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Book clubs, Marvel trivia and a ukulele workshop highlight July events at the library
ukulele
Teens are invited to learn the basics of playing the ukulele in a four-week workshop starting at 3 p.m. July 13 at the Turlock Library.

Events at the Turlock branch of the Stanislaus County Library will begin in July with a meeting of the Friends of the Turlock Library at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. All are invited to attend the monthly meeting of the library supporters.

Story Time will be held at 11 a.m. every Thursday in July. Story Time features books, stories, songs, fingerplays, rhymes and more. It is designed for children under 5 to participate with their caregivers, but all ages are welcome. Space is limited. Register all people attending (adults, children, and infants) individually.

An Author Talk with Alka Joshi will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday. This event will be held via Zoom. New York Times best-selling author and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Joshi will discuss her best-selling books, “The Henna Artist” and “The Secret Keeper of Jaipur.” Joshi was born in India and immigrated to the U.S. when she was nine years old, and published her debut novel at the age of 62. In this interview, Alka will share her inspirations for her work, how her mother’s life story has influenced her writing, and what it’s been like working on creating a Netflix series based on her books, and will answer questions from the audience. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/stan-authortalk.

The Mystery Lovers Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. July 11. This month the club will discuss “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman. In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves The Thursday Murder Club.

Animal Crossing players are invited to the library from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. July 11 for an event that will see Animal Crossing library islands in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Win in-game prizes, pick fruit and flowers, catch sea life, bugs, and fish, or have a cup of coffee with Brewster. Register for a Zoom link to chat with Animal Crossing librarians or watch out for the Dodo Codes on the library’s Facebook and Instagram pages the day of the event.

Teens are invited to learn the basics of playing the ukulele in a four-week workshop starting at 3 p.m. July 13. This workshop is for teenagers entering grades 9 through 12. Each registered participant will be provided with an instrument. Space is limited; those interested must register online or contact the Turlock Library at 209-664-8100 for more information. This is a workshop series, participants should be available to attend each date in the series to get the full benefit of the workshop. 

An Author Talk with David Allen will be held at 9 a.m. July 14. Allen, one of the world’s most influential thinkers on personal productivity will discuss his New York Times best-selling book, “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.” GTD’s broad appeal is based on the fact that it applies from the boardroom to the living room to the classroom. It is hailed as “life-changing” by students, busy parents, entrepreneurs, and corporate executives. To register for this Zoom event, visit https://tinyurl.com/stan-authortalk.

Teens are invited to unleash their imagination with rock painting at 3 p.m. July 14. Rocks and paint will be provided. Due to the use of paint, the library suggests participants wear clothing they don’t mind getting messy. Designed for teens entering 9th grade, through 12th grade. Limit one rock per teen.

The library will host a Marvel virtual trivia night at 7 p.m. July 15. Participants will need two devices to participate; Zoom to view the questions and Kahoot! to answer them. Registration is required. For those who choose to work in a team for this quiz, only one person per team needs to register and download Kahoot! Once you sign up, you will be sent the link to the Zoom meeting. Be sure to download both Zoom and Kahoot! prior to the program.

On July 18 teens can pick up a Book Box at the library. Each box in this free teen subscription program will contain a handpicked reading recommendation based on your preferences, treats and swag. Return the book and box by their due date but keep the treats and swag. Teens can register each month for another exciting box, to be picked up at the Stanislaus County Library location of their choosing. Register at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7sO_bVnVeItQBs1RUQoEb8YQxRe-4Wvl4bOM1tmANku03Mw/viewform

Visitors to the library at 1 p.m. July 18 can pick up a brush, grab a tray of paint and join in for a fun and creative afternoon. Participants can create their own masterpiece as they follow along with an online painting tutorial. All painting materials will be provided. Space is limited, and advance sign-ups are required. Call 209-664-8100 to reserve a spot in this fun and creative class.

A virtual book chat about nature will be held at 2 p.m. July 19. This virtual event is a fun and easy way to discuss books with other book lovers. The group meets on Zoom monthly to chat about what they are reading, or what they have read, focused around a general theme. July’s theme is nature. Register to receive the Zoom link by calling 209-558-7814.

A Building Challenge with marshmallows and toothpicks will be held at 4 p.m. July 19. Families will have the opportunity to build creations using only marshmallows and toothpicks. Each family will receive a small bag of supplies to build their creation within a 30-minute timeframe. Due to capacity limits, each person must register individually. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct parental supervision. Register online at the library’s website.

Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa will be the reader at a special Story Time for the whole family at 7 p.m. July 20.  There will be stories, music, fingerplays and more. This program is ideal for 4 - 8-year-olds, but all ages are welcome. Space is limited. Register online all people attending (adults, children, and infants) individually.

The Master Gardeners of Stanislaus County will present a workshop on water-wise landscaping at 6 p.m. July 26 at the Turlock library. Learn simple changes to help save water, and discover colorful, low-water use plants that thrive in our area.

Teens are invited to learn how to make their own patches at Stitch Camp, being held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. July 28. Learn some basic embroidery stitches and turn your own design into a patch. Total beginners are welcome. Designed for teens entering 9th grade, through 12th grade. Materials will be provided. Limit one patch per teen. Space is limited; advance registration is required.

The Turlock Library is located at 550 Minaret Ave. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The library is closed on Friday and Sunday. For more information, call 209-664-8100 or visit stanislauslibrary.org.