Weather got you down? Get some uplift from the Eugene Public Library and its nonstop events and activities

(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

Free admission to all events

ON THE FEBRUARY CALENDAR

Art exhibits

“We Are Neighbors” Photo Exhibit — On the walls of the 2^nd floor Magazines and Newspapers room at the downtown library through February. “We Are Neighbors” is a photo exhibit created by CALC (Community Alliance of Lane County), featuring photographs of local community members who came to this country as immigrants. Created in 1996 and updated in 2017, the exhibit celebrates the inspirational life stories of these individuals and families. According to CALC, “The exhibit’s intention is to engage and inspire people to recognize how all of us are connected, wherever we are from, and to celebrate the contributions those of us who are immigrants have made to our shared community.”

Eugene Ballet: The Firebird — In the cases in the 2^nd floor Magazines and Newspapers Room at the downtown library through February. Eugene Ballet displays costume headpieces and photos from two productions of “The Firebird.” One case will hold pieces from the first ballet the company performed at the Hult Center in 1982. The other case will preview the new, reimagined pieces for their production coming up in April 2019.

Children’s Center — on the first floor of the downtown library through February, art and exhibits by Adventure! Children’s Museum, Corridor Elementary School, Family School, Norkenzie Christian Preschool, and Singing Creek Educational Center.

Events, classes and activities

Dog Tale Time — 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays, downtown library. Pre-register for individual short appointments: 541-682-8316. 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). Sign up for the next week starting one week in advance.

Kids and Legos — 10:15 a.m. every Saturday, Bethel and Sheldon branches. Build, play, and explore with the Eugene Public Library’s big and varied collection of Legos blocks. For ages 5-12 years.

Sensory Storytime — 3:00 p.m. every Saturday, downtown library. Sensory Storytime is 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 Music Time — 10:15 a.m. every Saturday, downtown library. Kids and families sing and dance their way into the weekend with a different performer every week. Bryan Reed makes learning rock on February 2. On February 9, join Chuck Coxon for musical fun. Sing, move, and play with Kris Olsen on February 16. Singer/songwriter Rob Tobias plays classics, originals, and tunes made up on the spot on February 23.

Family Fun — 2:00 on every Sunday, downtown library. On February 3, celebrate “Chinese New Year Traditions” with the Chinese-American Benevolent Association, featuring live music and a full-costume Lion Dance. Make “Valentine’s Crafts” on February 10. On February 17, try percussion instruments at a “Rhythm Circle” with Jill Sager of Hands On Rhythm and Drum School. “Play with Clay” and make magnets, medallions, and necklaces with Thallia Lerin of Local Clay on February 24.

Talk Time: Conversational English — 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 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.

Kids as Minecrafters — 4:00 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, downtown library. Kids play together, share tips, and get creative with building challenges using 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, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays, Bethel branch. Kids and family get hands-on fun by learning together. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.  

Rock and Roll Dance Party with RIFFLE — 6:00 p.m. on First Friday, February 1, downtown library. RIFFLE, one of Eugene’s favorite party bands, plays hits from six decades of rock, blues, R&B, country, jazz, and more with a performance of movin’ and groovin’ to classics! RIFFLE features Timothy Patrick (vocals and guitar), Peter Giri (vocals and lead guitar), Jim Reinking (vocals and drums), and Gus Russell (keyboards and bass). 

Vietnamerica: A Family’s Journey – Creator GB Tran — 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 2, downtown library. Join cartoonist GB Tran for an illustrated talk about his celebrated graphic novel, “Vietnamerica: A Family’s Journey.” This compelling work shares the story of his family’s trauma, tragedy, and triumph through Vietnam’s wars – and their reinvention as refugees in the United States. As Tran explains, this book “is what happens when I realized to better understand myself, I needed to first better understand my parents . . . It’s the unraveling of my family’s truth and what’s uncovered when I draw my past to write my future.” Comics have been a constant in Tran’s life. He says they have “entertained, educated, and enriched me longer than I can remember, and I work to explore their unique language of images and words and endless narrative potential.” Tran’s other works include the comic “Fatherhood Survival Guide.” This event is presented in connection with University of Oregon Common Reading.

Escape Room: The Game with VR — 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 2, or 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12, Bethel branch; 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, Sheldon branch. Sign up for a spot to play Escape Room: The Game, a tabletop virtual reality (VR) adventure. Choose from “Submarine” or “Behind Enemy Lines.” Appropriate for adults and teens 16 years or older.

Alternative Education Fair — 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 2, downtown library. A great opportunity for parents, teens, and kids to drop in to learn about local alternative education 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 the Eugene Sudbury School. 

Unconventional Cards — 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 2, Sheldon branch; 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 8, Bethel branch. Learn to create notecards that pull, slide, and unfold to reveal hidden messages. For adults and teens.

Intro to Game Dev Tools — 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 3, downtown library. Adults and teens get a hands-on introduction to video game development tools with Brian Schmidt. Topics include design, modeling, coding, and game engines. This workshop will feature Unity game engine, Blender modeling engine, C# coding language, and more. No experience needed.

PowerPoint: The Basics — 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5, 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.

Library Downloads and Streaming: 1-on-1 Help — Sign up for a 20-minute one-on-one session between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5, Bethel branch; 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m on Tuesday, February 26, Sheldon branch. 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. Library staff will help you using your own device.

Harry Potter Book Night: A Hogwarts Celebration — Drop in from 5:00 p.m. to 7:3:0 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, downtown library when wizards, witches, and muggles of all ages celebrate Harry Potter Book Night. This year’s international event features a Hogwarts theme this year, with magical crafts, games, live music, and more. Costumes welcome. 

Castellers: Catalonian Human Towers in Eugene — 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 9, downtown library. Building human towers is a long and significant tradition in Catalonia. This community building activity brings people of different backgrounds to collaborate and create. Learn more with Felix Miret-Rovira, a long time “Casteller,” who has founded a new organization, Team Castles, in Eugene. Hear about the cultural impact of “Castellers” around the world, including Australia, Chile, Canada, and the U.S. This presentation will include a demonstration with audience participation welcome.

Yarn & Thread — Drop in anytime 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 9 or Saturday, February 23, 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. 

Sewing for Beginners — 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 10, downtown library. Learn to use a sewing machine by making a felt cover for your book, iPad, Kindle or tablet. For adults and teens. All supplies provided.

Alafair Burke: Bestselling Crime Thriller Novelist — 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 10, downtown library. Alafair Burke will give a talk about her transition from Deputy District Attorney in Portland to New York Times and internationally bestselling author of 17 novels; how she develops story ideas; and her latest book, “The Wife.” This psychological thriller was selected as a best-of-the-month pick by Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Entertainment Weekly, and O (Oprah Magazine). Burke has been hired by Amazon Studios to write the screenplay adaptation for a feature film. She also co-authors the “Under Suspicion” series with queen-of-suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark.

Preschool STEAM — 10:15 a.m. on Monday, February 11, Bethel branch. Hands-on exploring, learning, and fun for ages 3-5 years at Bethel Branch. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Intro to Excel — 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12, downtown library. Learn basic skills to use Excel spreadsheet software to organize and sort information, calculate and analyze data (“crunch numbers”), and build budgets.

Dealing with the Debt Monster — 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12, Sheldon branch; 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19, Bethel branch. 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. 

Try It: Virtual Reality — 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13, 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.

Self-Care Valentines for teens — Drop in anytime 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, downtown library. Treat and take care of yourself for Valentine’s Day. Relax, snack, make a bath bomb or a facial mask, and do some Zen meditation.

Yarn & Thread — Drop in anytime 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, 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.

Bob Welch: “The Wizard of Foz: Dick Fosbury’s One-Man High-Jump Revolution” — 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, downtown library. Author Bob Welch will speak about his book, “The Wizard of Foz: Dick Fosbury’s One-Man High-Jump Revolution.” In 1968, perhaps the finest US Olympic men’s track-and-field team ever stirred the world in unprecedented ways, among them the victory stand black-rights protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos in Mexico City. But in competition, no single athlete mirrored the free-thinking ’60s better than Dick Fosbury, a failed prep high jumper who invented an offbeat style that ultimately won him a gold medal and revolutionized the event. No jumpers today use any other style but his.

Password Management: Drop-in Help — Drop in 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, downtown library. Learn to use password management software to store and retrieve login information on computers, phones, and tablets. Bring your own device.

Try It: Virtual Reality for Tweens — Drop in between 11:00 a.m. and noon on Saturday, February 16, downtown library. Ages 9-12 years learn about and experience virtual reality (VR), featuring Fantastic Contraption and Tilt Brush.

Teens Try Watercolors — 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, downtown library. Get creative and learn basic watercolor technique, how to layer colors, and more.

Program Your World with Arduino — 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 17, downtown library. Beginners 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. For adults and teens. Library card required. No experience needed. All supplies provided. Arduino is also available to use at drop-in Open Labs in the Maker Hub at the Downtown Library.

Windfall Reading Series — 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19, downtown library. This month’s Windfall Reading features writers Ana-Maurine Lara and Maxine Scates. Lara is an award-winning poet, fiction writer, and playwright who explores questions of black-indigenous freedom, imagining black/indigenous queer futures and the material and imaginative implications of decolonization.” Her fiction includes “Erzulie’s Skirt,” “When the Sun Once Again Sang to the People,” “Watermarks and Tree Rings,” and the decade-long projects “Cantos” and “PL.” Lara is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Oregon. Scates is the prizewinning author of “Undone,” “Black Loam,” and “Toluca Street” and recipient of fellowships from the Oregon Arts Commission and from Literary Arts. The Windfall Reading Series is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and Lane Literary Guild. Refreshments served at intermission.

Family Night: Outer Space & Robots — 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19, Sheldon branch; 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26, Bethel branch. This month’s Family Night theme is “Outer Space and Robots.” Enjoy stories and craft shiny comets.

Teen Fandom Club: Harry Potter — Drop in 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, downtown library. Get together to “rep” your house and celebrate all things Harry Potter. Make a wand, test your trivia knowledge, and drink some butterbeer.

Tweens: Comics Squad — 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, downtown library. Read, write, draw, create, and geek out about comics and graphic novels. For ages 9-12 years.

Orientation to the Media Lab — Sign up for individual appointments between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, downtown library. Beginners get a one-on-one introduction to the Downtown Library’s Media Lab. Learn about the audio recording and digitizing tools available to use free with your library card. For adults and teens. A Eugene Public Library card and pre-registration are required for each 30-minute session.

Stuck in the Middle Book Club — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, downtown library. This month’s title is “Love and Gelato” by Jenna Evans Welch. In this novel, 16-year-old Lina’s trip to Italy takes a surprise turn into a summer filled with romance, mystery, and adventure. Get together to talk about the book and enjoy Italian snacks. Pre-register and pick up the book at the Downtown Library’s Teen Center starting February 1. For ages 11-14 years.

Small Businesses: Partner for Preparedness — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, downtown library. In a catastrophic event such as an earthquake or flood, would your business be part of the solution – or part of the problem? Small business can help to save lives, lessen suffering, and keep the community functioning. Join City of Eugene’s Patence Winningham to get informed about emergency preparedness for you, your employees, and their families. Topics include: planning for evacuations, communication, meeting places; response roles and drills; supply kits; local capabilities and limitations; and more. Plus, learn more about connecting with government and community preparedness plans. Patence Winningham is the Senior Program Coordinator in City of Eugene Emergency Management and the lead support to Emergency Operations Center facility and staff. She is an active participant in the local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) focused on increasing our community’s disaster resilience. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.

Teens: Ani-Manga Club — 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 22, downtown library. Teens. together to watch anime and enjoy snacks.

Tweens: Sew a Journal Cover — 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 23, downtown library. Learn to sew and embroider a felt journal cover by hand. For ages 9-12 years. All supplies provided. No experience needed.

African Dance for Everyone — 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 23, downtown library. In Africa, dance is not a separate art, but part of everyday life — a spontaneous form of release, expression, and fun. This workshop is designed for beginning and emerging dancers as a lively introduction to traditional West African rhythm and dance styles. Taught by Andrea DiPalma Yansane, with live drumming lead by Alseny Yansane, co-founders of the West African Cultural Arts Institute. West African Cultural Arts Institute is a non-profit with a mission to share the joy and passion of West African culture through vibrant educational programs focusing on music and dance; advocate for authentic, source artists from Guinea; and create charitable projects in Guinea that promote artistic, emotional, and physical health. 

Print Your Book — 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 24, 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. Intermediate computer and Internet skills required.

Tween Scene — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, downtown library. This month’s book is the first in the worldwide favorite series, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling. Pre-register and pick up the book at the Downtown Library’s Children’s Center starting February 1. 

Teen Book Group — 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, downtown library. This month’s title is “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas. In this award-winning #1 bestseller, a black teen whose friend is killed by a white police officer must make life-changing choices about justice, truth, family, and community. Visit the Downtown Teen Desk to pre-register and pick up the book starting February 1.

eBooks and More — Drop in 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, 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.

COBID Certification for Small Business — 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, downtown library. Small business owners learn about Business Oregon’s Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID). COBID certification can open access to government contract opportunities as well as providing other benefits. Compliance Specialist Stephen Richardson will explain the different certifications and what they can mean for your business. The program’s goal is to foster an environment where every small business in Oregon can compete fairly regardless of ethnicity, gender, disability, or size of the business. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.

 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 11:00 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.