(Posted by Anne-Allegra Bennett)
Eugene Public Library locations
Downtown: 100 West 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
Art exhibits
Whiteaker Block Party Canvases — On the walls of the 2nd floor Magazines and Newspapers Room, continuing through April. These large, colorful works came out of a community painting project by New Zone Gallery during the 2018 Whiteaker Block Party. The public was invited to use acrylic paints, oil crayons, markers, and stencils to create together.
In the Children’s Center on the 1st floor in April — Art and displays by Adventure! Children’s Museum, Eugene Ballet, and New Zone Gallery/Whiteaker Block Party.
Events and activities
Minecrafters for Kids — 4:00 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays in April, downtown library. Play together, share tips, and get creative with building challenges with Minecraft on Eugene Public Library’s computers. For ages 6-12 years. Due to limited space, pre-registration is required: sign up for the next week starting each Monday at 541-682-8316.
Family STEAM — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in April, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays in April, Bethel branch. Hands-on fun and learning for children and families. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Kids and Legos — 10:15 a.m. every Saturday in April, 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.
Family Music Time — 10:15 a.m. every Saturday in April, downtown library. Kids and family sing and dance their way into the weekend with a different performer every week. The musical fun will be led by Bryan Reed on April 6, Chuck Coxon on April 13, Kris Olsen on April 20, and Rob Tobias on April 27.
Sensory Storytime — 3:00 p.m. every Saturday in April, 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. Sign up for each session starting one week in advance: 541-682-8316.
Family Fun: Días de los Niños y Libros — 2:00 p.m. on Sundays in April, downtown library. Family Fun celebrates Días de los Niños y Libros with a bilingual activity every Sunday. On April 7, make Mexican textile crafts, including teddy bears, with Jessica Zapata of Eugene Arte Latino. Dance with Ballet Folklórico Alma de México on April 14. On April 21, play with games and toys, plus enjoy snacks. Make music and learn dances of Southern Veracruz, Mexico with El Taller de Son Jarocho on April 28. Additional Días de los Niños y Libros events include an all-ages Salsa Dance Party with Orquesta Descarga 54 at 6:00 p.m. on First Friday, April 5 at the Downtown Library; and a bilingual Family Night with music and dance by El Taller de Son Jarocho at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, Bethel Branch.
Pajama Storytime with Mayor Vinis — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, downtown library. Bring the kids to Pajama Storytime this week to meet Mayor Lucy Vinis. In celebration of Fair Housing Month, the mayor will read books about neighbors and community.
Nature Kids: Wild About Water — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, downtown library. Listen to water tales, play a musical river walk game, and craft magic rain wands from natural and recycled materials. With Beth Stein of Nearby Nature. For ages 6-12 years.
One-on-One Job Hunt Help — 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Thursdays, April 4 & 18, downtown library. Pre-register for individual 30-minute appointments at 541-682-5450. Job hunters 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 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.
Play with Poetry — 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 5, Bethel branch; 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, Sheldon branch. Adults and teens can create collaborative poetry at this playful workshop. Compose “book spine poetry” by piling books to read their titles in sequence. Make mix-and-match books of acrostic poems to take home.
Salsa Dance Party with Orquesta Descarga 54 — 6:00 p.m. on First Friday, April 5, downtown library. Dance to salsa music performed live by the 11-piece Orquesta Descarga 54. An all-ages kick-off for Días de los Niños y Libros, a series of bilingual events for kids and family during April at Eugene Public Library. On the First Friday of each month, the Downtown Library stays open until 8:00 p.m. in connection with Lane Arts Council’s First Friday ArtWalk.
Blood Drive — Drop in 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, Bethel branch. Donate blood and save lives. Must be age 16 years or older and show photo ID. Donors receive a free soft drink at Abby’s Pizza.
Travel Planning at the Library — 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, downtown library. Plan your next great adventure using the Eugene Public Library’s resources, in print and online. For trips near or far, discover all the helpful tools available to you free of charge.
Dog Tale Time — 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, Bethel and Sheldon branches. Kids have fun and build skills in short one-on-one sessions by reading to trained dogs. Pre-register starting one week in advance in person or by phone at 541-682-8316. Dogs and handlers courtesy of PAAWS: Project Canine and Pet Partner Teams.
Game Dev: User Interface and Experience — 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 7, downtown library. Brian Schmidt leads a workshop for adults and teens with knowledge of basic gameplay design, Unity, and art assets creation. Learn what makes a good User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) by evaluating examples and creating and implementing icons and buttons for in-game graphics.
Preschool STEAM — 10:15 a.m. on Monday, April 8, Bethel branch. Hands-on exploring, learning, and fun for children ages 3-5 years. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
3D Print an Ornament — 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8, downtown library. Learn how to create patterns with Tinkercad software, then 3D-print them. The Spirograph-like objects can then be used as decorative window hangers, phone bling, zipper pulls, key rings, and more. For adults and teens. No experience needed. All supplies provided. Library card required.
Teen Fandom Club: Kim Possible — Drop in 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, downtown library. Everything is possible with Kim Possible. Get together to celebrate all things Kim with episodes, crafts, pizza, and more.
What If? Managing Your Money for the Unexpected — 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, Sheldon branch; 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, Bethel branch. Unexpected crises such as car trouble, the flu, or a breakup can mess up your plans for financial stability. This interactive workshop is an opportunity to learn from the past, recognize what doesn’t work, and develop new responses. Identify common crisis situations that can affect job productivity and attendance; understand unhelpful habits and explore better options; and learn techniques to plan for and resolve any situation. Each person will create a practical step-by-step action plan to prepare for the unexpected. Mark Brauer, prosperity program manager at Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Coast Counties leads the workshop.
Intro to Google Drive — 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, downtown library. Learn about tools to make documents, slideshows, and spreadsheets using your Google account. Requires a mobile phone number and email address to open a Google account.
Life-Size Oregon Trail Game — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, Bethel branch; 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, Sheldon branch. The classic “Oregon Trail” computer game comes to life at full size. All ages are invited to team up and race wagons through calamities and hands-on challenges to get to the Willamette Valley.
Teens: Welcome to D&D — 3:00 or 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10 & April 24, downtown library. Teens get together to play Dungeons and Dragons. Learn how to create your 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.
Library Squad for Tweens — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, downtown library. Get together to volunteer at the library. Work on special projects, meet new friends, and help make your library even better. For ages 9-12 years.
Road Map: Buy, Build, or Franchise? — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, downtown library. Expert Emily Anderson explains the realities and opportunities of business and franchise ownership. This workshop covers topics including the pros and cons of business ownership; the choice to buy, build, or franchise; full-time and part-time models; recession-resistant industries; and investment and financing options. Anderson is the director of business development at FranNet. A native Oregonian, she is a third-generation entrepreneur. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.
Tweens: Try Bloxels — 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12, or 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, downtown library. Learn how to build a 2D video game with fun, easy, and colorful Bloxels. Bring a mobile device or use one of the library’s. No experience needed. For ages 9-12 years.
2019 Annual Eugene Public Library book sale and Fundraiser — 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, and 10:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, Lane Events Center (Lane County Fairgrounds), 796 W. 13th Ave., Eugene. The book sale will be in the Performance Hall. Proceeds from this all-volunteer project go to support Eugene Public Library classes, programs, and events, including summer reading programs for children and teens. The sale includes thousands of gently used and like-new books on all topics, at bargain prices, most items not over $2. DVDs, audio books, sheet music, and music CDs also will be sold. Recent bestsellers will be available in the “Good as New” section, and collectors can check for rare and specialty books in “Individually Priced.” The Children’s Area offers a large selection of books, DVDs, and CDs for youngsters. New this year will be a silent auction of rare and collectible books on Saturday, April 13, with winners announced at 3:00 p.m. It takes more than 400 volunteers — some giving their time year-round — to make the Friends of Eugene Public Library’s annual book sale happen each year. VISA/Mastercard will be accepted, as well as cash and checks. Admission and parking are free.
Program Your World with Arduino — 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 14, downtown library. Adults and teens get a hands-on introduction to Arduino, an easy-to-learn open-source electronics platform to create interactive projects, including home security, robotics, and more. In this workshop, learn how to design a light sensor, then modify its code to change its actions. No experience needed, and all supplies are provided. A library card is required to attend the workshop, but Arduino is also available to use at drop-in Open Labs in the Maker Hub at the Downtown Library.
Windfall Reading Series: Poets Toni Hanner and Linda Russo — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, downtown library. This month’s Windfall Reading features poets Toni Hanner and Linda Russo. Hanner has published many books and poems and recently also has been studying French grammar and making art from scraps of paper; she is a member of Red Sofa Poets and leads the Jump Start Writing Workshop. Russo has written two books of poetry, Meaning to Go to the Origin in Some Way and Participant, as well as a collection of lyric essays, To Think of Her Writing Awash in Light. Her third book of poems, The Enhanced Immediacy of the Everyday, is in the works. Russo teaches at Washington State University. The Windfall Reading Series is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and the Lane Literary Guild. Refreshments will be served at intermission.
Family Night: Pirate Tales — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, Sheldon branch; 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, Bethel branch. This month’s Family Night theme is Pirate Tales. Come aboard for pirate stories, songs, crafts, and other adventures on the high seas.
Comics Squad for Tweens — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, downtown library. Read, write, draw, create, and generally geek out about comics and graphic novels. For ages 9-12 years.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape -— 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, downtown library. A talk by writer and activist Sohaila Abdulali, based on her book by the same name., hailed as beautifully written, deeply intelligent, searingly honest, unexpectedly funny, and ultimately hopeful. It examines sexual assault and the global discourse on rape told through the perspective of a survivor, writer, and former counselor, as well as interviews with people with personal stories. Abdulali also has written novels, children’s books, and short stories that have appeared widely, including in The Guardian. Books will be available for sale, courtesy of Tsunami Books. The even is sponsored by Eugene Public Library and the University of Oregon’s Deans of the College of Arts and Sciences; Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity; Center for the Study of Women and Society; CSWS Women of Color Project; Department of Anthropology; Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; and Office of the Dean of Students.
Stuck in the Middle Book Club — 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, downtown library. This month’s title is Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor, a richly imagined, suspenseful novel telling the tale of a 12-year-old in Nigeria discovering her magical powers while solving a mysterious crime. Pre-register and pick up the book at the Downtown Library’s Teen. For ages 11-14 years.
eBooks and More — Drop in 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, downtown library. Have fun and save money by learning 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 to enjoy at home or on the road. See demonstrations of online services using devices including Kindle, Android tablet, iPad, and laptops. Bring your own device, or just your curiosity.
Teens: Ani-Manga Club — 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19, downtown library. Get together to watch anime and enjoy snacks.
El Dia del Llibre i la Rosa: A Catalan Tradition — 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, downtown library. The Day of the Book and the Rose is a Catalan tradition of exchanging books and roses currently celebrated in Spain and Latin America. UNESCO has declared it the International Day of the Book and Authors’ Rights. Anuncia Escala, Felix Miret-Rovira, Lluis Soldevila, and other members of the Casal Català d’Oregon will be on hand to talk aboutthis tradition and enjoy live music and readings of Catalan authors and other nationalities. Participants are invited to bring a favorite poem to read, and everyone will leave with a rose and a book by a Catalan author, including bilingual books for children. All ages are welcome.
Teens: Make Stuffed French Toast — 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, downtown library. Learn to make French toast and stuff it with tasty fillings, including strawberries and chocolate.
Climate Friendly Yards — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, downtown library. When it comes to climate change, is your yard part of the problem or part of the solution? Join a panel of local landscape and farming experts to learn about ways to make yards more climate-friendly. Yard care that relies on gas-powered tools, fertilizers, pesticides, and sending waste to a landfill increases greenhouse gases. Organic landscaping removes carbon from the air and sinks it into the soil while also providing energy-saving shade in summer, managing storm water, growing flowers for beauty and to feed pollinators, and providing delicious, nutritious food. For additional benefits, home yards can also host chickens, bees, or small livestock. This event is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and 350 Eugene.
Intro to the Internet — 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24, Bethel branch; 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 25, Sheldon branch. Get a user-friendly introduction to the Internet. Learn some common vocabulary, how to open a website in Chrome, and how to use a search engine to find what you are looking for.
Teen Book Group — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, downtown library. This month’s title is Dress Codes for Small Towns by Courtney Stevens. It’s a novel about friends, family, faith, and being yourself — even if that means you don’t fit in. Preregister and pick up the book at the Teen Desk at the downtown library.
Tween Scene — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, downtown library. This month’s book is The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez. In this novel, Mexican-American tween Malú must start over at a new school, eventually making it work with the help of punk music, zines, and surprising new friends. For ages 9-12 years. Preregister and pick up the book at the Children’s Center in the downtown library.
Try It: Virtual Reality — 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, downtown library. Experience virtual reality (VR) and learn to use the Oculus Rift headset available in the Media Lab at the Downtown Library. For adults and teens. Library card required.
Small Business: Working with Lane Transit District — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, downtown library. Small business owners learn about working with Lane Transit District (LTD) with Collina Beard, LTD Director of Business Services. Find out which businesses are a good fit for this opportunity and learn about the pros and cons of working with a government entity that receives funding from a variety of local and federal sources. Hear about lessons learned and get tips for success. Beard has worked in the transit industry for 14 years at agencies from Birmingham, Alabama to Aspen, Colorado, with 12 years in transit-related procurement. She is currently director of business services at LTD. The workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.
Make It: Sew an Apron — 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26, downtown library. Tweens ages 9-12 years learn basic sewing skills and use the library’s sewing machines to make an apron. No experience needed. All materials provided. Preregister for limited spaces starting April 10, in person or by calling 541-682-8316.
Internet Skills: Forms and Online Applications — 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, downtown library. Beginners learn how to fill out online forms and applications for employment, rentals, and more, plus getting tips and tricks on using the internet safely. Basic computer and internet skills required.
Make Elote (Mexican Street Corn) — 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, downtown library. All ages may learn how to make elote, Mexican street corn, to serve on the cob or in a cup. Bring the whole family and enjoy samples of this favorite treat.
Bilingual Family Night: El Taller de Son Jarocho — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, Bethel branch. This bilingual event is part of the library’s April celebration of Días de los Niños y Libros. Make music and learn dances of Southern Veracruz, Mexico with El Taller de Son Jarocho.
Weekly storytimes
Talkers Storytime — 10:15 a.m. and 11:00 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 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays, downtown library. For preschoolers with their caregivers.
Walkers Storytime — 10:15 a.m. and 11:00 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
Family Music Time — 10:15 a.m. on Saturdays, downtown library. Live music for kids of all ages, with their caregivers.
