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

A T(w)een Tuesday event on stained glass suncatchers will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Participants join in the Turlock Library Maker Space and create "stained glass" suncatchers from clear glue, swirls of food coloring, and a little sparkle. Materials will be provided. This program is designed for ages 9-18.

An ArtLab lesson will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday. In this art lesson, kids will dive into the world of design as they create dragonfly art using geometric shapes and intersecting lines. They’ll discover the magic of water control to create a translucent effect that mimics stained glass. It’s a fun, colorful way to learn how the right techniques can bring any big idea to life.

The American Association of Retired Persons will offer free tax preparation assistance from 12 noon to 3 p.m. every Wednesday in March. Walk-ins are welcome, as there is no option for advance registration.

Those who love Pokémon are invited to come and meet others who share their passion from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. Participants can hang out and trade or battle on their Nintendo Switch or bring their trading cards for a friendly game, hunt for shinies in Pokémon GO, and more. All ages welcome; children 4 and under must have direct adult supervision.

The Friends of the Turlock Library group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. All are invited.

Independent readers up to age 12 are invited to practice their reading skills with the special Read to a Dog program at the Turlock Library at 12 noon March 7. This program is designed to help children gain confidence in their reading skills by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. Register the readers online to participate. Space is limited.

The Mystery Lovers Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 9. This month, the Mystery Lovers Book Club will discuss “Holmes is Missing” by James Patterson and Brian Sitts.
Success has come quickly to Holmes, Marple & Poe Investigations. The New York City agency led by three detectives—Brendan Holmes, “the brain,” Margaret Marple, “the eyes,” and Auguste Poe, the “muscle”—with famous names and mysterious pasts is one major case away from cementing its professional reputation. But as a series of child abductions tests the PIs’ legendary skills, the cerebral Holmes’s absence leaves a gaping hole in the agency roster. Only by closing ranks and solving the mystery within can they recover all that’s been lost. 

A T(w)een Tuesday event will be held at 4 p.m. March 10. Participants can build LEGO creations using the library’s LEGO blocks and bring them to life with stop-motion film. This program is designed for ages 9 and older.

The library will host a Turlock LEGO Day at 4 p.m. March 10. Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO creations using the library’s LEGO and Duplo blocks. This program helps young ones develop critical thinking skills, and teaches basic engineering concepts. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct parental supervision.

The UCCE Master Gardeners of Stanislaus County will help participants learn how to create beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. March 13. Registration is required as space is limited to the first ten sign-ups. This event is designed for ages 18 and up. 

A STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) event will be held at 4 p.m. March 17. Kids will need to use their engineering skills to build a bridge strong enough to support a menagerie of animals using a variety of materials. This program is designed for children ages 8 and younger, but all ages are welcome. Children under 4 must have direct supervision from parents or adult guardians.

A T(w)een Tuesday event on bridge building will be held at 4 p.m. March 17. Bridges are amazing structures that balance both pushing and pulling forces to support heavy loads. Kids can join in the Turlock Library Maker Space to learn about bridge engineering, then build their own bridge using the materials provided. This class is designed for ages 9-18.

The Turlock Chess Club will meet at 5 p.m. March 18. 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. 

The library will host a sewing lesson at 1 p.m. March 20. Learn to sew by turning a couple of circles of fabric into a small clutch purse. Materials will be provided. Registration is required; please register each individual attending. This program is designed for ages 18 and up. To pre-register, call 209-664-8100.

The library will host a Board Game Day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 21. 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.  

Kids can come to the library at 4 p.m. March 24 to make clay sculptures. Kids will strengthen their fine motor skills as they smash and mold air-dry clay to make their own 3D works of art and let their imaginations run wild. This program is aimed at children ages 8 and younger, but all ages are welcome. Children under 4 must have direct supervision from parents or adult guardians.

A T(w)een Tuesday event on clay creations will be held at 4 p.m. March 24. Participants will create their own masterpiece out of modeling clay. Materials will be provided. This program was designed for ages 9-18.

The library will host a Video Game Day at 3 p.m. March 25. This Nintendo Switch 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 of Stanislaus County will give a presentation on spring vegetable gardening at 6 p.m. March 25. Tomatoes, corn, squash and peppers may steal the summer garden spotlight, but don’t forget about fruits like cantaloupe and watermelon. Free seed packets for attendees while supplies last.

Kids can come to the library for a coloring session at 4 p.m. March 31. Do you like to color inside or outside the lines? Either way, join in for a relaxing time coloring on provided coloring pages and blank paper. This program is aimed at children ages 8 and younger, but all ages are welcome. Children under 4 must have direct supervision from parents or adult guardians.

A T(w)een Tuesday event will be held at 4 p.m. March 31. Participants can come tinker in the Turlock Library Maker Space. Create stop-motion movies, try the button maker, learn to use the toybox printer and 3D pens, or build something with our Make-do tools and cardboard. This program is designed for ages 9 -18.

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.