What’s happening — and it’s a lot — at the Eugene Public Library’s locations in May

(Edited by Anne-Allegra Bennett)

Eugene Public Library locations

Downtown: 100 W. 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 MAY CALENDAR

Art Displays

Paintings by Kari Jensen. On the walls in the 2^nd floor Magazines and Newspapers room in May and June. Jensen’s background and education focused primarily on theatrical design and animation, which is reflected in her work, with an evident illustrative style inspired by literature and personal story symbolism. Primarily working in acrylics, she enjoys experimenting with some of the newer mediums but still prefers oil painting overall. Now residing in Eugene, she is becoming increasingly involved in the local art scene.

In the Children’s Center on the 1st floor in May – “Oregon Historic Railroads” by Glenn Jones, and art and exhibits by 350 Eugene; Adventure! Children’s Museum; Corridor Elementary; Eugene Waldorf School; Teacher Annie’s Early Learning Preschool; and Vivian Olum Child Development Center.

Events

Family Music Time – 10:15 a.m. every Saturday, downtown library. Kids and family: sing and dance your way into the weekend with a different performer every week. On May 5, Bryan Reed makes learning rock. Sing, move, and play with Kris Olsen on May 12. On May 19, enjoy musical fun with Chuck Coxon. Join singer/songwriter Rob Tobias for classics, originals, and tunes made up on the spot on May 26.

Kids: Legos – 4:00 p.m. every Wednesday, downtown library; 10:15 a.m. every Saturday, Sheldon branch; 3:00 p.m.. every Saturday, Bethel branch. 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 STEAM – 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in May, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays in May, Bethel branch. Kids and family: enjoy hands-on fun and learning together! STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Life-Size Oregon Trail Game – 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, Bethel 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.

Unlock-the-Box: Harry Houdini’s Mysteries – 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, Sheldon branch. All ages: work as a team to find clues and solve puzzles to unlock the box where Harry Houdini hid the secrets of his most dazzling illusions. Pre-register in person or by phone: 541-682-8316.

Small Business Success Stories: Local Asian Pacific Americans – 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, downtown library. In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a panel of local business owners will share the challenges they have faced and overcome. David Tam of Tam Global Consultants will moderate a panel including Irene Katsura, Tony Ng of Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery, Brian Sung of Tailored Coffee Roasters, Yoon Shin of Shamrock Homes LLC, and Lou Birdsall of Garden Fresh Botanicals. In addition, see an exhibition of photos and stories of Asian American immigrants created by Melissa “Mimi” Nolledo. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.

Media Lab Tour for Musicians – 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, downtown library. 30 minute appointments. New to studio recording and editing? Beginners are invited to sign up for a one-on-one tour of the Downtown Library’s Media Lab. Learn about the professional tools available to use free with your library card. For adults and teens. A Eugene Public Library card and pre-registration are required. To sign up for a 30-minute tour, call 541-682-5450.

Talk Time: Conversational English – 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, 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.

Nature Kids: Bird Watching – 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, downtown library. This month, kids ages 7-12 are invited to learn about bird watching, including how to recognize local birds by sight and sound. Plus, make a “life list” booklet to remember them.

May the ‘Fourth’ Be With You: All Ages “Star Wars” Celebration – 6:00 p.m. on First Friday, May 4, downtown library. All ages are invited to celebrate “Star Wars” with cosplay and hands-on art. Meet the 501st Legion, take green screen photos, craft Yoda ears and Leia buns to wear, make lightsaber cards, and more.

Chalk Paint a Frame – 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 4, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, Bethel branch. Chalk paint can transform nearly anything from drab to fab! Learn basic techniques while painting a picture frame to give as a gift or to keep. For adults and teens. No experience needed. All supplies provided.

Dogs Deserve Dialogue: Training Without Punishment – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, downtown library. Canine behaviorist Judy Moore will explain how to understand dogs, help them feel happier, and improve their behavior using kindness and communication. Moore developed her method over decades of rescuing and rehabilitating abused, traumatized, and abandoned dogs so they could be adopted. Moore’s non-punishing and therapeutic dog training method is based on communication between dogs and their human partners. She focuses on eliminating the underlying causes of “bad dog” behavior. According to Moore, there are two reasons for bad, inappropriate, or uncooperative dog behavior.  First, dogs act on inborn information, expressing what we call instinctive behavior, much of which is inappropriate in a human world. Second, dogs develop disruptive, destructive, and even aggressive behaviors because of the frustration, anxiety, and stress that result from living clueless in a human world, from being constantly told they are bad for doing what their instincts direct them to do.

Try Digital Drawing – 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 6, downtown library. Beginners: learn to use a Wacom tablet and stylus to create drawings onscreen. For adults and teens. All supplies provided.

Family Fun: Butterflies of the World – 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 6, downtown library. Kids and family: learn about butterflies and create handcrafted butterflies with Adventure! Children’s Museum.

Fred Hiebert: National Geographic Archaeologist – 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 6, downtown library. In connection with the Archaeology Channel International Film Festival, the library will host an illustrated talk by Dr. Fred Hiebert, Archaeologist-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society. Fred Hiebert has worked on all seven continents of the world and brought great stories of archaeological discovery to the pages of National Geographic for more than 15 years. Recently, Hiebert has visited Lane County while working on a National Geographic exhibit about the RMS Titanic, which will include artifacts held by the Cottage Grove Museum. A field archaeologist and explorer, Dr. Fred Hiebert has traced ancient trade routes overland and across the seas for more than 30 years.

Safe Internet Surfing – 3:00 p.m. on Monday, May 7, Bethel branch; 3:00 p.m. on Monday, May 21, Sheldon branch. Beginners: use the Internet safely and effectively! Learn how to search for information and evaluate what you find. This hands-on workshop will cover search techniques and specialized search engines and websites. Keyboard and mouse skills required.

Budgeting for Nonprofits – 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, downtown library. Learn to build strong, clear, one-page budgets for donor and grant funded projects and programs. Get pro tips for financial planning, working with staff, writing budget narratives, crafting proposals, and more. Workshop leader Andi Kemp of Upward Development provides fundraising and development consulting to nonprofits in Oregon and beyond. She has 15 years of experience in nonprofit and private sectors, having supported 40 organizations and written nearly 250 grants. This workshop is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.

Tweens: Fact Check Book Group – 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, downtown library. “Fact Check” is a monthly youth book group featuring nonfiction books and topics, for ages 11-14. The title for May is “Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion” by Loree Griffin Burns. Special this month: try a virtual reality ocean experience! Pre-register and pick up the book at the Downtown Library’s Teen Center.

Tweens: Create Art with Coding – 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 11, Sheldon branch; 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, downtown library; 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 18, Bethel branch. Tweens: design GIFs, avatars, kaleidoscopes, dancing Yetis, and more. No experience needed. For ages 8-12.

Well-being After a Stroke – 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 11, Bethel branch; 3:00 p.m. on Monday, May 14, Sheldon branch. Strokes can affect mental health, sometimes leading to depression, anxiety, or a sense of lessened quality of life. Join Tanya Peterson, self-help writer, novelist, and national certified counselor, to learn ways to take back your life, even with limitations.

Tweens: Try Digital Drawing – 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, downtown library. Learn to use a Wacom tablet and stylus to create art onscreen. For ages 8-12 years. No experience needed. All supplies provided.

Teens: “Just Dance” Tournament – Noon on Saturday, May 12, downtown library. Teens: get your groove on and win prizes! Compete at the Nintendo Switch game “Just Dance” to see who has the fiercest moves.

Bountiful Container Gardening – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, downtown library. Want to grow your own healthy food, but have little or no outdoor garden space? There’s a simple solution: vegetable gardening in containers. Join Maggie Stuckey, co-author of “The Bountiful Container,” to learn about the ease and benefits of growing food outside in containers. Topics include choosing the container, soil, and plants; watering; fertilizing; and harvesting. Stuckey will provide a demonstration by creating a small container of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers to illustrate practical planting tips and the basics of good design. The workshop will end in a free raffle with the container garden as the prize.

Yarn & Thread – 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, Sheldon branch; 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, 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, hoops, loom, and more.

Try It: Coding – 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 13, downtown library. Beginners: get a hands-on introduction to what code is and how it works. Discover why coding is fun, creative, and a useful skill to learn. For adults and teens with basic computer skills.

“A Dancing Odyssey” Show – 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 13, downtown library. Take a magical adventure through time at this show by the Eugene Youth Ballet of Eugene Ballet Academy. The troupe will perform pieces from the romantic 1800s to the Roaring Twenties, into the Big Band/Swing era of the 1940s, and full throttle to the modern and contemporary dance of today. The show will be performed for all ages, including family and children. Additionally, families with young children can meet the dancers, try some steps, and ask questions at Family Storytimes at Bethel Branch on Friday, May 4, 10:15 a.m. or Sheldon Branch on Friday, May 11, 10:15 a.m.

Preschool STEAM – 10:15 a.m. on Monday, May 14, Bethel branch. Hands-on exploring, learning, and fun for ages 3-5. STEAM activities feature science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Windfall Reading: Eliot Treichel and Wayne Harrison – 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, downtown library. This month’s Windfall Reading features writers Eliot Treichel and Wayne Harrison. Treichel is the author of the young adult novel “A Series of Small Maneuvers,” which received the Oregon Book Award’s Readers’ Choice Award and the Mountain & Plains Independent Booksellers Association’s Reading the West Award. His first book, the story collection “Close Is Fine,” received the Wisconsin Library Association Literary Award. Treichel teaches writing at Lane Community College. Harrison’s short story collection, “Wrench,” is a finalist for the Oregon Book Award, was runner-up for the Flannery O’Connor Award, a finalist for the Iowa Book Award and the Spokane Prize, and won the New American Fiction Prize. The Springfield writer is also the author of a novel, “The Spark and the Drive,” and of many stories appearing in a variety of publications ranging from Ploughshares and McSweeney’s to The Atlantic and Best American Short Stories. Harrison has been awarded a Maytag fellowship, an Oregon Literary fellowship, and a Fishtrap Writing Fellowship. The Windfall Reading Series is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and Lane Literary Guild. Refreshments served at intermission.

Family Night – 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, Sheldon branch; 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, Bethel branch. In May, the Family Night theme is “Move Like a Mammoth.” Learn about these ancient creatures through stories and hands-on activities. Plus, touchable specimens from the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

Teens: Make Polymer Clay Charms – 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16, downtown library. Create colorful charms with polymer clay. No experience needed. All supplies provided.

Opioids in Lane County: What You Need to Know – 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, downtown library. Learn about the local impacts of the national opioid crisis and what’s being done to address them. Get trained to provide overdose response using Narcan, which will be supplied free of charge. Speakers will include doctors, prescribers, and representatives from community agencies on topics including the effects of opioids on the brain, pain management alternatives, and substance abuse treatment options. Presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library, Lane County Pain Guidance and Safety Alliance, Lane County Health and Human Services, and HIV Alliance.

Share and Store Vacation Photos Online – 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, downtown library. Learn how to organize and share digital photos. Get an introduction to storing and sharing your photos in the cloud, e-mailing photos, and creating online albums. Note: this class uses the Library’s PCs, but most tips apply to Mac users too. No camera needed. Internet skills required.

Kids: Eggs and Chicks – Noon on Saturday, May 19, downtown library. Kids: look inside eggs getting ready to hatch and suggest names for the soon-to-be chicks. This activity presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library, Oregon State University Extension Service of Lane County, and Lane County 4-H. Additionally, starting May 1, kids can drop in at the Downtown Library’s Children’s Center anytime to see the incubating eggs, suggest names, and eventually, watch the chicks as they hatch (expected around May 21 to May 24).

Make a Game Board – 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 20, downtown library. Learn to use vector graphics software to design a simple game board, then use a CNC (computer numerical control) mill to cut your board out of wood. For adults and teens with basic computer skills. All supplies provided.

Family Fun: Aesop’s Fables – 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 20, downtown library. Kids and family: join in theater games and an interactive show based on “Aesop’s Fables.” Presented by the Stage Door youth troupe of Upstart Crow Studios.

Teen Movie: “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” – 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, downtown library. Get together to watch the movie “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” with snacks provided.

Learn a Language Online – 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, downtown library. Get a tour of Eugene Public Library’s free resources to help you learn a language online. Interactive lessons, eBooks, and eAudiobooks are all available free with a library card. One of the library’s online services, Mango Languages, offers award-winning lessons for more than 70 languages. Plus, the library offers books, CDs, and DVDs. Bring your own device or use a library computer.

Tween Scene – 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, downtown library. This month’s book is “Secret Coders, Vol. 1” by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes. In this fun graphic novel, students at Stately Academy solve a mystery by figuring out clues and puzzles left by the school’s founder. Special this month: try hands-on coding! Pre-register and pick up the book at the downtown library’s Children’s Center. For ages 9-12. Free.

Teen Book Group – 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, downtown library. This month’s book is “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline. In this novel set in a dystopian future, a teen searches for the Easter egg that would give him control of OASIS, an omnipresent virtual reality world. Special this month: try a virtual reality experience! Visit the Downtown Teen Desk to pre-register and pick up your copy of the book.

Growth Strategies:  Multiple Locations for Small Business – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, downtown library. Small business owners: are you considering opening another location? Take this opportunity to weigh the advantages and pitfalls of multiple locations at an open discussion led by George Rode of SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business. George Rode is the owner of Euro-Asian Automotive, Autohaus, and Stadium Automotive. The Recipient of a Bold Steps Award, an Oregon Ethics in Business Award, an Emerald Award for Environmental Values, and a Mayor’s Award for Sustainability, he also serves as a mentor for SCORE Willamette. This event is presented in partnership by Eugene Public Library and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business.

Intro to Game Design with Unity – 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 27, downtown library. Interested in creating video games? Get a fun hands-on introduction to Unity, a user-friendly “game engine” designed for non-programmers. Learn to use this free software to start making games. This workshop is for adults and teens who know how to use a PC running Microsoft Windows. Teacher Jason Harrison is the Director of Consulting for Zeal, a software consultancy in Medford.

Family Fun: Drive-In Storytime – 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 27, downtown library. Kids and family: make and decorate cardboard cars to ride in while enjoying tales and songs about transportation.

Tweens: Design a Video Game with Bloxels – 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, downtown library. Create a 2D video game with fun, user-friendly Bloxels. Bring a mobile device or use one of the Library’s. Ages 8-12.

Tweens: 360 Camera – 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, downtown library. Try a 360 camera! Experience 360 degree images and videos, learn how they are created, then create your own images and videos. Ages 8-12.

Iljeoma Oluo speaks at the downtown Eugene Public Library on the topic, “So You Want to Talk about Race,” on May 31

Ijeoma Oluo: So You Want to Talk About Race – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, downtown library. Join informative, entertaining, and inspiring writer Ijeoma Oluo for a talk based on her breakout new book, “So You Want to Talk About Race.” A New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Harper’s Bazaar named it “One of 10 Books to Read in 2018,” saying “Read it, then recommend it to everyone you know.” Exploring and explaining the complex reality of today’s racial landscape, Oluo is straightforward, effective, serious, and funny. Her messages are passionate and finely tuned, crystalizing big, highly-charged concepts into aha-moment clarity. Oluo addresses topics including privilege, police brutality, intersectionality, micro-aggressions, systemic discrimination, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the “N” word. Her work has been widely featured, including in The Washington Post, NBC News, Elle Magazine, TIME, The Stranger, and The Guardian. Online, she is an editor-at-large at The Establishment, and a popular Twitter commentator. Oluo was named one of the The Root’s 100 Most Influential African Americans in 2017, and was honored with the 2018 Feminist Humanist Award by the American Humanist Society. Oluo’s work focuses primarily on issues of race and identity, feminism, social and mental health, social justice, the arts, and personal essay. Books will be available for purchase. Signing courtesy of the University of Oregon Duck Store.

WEEKLY STORYTIMES in May

STEAM Storytime – 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, downtown library. For ages 3-7 years with their caregivers.

 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.

Cuentos y Canciones: Stories & Songs in Spanish – 11:15 a.m. on Saturdays, Bethel branch. Stories and songs in Spanish for the whole family. Information: in Spanish, 541-682-5450 (press 5); in English, 541-682-8316.