(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
Eugene Button Club — In the cases of the 2nd floor Magazines and Newspapers Room through June at the downtown library. A display highlighting collectible buttons and the times they reflect as cultural artifacts.
In the Children’s Center on the 1st floor in May — Displays by 350 students from Charlemagne Elementary (French Immersion) School, Eugene Ballet, Eugene Waldorf School, and Little French School at the downtown library.
Events and Activities
Family STEAM — 4:00 p.m. every Wednesday, in May, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. every Thursday, in May, Bethel branch. STEAM activities for children and families feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Kids and Legos — 10:15 a.m. every Saturday in May, 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 May, downtown library. Sing and dance your way into the weekend with a different performer every week. The musical fun will be led by Chuck Coxon on May 4, Michael Bradley on May 11, Jodie St. Clair on May 18, and Rich Glauber on May 25.
Family Fun — 2:00 p.m. every Sunday in May, downtown library. There’s something new each week for families to do at the downtown library. Make crafts to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Maria Sollo of Casa Cultural Raices on May 5. On May 12, make crafts for Mother’s Day. On May 19, learn about Vietnamese water puppetry and create puppets with University of Oregon student Hoa Trinh. Make art and learn about Palestinian culture with University of Oregon student Noor Abu Rabie on May 26.
Talk Time: Conversational English — 4:00 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in May, downtown library. Learning English? Come meet other learners and practice conversational English together. Talk Time is an opportunity to build listening and speaking skills at a friendly, casual gathering. Talk Time is provided in partnership by Eugene Public Library and Lane Community College.
Adventures with NOVA — Noon on Wednesday, May 1, downtown library. In connection with The Archaeology Channel International Film Festival, enjoy an illustrated talk by Evan Hadingham, senior science editor for PBS’ NOVA, the most widely watched science program on U.S. television. For over two decades, Hadingham has been responsible for the science content of all NOVA’s original documentaries and co-productions, involved at every step from development through final script writing. He will talk about the behind-the-scenes work of creating past and future programs, discuss the challenges of communicating science to the public in a fast-changing media landscape, and share the personal journey that led him to his job at NOVA. Hadingham published his first book on early aviation as a teenager. He then developed a strong interest in archaeology and acquired a master’s degree in Pprehistory and archaeology from Sheffield University in England. His feature articles on the archaeology of Egypt, China, Greece, and the Americas have appeared in magazines including The Atlantic Monthly, Smithsonian, Discover, and Reader’s Digest. His books include “Lines to the Mountain Gods,” “Early Man and the Cosmos,” “Secrets of the Ice Age,” and “The Fighting Triplanes.” As Senior Science Editor for NOVA, he has produced shows including “Search for the First Americans,” “Who Killed the Red Baron?,” and “Decoding Nazi Secrets.” He is currently developing essays for a book on the Fifty Great Discoveries in Human Origins, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Leakey Foundation.
One-on-One Job Hunt Help — 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 and May 16, downtown library. Pre-register for individual 30-minute appointments at 541-682-5450. Get expert advice and assistance to address 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.
Nature Kids: Good Garden Bugs — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, downtown library. Learn about bugs that are “secret helpers” in gardens and yards, eating pests and helping everything grow. Learn to identify common helpful insects and make a friendly habitat for them. Plus, see and touch live insects and other small critters. With Kevin Steffy-Prier of Suburban Homecraft. For ages 6-12 years.
Suicide Prevention Training — 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, downtown library. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) is an evidence-based suicide prevention training where participants learn how to identify someone who may be at risk of suicide, support them in reconnecting to life, and refer them to helpful resources. Workshop leader Roger Brubaker shares how suicide affects Lane County and how community members can get involved in local prevention efforts. Brubaker is the Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Coordinator, and Senior Community Health Analyst for Lane County Health and Human Services and Public Health. Preregister by calling 541-682-5450.
First Friday Concert: The Platypus Clarinet Orchestra — 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, downtown library. The group was started by Eugene Symphony musicians Mike Curtis and Carol Robe. The ensemble includes all shapes and sizes of clarinets, from the baby E flat to the contrabass clarinet, played by amateur and professional musicians.
Mario Kart Tournament for Teens — 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, Sheldon branch; 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, Bethel branch. Play Mario Kart with Nintendo Switch.
May the Fourth Be With You: All Ages Star Wars Celebration — Noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, downtown library. Celebrate Star Wars with crafts from noon to 12:00 p.m.; meet the 501st Legion from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; cheer or join a cosplay parade, and take green screen photos. From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., watch the original movie, Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope,”with bingo cards, trivia questions, popcorn, and prizes.
Intro to Photoshop — 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 5, downtown library. Learn Photoshop basics to enhance images including cropping, adjusting colors, changing size, and preparing for printing. Get tips on how to find royalty-free images online. For adults and teens. Library card required. Preregister at 541-682-5450.
Do-It-Yourself Repair: Intro to Hand Sewing and Mending — 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, downtown library. Learn to repair your own clothes and save money, time, and your favorite sweater while also preventing waste. This hands-on workshop will start with the basic tools, terminology, and skills including threading a needle and tying a knot that stays. Then learn hand sewing and mending skills including how to sew on a button, fix thread pulls, repair a tear, and fix a hole in a knitted item. No experience needed. Practice scraps will be provided, or bring items in need of repair. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and City of Eugene Waste Prevention and Green Building. Preregister at 541-682-5450.
Make a Book — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, Bethel branch; 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, Sheldon branch. Adults and teens can make a simple hardcover book to use as a journal, sketchbook, or gift. Learn to sew pages together and decorate and attach paperboard covers. No experience required. All supplies provided.
Local Impact, Global Awareness: Supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in West Africa — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, downtown library. Join Eugene-based nonprofit CREATE! — the Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology for the Environment — for an illustrated talk titled “Local Impact, Global Awareness: Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals in West Africa.” CREATE! works on sustainable development and community self-sufficiency, guided by the philosophy that meeting basic human needs and responding to the effects of climate change go hand in hand. Learn about CREATE!’s collaboration with women in rural villages in Senegal. Their work supports UN Sustainable Development Goals, which provide a worldwide blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future.
PowerPoint: The Basics — 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, downtown library. Get an introduction to using PowerPoint to create presentations. Learn how to insert images and text onto slides, and how to select, move, and organize slides.
Try It: Virtual Reality — Adults and teens can drop in from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8 and May 22, Bethel branch; 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 13, Sheldon branch. Experience virtual reality (VR) with Oculus Go.
Dungeons & Dragons for Teens — 3:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8 and May 22, downtown library. 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.
Tweens Library Squad — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, 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.
Teen Movie: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, downtown library. Movie and free pizza.
Small Business Communications — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, downtown library. Email? Phone? Meeting? Text? Get tips to figure out the best way to get your message across in business communications. Explore the pros and cons of different methods and learn to be more effective in this interactive seminar. Tim Cling, MBA, held financial positions at companies including Levi Strauss & Co. He founded Bit-by-Bit Computer Rentals, which was bought by Rent-A-PC, where he served as VP in charge of the western states. The company is now the nationwide SmartSource Rentals. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.
Tweens Tech Squad — 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 10, and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, downtown library. Create, explore, and play with maker tools of many kinds. For ages 9-12 years.
eBooks and More — Drop in from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, downtown library. Have fun and save money 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.
A Deadly Wind: The 1962 Columbus Day Storm — 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, downtown library. Journalist John Dodge gives an illustrated talk based on his book, A Deadly Wind: The 1962 Columbus Day Storm. A freak of nature, the storm’s winds topped 100 miles per hour, killing dozens, injuring hundreds, damaging more than 50,000 homes, and creating enough timber to build one million houses. This compelling story is spiced with human drama, Cold War tension, and Pacific Northwest history. Odd as it might seem, the Columbus Day Storm fueled the Asian log export market, helped give birth to the Oregon wine industry, and influenced the 1962 World Series. It remains a cautionary tale and the Pacific Northwest benchmark for severe windstorms in this era of climate change and weather uncertainty. From its genesis in the Marshall Islands to its final hours on Vancouver Island, B.C., the storm plowed an unparalleled path of destruction.
Yarn & Thread — Drop in anytime 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 and May 25, Bethel and Sheldon branches. 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, May 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 now easier and more affordable than ever. For adults and teens with intermediate computer and internet skills.
Preschool STEAM — 10:15 a.m. on Monday, May 13, Bethel branch. Hands-on exploring, learning, and fun for ages 3-5 years. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Teen Fandom Club: Star Wars — Drop in 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, downtown library. Make a Chewbacca plushie, watch the Solo movie, and snack in celebration of Star Wars.
Intro to Online Genealogy — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, Bethel branch; 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 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 sites including USGenweb, Rootsweb, Family Search, and Cyndi’s List. Internet skills required.
How We Roll: Transforming Transportation — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, downtown library. Did you know a gas-powered car emits a pound of carbon dioxide per mile? That’s the main reason transportation is the single largest source of carbon pollution in the country. Personal vehicles pose problems for individual health and for safe, livable cities, too. Learn about transportation alternatives and make informed choices about how to get around town. Topics include electric cars, mobility apps, electric cargo bikes, E-scooters, bike shares, and walking. Plus get tips on biking in the rain, carpooling, and traveling by bus. This event is presented in partnership by the Eugene Public Library and 350 Eugene.
Tweens Comics Squad — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, downtown library. Read, write, draw, create, and geek out about comics and graphic novels. For ages 9-12 years.
Stuck in the Middle Book Club — 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, downtown library. This month’s title is Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. Pre-register and pick up the book at the Downtown Library’s Teen Center starting May 1. For ages 11-14 years.
Learning with Lynda.com — 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, downtown library. Get an introduction to Lynda.com, a valuable online resource available free through Eugene Public Library. Lynda.com offers top-quality courses by industry experts to learn business, software, technology, and creative skills. At this workshop, get an overview of the available topics, find your topics of interest, and learn how to create an individualized curriculum to achieve your personal and professional goals.
Bill Sullivan: New Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, downtown library. Join author and hiking guru William L. Sullivan for an illustrated talk touring a dozen new or dramatically changed trails in the Central Oregon Cascades between Salem and Bend. These gems are featured in the newly released fifth edition of his guidebook 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades. Included are a new path along the Deschutes River north of Bend, a new bird refuge trail at Salem, and several reopened trails to wildflowers in the Cascades. He’ll also discuss the effects of wildfires and the Forest Service’s new permit system. Along the way, enjoy anecdotes about local history, plants, and outdoor lore. Sullivan is the author of five novels and a dozen books about Oregon, including the popular 100 Hikes series, Hiking Oregon’s History, and Oregon Favorites. His journal of a 1000-mile hike he took across Oregon, Listening for Coyote, was chosen by the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission as one of Oregon’s 100 most significant books.
Teens Ani-Manga Club — 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 17, downtown library. Get together to watch anime and enjoy snacks.
Yarn & Thread — Drop in anytime from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, downtown library. 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.
Eugene Button Club — 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, downtown library. Join Eugene Button Club for an illustrated talk about collectible buttons and the stories they tell as cultural artifacts. Learn about changing times in history, fashion, business, technology, and more as reflected through button design, materials, and use.
Try It: Virtual Reality — 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, downtown library. Experience virtual reality (VR) and learn to use the Oculus Rift headset in the Media Lab at the Downtown Library. For adults and teens. Library card required.
Agripac: A Visual Tour of Eugene’s Last Cannery — 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, downtown library. For many years, Eugene was home to thriving canneries that processed local produce from nearby farms. The last remaining cannery was Agripac, which was 100 years old when it closed in 2000. Purchased by Chiquita, the cannery was slated for demolition when the city of Eugene received a grant to document it for historic purposes first. The local Emerald Photographic Society won the bid and proceeded to document every workstation, nook, cranny, and worker with video and photographs. See their work when Steven Baker of the city of Eugene’s Historic Review Board gives an illustrated talk about this episode, in honor of Historic Preservation Month. Topics will include Chiquita’s attempts to block the documentarians, and how local Agripac workers and others overcame those efforts.
InDesign for Beginners — 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 20, downtown library. Adobe InDesign software is used to design books, eBooks, magazines, newsletters, and more. Learn the basics at this hands-on workshop, including terminology and how to start a new project. For adults and teens with basic computer skills. Library card required.
Windfall Reading Series — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, downtown library. May’s Windfall Reading features poets Geri Doran and Jenny Root. Doran has written three poetry collections: Resin; Sanderlings, and the forthcoming Epistle, Osprey. Her work has been recognized with an Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship, Stegner and Brown Foundation fellowships, and the Walt Whitman Award. Doran teaches at the University of Oregon. Root has published a full-length poetry collection, The Company of Sharks. Her poems have also been anthologized in New Poets of the American West and appeared in many journals, including Basalt, CIRQUE, Cloudbank, Crab Creek Review, Elohi Gadugi Journal, Four Ties Lit, and Poetry International. Twice a fellow at PLAYA, Root also co-hosts the Springfield Poetry Series with Carter McKenzie. The Windfall Reading Series is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and Lane Literary Guild. Refreshments served at intermission.
Family Night: Dare to Be Square — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, Sheldon branch; 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, Bethel branch. This month’s Family Night features square dancing, stories, and crafting.
Tweens Make Charms — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, downtown library. Create colorful charms with polymer clay. For ages 9-12 years.
Strategic Planning for Nonprofits — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, downtown library. Join expert Andi Kemp to learn how to create a road map for success for nonprofits, including proven methods for strategic planning for nonprofits, with practical exercises to increase understanding of the most important components of planning and identify who should be involved. Plus, learn how to use written plans to track progress against goals. Andi Kemp has 15 years of experience serving nonprofits as a staff member, director, and consultant. She has written 250 grants and raised $22.5 million to support programs and capacity-building. Kemp founded Upward Development, LLC to provide fundraising expertise, planning, and consulting to small and medium organizations. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.
Bitforest Game Riff — 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, downtown library. Make video games with Bitforest. This group of local game developers loves to help everyone learn and have fun creating games. Participants will start with a basic arcade game, then add their own twists — new mechanics, art, power-ups, levels, and more. If possible, bring a laptop; if not, use one of the library’s. For adults, teens, and kids ages 10 and up. I Have a Library Card, Now What? — 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 26, downtown library. Your library card is the key to an astonishing range of free services, resources, and activities you might not know about. Whether you don’t have a card yet, just got your card, or have had one for years, come learn about all that’s available to you.
Record Listening Party: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band — Noon on Sunday, May 26, downtown library. Join the vinyl revival and celebrate the 52nd anniversary of the UK release of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Greg Sutherland of House of Records will give a brief introduction to the album, reveal fascinating facts, answer questions, and play an original British monaural copy of the LP in its entirety. This gathering is “guaranteed to raise a smile.”
Teens Make Sushi — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, downtown library. Learn to make sushi — mix vegetarian fillings, then roll.
Teen Book Group — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, downtown library. This month’s title is We Are Okay by Nina LaCour. Visit the Downtown Teen Desk to pre-register and pick up the book.
Tween Scene — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, downtown library. This month’s book is The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. For ages 9-12 years. Pre-register and pick up the book at the Downtown Library’s Children’s Center.
History of Eugene Railroad Station: Illustrated Talk — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, downtown library. Learn about the history of the original Eugene railroad station with a photo and video tour. The current Eugene Amtrak station is one of five masonry stations remaining along the original Southern Pacific Railroad’s west coast line from Portland to San Diego. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, it was built in 1908 and purchased by the city of Eugene in 2003. Before remodeling, the local Emerald Photographic Society won the bid to document the historic structure. See their work when Steven Baker of the City of Eugene’s Historic Review Board gives an illustrated talk in honor of Historic Preservation Month.
Tweens Make Juggling Chicks — 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 31, downtown library. Learn basic sewing skills to make a juggling beanbag that looks like a baby chicken. No experience needed. All materials provided. For ages 9-12 years.
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.
