Book Club – Adults ages 18+ are invited to join the book club at the South Garland Branch Library. The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. Library staff and attendees will discuss The Maid by Nita Prose and enjoy light refreshments. No registration is required.
Game Time for Adults – Adults can enjoy playing games at a new monthly event for patrons 18+. Play favorite games with friends or learn a new one. The library will provide playing cards, various board games, puzzles and video games. The next event is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Central Library. Registration is not required. 972-205-2533.
Young Adults invited to Adulting 101 – Teens and young adults ages 15 to 21 get a crash course in basic life skills at the new event series Adulting 101. The meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month from January to March (Jan. 26, Feb. 23 and March 23) at the Central Library. Topics may include college life, budgeting, job searching and apartment living. Attendees will participate in activities and play games that will further their understanding of the topics. Registration is required, is limited to 15 and begins two weeks before each event date. Call 972-205-2517 to register.
Bake the Book – Everyone 12+ is invited to “bake the book” at the South Garland Branch. This new foodie book club will debut at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. Attendees will sign up and select recipes beginning Jan. 14, then bake their selection at home and bring it to the meeting Saturday, Jan. 28. The theme for the meeting is baking basics. Choose a recipe from the books Happiness is Baking by Maida Heatter, How to Bake Everything by Mark Bittman, or use your own recipe. 972-205-3931.Children Become Book Explorers – Children ages 6-12 may become Book Explorers at a new hands-on learning event series at the Central Library. Attendees will listen to a story on a specific theme, then complete related activities that connect literature, history and STEAM concepts. The January event, held Jan. 21 at 2:30 p.m., will feature the book Sharuko: Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello by Monica Brown and Elisa Chavarri. Registration is required and is limited to 15 participants. To register, call 972-205-2517 beginning Jan.
STEAM Labs – Children ages 6 through 12 and their families can participate in STEAM Labs at Garland’s Central Library this spring. The next lab is coming up Saturday, Jan. 14, at 2:30 p.m. Each STEAM Lab will consist of stations featuring activities on a centralized theme. Attendees may take home projects they complete. January’s theme is winter. No registration is required. 972-205-2517.
Families Enjoy Creativity Nights – Families with children 3 to 9 can participate in Creativity Nights, a new weekly event at the Central Library. Creativity Nights is each Tuesday night at 6 p.m. from Jan. 10 to March 28. Creativity Nights will feature a simple craft each week. Some will utilize STEAM concepts and instructions will be available in English and Spanish. Families may drop in between 6 and 7 p.m. to complete crafts. The events are free and no registration is required. 972-205-2517.
Citizens Learn Crochet Basics – Everyone 12+ can learn the basics of crochet at the South Garland Branch this spring. This four-part instructional series will begin Thursday, Jan. 12, at 6:30 p.m. and continue the second Thursday of the month through April (Feb. 9, March 9 and April 13). Participants will begin by learning slip knots and chain stitches then progress to double and treble crochet, shell stitches and rib stitches, with the goal of creating granny squares. Registration is required and is limited to 24. Registration begins Thursday, Dec. 29. 972-205-3931.
Preschool Book Club – Families with children ages 3 to 5 are invited to join the Bookworm Book Club, a new book club for preschoolers at the South Garland Branch. The next meeting is at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. Each book club meeting will focus on a particular theme. Families are encouraged to read a picture book or an age-appropriate nonfiction book matching the theme and bring it to the meeting to share. Library staff will read another book on the theme aloud before book sharing activities begin. Extension activities will promote early literacy practices and may include arts, crafts or other projects. January’s theme is hibernation (winter, bears, squirrels). 972-205-3931.
Adults Craft Mini Libraries for Library Lovers’ Month – Adults can celebrate Library Lovers’ Month by creating mini libraries to be included in a community exhibit. Adults ages 18+ may reserve a tiny library craft kit from the Central Library beginning Jan. 17. Each kit includes instructions and all the supplies, except scissors and glue, needed to construct a miniature library. Crafters may bring their completed tiny libraries back to the Central Library for inclusion in the community exhibit that begins Feb. 1. Participants may pick up their exhibited pieces between Feb. 28 and March 11. The library will not keep any miniature libraries after March 11. This free event is open to adults ages 18 and older. Registration is required, and kits are limited. For information or to reserve a kit, call 972-205-2533.
Mystery Book Club – Adults ages 18+ are invited to join the mystery book club at the Central Library. The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26. Library staff and attendees will select books for the rest of the season and enjoy light refreshments. No registration is required. 972-205-2533.
Families Celebrate Tet – Families with children of all ages can celebrate Vietnamese New Year, or Tet, with a performance from the Lion Dance Troupe at the North Garland Branch at 2:30 Saturday, Jan. 28. The Lion Dance is performed every year at Tet and celebrates luck, health and prosperity. After the performance, children ages four-12 can make lion dance masks. 972-205-2803.
Adults Solve Riddles – Adults, ages 18+ can test their skills at solving riddles by trying out the Riddle Box at the North Garland Branch. The box will be available during open hours from Jan. 3 to 31. The Riddle Box contains four riddles. Once all the riddles are answered, the box’s top will open revealing a prize for the lucky solver. All riddles will contain clues that are hidden in the library. Participants will need to utilize the Dewey Decimal System to find the answers. 972-205-2803.
Monthly STEAM Lab – The North Garland Branch is hosting monthly STEAM Labs for families this spring. Each lab will consist of a STEAM-based project that integrates science and engineering concepts. The first lab is Saturday, Jan. 21, at 10 a.m. Participantst will design and construct towers out of household materials in timed challenges. Registration is required and limited to 20 families with children ages 6-12. To register, call 972-205-2804 beginning Saturday, Jan. 7.
Teens Hang Out After Hours –Teens 13-17 can hang out at the North Garland Branch after closing, as part of the Teen After Hours series, Saturday, Jan. 14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Each event consists of a group activity. Snacks will be provided. Teens break into teams and solve puzzles in a Harry Potter-themed escape room. Registration required and begins Saturday, Dec. 31. 972-205-2804.
Kids Play and Learn – Children can Play and Learn at the North Garland Branch. Families with children of all ages can enjoy free playtime and STEAM activities. Play and Learn will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, and continue each Wednesday through April 26. Creative play, allows children to build cognitive, physical and social skills. Playtime is important for children and parents to enjoy together so parents can play a role in their child’s development. Play and Learn is designed to aid this development through free playtime, storytime elements, and activities such as sensory bins, block and Lego® building, toy cars, pretend play, coloring sheets, STEAM challenges and more. 972-205-2804.
Screenwriting Workshop – Aspiring screenwriters can attend a workshop on the basics of the craft at the Central Library Monday, Jan. 9, at 6:30 p.m. The workshop will cover how to format a screenplay, types of software to use and techniques on getting started. The differences between screenwriting and other forms of writing will be discussed. Registration is required and begins Friday, Dec. 23. Call 972-205-2533 to register. This event is open to adults ages 18+.
Libraries Offer ESL Conversation Classes – Library will resume ESL conversation classes once a week according to the following schedule. The classes are geared toward improving general casual English skills. Attendees may practice their conversation skills in a friendly environment, build their vocabulary, learn about American culture, and meet a diverse group of people. 972-205-3931
Mondays, Jan. 9 to March 27 at 6:30 p.m., Central Library
Tuesdays, Jan. 3 to April 25 at 6:30 p.m., South Garland Branch
Teens Form Advisory Board – Teens ages 13 to 17 can make a difference in their community by joining the Teen Advisory Board. The next meeting is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Central Library. Teens will discuss how the library can serve their age group in terms of events, materials and services. Participants will receive volunteer hours for attending. In addition to helping improve library services to teens, serving on the Advisory Board allows teens to socialize with their peers. Games are played at the board meetings and refreshments are provided. 972-205-2517.
Teens Host Book Club – Teens 12 to 17 can join Novel Ideas, a book club designed for their age group. Novel Ideas is sponsored by the Teen Advisory Board and meets monthly to discuss books the members have recently read. There is no assigned book. Members may simply share recent reads or old favorites. Next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Central Library. 972-205-2517.
Afternoon Games – Adults 18+ play games at a monthly event at the Walnut Creek Branch. First event is Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2 to 4 p.m. Games include Scrabble®, chess, backgammon, checkers, cards, dominoes. Refreshments provided. Registration not required. 972-205-2585.
Families Celebrate Lunar New Year – Families with children of all ages can celebrate Lunar New Year at the Walnut Creek Branch Saturday, Jan. 21. Families may drop from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and complete crafts, such as red envelopes with candy gold coins, peach and apricot blossom lanterns and new year’s cards. Supplies are provided. 972-205-2585.
Adults Learn Yoga – Adults learn the basics of yoga at the South Garland Branch Fridays, from Jan. 13 to April 28 at 2 p.m. A professional instructor will introduce participants to basic poses. Attendees will need to provide their own blanket, towel, or yoga mat and are encouraged to listen to their bodies and exercise within the limits of their ability and fitness levels. If anyone is unsure if this program is right for them, they are asked to consult their physicians before participating. 972-205-3931.
Be aware that photographs and video may be taken at library programs for use in print and/or electronic media at the library’s discretion. Information: 972-205-3931.
- Central Library is located at 625 Austin St., in Downtown Garland.
- Walnut Creek Branch Library is located at 3319 Edgewood Drive.
- South Garland Branch is located at 4845 Broadway Blvd. at Oates Road.
- North Garland Branch is located at 3845 N. Garland Ave. at Apollo Road.