Activities for All Ages in May and June 2021
Join us for free activities at home, online, and in person. For updates as they happen, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and sign up for our newsletter.
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FOR KIDS & FAMILY
StoryWalks in Parks
All ages: enjoy children's picture books in the parks. The illustrated pages are displayed on a series of signs arranged in order along the path to read along walking paths.
In the park at Petersen Barn Community Center:
- May 1 through May 31: "My Name is Yoon / Me Llamo Yoon"
- May 15 through July 6: Storybook Obstacle Course (in English and Spanish)
In Alton Baker Park:
- May 21 through June 20: "Honeybee" in connection with Bee City USA. This StoryWalk will be near the Community Gardens and Native Plant Nursery on Day Island Road. Find a map and more local activities celebrating bees and other pollinators.
Thanks to the StoryWalk® Project, created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
Crafts and STEM Kits for Kids
All locations
Drop by any Library location to pick up free kids' activity kits to keep, featuring a variety of crafts and STEM activities. Starting on the date listed, continuing while supplies last.
Monday, May 17: Make a catapult
Friday, May 21: Bee trading cards - created by Eugene's Bee City USA and UO Bee Campus
Monday, May 24: Create moving art
Note: On May 31, the library is closed for Memorial Day. Drop by on Tuesday, June 1 to pick up a kit to Make a Pan Flute.
Family Storytime
Live online: Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m., Facebook Live
Stories, songs, rhymes, puppets, and more - live! Storytime helps little ones develop the language skills they’ll need when they’re learning to read. Plus it’s a lovely way to play together. No Facebook account or login is needed. Join us live, or later, or over and over here!
Tween Scene Book Group - ages 9-12
Live online: Thursday, May 20, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start April 15. Preregistration required to receive event link: call 541-682-5450.
Join a fun conversation and activity for ages 9-12. This month, Tween Scene book group is reading "Lemons" by Melissa Savage. Sign up and we’ll mail a free copy of the book to you to keep! Or enjoy it free with your library card in print or online: https://bit.ly/3x6S5WD
Book Buddies Group - ages 7-9
Live online: Thursday, June 10, 3:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start May 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Choose a time and sign up online:
3:00 p.m. session: http://bit.ly/BookBuddiesJune2021_3pm
4:00 p.m. session: http://bit.ly/BookBuddiesJune2021_4pm
For ages 7-9 in the Eugene area. Get together online for fun conversation and activity. This month, we're reading "The Lost Stone" by Jordan Quinn, illustrated by Robert McPhillips. Sign up and we’ll mail a free copy of the book to you to keep! Or enjoy the book free with your library card in print or online: find it here.
Stuck in the Middle Book Group - ages 11-14
Live online: Wednesday, June 16, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start May 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: http://bit.ly/MiddleBookGroupJune2021
For ages 11-14 in the Eugene area. Get together to share opinions and ideas about books. This month, we're reading "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Sign up and we’ll mail a free copy of the book to you to keep! Or enjoy the book free with your library card in print or online: find it here.
Tween Scene Book Group - ages 9-12
Live online: Thursday, June 17, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start May 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: http://bit.ly/TweenBookGroupJune2021
For ages 9-12 in the Eugene area. Get together for fun conversation and activity. This month, we're reading "The Serpent's Secret" by Sayantani DasGupta. Sign up and we’ll mail a free copy of the book to you to keep! Or enjoy the book free with your library card in print or online: find it here.
OBOB Book Group - grades 3-5
Live online: Tuesday, June 22, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start May 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: http://bit.ly/OBOBJune2021
For kids in grades 3-5 in the Eugene area. Get together for fun quizzes and conversation about this year's Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) titles. This group meets every two months to focus on two titles at a time. For the June meeting, we're reading “Clean Getaway” by Nic Stone and “Save Me a Seat” by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan. Sign up and we’ll mail free copies of the books to you to keep! Or enjoy the books free with your library card in print or online:
Clean Getaway
Save Me a Seat
Watch online anytime:
Bilingual Storytime Online: with special guest Naibe Reynoso, author of the children's book "How to Fold a Taco/Como Doblar un Taco." Recorded liv e in April 2021.
Bilingual Storytime Online: join Toña Aguilar online for fun stories, songs, and rhymes in Spanish and English. Two storytimes: September 2020 and April 2021.
Día recommended children's books: our librarians suggest titles, recorded live in English in April 2021.
Pigeon Party: a storytime with special performances celebrating the character Pigeon from Mo Willem's beloved books, recorded live in March 2021.
Oregon's Dino-Story: learn about dinosaurs in Oregon's past with paleontologists from UO's Museum of Natural and Cultural History, shared in March 2021.
Online Storytimes on our Facebook or YouTube.
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FOR TEENS
Teen Book Group - ages 13-18
Live online: Tuesday, June 15, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start May 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: http://bit.ly/TeenBookGroupJune2021
For ages 13-18 in the Eugene area. Get together to share opinions and ideas about books. This month, we're reading "Darius the Great is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram. Sign up and we’ll mail a free copy of the book to you to keep! Or enjoy the book free with your library card in print or online: find it here.
Stuck in the Middle Book Group - ages 11-14
Live online: Wednesday, June 16, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start May 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: http://bit.ly/MiddleBookGroupJune2021
For ages 11-14 in the Eugene area. Get together to share opinions and ideas about books. This month, we're reading "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Sign up and we’ll mail a free copy of the book to you to keep! Or enjoy the book free with your library card in print or online: find it here.
Watch online anytime:
William Ritter: Live Interview Enjoy a talk with the author of the popular and beloved "Jackaby" and "Oddmire" series, recorded summer 2020.
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FOR ADULTS
1000 Hopes: Art Installation
Outside the Downtown Library: May 1 through May 31
All ages: view or join in this community-powered art installation near the corner of West 10th and Charnelton. Materials are provided to write or doodle your hopes, dreams, or wishes on a strip of paper or cloth, then tie it to the low fence. Says local artist and project coordinator Sara Miura Zolbrod, "During these challenging times, this art project aims to provide an opportunity for people to heal, and lend support to others. Express your hopes or prayers, or unburden a weight."
This project adapts the Japanese omikuji tradition of public wishing trees or boards which dates back to the 10th or 11th century. Small paper fortunes are sold at many Shinto shrines; people who buy them can hang their negative fortunes on a designated tree or board to distance from the negativity, or hang their positive fortunes to amplify them. The trees or boards become festooned with thousands of these papers. Sara Miura Zolbrod has worked in dance, theatre, and performance art. She is half-Japanese, grew up partially in Japan, and brings her background of activism with Black Lives Matter, arts access, and environmentalism to this project. More information about 1000 Hopes: http://1000hopes.com
Career Exploration Workshop
Live online: Thursday, May 13 and/or Thursday, May 27, 10:00 a.m., GoToMeeting
Join Lane County Workforce Services to explore ways to identify your skills and interests while researching possible career choices. Career exploration will provide you access to assessments based on preference and gained experiences. In addition, we will review the labor market and discover jobs in growing local industries.
At the time of the meeting, visit https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/812729269. The meeting ID # is 812-729-269. You may be prompted to download the free GoToMeeting app or log in on the web. GoToMeeting is free. You can also attend by phone at 646-749-3122.
This workshop will be held every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, featuring updated information and changing conversations. Participate at one session or more. No registration needed.
For more information, contact Lane County Workforce Services by phone 541-686-7985 or email lchswm@lanecountyor.gov..
Windfall Reading: Susan Moore and Judith Montgomery
Online: Tuesday, May 18, 6:00 p.m., YouTube Live
Join Lane Literary Guild and Eugene Public Library for a livestream of the Windfall Reading Series, a monthly gathering highlighting local and regional writers. This month, writers Susan Moore and Judith Montgomery read and take questions. More information about Lane Literary Guild and the Windfall Reading Series: https://www.lanewriters.org/windfall
"Circe" Novelist Madeline Miller
Live online: Saturday, May 22, 2:00 p.m., YouTube Live
Join us for an online visit with novelist Madeline Miller, who will talk about her work and answer questions. No registration needed. Watch at https://bit.ly/EugeneCirce (click to set a reminder now).
Enjoy Miller's novels free with your library card in print, or online as ebooks or audiobooks:
"Circe": https://bit.ly/3sikPbg
"Song of Achilles": https://bit.ly/3g7udMp
Webinar: What to Consider Before Starting a Non-profit
Live online: Friday, May 28, 10:00 a.m., Zoom
Preregistration required to receive event link: click here.
Learn about "What to Consider Before Starting a Non-profit" at a free webinar with Sultana Ismet Jerin. This webinar will address what to consider before starting a non-profit in order to prepare for long-term success. Through this hour-long interactive webinar, you will learn about important resources to help you polish your ideas, visions, and plans. Time will be included for live questions and answers. Additionally, you can follow up with SCORE’s always-free individual business mentors.
Sultana Ismet Jerin provides mentoring in the area of non-profits and digital marketing. She works closely with the education team of the SCORE Willamette chapter and designs training programs. Brought to you by SCORE Willamette and Eugene Public Library.
Job Search Help
Ongoing; by appointment at the Downtown Library: call 541-686-7985 to schedule
Make a one-on-one appointment to meet in person at the Downtown Library with an advisor from Lane County Workforce Services. These friendly experts help job seekers make career plans, become more employable, improve job search skills, and find work. Topics include online applications, resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, community resources, networking, training scholarships. This service is free and available in English and Spanish. Lane Workforce Partnership/WorkSource Lane is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. This program is co-sponsored by Lane County Human Services, Lane Workforce Partnership, and Eugene Public Library. Call 541-686-7985 to schedule an appointment.
Watch online anytime:
Windfall Reading Series: monthly readings by NW writers coordinated by Lane Literary Guild. Watch Windfall Readings Sept. 2020 through May 2021 on YouTube.
What to Read Next: book recommendations for all ages on a variety of themes by Eugene Public Library. Watch "What to Read Next" on YouTube.
History of Comics Censorship: Banned Books Week talk: on YouTube Live, recorded in October 2020.
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ONGOING: LIBRARY FRIENDS AND FOUNDATION
Friends of Eugene Public Library: Online Book Sales
Friends of Eugene Public Library are currently offering two ways to purchase gently-used books from their bookstore, Second Hand Prose. For in-person pick-up by appointment at the bookstore in the Downtown Library: browse and pay online here. For items to be shipped: browse and pay online at the Friends' Amazon storefront.
Connecting Community: Wifi Hotspots Live Event
Watch anytime: bit.ly/connectingcommunity2021
Originally streamed live in April 2021, available to watch anytime, this Eugene Public Library Foundation and Friends of Eugene Public Library livestream event celebrated their fundraising campaign to purchase mobile wifi hotspots to lend at the library. Featuring host Storm Kennedy, an epic book domino fall, and special guests including Bev Smith, Kimberly Johnson, Dennis Dixon, Ashton Eaton, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, and more. Learn more about the campaign: eplfoundation.org/wifi.
Imagination Library Film: Live Online
Watch anytime: Facebook Live
Stream the new, uplifting documentary, "The Library That Dolly Built," free: https://www.facebook.com/dollysimaginationlibrary/videos/369048854395459. No Facebook account or login is needed. Visit Eugene Imagination Library to learn about our local program, including how to sign up your child (ages 0 through 4) and how to donate to support the program.
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ONLINE & ONGOING
All free! Some online actitivies require a library card. If you don’t have one, call us to sign up: 541-682-5450.
Personalized reading recommendations
Get expert suggestions to match your tastes and interests. Fill out our online form for adults or kids and teens, email us, live chat with us, or call us at 541-682-5450.
Book lists, reviews, and more
Booklist Online
Books & Authors
NoveList Plus
Eugene Public Library Escape Rooms
Solve puzzles and clues to escape! Work on these fun challenges alone or as a team.
- Ghost Ship Escape Room (ages 10 and up)
- Undersea Atlantis Escape Room (ages 10 and up)
- The Labyrinth: Greek Mythology Escape Room (ages 10 and up)
- Spy School: Secret Agent Training Escape Room - Part 1 (ages 13 and up)
- Spy School: Secret Agent Training Escape Room - Part 2 (ages 13 and up)
- Murder in the Library (ages 13 and up)
- Murder at the Ski Resort (ages 13 and up)
Art Exhibit: Acrylic Paintings by Amy Hartsfield
Enjoy a video art exhibit featuring paintings of trees and other "nature-scapes" by self-taught Eugene artist Amy Hartsfield.
Women Make Waves: Listening Experience
Take a listening adventure with a wide variety of performers and types of music. Start now.
Ancestry.com
Explore your family tree, history, and more. Library card required. Start now.
LinkedIn Learning
Formerly known as Lynda.com, these professional courses provide training in software development, web development, design, photography, and business. Library card required. Start now.
Mango Languages
Interactive lessons to learn dozens of languages, including English as a second language. Library card required. Start now.
And more ...
Yes, more learning and entertainment from home!
And even more!