Activities for All Ages in November and December 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
Fun of the Week Kits for Kids
All locations every Monday
Drop by any library location to pick up a free surprise activity kit to keep. There's a new one starting each Monday, while supplies last.
In-Person Storytimes
Drop in at the Downtown Library: Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.; and Thursdays and Saturdays, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Sign up for community centers: Fridays, 10:30 a.m.
Young children and family: join us to learn and have fun together with stories, songs, and more! Drop in at the Downtown Library or sign up in advance for storytimes at Sheldon Community Center and Echo Hollow Pool near our neighborhood branches. Find more information and sign up.
Online Storytimes
Live online: Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., YouTube Live and Facebook Live
Stories, songs, rhymes, puppets, and more - live! Online 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 account or login is needed. Join us live or watch recordings later.
Stuck in the Middle Book Group - ages 11-14
Live online: Wednesday, November 17, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start Oct. 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: https://bit.ly/MiddleBookGroupNov2021
For ages 11-14 in the Eugene area. Get together to share opinions and ideas about books. This month, we're reading "When You Reach Me." Sign up and we’ll give you a free copy of the book 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, November 18, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start Oct. 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: https://bit.ly/TweenBookGroupNov2021
For ages 9-12 in the Eugene area. Get together for fun conversation and activity. This month, we're reading two books: "I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912" and "History Smashers: The Titanic." Sign up and we’ll give you free copies of the books to keep! Or enjoy the books free with your library card in print or online:
"I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912"
"History Smashers: The Titanic"
Book Buddies Group - ages 7-9
Live online: Friday, December 10, 3:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start Nov. 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Choose a time and sign up online:
3:30 p.m. session: https://bit.ly/BookBuddiesDec2021_330pm
4:30 p.m. session: https://bit.ly/BookBuddiesDec2021_430pm
For ages 7-9 in the Eugene area. Get together online for fun conversation and activity. This month, we're reading "Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business" by Lyla Lee, illustrated by Dung Ho.” Sign up and we’ll give you a free copy of the book 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, December 15, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start Nov. 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: https://bit.ly/MiddleBookGroupDec2021
For ages 11-14 in the Eugene area. Get together to share opinions and ideas about books. This month, we're reading "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull. Sign up and we’ll give you a free copy of the book to keep. Or enjoy the book free with your library card in print or online: find it here.
Watch online anytime:
Recorded online storytimes on our Facebook or YouTube.
Teddy Bear Picnic Online: sing and dance along with live music by Mike and Carleen McCornack and the Garden Variety Band. Recorded live in July 2021.
Kids Show: Red Yarn's Backyard: sing, dance, and learn with fave family performer Red Yarn and his colorful crew of puppet critter. Recorded live in June 2021.
Bilingual Storytime Online: with special guest Naibe Reynoso, author of the children's book "How to Fold a Taco/Como Doblar un Taco." Recorded live 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.
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FOR TEENS
Make Bath Salts - ages 13-19
Downtown Library: Saturday, November 6, 12:00 p.m.
Ages 13 - 19: drop in to learn how to make your own scented bath salts. All supplies provided, including jars.
Teen Book Group - ages 13-19
Live online: Tuesday, November 16, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start Oct. 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: https://bit.ly/TeenBookGroupNov2021
For ages 13-19 in the Eugene area. Get together to share opinions and ideas about books. This month, we're reading "Pemmican Wars." Sign up and we’ll give you a free copy of the book 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, November 17, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start Oct. 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: https://bit.ly/MiddleBookGroupNov2021
For ages 11-14 in the Eugene area. Get together to share opinions and ideas about books. This month, we're reading "When You Reach Me." Sign up and we’ll give you a free copy of the book to keep! Or enjoy the book free with your library card in print or online: find it here.
Animanga Club - ages 13-19
Downtown Library: Tuesday, November 30, 4:00 p.m.
Ages 13- 19: drop in to watch “Golden Kamuy,” eat Japanese snacks, and win some manga and swag.
Stuck in the Middle Book Group - ages 11-14
Live online: Wednesday, December 15, 4:00 p.m., Zoom
Sign-ups start Nov. 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: https://bit.ly/MiddleBookGroupDec2021
For ages 11-14 in the Eugene area. Get together to share opinions and ideas about books. This month, we're reading "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull. Sign up and we’ll give you a free copy of the book to keep. Or enjoy the book free with your library card in print or online: find it here.
Teen Book Group - ages 13-19
Downtown Library: Tuesday, December 28, 4:00 p.m.
Sign-ups start Nov. 15. Preregistration required to receive event link. Sign up online: https://bit.ly/TeenBookGroupDec2021
Ages 13-19: get together to share opinions and ideas about books. This month, we're reading "Warcross" by Marie Lu. Sign up and we’ll give you a free copy of the book 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
Shifting the Narrative: A Conversation on Race and Identity in Children’s Books
Watch the recording of our recent live panel: bit.ly/ShiftingNarrativePanel
Join UO Libraries and Eugene Public Library for a conversation about how race and identity have been represented in children's books in the past, how and why authors and illustrators are working to change that in the present, and panelists' hopes for the future of children's literature. Panelists will address complex questions including who can tell whose story, how do we deal with our racist past, and how we can begin to bring fresh narratives and perspectives to the field.
Participants include moderator Elizabeth Wheeler, University of Oregon Associate Professor of English; Kimberly Johnson, University of Oregon Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Young Adult author; Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo), founder, American Indians in Children’s Literature; and Chenoa (Lummi and S’Klallam) and Keith (Lummi) Egawa, authors and illustrators of children’s books.
Holiday Book Sale
Downtown Library: Saturday, November 13, 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
Find amazing bargains on gently-used books in gift-giving condition. Most books just $2 each. Bestsellers, classics, holiday-themed titles, coffee table books, children's books, and ephemera. Proceeds from this sale by the Friends of Eugene Public Library go to support library activities and events.
Windfall Reading Series: Nance Van Winckel and John Witte
Live online: Tuesday, November 16, 6:00 p.m., YouTube Live
Join Lane Literary Guild and Eugene Public Library for a livestream Windfall Reading, a monthly gathering highlighting local and regional writers. This month, poets Nance Van Winckel and John Witte will read and take questions online in a celebration of the Pacific Northwest Poetry Series. Also appearing: Christopher Howell, poet and director of Lynx House Press, who will speak about the Pacific Northwest Poetry Series. More information and watch: bit.ly/WindfallNov2021
Book Group: “Cantoras"
Downtown Library: Sunday, December 5, 3:00 p.m.
Sign-ups start Nov. 10: https://eugene.libcal.com/event/8503584
Get together in person at the Downtown Library to chat about “Cantoras" by Carolina de Robertis. Sign up for the book group and we'll give you a free copy of the book to read and keep. Or enjoy the book free with your library card in print or online: find it here.
Novelist J.T. Bushnell
Downtown Library: Wednesday, December 1, 6:00 p.m.
"The Step Back," J.T. Bushnell's coming-of-age basketball novel, "delves into family loyalty, bad decisions, and the grace of empathy" (Oregon ArtsWatch). Bushnell teaches at Oregon State University and lives in Eugene.
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.
Exhibit: Paintings by Jonathan Short
Downtown Library 2nd floor, November and December
Jonathan Short's colorful paintings are inspired by nature. Short is originally from the East Coast, where he studied art since childhood. Influenced by many trips on the train to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art in New York City, he then studied at The Art Students League N.YC. and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. He says, "The air of Oregon has inspired me to pursue painting. It's like a religious experience."
Watch online anytime:
Windfall Reading Series: monthly readings by NW writers coordinated by Lane Literary Guild. Watch past Windfall Readings on YouTube.
"1000 Hopes" Project and Oregon BIPOC Experiences panel on YouTube Live, recorded in June 2021.
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: Book Store and Online Book Sales
The Friends' Second Hand Prose book store offers amazing deals on gently-used books in the Entry Garden of the Downtown Library. You can also shop online for store pick-up or at the Friends' Amazon store. See store hours and shopping information.
Imagination Library Luncheon
Watch anytime on YouTube
Enjoy the recording of the 2021 Imagination Library of Eugene event featuring "Stone Soup" cartoonist Jan Eliot, children’s author/illustrator Sandy Silverthorne, Dr. Audrey Lucero, joke-telling kids, and more.
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.