Got a New Year’s Resolution? How about checking out all the activities (and books) at the Eugene Public Library?

(Posted by Anne-Allegra Bennett)

Eugene Public Library locations

Downtown: 100 West 10^th Ave.

Bethel Branch: 1990 Echo Hollow Road

Sheldon Branch: 1566 Coburg Road

Information: 541-682-5450 or eugene-or.gov/library

On the calendar in January — Free admission to all events

Art and other exhibits

Mixed Media Art by Zoe Cohen and Beth I. Robinson — On the walls of the second-floor Magazines and Newspapers Room, through February. Mixed-media works by Zoe Cohen and Beth I. Robinson explore “the raw and strangely beautiful landscape of grief and loss,” inspired by a series of found poems by Cohen.

The Fascinating World of Fungi: Cascade Mycological Society — In the display cases on the second-floor Magazines and Newspapers, through February.

More events and activities

Family STEAM — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in January, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays in January, Bethel branch. Hands-on fun and learning together for kids and families. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Family Music Time — 10:15 a.m. on Saturdays in January, downtown library. Live music for kids of all ages, with their caregivers. On January 5, it’s bilingual Family Music Time with Bryan Reed. January 12, sing along with Rachael Perry. On January 19, join Kris Olsen, and there’s musical fun with Jacquelyn Byers of Upstart Crow Studios on January 26.

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

Sensory Storytime — 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays in January, downtown library. Sensory Storytime is designed for children ages 2-8 years who experience sensory needs, have developmental delays, or are on the autism spectrum. Explore, play, and develop early literacy skills at a supportive gathering with a consistent structure. Sensory Sign up starts one week in advance of each session, at 541-682-8316.

Tweens: Welcome to Dungeons & Dragons — 4-week series on Tuesdays in January, downtown library. Tweens learn how to create a D&D character, how to play, and then jump into this tabletop gaming adventure. Sign up for the four week series by calling 541-682-8316.

Kids Show: Science of Magic — 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 2, Petersen Barn Community Center (870 Berntzen Rd); 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 2, Sheldon branch. Explosions, Inc. presents an exciting adventure into the science of magic. As this show demonstrates, wizards and scientists have a lot in common, including mysterious potions, unseen forces, and objects that seem to defy the laws of nature.

Kids: Book Buddies — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 2, downtown library. This month’s book is Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo. Starting the Friday after each month’s meeting, sign up and pick up the book for the next month. For ages 7-9 years.

Make Thermoplastic Jewelry — 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 3, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 6, Bethel branch. Get creative and make jewelry with thermoplastic at a workshop with artist Marianne Walker. For adults and teens; no experience needed. All supplies provided.  

First Friday: African Dance and Drumming — 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 3, downtown library. High-energy authentic Guinean dance and drumming performed by West African Cultural Arts Institute. Audience participation is welcome. Cofounded by Alseny Yansane and Andrea DiPalma Yansane, the nonprofit’s mission is to share the joy and passion of Guinean culture through drumming and dancing. The group offers community drum and dance classes, educational performances and community outreach events, residency and assembly programs in schools, and lecture demonstrations in colleges and universities. 

Dog Tale Time — 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, Bethel and Sheldon branches. Kids have fun and build skills by reading to trained dogs in short one-on-one sessions. Sign up starting one week in advance in person or by calling 541-682-8316.

Workshop: African Dance and Drumming — 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, downtown library. West African Cultural Arts Institute offers an all-ages dance and drumming workshop. Learn about the vibrant culture of Guinea, West Africa through follow-the-leader dancing, learning a song in the Susu language, clapping parts of poly-rhythm music, playing handmade shakers, and experiencing traditional live drumming.

Teens: Nintendo Switch Party — 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, Sheldon branch; 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, Bethel branch. Play Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros. with Nintendo Switch.

Family Fun: Try Ballet — 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 5, downtown library. Learn some ballet steps, dance with scarves, and more.

Intro to Online Genealogy — 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, Bethel branch; 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, Sheldon branch; 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 22, downtown library. Start exploring your family tree at this introduction to user-friendly online tools available free through Eugene Public Library including Ancestry, HeritageQuest, and Fold3. Also learn about free recommended sites including USGenweb, Rootsweb, Family Search, and Cyndi’s List. Internet skills required. 

Try It: Virtual Reality — Drop in between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, January 8 and 22, Bethel branch; Mondays, January 13 and 27, Sheldon branch. Experience virtual reality (VR) with Oculus Go. For adults and teens.

Teens: New Year, New You Party — Drop in 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, downtown library. Celebrate the new year with calming energy, crafts, snacks, and free swag.

Journalism and the First Amendment: A Talk by Tim Gleason — 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, downtown library. Tim Gleason, University of Oregon Professor of Journalism and Director of the Ancil Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism will address questions including “Is the marketplace of ideas broken?” and discuss journalism and the First Amendment “in a time of devalued facts and declining resources.” This event is inspired by the exhibit “Ralph Steadman: A Retrospective” at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.

Stuck in the Middle Book Club — 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, downtown library. This month’s book is Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson. For ages 11-14 years. Starting the Friday after each month’s meeting, sign up and pick up the book for the next month.

Licensing a New Food Business — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, downtown library. Learn the process for licensing a new food business, including manufacturing and restaurant operations. The workshop will provide a brief overview of state regulations, construction requirements, plan review, and license fee costs. Get expert answers to questions specific to your food business idea. Jeff Green is a registered Environmental Health Specialist with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. He holds a master’s degree in Food Science from Oregon State University. A major part of his job is traveling around Lane County, inspecting 470 food-related businesses. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.

Donate Blood — Drop in 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, Bethel branch. Donate blood and save lives at the Bloodworks Northwest bloodmobile. Must be age 16 years or older and show photo ID.

Video Game Design —  A 3-week workshop at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays, January 11, 18, and 25, downtown library. For ages 10-19 years. Take your coding to the next level and learn video game design with local game developers using Make Code Arcade. Basic coding knowledge required. Sign up at 541-682-8316.

Dog Tale Time — Starting January 11, sign up for sessions that will take place on Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., downtown library. Kids build skills in short one-on-one sessions as they read to trained dogs, who come with their trained handlers courtesy of PAAWS (Project Canine and Pet Partner teams). Sign up starting one week in advance of each session: 541-682-8316.

Political Cartooning and Free Speech — 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, downtown library. Ethicist and cartoonist Tom Bivins explores the intersection of free speech and ethical sensitivity, especially as they relate to editorial cartooning. “Offensive subject matter in cartoons can sometimes be so loud that it drowns out anything else being said,” Bivens said. “A balance needs to be struck based on the guideline that just because something can be said doesn’t mean it should be said. The First Amendment simply allows you to do so. Your conscience takes over from there.” Bivins holds the John L. Hulteng Chair in Media Ethics and Responsibility at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. This event is presented in connection with the exhibit “Ralph Steadman: A Retrospective” at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Free.

Yarn & Thread — Drop in 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 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.

Print Your Book — 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 12, downtown library. Get an introduction to online self-publishing resources. Whether you have written a book you want to print and sell widely, or you want to print just a few copies of a family history or recipe collection, self-publishing is easier and more affordable than ever. For adults and teens. Intermediate computer and Internet skills required. 

Family Fun: Winter Tales from Ukraine — 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 12, downtown library. Kids and families experience stories, songs, dancing, and more based on winter celebration traditions of Eastern Europe. Olena Borova, Executive Director of Oregon ArtLinks, hosts the session.

Preschool STEAM — 10:15 a.m. on Monday, January 13, Bethel branch. Hands-on exploring, learning, and fun for ages 3-5 years. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

One-on-One Job Hunt and Career Help — Between 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, downtown library; 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, Bethel branch. Get expert advice and assistance to address your specific questions and concerns about job hunting and career development. Employment counselors can help you 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 make a 30-minute appointment. This service is provided in partnership by Eugene Public Library, Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Coast Counties, and United Way of Lane County.

Drop-In Tutoring for Adults — Starting January 15. 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays; 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays, downtown library. Drop in for free help focused on English language skills, including reading, speaking, and preparing for GED, high school equivalency, and citizenship interviews. Tutoring is provided by trained adult literacy volunteers and Lane Community College staff. No tutoring on Monday, January 20 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day).

OBOB: Test Your Knowledge — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, Bethel branch; 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, Sheldon and downtown branches; 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, downtown library. OBOB competitors in the grades three to five division: test your knowledge with a fun quiz game. Sign up starting one week in advance of each session: call 541-682-8316.

Tween Scene — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, downtown library. Tween book lovers get together to talk, snack, and have fun based on this month’s book, Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. 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, January 16, downtown library. Get together to talk about this month’s book, The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. For ages 13-19 years. Starting the Friday after each month’s meeting, sign up and pick up the book for the next month.

Game Night — Drop in 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, downtown library. Adults and teens can play tabletop games featuring sophisticated strategy and skills, including Dominion, Pandemic, and more. An added treat will be trying some of the library’s more cerebral virtual reality experiences.

Freedom of the Press Under Trump: American Exceptionalism Challenged — 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, downtown library. Scholar Kyo Ho Youm talks about freedom of speech and the press, with a focus on “critical attention to President Trump’s unending ‘war on the press’ and its actual or perceived impact at home and abroad.” According to Youm, “What’s made our country stand out from the rest of the world? The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: ‘Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.’ These days, however, discerning people are wondering if we remain exceptional in our free-press commitment.” Kyu Ho Youm is the Jonathan Marshall First Amendment Chair at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. His work has been cited by U.S. and foreign courts, including the House of Lords in Great Britain and the High Court of Australia, as well as relied on worldwide by lawyers representing clients in press freedom litigation. Youm serves on the editorial boards of a dozen major law and communication journals in the U.S. and England. This event is presented in connection with the exhibit “Ralph Steadman: A Retrospective” at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.

Teens: Ani-Manga Club — 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 17, downtown library. Get together to watch anime and enjoy snacks.

Intro to InDesign — 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 19, downtown library. Get an introduction to Adobe InDesign by making and printing greeting cards. Use a library computer or bring your own if you have an Adobe subscription.

Family Fun: Let’s Build — 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 19, downtown library. Play and create together with building toys including LEGO blocks, Keva Planks, Lincoln Logs, and more.

Windfall Reading Series — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, downtown library. This month’s Windfall Reading features writers Janice D. Rubin and Laura LeHew. Rubin has been honored with nominations for the Pushcart Poetry Prize and the Oregon Book Awards Stafford/Hall Award for Poetry. She is the author of “Transcending Damnation Creek Trail and Other Poems” and “Tin Coyote,” and her poems have been widely published in journals and anthologies. A counselor and educator, she currently teaches at Lane Community College. LeHew is “obsessed with the creepy, creaky underbelly of life and whatever lies beyond.” Her poetry collections include “Buyer’s Remorse,” poems on abuse; “Becoming,” a non-linear discourse on alcoholism and dementia; “Willingly Would I Burn,” themed around math and science; “It’s Always Night, It Always Rains,” with a murder/noir theme; and “Beauty,” inspired by fairy tales. LeHew heads Deer Run Associates, which provides computer forensic investigations and information security consulting services worldwide. The Windfall Reading Series is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and Lane Literary Guild. Refreshments served at intermission.

Family Night: Capes and Wings — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, Sheldon branch; 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, Bethel branch. There will be stories, songs, and make-believe about superheroes and fairies, as well as making capes and wings to wear home.

Murder Mystery Game — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, Bethel branch; 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, Sheldon branch. Join a team to find clues and solve a murder mystery at the Library. For adults and teens age 15 and up.

Tween Fandom: The Legend of Zelda — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 22, downtown library.  in a fun Celebrate the video game series, “The Legend of Zelda.” For ages 9-12 years. Sign up starting January 2 by calling 541-682-8316.

Record Listening Party: Headbangers Bash with Mike Scheidt of Yob — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, downtown library. Rock out with Mike Scheidt at a vinyl listening party of early hard rock and heavy metal albums. He shares music that influenced his band, Yob, which went on to gain international recognition as one of the heavies of doom metal. Dressing up in leather and/or black is encouraged.

Income from Your Own Airbnb — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, downtown library. Get an introduction on how to get started as an Airbnb. This workshop will cover how to set up, maintain, promote, and run a successful Airbnb business, whether it’s a room in your home, a separate cabin or house, or even a camping spot. Local Airbnb hosts will share their knowledge and what they’ve learned. Led by Michele Piastro, an Airbnb host for more than 7 years, currently with two Airbnb sites in Eugene. This workshop is presented by Eugene Public Library in partnership with SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business. 

Tweens: Sew a Bookmark — 3:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24, downtown library. Learn to make a fun bookmark with felt or other fabrics. Hand sew or use the Library’s sewing machines. For ages 9-12 years. No experience needed. All supplies provided. 

Alternative Education Fair — Drop in 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, downtown library. Parents, teens, and younger kids can learn about local schools and programs. The Alternative Education Fair includes displays and representatives of more than a dozen local private schools, charter schools, Eugene District 4-J alternative programs, and home schooling organizations, plus educational resources available through Eugene Public Library including the online Homework Centers for children and for teens. This event is presented in partnership by the Eugene Public Library and Cascadia Learning Cooperative. 

Learn Arm Knitting — 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, Bethel branch. Adults and teens learn how to knit without needles! Make an infinity scarf using just your fingers and arms. No experience needed. All supplies provided.

Seedy Sunday: A Gardening Gathering — 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Start Plants from Seed workshop), and 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Drop-in seed exchange and activities) on Sunday, January 26, downtown library. Celebrate the new Seed Library at Eugene Public Library. At 10:00 a.m., learn how to start plants from seed at a beginners’ workshop led by Master Gardeners from the OSU Extension Services of Lane County. Or drop in anytime 11:00 am. to 1:30 p.m. to get free seeds, make origami seed cups for planting, and make garden-inspired art. All levels of gardening experience are welcome. Experienced seed savers are invited to bring seeds to swap or donate to the ongoing Seed Library.

Family Fun: Make a Book — 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 26, downtown library. Join Sharon Kaplan to create a variety of books including accordion fold, trifold, and booklets to fill with stories.

Model Trains in Action — Drop in 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, downtown library. The Atlantic & Pacific N-gineers Model Railroading Club sets up and runs a large display for all ages in the Downtown Library’s Children’s Center. The club is devoted to increasing the knowledge, modeling talents, skills, and pleasure of its members in N-scale model railroading. 

Build It — Drop in 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, Bethel and Sheldon branches. Kids of all ages can drop in for building fun on this no-school day, using a variety of materials such as LEGO, Duplos, Keva Planks, Strawbees, and Brain Flakes, plus everyday items such as toothpicks and gumdrops.

Weekly storytimes

Toddler Storytime — 10:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, downtown library. For toddlers, 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 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays, downtown library. For preschoolers, with their caregivers.

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

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