(Compiled 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

ON THE DECEMBER CALENDAR

Art Displays

Paintings by Simon Graves — A series of paintings of positive icons including Eleanor Roosevelt, Chief Joseph, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. All month long in December on the walls in the 2nd Floor Magazines and Newspapers Room.

The Grange at 150 — The National Grange organization is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a photo timeline, and historical objects on display in the 2nd floor Magazines and Newspapers Room through December. Learn about the past, present, and future of the national and local Grange.

Children’s Center — Art and exhibits by Eugene Waldorf School, Family School, Norkenzie Christian Preschool, Patterson Preschool, and Eugene Arte Latino bilingual summer camp, in the Children’s Center on the 1st floor through December.

Events

Dog Tale Time — 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, downtown library; 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, Bethel and Sheldon branches. Kids have fun and build skills in short one-on-one sessions reading to trained dogs. Dogs and handlers courtesy of PAAWS (Project Canine and Pet Partner teams). Pre-register starting one week in advance in person or by phone at 541-682-8316.

Play with Lego Blocks — 4 p.m. every Wednesday, downtown library; 10:15 a.m. every Saturday, Sheldon Branch; 3 p.m. every Saturday, Bethel Branch. Bring the kids (ages 5-12) to build, play, and explore with Eugene Public Library’s big and varied collection of Legos. 541-682-8316.

Family Music Time — 10:15 a.m. every Saturday, downtown library. Kids and their families can sing and dance their way into the weekend with a different performer every week. Dec. 2, Samuel Becerra plays lively music of South America and Mexico. On Dec. 9, join singer/songwriter Rob Tobias for classics, originals, and tunes made up on the spot. Sing, move, and play on Dec. 16 with Pia and Jason Robbins; on Dec. 23 with Kris Olsen; and on Dec. 30 with Jodie St. Clair of Eugene Suzuki Music Academy. 541-682-8316.

Kids: Minecraft Mondays — 4 p.m. every Monday, downtown library. Kids ages 6-12 will play together, share tips, and get creative with building challenges with Minecraft on Eugene Public Library’s computers. Due to limited space, a Eugene Public Library card and pre-registration are required. Sign up starting one week in advance at 541-682-8316.

Eugene Youth Ballet at Family Storytimes — 10:15 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, Sheldon Branch; 10:15 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, Bethel Branch. Dancers from Eugene Youth Ballet share a taste of the Nutcracker at Family Storytimes.

Writer Adam Silvera — 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, downtown library. The insightful, serious, and funny author of national bestsellers for teens and adults visits Eugene to talk about how he got his start by writing fan-fiction; what he did to meet his goal of getting published by age 25; and “how writing has literally saved my life.” Adam Silvera is the New York Times bestselling author of the compelling and critically acclaimed novels “They Both Die at the End,” “More Happy Than Not,” and “History Is All You Left Me.” He has worked in the publishing industry as a children’s bookseller, community manager at a literary development company, and book reviewer of children’s and young adult novels. Born and raised in the Bronx, he lives and writes in New York City. Books for purchase and signing will be available courtesy of the UO Duck Store. 541-682-8316.

Kid Craft & Maker Market — 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3, downtown library. Kids and family: find great gifts for others or yourself at the Kids’ Craft and Maker Market. All kids get free tickets to trade for kid-crafted items. Bring and exchange used children’s books, too. (Young creators who would like to trade their own works need to reserve a table in advance). 541-682-8316.

Felting: Making Acorns — 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, downtown library. Adults and teens learn basic felting techniques while making colorful, adorable acorns to use as small gifts, decorations, jewelry, or other craft projects. No experience necessary, and all supplies are provided.

Yarn and Thread — Noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5, Sheldon Branch; noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 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, loom, and more.

Kids: Hour of Code — 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Dec. 5-8, downtown library; 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, Bethel and Sheldon Branches. Kids ages 8-12 years old get an introduction to coding using Minecraft characters and Code.org. Due to limited space, pre-registration is required for the sessions, at 541-682-8316. This event is timed for Computer Science Education Week, a part of the global Hour of Code movement reaching tens of millions of learners in 180+ countries.

eBooks and More — Drop in from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5, downtown library. Have fun and save money: Learn how to get free downloadable and streaming eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, music, movies, and TV shows from Eugene Public Library. Tens of thousands of titles are available at the library website from home or on the road. See demonstrations of online services using devices including Kindle, Android tablet, iPad, and laptops. Bring your own device too, or just your curiosity.

Tabletop Games for All Ages — 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5, Bethel and Sheldon branches. All ages are invited to play modern and classic tabletop games on the first Tuesday of every month. A wide variety of games will be available for children, teens, and adults, ranging from Animal Upon Animal to Settlers of Catan to Scrabble.

Intro to HTML and CSS — 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5, downtown library. Adults and teens get an introduction to the two essential languages used to create web pages: HTML and CSS. Robin Nelson explains how they work together to create the layouts users see online. This hands-on workshop includes guided exercises and time to tinker. The skills help design web pages and understand how websites work. Eugene Public Library card and basic computer skills required.

Talk Time: Conversational English — 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, downtown library. Learning English? Come meet other learners and practice conversational English teacher. Talk Time is an opportunity to build listening and speaking skills at a friendly, casual gathering.

Mozilla Gigabit 101: High Speed Internet in Eugene — 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, downtown library. Join Craig Wiroll of Mozilla to learn about the benefits of equitable high-speed broadband access in the greater-Eugene area. The huge capacity and lightning fast connections of high speed networks offer the potential for many innovations, including enhancing public health, improving transportation infrastructure, providing new learning options, and more. Explore what this development will mean for you and for Eugene’s schools, businesses, and non-profits. Learn how local individuals and organizations can leverage the network to create opportunities and improve quality of life.

Intro to Bootstrap: Web Frameworks — 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, downtown library. Adults and teens get an introduction to using Bootstrap to create CSS frameworks for webpages. Robin Nelson shows how to use design templates and other open source resources instead of reinventing the wheel by writing new code. Eugene Public Library card and basic computer skills required. Robin Nelson is a front-end developer at Continuing Education Learning Systems.

Teen Board Games — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, Bethel and Sheldon Branches. Teens ages 13-17 years drop in to play board games on the second Friday of every month. 541-682-8316.

Family World Dance Party: Bhangra – 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, Sheldon Community Center (2445 Willakenzie Road). Kids and family join the library at Sheldon Community Center to learn and enjoy Bhangra, Bollywood-style Indian dance, with Sat Pavan Kour Khalsa and DJ James Meyer of House of Records. Free admission and refreshments. Presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and City of Eugene Recreation.

Family Fun: Move Like a Mammoth – 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, downtown library. Kids and family: “Move Like a Mammoth” with the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Learn how prehistoric animals including mammoths, saber tooth cats, and giant ground sloths ran, leaped, climbed, and ate their way through Oregon’s history. Explore fossils, bones, and teeth to compare ancient animals with those who live here today.

iPad Next Steps: Photos and More — 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, Bethel Branch; 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18, Sheldon Branch. Explore more iPad features. Learn to take, store, share, and edit photos; download and use apps; manage email; and more. This workshop is for people who have attended “iPad for Beginners.”

Dealing with the Debt Monster — 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, downtown library. Learn real-life strategies to control and eliminate debt at this user-friendly workshop. Get expert advice, handouts, and exercises to help you develop a personal plan to defeat the Debt Monster. Topics include: identifying and understanding different types of debt; prioritizing debt; payment strategies that reduce debt into manageable expenses; and how to effectively talk with creditors. Workshop leader Mark 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.

Tracing Memories for Relaxation — 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, Sheldon Branch; 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19, Bethel Branch. Adults join illustrator Marianne Walker to try “Tracing Memories,” an art program designed to promote relaxation and stress reduction by coloring line-art versions of photographs. Use professional quality Copic markers to layer and blend colors and explore a variety of artistic techniques. No experience needed. All supplies provided. Co-sponsored by Eugene Public Library and Imagination International.

The Nutcracker: Short & Suite — Two shows at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, downtown library. A beloved library tradition: the Eugene Youth Ballet performs a child-size version of the classic Nutcracker. Travel the globe with these dancers and dream of sugarplums all night! Perfect for kids and family – everyone’s welcome!

Kids: OBOB Bookopoly — 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, Sheldon Branch (pre-register); 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, downtown library (drop-in); 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20, Bethel Branch (pre-register). Kids: play a fun live-action quiz game to practice for the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB. Prepare for questions about “EllRay Jakes the Recess King,” “I Survived The Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980,” “Esperanza Rising,” “My Life in Dog Years,” “Mystery of Museum Mile,” and “Poppy.”

Teens: Ani-Manga Club — 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15, downtown library. Teens: watch anime and enjoy Japanese snacks with friends who share your love of anime and manga.

Family Fun: Marimba Music — 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17, downtown library. Kids and family: listen and dance to joyful Zimbabwean Marimba Music played by the Chapwiti Youth Ensemble of the Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center.

Computer Practice Lab for Beginners — 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19, downtown library. Computer beginners practice and experiment in a supportive environment with assistance available. Drop in during this open lab time to use library computers or your own laptop to work on a project or a particular type of program or skill. Library staff will be available to help in English and Spanish.

Family Night — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19, Sheldon Branch; 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26, Bethel Branch. In December, the Family Night theme is “Picture Book Puzzler.” Kids and their grown-ups are invited to solve a mystery and play games based on the “Pete the Cat” books.

Tweens: Make Music — 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21, downtown library. Tweens: create music with electronic Makey Makey invention kits and a variety of recycled items. No experience necessary. All supplies provided.

Family Fun: Snow Day — 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 24, downtown library. Kids and family enjoy snowy stories and make sparkling snowflakes and other wintry crafts.

Show for Kids: Louisiana Fiddlin’ with Kelly Thibodeaux — 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, downtown library; 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28, Bethel Branch; 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28, Sheldon Branch. During winter break, bring the kids to a free show at any Eugene Public Library location. Louisiana Fiddlin’ by Kelly Thibodeaux is a high-energy concert filled with magical tunes and tall tales. Plus, try a fiddle yourself.

Teens: Unlock the Box — Through the Wormhole – 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, Sheldon Branch; 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec .29, Bethel Branch; 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30, downtown library. Teens during winter break may come to any location to “Unlock the Box.” Team members will work together to find clues and solve puzzles to find the Wormhole map and travel back to the right time. Pre-register to join a team starting one week in advance of each session. 541-681-8316.

‘Tween Scene – 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28, downtown library. This month’s book is “The Boundless” by Kenneth Oppel. In this suspenseful novel, a teen tries to save a train full of treasures with the help of a traveling circus. Pre-register and pick up the book at the Downtown Library’s Children’s Center starting Dec.1. For ages 9-12 years.

Teen Book Group and Movie – 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28, downtown library. Read “Everything Everything” by Nicola Yoon, then get together to see the movie, with snacks provided. “Everything Everything” tells the unlikely love story of two teens who connect despite, well, everything. Visit the Downtown Teen Desk to pre-register and pick up your copy of the book starting Dec. 1.

Family Fun: Nearly New Years – 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31, downtown library. Kids and families celebrate together with fun games, activities, and crafts.

 

REGULAR WEEKLY STORYTIMES

STEAM Storytime – Mondays, 4 p.m., downtown library. For ages 3-7 years with their caregivers.

Talkers Storytime – Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m., downtown library. For toddlers who are starting to string words together, with their caregivers.

Pajama Storytime – Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m., downtown library. For young children with their caregivers.

Preschool Storytime – Wednesdays, 10:15 and 11 a.m., downtown library. For preschoolers with their caregivers.

Walkers Storytime – Thursdays, 10:15 and 11 a.m., downtown library. For babies up on their feet, with their caregivers.

Baby Storytime – Fridays, 10:15 and 11 a.m., downtown library. For babies from birth to first steps, with their caregivers.

Family Storytime – Fridays, 10:15 a.m., Sheldon and Bethel Branch libraries. For kids of all ages, with their caregivers.

Family Music Time – Saturdays, 10:15 a.m., downtown library. Live music for kids of all ages, with their caregivers.

Cuentos y Canciones: Stories & Songs in Spanish – Saturdays, 11:15 a.m., Bethel Branch library. Stories and songs in Spanish for the whole family.