As kids get ready to return to school, local branches of the Stanislaus County Library will hold bookmark and book folding crafts, along with a number of book clubs and programs for adult patrons.
The Turlock Library will open August events with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Works session on moonscapes at 4 p.m. Aug. 1. The workshop will start with a story about the moon, then participants can create their own moonscape art project to take home. STEAM Works is designed for children in kindergarten and older; children 4 and under must be supervised by a parent.
The Turlock Library Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 2 and the featured selection is “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. One of the most universally loved and admired English novels, “Pride and Prejudice” was penned as a popular entertainment. But the consummate artistry of Austen (1775-1817) transformed this effervescent tale of rural romance into a witty, shrewdly observed satire of English country life that is now regarded as one of the principal treasures of English language.
A limited number of copies are available at the Turlock Library. For more information, contact the Turlock Library at (209) 664-8100.
Community members are invited to attend the Friends of the Turlock Public Library monthly board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 2.
The next meeting of the Turlock Teens Talk Books club will be 3 p.m. Aug. 5. Teens are invited to share their most recent literary finds with fellow bibliophiles.
Children can make their own unique kaleidoscopes with interchangeable color wheels during a craft session at 4 p.m. Aug. 8. All ages are welcome. Children under 4 must have supervision from a parent or adult guardian.
The Turlock Teen Advisory Board will meet at 4 p.m. Aug. 9. Teens are invited to share their ideas and earn community service credit.
Adults are invited to add some color to their world, while relaxing and reducing stress with coloring from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 10. Colored pencils, crayons, and a variety of artistic designs will be available.
The Mystery Lovers Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 11, and the featured selection is “The Big Over Easy” by Jasper Fforde. It's Easter in Reading, a bad time for eggs, and no one can remember the last sunny day. Ovoid D-class nursery celebrity Humpty Stuyvesant Van Dumpty III, minor baronet, ex-convict, and former millionaire philanthropist, is found shattered to death beneath a wall in a shabby area of town. All the evidence points to his ex-wife, who has conveniently shot herself. But Detective Inspector Jack Spratt and his assistant Mary Mary remain unconvinced, a sentiment not shared with their superiors at the Reading Police Department, who are still smarting over their failure to convict the Three Pigs of murdering Mr. Wolff. Before long Jack and Mary find themselves grappling with a sinister plot involving cross-border money laundering, bullion smuggling, problems with beanstalks, titans seeking asylum, and the cut and thrust world of international chiropody. And on top of all that, the JellyMan is coming to town. The library has a few copies of this title available for checkout. For more information call the Turlock Library at 664-8100.
Families are invited to get ready for the upcoming solar eclipse by making a pinhole projector that can be used to view the sun indirectly at 4 p.m. Aug. 15. Craft materials will be provided while supplies last. All ages welcome. Children under 4 must have supervision from a parent or adult guardian.
Children ages 5 and under are welcome to join in with sensory play at 10 a.m. Aug. 16. Fun activities will be offered that allow young children to explore different textures. Children must be directly supervised by a parent or adult guardian.
Come to the Turlock Library at noon Aug. 21 and learn how to make fun and attractive bento boxes. This program is for those ages 18 and older.
Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO displays for the library using the library’s LEGO and DUPLO blocks at 4 p.m. Aug. 22. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct parental supervision.
Learn the art of book folding, a fun way to give old books a new life as striking works of art, at 6 p.m. Aug. 23.
Family Game Day will be held at 4 p.m. Aug. 29. Playing board games helps teach socialization, sharing, taking turns and hand-eye coordination.
The Turlock Library is located at 550 N. Minaret Ave. in Turlock. For more information, call 664-8100.
Keyes
The Keyes Library will kick off August events with a Computer Basics class at 10 a.m. Aug. 1. The class is a basic introduction to computers, including an explanation of the parts of the computer, a tour of Windows and simple tasks. Advance registration is required. Call 209-664-8006 to sign up.
The library will host three craft days for kids that will run throughout the day. On Aug. 3, kids can make their own caterpillars out of pom-poms and clothespins. Kids can create fun panda bookmarks that fit over the corner of their book pages on Aug. 10. On Aug. 17, kids can create their own heart-shaped origami bookmark.
The Keyes Library is located at 4420 Maud Ave. in Keyes. For more information, call 664-8006.
Denair
The Denair Library will host its weekly Story Time at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 4, 11 and 18, however, the library will be closed from Aug. 19 through Sept. 9 for a major remodel.
Renovations will include fresh paint, new LED lighting, new carpeting, attractive furnishings and an updated, modern floor plan.
Staff currently working at the Denair Library will be assigned to other locations during the three weeks of remodeling, and the site’s exterior book drop will remain available to customers returning materials. Those wishing to access full library services are encouraged to visit SCL sites in Turlock, Keyes or Hughson, all of which are within seven miles of Denair.
For more information, contact the Denair Library at 209-634-1283 or the Stanislaus County Library at 209-558-7800.
