(The photo above shows a portion of a painting called “Green Tea with Lemon,” from Eugene artist Sarah Sedwick’s 2017 calendar.)
(Compiled by Randi Bjornstad)
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 Free admission to all events
On the March calendar:
Vote for Your Favorite Books — All library locations. Starting in March, kids and teens may vote for their favorites to win the Oregon Reader’s Choice and/or Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice awards. Readers in grades 3-12 who have listened to at least two of the nominated books in their age/grade level may vote once in each contest. Voting for the Oregon Reader’s Choice Award is March 1-30, and the Beverly Cleary award voting is open March 15-April 9. See the nominees at the library or online at bit.ly/19iqKF4.
Play, build and explore with LEGO blocks — 4 p.m. every Wednesday, downtown location; 10:15 a.m. every Saturday, Sheldon branch; 2 p.m. every Saturday, Bethel Branch. It’s drop-in downtown, but advance registration is necessary starting a week in advance Sheldon and Bethel, at 541-682-8316.
Noisy Science for Tweens — 4 p.m. on March 1 at the Sheldon branch; 4 p.m. on March 8 at the Bethel branch. Learn about how sound waves work, play with a Makey Makey banana piano, make a microphone and build a harmonica to take home. Supplies provided.
Author Ayana Mathis comes to the Eugene Public Library to talk about her novel, “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie”
Novelist Ayana Mathis — 6 p.m. on March 3, downtown location. Mathis, whose debut novel, “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie,” has been acclaimed by the New York Times, National Public Radio and Oprah Winfrey, will deliver the keynote talk of the 2017 CSWS Northwest Women Writers Symposium. She teaches at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Books will be available for purchase and signing, courtesy of the UO Duck Store.
Morse Code Jewelry — 4 p.m. on March 3 at the Bethel and Sheldon branches. This new activity for teens will take place the first Friday afternoon of each month. This time around, make Morse code bracelets, pins or necklaces that spell out your message. Supplies provided.
Introduction to Computers — 10 a.m. on March 4, downtown library. Learn the basics of the computer system, mouse and keyboard and how to use library resources onscreen. No experience necessary.
Family Music Time — 10:15 a.m. on March 4, 11, 18 and 25, downtown library. Kids and their families can sing and dance with a different performer each week. On March 4, it will be Anahid Bertrand, who is fluent in six languages and musical fun. On March 11, Bryan Reed will make learning “rock.” On March 18, Samuel Becerra plays lively music of South America and Mexico. On March 25, Kris Olsen of Do Re Play brings musical exploration.
Artist-at-Work — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday in March, Sheldon Branch. Stop by to watch a local artist at work: March 4, collage artist Marilyn Kent; March 11, calligrapher Nichol Rauch; March 18, basketry by Donna Crispin; and March 25, oil painting by Christian Ives.
Dog Tale Time — 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. each Saturday in March, downtown library. Children in kindergarten through sixth grade can build their reading skills by reading to trained dogs from the PAAWS program. Register in advance starting a week before each session, in person or by calling 541-682-8316.
“The Maltese Falcon” Book Groups — Spanish-language group at 1 p.m. on March 4 at the Springfield Public Library at 225 Fifth St. English-language groups at 6 p.m. on March 7, Bethel branch; 1 p.m. March 18 at Springfield; and 2 p.m. on March 25 at the downtown Eugene library. Adults can participate in a discussion of Dashiell Hammett’s classic detective novel, part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ annual “Big Read,” in which people from all over the nation read the same book and participate in local community activities.
An Un-Reasonable Amount of Trouble: The Tangled Tale of Hammett, Hellman and McCarthy — 2 p.m. on March 4, downtown library. Dashiell Hammett’s granddaughter, Julie Rivett, will talk about the author’s contribution to crime fiction as well as his his life, legacy, literary estate and experiences as a communist activist during the McCarthy era, during the investigative hearings run by then-Sen. Joseph McCarthy and their counterpart, the House Un-American Activities Committee, or HUAC.
Family Fun — 1 p.m. each Sunday, downtown library. Drop in for a new activity every week: March 5, “The Science of Sound;” March 12, a talk about Nepal with Dristi Manandhar, a student at the University of Oregon in the cultural service program; March 19, music and southern Mexican dances with El Taller de Son Jarocho; and March 26, “Rhythm from Head to Toe,” featuring tap dance, beat boxing and body percussion with Aaron Wheeler-Kay.
Richard Layman and Julie Rivett — 2 p.m. on March 5, downtown library. Dashiell Hammett’s granddaughter, Julie Rivett, and biographer Richard Layman discuss their decades of research on the author of “The Maltese Falcon.” The session is part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ annual “Big Read.”
Coloring for Adults — Noon to 2 p.m. (a new time) every Tuesday at the Bethel and Sheldon branches. Color for fun, creativity and relaxation. Coloring sheets and colored pencils are provided, or bring your own supplies.
Femme Fatale to Tough Gal: Women in Detective Fiction — 6 p.m. on March 7, downtown library. Kathleen O’Fallon talks about the role of women in detective fiction, as detectives instead of dangerous deceivers, pathetic victims or faithful secretaries. O’Fallon teaches in the English Department at the University of Oregon. The session is part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ annual “Big Read,” focused this year on Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon.”
Make a 3D Print Keychain — 5:30 p.m. on March 8, downtown library. Teens and adults can learn the basics of 3D modeling and printing, using Tinkercad software and a 3D printer. Supplies provided. Advance registration required, by phone or in person.
Love Science: Dating at Midlife and Beyond — 2:30 p.m. on March 9, Bethel branch; 2:30 p.m. on March 16, Sheldon branch. Duana Welch, social science researcher and author of “Love Factually,” explores how dating later in life compares with earlier experiences.
One-on-One Job Hunt Help — 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on March 9 or 23, downtown library. Employment counselors help with applications, online and traditional resumes, interview techniques and exploring job or career directions in 30-minute sessions. Advance registration is required, at 541-682-5450.
Learn from the Nonprofit Pros — 6 p.m. on March 9, downtown library. Hear about best practices and examples from people who have been there, with Andi Kemp, grant fundraiser and founder of Upward Development, LLC; Aimee Walsh, CEO at Direction Service; and nonprofit consultant Pat Skipper.
“Doctor Who Club” for Teens — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 10, downtown library. Watch episodes, snack and engage in “Whovian” conversation on the second Friday of each month.
Teen Board Games — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 10, Bethel and Sheldon branches. Drop in and play on the second Friday of each month. March features Escape Room games. Intended for students ages 13 to 17 years.
Gangsters, Goons, Femmes Fatale, and Losers: The Leading Role of a Noir’s Supporting Cast — 2 p.m. on March 11, downtown library. Steven Brence, who teaches “Philosophy of Film” at the University of Oregon, talks about the colorful cast of supporting characters in film noir. The session is part of the National Endowment of the Arts’ annual “Big Read” program, focusing this year on Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon.”
Begin Your Book-Length Memoir — 2 p.m. on March 12, downtown library. Author and teacher Melissa Hart’s workshop shows how to get started, with examples from published memoirs and tips on how to identify key themes, historical eras and important details.
Pi Day for Teens — 4 p.m. on March 14, downtown library. Celebrate “Pi Day” with a pie-tasting contest hosted by the library’s Teen Team volunteers, and learn about future opportunities to join the group.
Introduction to Online Genealogy — 1:30 p.m. on March 15, downtown library. Explore your family tree with online tools such as Ancestry, HeritageQuest and the InfoHub, as well as dozens of other recommended Internet sites such as USGenweb, Rootsweb, Family Search and Cyndi’s List. Internet skills required.
Make a Game Board — 5:30 p.m. on March 15, downtown library. Use vector graphics software to design a simple board game and then cut it out of wood with a CNC (computer numerical control) mill. The session is for teens and adults with basic computer skills. Supplies provided. Advance registration and a Eugene Public Library card are required.
Embroidery at Bethel Branch — 1:30 p.m. on March 16. Try out the Bethel branch’s embroidery machine, choosing from lots of graphics or writing your own message and applying it to a piece of your own clothing or a patch.
Fun with Flight — 4 pm. on March 16, downtown library. Kids in kindergarten through sixth grade will learn about the science of flight by making and testing paper airplanes. They’ll also hear about women in aviation as part of Women’s History Month.
Small Business Loan Options — 6 p.m. on March 16, downtown library. Scott Bossom with the Small Business Administration in Portland will talk about available loan options and how to find access to them to start or grow a small business.
Ani-Manga Club for Teens — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 17, downtown library. Watch anime and enjoy Japanese snacks with old friends and new. The group meets the third Friday of each month.
Learn to Cook Chinese Dumplings — 2 p.m. on March 18, downtown library. Linghui of the University of Oregon’s Confucius Institute for Global China Studies offers a cooking demonstration of making meat or vegetable dumplings wrapped in thinly rolled dough, with tasting.
Solve Logic Problems with Robots — 1:30 p.m. on March 19, downtown library. Use a computer-simulated robot to solve a classic logic puzzle. The class is meant for teens and adults with basic computer skills and requires a Eugene Public Library card and advance registration.
Introduction to Photoshop — 2 p.m. on March 20, downtown library. Teens and adults with basic computer skills can get a hands-on view of how to use Photoshop software to rescue bad photos and make good ones better with layers, selection techniques and more. Supplies provided. A Eugene Public Library card and advance registration are required.
Windfall Reading: More Voices — 6 p.m. on March 21, downtown library. Writers Melissa Hart and Cindy Williams Gutiérrez of More Voices, a project of the Lane Literary Guild, present this session that promotes multicultural approaches to the literary arts.
Family Night — 6:30 p.m. on March 21, Sheldon branch; 6:30 p.m. on March 28, Bethel branch. Kids and their grownups can try out a different activity each month on the third Tuesday. March’s theme is “Drive-In Storytime,” featuring stories about transportation while riding in cardboard cars and decorating them for a parade.
Store and Share Photos Online — 2 p.m. on March 22, Bethel branch; 2 p.m. on March 29, Sheldon branch. Learn to organize digital photos, including sorting and sharing in the cloud, emailing and creating online albums. The class uses PCs, but most of the tips apply to Mac computers also. Internet skills required.
DIY Dress UP: Maltese Falcon Wear — 5:30 p.m. on March 22, downtown library. Get dolled-up and hardboiled as you create a Sam Spade tie or an art deco headband. Supplies provided. This activity is part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ annual “Big Read,” focusing this year on Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon.”
Digital Marketing Trends for Small Businesses — 6 p.m. on March 23, downtown library. Sponsored by the library and SCORE, a group of counselors to small businesses, Carol Infranca will share information about current trends in digital marketing, content marketing, targeting and segmentation, personalization, using mobile technology and going beyond “big data” to reach customers.
WTF for Teens — 4 p.m. on March 24, downtown library. “What the Friday” gets teens together for a joint activity, plus setting the next month’s Fourth Friday activity agenda.
Unlock-the-Box: Harry Houdini’s Mysteries — 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on March 24, Sheldon branch; 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on March 31, Bethel branch. Teens work as a team to find clues and solve puzzles that unlock the box where Houdini hid the secrets of his most dazzling illusions. Advance registration required, starting a week in advance, in person or by calling 541-682-8316.
“Crossing the Horizon” with Laurie Notaro — 2 p.m. on March 25, downtown library. Author and humorist Laurie Notaro talks about her latest novel, the true but little-known stories of three aviatrixes who raced to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Notaro brings the three women pilots — Elsie Mackay, Mabel Boll and Ruth Elder — to life.
Work, Race and Homeland: Murder Mysteries as Labor Management in the Wartime West — 6 p.m. on March 29, downtown library. Max Geier talks about the themes raised in his book, “The Color of Night: Race, Railroaders and Murder in the Wartime West,” which on one level is a murder mystery but also explores the changing labor, legal and social conditions that affected working people during World War II. Part of the story involves a trial that took place in Albany. Geier retired as a professor of history from Western Oregon University.
Next Steps in Genealogy — 1:30 p.m. on March 29, downtown library. This class is intended for people who already have participated in the introductory Online Genealogy class and features advanced tips on researching the family tree, using in-depth Internet searching, organizing data and keeping tracks of sources.
“Housewife: Home-remaking in a Transgender Marriage” — 6 p.m. on March 30, downtown library. Author Kristin Collier talks about her memoir and how she handled the surprise of her husband’s announcement that he wanted to live the rest of his life as a woman. Collier is an educator and writer whose experience has been featured on National Public Radio’s, “Snap Judgment.”
Mz. Pearl’s Variety Show for Kids — 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on March 29, downtown library; 11 a.m. on March 30, Bethel branch; 2 p.m. on March 30, Sheldon branch. Heather Pearl’s show features physical comedy, juggling, magic, circus skills and clowning. Pick up free tickets starting 30 minutes before each show.
Teen Relationships: Toxic or Not — 2 p.m. on March 29, downtown library. Counselor Tanya Peterson holds a conversational workshop for teens on how to tell healthy romances and friendships from toxic ones, and to find the line between love and control, giving and taking. Peterson writes about mental health and also is author of a young adult novel, “Losing Elizabeth.”
Teen Book Group — 4 p.m. on March 30, downtown library. The group will discuss Tanya Peterson’s novel, “Losing Elizabeth.” The girl starts out as a confident teen whose life starts changing after her new boyfriend starts taking it over. Register for the group and pick up a copy of the book at the downtown library’s Teen Desk.
‘Tween Scene Book Group — 4 p.m. on March 30, downtown library. March’s book for students in fourth through sixth grade is “Rodzina” by Karen Cushman, the story of a 12-year-old Polish-American orphan who hopes to find a new family but is afraid she never will. Pick up the book and register for the group at the Children’s Center at the downtown library.
“Stranger Things” Marathon for Teens — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 31, downtown library. Drop in for all or part of the “Stranger Things” marathon. Information at 541-682-8316.
REGULAR WEEKLY STORYTIMES
STEAM Storytime — Mondays, at 3:30 p.m., downtown library; for preschoolers and kindergarteners with their caregivers
Terrific Twos Storytime — Tuesdays at 10:15 and 11:00 a.m., downtown library; for 2-year-olds with their caregivers
Pajama Storytime — Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., downtown library; for infants through 6-year-olds with their caregivers
Preschool Storytime — Wednesdays at 10:15 and 11:00 a.m., downtown library; for 3- to 6-year-olds with their caregivers
Sensory Storytime — Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m., downtown library; stories, songs, and word play designed by early childhood school psychologist Debby Laimon especially for children with sensory integration or other special needs with their caregivers
Wonderful Ones Storytime — Thursdays at 10:15 and 11:00 a.m., downtown library; for 1-year-olds with their caregivers.
Baby Storytime — Fridays at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m., downtown library; for infants and 1-year-olds with their caregivers
Family Storytime at Sheldon — Fridays at 10:15 a.m., Sheldon branch; for children and their caregivers
Family Storytime at Bethel — Fridays at 10:15 a.m., Bethel branch; for children with their caregivers.
Family Music Time — Saturdays at 10:15 a.m., downtown library; songs and dances for children and their caregivers, with a different performer each week
Cuentos y Canciones: Stories & Songs in Spanish — Saturdays at 11:15 a.m., Bethel branch; for children and their families
