, Bethel branch. Enjoy hands-on fun and learning together. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Explore, discover, and create.

NaNoWriMo: Come Write In — 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in November, downtown location. Ever thought about writing a novel? National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) provides a unique and fun way to make it happen. Drop in to share a writing space and support. The downtown library will host “Come Write In” sessions. Hundreds of thousands of people participate in NaNoWriMo. “Wrimos” start writing on November 1 with the goal of completing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 p.m. on November 30. Try it – and discover the power of community, guidance, enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline. For more information about NaNoWriMo: nanowrimo.org.

Kids: Book Buddies — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, downtown location. A new book group for ages 7-9 years. This month’s book is “Inspector Flytrap” by Tom Angelberger. Starting the Friday after each month’s meeting, sign up and pick up the book for the next month.

One-on-One Job Hunt Help — 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays, November 7 and 21, downtown location. Preregister for individual 30-minute appointments at 541-682-5450. Job hunters can get expert advice and assistance to address specific questions and concerns. Employment counselors can help find employment opportunities; complete applications; write online and traditional resumes; learn and practice interview techniques; or explore new career directions. Call 541-682-5450 to preregister for a 30-minute, one-on-one session. This service is provided in partnership by Eugene Public Library, Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Coast Counties, and United Way of Lane County.

Tim Berry: The Business Plan You’ll Really Use — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, downtown. Tim Berry teaches how to create a practical and effective business plan. Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software, founder of bplans.com, and a co-founder of Borland International. He is also the author of the book Lean Business Planning and conceptual co-author of the software Liveplan. In addition to successfully building his own business, he served as the longtime business planning coach at Entrepreneur.com and has taught at the University of Oregon. This workshop is presented by Eugene Public Library in partnership with SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.

Watercolor Creatures — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, downtown location. At this all-ages workshop, start with blobs and splotches, then discover how fun and easy it is to invent monsters and other creatures of your own design. This event is inspired by the exhibit, Ralph Steadman: A Retrospective, at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.

Build It — Drop in from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 8, Sheldon branch; 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 22, Bethel branch. Building fun on this no-school day. Play and experiment with a variety of materials such as LEGO, Duplos, Keva Planks, Strawbees, and Brain Flakes, plus everyday items such as toothpicks and gumdrops.

Holiday Gifts Book Sale — 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, downtown location. Find amazing deals on books in gift-giving condition, including bestsellers, classics, holiday-themed titles, coffee table books, and children’s books, plus collectible children’s books, ephemera, and great reading for yourself, including mysteries, popular fiction, and more. This sale of very-gently-used books is a fundraiser by the volunteer Friends of Eugene Public Library. All proceeds will go to support Eugene Public Library programs. Admission and parking are free.

Yarn & Thread — Drop in from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, November 9 and 23, Sheldon 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.

Family Fun: Frozen Sing-Along — 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 10, downtown location. Watch the songs from Frozen and sing along.

Bugle Calls: A Variety Show Tribute to Veterans — 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 10, downtown location. Fools Haven acting company honors those who have served with a rousing show. The troupe, which includes several military veterans, entertains and uplifts with scenes, songs, poems, and dances of many eras. Bugle Calls is packed with reminders of service members’ bravery, loyalty, loss, and camaraderie, with moods ranging from Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy to We’ll Meet Again to The Charge of the Light Brigade.  Featured performers include Social Insecurity, a barbershop quartet; singer Donna Courtell; tap dancer Adam Kelly; “Whistling Mitch” Hider and Pamela Lehan-Siegel; musician Scotty Perey; and actors Joe Cronin and Penta Swanson. Supporting cast members include Reese Madden, Thomas Weaver, Diana Aday. Plus: Rosie the Riveter will make a special appearance.

Intro to Online Genealogy — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, Bethel branch; 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, Sheldon branch. Start exploring your family tree at this introduction to user-friendly online tools available free through Eugene Public Library including Ancestry, HeritageQuest, and the library’s website. Also learn about 40+ recommended sites including USGenweb, Rootsweb, Family Search, and Cyndi’s List. Internet skills required.

Try It: Virtual Reality — Drop in from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, November 13 and 27, Bethel branch; 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, Sheldon branch. Experience virtual reality (VR) with Oculus Go. For adults and teens.

Teens: Corny Cooking — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, downtown location.Make and enjoy several dishes featuring corn.

Cultural Heroes of the Americas — 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, downtown location. A bilingual presentation by Jim Garcia, sharing stories of people in Latin America and the United States whose vision inspired a more inclusive America. Garcia teaches and serves as Chicano/Latino Student Program Coordinator at Lane Community College. This Eugene Public Library event is part of Fiesta Cultural, a Lane Arts Council initiative featuring many events throughout Lane County this fall.

Stuck in the Middle Book Club — 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, downtown. This month’s book is Code Talkers: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac. For ages 11-14 years. Starting the Friday after each month’s meeting, sign up and pick up the book for the next month.

Volunteer Fair: Focus on Homelessness — Drop in 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, downtown location. Concerned about un-housed community members? Looking for a way to help? Meet representatives of local nonprofits and government agencies addressing these issues, find out about their services, and learn about volunteer opportunities and other ways to support their work. Participants include Catholic Community Services, Centro Latino Americano, City of Eugene, Community Court, Egan Warming Center, Eugene Mission, Food for Lane County, Hosea Youth Services, Lane County Health and Human Services, Looking Glass, ShelterCare, SquareOne Villages, St. Vincent de Paul, and Willamette Family, Inc.

Holiday Card Green Screen Photo Booth — Drop in 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, November 15, Sheldon branch; 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 18, Bethel branch. All ages can use green screen technology to put themselves in holiday or winter-themed photos.

Teens: Ani-Manga Club — 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15, downtown location. Get together to watch anime and enjoy snacks.

Yarn and Thread — 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 16, downtown location. 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 needles, hooks, hoops, loom, and more available to use in the library’s Maker Hub. For adults and teens. Library card required.

“Noirvember” Films at the Downtown Library — Pitfall at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16; Brick at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 23; Touch of Evil at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 30. Celebrate “Noirvember” with free noir films at the downtown library. Pitfall is a 1948 film about a bored insurance adjuster who plummets into a world of crime. This tale of the underside of the American Dream was directed by Andre DeToth and features Dick Powell, Lizabeth Scott, Jane Wyatt, and Raymond Burr. The 2005 neo-noir mystery and modern cult classic Brick stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the film is modeled on old-school noir but set in a modern suburban California suburban high school. The suspenseful 1958 film Touch of Evil is a portrait of a police chief whose corruption and obsessions fuel a complex criminal plot. Orson Welles directed and co-starred with Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, and Marlene Dietrich.

Family Fun: Sol de America/Soul of America — 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 17, downtown location. It’s a lively and fun bilingual celebration for all ages. Sol de America/Soul of America performs dance, songs, poetry, and more to share the cultures of Latin America. This Eugene Public Library event is part of Fiesta Cultural, a Lane Arts Council initiative featuring many events throughout Lane County this fall.

Silent Reading Party — Drop in 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 17, downtown location. Adults can drop in for a book club to read whatever they like. The library provides a quiet room to gather, relax, and read. Bring a book, choose one from the shelves, or ask library hosts for a recommendation.

Windfall Reading Series — 6:00 p.m on Tuesday, November 19, downtown location. This month’s Windfall Reading Series features writers Miriam Gershow and Joe Henderson. Gershow is the author of the novel The Local News, which was hailed as “deftly heartbreaking” by The New York Times. Her stories are widely published and she has received a Fiction Fellowship from the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing and an Oregon Literary Fellowship, as well as many writing residencies. Gershow teaches at the University of Oregon. Henderson’s latest books are a memoir trilogy: Starting Lines, Going Far, and Home Runs. A longtime editor and columnist at Runner’s World magazine, he has written more than two-dozen books, taught at the University of Oregon for 30 years (12 in journalism and 18 in physical education) and still coached a long-distance running team. The Windfall Reading Series is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and Lane Literary Guild.

Family Night: Rainy Weather — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, Sheldon branch; 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, Bethel branch. Come in out of the rain for some heartwarming stories and songs, plus create a rainy-day collage.

Kids: Make Cake Pops — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20, downtown, for ages 6-12 years. Learn how to make tasty cake pops. Preregister at 541-682-8316.

Novelist Steve Anderson — 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20, downtown location. Anderson’s new book, The Preserve, is a fast-paced historical thriller based on true events in postwar Hawaii. The central figure is a troubled WWII hero turned deserter who seeks a cure for his severe combat trauma at a mysterious facility called The Preserve. His hopes of regaining sanity are shattered when he discovers the camp’s true purpose: to rebuild him as an assassin in a widespread conspiracy. Steve Anderson is also the author of The Other Oregon, which he describes as “Cascadia noir,” as well as several novels set during World War II, including The Losing Role, Liberated, Lost Kin, and Under False Flags.

Tween Scene — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, downtown location. Get together to talk, snack, and have fun based on this month’s book, Knights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan. For ages 9-12 years. Starting the Friday after each month’s meeting, sign up and pick up the book for the next month.

Teen Book Group — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, downtown. Choose your own adventure this month. Read Carry On or Fan Girl, both written by Rainbow Rowell for her Simon Snow series. Starting the Friday after each month’s meeting, sign up and pick up the book for the next month.

All Ages Game Night — Drop in 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, downtown location. Play a variety of classic and modern board games, card games, tabletop games, video games, and virtual reality games.

Record Listening Party: Hejira by Joni Mitchell — Noon on Sunday, November 24, downtown location. Join the vinyl revival with Joni Mitchell’s Hejira at a record listening party hosted by Greg Sutherland of House of Records. Mitchell’s eighth studio album departs from the sound of her earlier popular and folk albums, diving headlong into a moody world of jazz and sprawling song structures.

Family Fun: Winter Tales — 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 24, downtown location. Join in an interactive theater workshop featuring wintry folktales and fairy tales from around the world. With Jackie Byers of Upstart Crow Studios and the Stage Door youth performance troupe.

Tweens: Sew an Ornament — 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 29, downtown location. Hand-sew felt ornaments of birds, stars, trees, and other seasonal shapes. Learn beginning embroidery skills to decorate. For ages 9-12 years. No experience needed. All supplies provided. Sign up starting November 10. Information at 541-682-8316 or eugene-or.gov/library.

Eugene Public Library Storytimes
 
Toddler Storytime — 10:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, downtown location. For toddlers, with their caregivers.

Pajama Storytime — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, downtown location. For young children, with their caregivers.

Preschool Storytime — 10:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays, downtown location. For preschoolers, with their caregivers.

Music & Movement Storytime — 10:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Thursdays, downtown location. For young children, with their caregivers.

Baby Storytime — 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on Fridays, downtown location. 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.

Family Music Time — 10:15 a.m. on Saturdays, downtown location. Live music for kids of all ages, with their caregivers. First Saturday of each month will be bilingual in Spanish and English.