The Turlock Library will host a variety of events in the month of July aimed at encouraging literacy and expanding knowledge for all ages.

A T(w)een Tuesday event on three line oil pastel art will be held at 4 p.m. July 7. Etel Adnan was a Lebanese-American artist whose artwork showcased simple lines and bold colors. Participants will create Adnan-inspired art using three lines and oil pastels. This program is designed for ages 9-18. Materials will be provided.

Children can participate in a watercolor focused ArtLab at 4 p.m. July 7. Little ones can practice their motor skills by painting wavy lines and then straight lines in between, but try not to let the lines touch. This program is aimed at children 8 and younger, but all ages are welcome. Children under 4 must have direct supervision from parents or adult guardians.

The Mystery Lovers Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. July 13. This month, the club will discuss “Murder in the Marais” by Cate Black.
The first in a series of new crime fiction set in Paris, this standout first novel introduces the dauntless private investigator Aimee Leduc. Hired to investigate the grisly murder of an old Jewish woman in the Marais district of Paris, her undercover search requires that she plays a dangerous game that involves both current politics and old war crimes. A thrilling, quick-paced story, packed with suspense from a high-octane writer with a very promising future.

A T(w)een Tuesday event will be held at 4 p.m. July 14. Participants can build LEGO creations using the library’s LEGO blocks and bring them to life with stop-motion film. What stories will your creations tell? This program is designed for ages 9 and older.

Younger children will have the opportunity to build LEGO creations using the library’s LEGO and Duplo blocks at 4 p.m. July 14. This program helps young ones develop critical thinking skills and teaches basic engineering concepts. This program is aimed at children 8 and younger, but all ages are welcome. Children under 4 must have direct supervision from parents or adult guardians.

Kids can learn basic financial literacy skills such as the value of money and budgeting, all while getting free school supplies at the library at 3 p.m. July 15. Children and teens will receive pretend “play” money at the start of the program to purchase supplies such as backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and more, while supplies last.

The Turlock Chess Club will meet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 15. Whether you are an amateur, a master, or somewhere between, you are invited to bring your board to meet and play against others for practice or friendly competition.

Adults are invited to a rock painting party at 2 p.m. July 18. Participants can show off their artistic talents with paint. Once finished, they can proudly display it in their garden or front yard. The library will provide all materials. This event is for ages 18 and up, and will take place in the Maker Space.

A T(w)een Tuesday event on invisible ink will be held at 4 p.m. July 21. Invisible inks are colorless substances used to create invisible messages on paper. These messages can be visualized when chemical reactions or physical processes are applied to the invisible ink. Kids can join in the Turlock Library Maker Space and explore some common substances used to create invisible inks, create their own secret messages and decipher them. This program is designed for ages 9 and up. Materials will be provided.

A STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) session on wax will be held at 4 p.m. July 21. Using crayon and watercolor paints, children will see the science behind how water and oil don't mix, all while creating unique artwork to take home. This program is aimed at children 8 and younger, but all ages are welcome. Children under 4 must have direct supervision from parents or adult guardians.

The library will host a Video Game Day at 3 p.m. July 22. Participants can join in the Maker Space for byte-sized video game fun on the Nintendo Switch. This activity is for ages 8 and up, however, please note that some games may have content suitable for ages 10 and up (rated E10+).

The UCCE Master Gardeners will lead a discussion on plant propagation at 6 p.m. July 22. Turn one plant into many. Learn simple ways to take cuttings, divide plants, and propagate your favorites to grow and share.

The library will host a Board Game Day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 25. Join the Central Valley Game Lovers for a day of board gaming. Try a new game or bring your own. Most games are recommended for ages 10 and up, but there will be games for younger players, too.

Diggery Digger’s Dino Adventure will be at the library at 4 p.m. July 28. This event will feature large interactive animated characters, dinosaur bones, a giant dinosaur egg and beautiful puppets.
Combined with intriguing magic and rocking music, this is the Story Ship’s most memorable adventure. Audience members will interact with animated dinosaurs, help solve puzzles and dance. Only you can help stop the dinosaur invasion and save the world!
Space is limited. Free tickets will be handed out 30 minutes before the program.

The Turlock Library is located at 550 Minaret Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit https://www.stanislauslibrary.org/ or call (209) 664-8100.