The Lawrence Public Library Reader | Spring | Issue 1, Volume 3 | MAR–MAY 2020

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L A W R E N C E P U B L I C L I B R A RY

READER SPRING | MAR–MAY 2020

LIBRARY NEWS + EVENTS CALENDAR


MAR 1–MAY 31, 2020 VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 3 ON THE COVER | photo by Sarah Mathews

Mayowa Ojo and Latavia Hill got carded! I want everyone to know how much we love it here already. My library was where I spent so much of my childhood growing up. I remember how excited I was to go from the children's room to the teen room. We can't wait to look around! —Latavia Hill

QUESTIONS + FEEDBACK

CONTENTS Hello from Brad Read Across Lawrence 2020 Paper Plains Literary Festival Kansas Needs Diverse Books Read Adventurously Squad Goals 2020 Reading Challenge Census info and going fine-free The State of eBooks and Libraries Annual Library Report for 2019 Meet Mary Burchill Friends & Foundation news Library events calendar Library event descriptions

The Reader is a quarterly news magazine and events calendar by the Lawrence Public Library and the Library Friends & Foundation.

Heather Kearns Marketing Coordinator

3 4 5 6-7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16–21 22–31

Kristin Soper Events Coordinator

EMAIL: reader@lplks.org PHONE: 785-843-3833

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LIBRARY HOURS Lawrence Public Library (LPL for short) is a community hub that believes in the power of connecting with each other through shared knowledge and resources. Located in the heart of Downtown Lawrence, Kansas, we are committed to providing a space where our community can learn connect, create, and grow through access to our vast collections, resources, services, programs, and knowledgeable staff. The library is supported by tax dollars, record-breaking book sales and philanthropic efforts by the LPL Friends & Foundation, and the dedicated efforts of more than 300 volunteers.

All are welcome. 2 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

MON–THU FRI SAT SUN

9 AM–9 PM 9 AM–7 PM 9 AM–6 PM 12–6 PM

lplks.org | ©2020 Lawrence Public Library


Library Board of Trustees

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

Judy Keller, Chair Ursula Minor, Vice Chair Sarah Goodwin Thiel, Secretary-Treasurer Brady Flannery Joan Golden David Vance Kevan Vick Jennifer Ananda, Mayor Brad Allen, Executive Director

Library Friends & Foundation Board of Directors Mary Burchill, Chair Craig Penzler, Vice Chair Jane Medina, Secretary Joan Golden, Treasurer Brandon Eisman Mary Gage Annamarie Hill Kassie Edwards Nieters Rachel Rademacher Stan Ring Dan Storey Imani Wadud Kathleen Morgan, Executive Director Angela Hyde, Coordinator Brad Allen, Ex-Officio

Surprise! I love to read. As a longtime librarian, I’m thankful for the power of the written word. From my humble beginnings as a grade school reader of book adaptations of movies like Gremlins and Ghostbusters to the life-altering experience of To Kill a Mockingbird the summer after sixth grade, reading has been a huge part of my life. The world of reading is more vast­— and more daring — than any other mass media forms of entertainment, and this spring Lawrence is packed with all-ages opportunities to celebrate books. Between Read Across Lawrence, our annual community reading program, and Lawrence's very first Paper Plains Literary Festival, a collaborative, cross-media, diverse, and inclusive celebration of authors and artists from the Plains and beyond, you'll find an unprecedented wellspring of reading opportunities for adults, kids, and teens coming. Read Across Lawrence is special because when we read the same books together, it gives us a shared story to discuss and creates common ground. When we focus on the similarities of our human experience, it endears us to each other, builds empathy, and ultimately a stronger community. I'm looking forward to the thoughtful conversations and compelling events we'll have surrounding this year’s Read Across Lawrence picks. Can't wait to see you at the library. Happy reading!

THE READER • 3


READ ACROSS LAWRENCE 2020

Let's Read Together!

TEENS | MARCH

Our annual all-Lawrence reading event promotes literacy and fosters community engagement. It's also lots of fun! Once a year, along with our literacy partners at KU Libraries and Lawrence Public Schools, the library brings our community together to read the same book, explore its major themes, and participate in discussions and interactive events. Read Across Lawrence is a fun and meaningful way to get to know each other better through a mutual love of reading.

KIDS | MARCH

We're thrilled to announce our Read Across Lawrence book picks for 2020. In partnership with the NEA Big Read, we picked The Round House by Louise Erdrich for adults to read in April. Erdrich is one of the most revered novelists of our time and a brilliant chronicler of Native American life. Round House has been described as,"a powerful coming-of-age story, a mystery, and a tender, moving novel of family, history, and culture." Teens will read Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram, a Kansas City, Missouri native and winner of YALSA’s William C. Morris Award for Best Debut Author Writing for Teens. This book is about Darius, who struggles with feeling he'll never be Iranian or American enough, and how his new friend Sohrab makes him feel way much better than just okay. Finally, our kids' pick is Front Desk by Kelly Yang, a former Harvard Law School grad who calls Southern California home after her family immigrated there when she was six. This award-winning debut novel is about Mia, a 10-year-old Chinese-American immigrant girl who manages the front desk of a motel while her parents clean the rooms.

ADULTS | APRIL 4 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Read Across Lawrence (RAL) uses literature as a springboard for community conversations about important, timely issues. Every year, the library distributes 1,000 free copies of each book and hosts a variety of programs and events to invite discussion throughout Lawrence.


SAVE THE DATE Kids + Teens Read Across Lawrence March 1-31, 2020

Kids + Teens Book Giveaway

Free and open to the public

Adult Read Across Lawrence

Paper Plains Literary Festival

Adult Book Giveaway

paperplains.org

SUN | Mar 1 | 3-4 PM | Atrium

April 1-30, 2020

SAT | Mar 28 | 3-5 PM | Auditorium

An Evening with Louise Erdrich WED | Mar 11 | 7-8:30 PM Haskell Auditorium

Haskell Indian Nations University 155 Indian Avenue | Lawrence, KS Made possible by The Raven Book Store

April 23-26, 2020 We're excited to hitch Colson Whitehead, 2020's Ross and Marianna Beach Author to Lawrence's inaugural literary festival. With so many authors coming to town, it made sense to partner up. 25 authors are coming to Lawrence to talk about poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and young adult fiction (YA), including Mojave-American poet and MacArthur Fellow Natalie Diaz, Kansas native and 2019 National Book Award finalist Sarah Smarsh, and of course Colson Whitehead, 2016 National Book Award and 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner. It's been a pleasure dreaming, planning, and making this festival a reality with a slate of dedicated, book-loving partners. Thank you to the Raven Book Store, Hall Center for the Humanities, the Spencer Museum of Art, The Commons at KU, Lawrence Art Center, Watkins Museum of History, Unmistakably Lawrence, and the City of Lawrence. It took a small but mighty village to get this ambitious project off the ground. THE READER • 5


Ed Dwight LPL BLOG

Kansas needs diverse books

I issue a challenge to all authors, illustrators, and publishers who will hear it: Kansas needs diverse books. For starters, here’s a list of subjects. Let's get to work. by Dan Coleman, Collection Development Librarian

As a selector for the Children's collection, I’ve formed a habit over the years of compulsively checking to make sure we have books on whatever subjects are making news. So, when we celebrated the human triumph of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon walk in 2019, I discovered one of the saddest “what might have beens” in American history. In the early 1960s, Ed Dwight was an African-American test pilot with qualifications similar to those who would eventually go to the moon. He endured the same rigorous mental and physical training as his peers, but while he was celebrated publicly as America’s first Black astronaut, behind closed doors at Edwards Air Force Base, Dwight was subjected to coordinated mistreatment intended to break him. He stuck it out and completed the course, only to be left behind when NASA chose its 14 final Apollo astronauts. Luckily, the creators of Chasing the Moon, available here on DVD, made Dwight’s story a focal point. One of this film's 6 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

most powerful moments comes in footage of a disappointed Dwight giving non-answers to reporters questioning him about his future in the space program. By July 1969, the man who was to become America’s first Black astronaut was no longer even in the Air Force. But Dwight never quit and his life story reveals one amazing accomplishment after another. He and his sister integrated their high school. He helped IBM engineer the world’s first computers and then developed a chain of restaurants. Dwight earned a Master of Fine Arts and became one of our country’s most prominent historical public monument sculptors. Today, at 85, he’s still at work. Surely we had a book about Ed Dwight. We don't. I'd love to add a bunch, but can't find any. They don’t exist. Worse still, Ed Dwight is a Kansan. Kansas librarians can't hand a kid a single book about one of the most interesting people to ever come from our state. I've started compiling a sad list of unwritten books to keep

on an empty shelf of shame. National groups like We Need Diverse Books have managed to wake publishers up to authors and stories in recent years, but there's still an unacceptable lack of diversity in books by and about Kansans. I should give credit where it’s due. Some great books have been published recently for kids about historical Kansans of color, among them John Coy’s Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game, Tonya Bolden’s No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas, and Carole Boston Weatherford’s Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America. But so many more stories remain to be told, with room right here on our shelves awaiting them.


Lucile Bluford

Oscar Micheaux The Oscars have been dominated by controversy lately about the lack of award winners and nominees of color, and those covering this story often make reference to Oscar Micheaux, the “Father of Black Cinema”. Born and buried in Great Bend, KS, he founded the first Black movie studio, created more than 40 films, and wrote seven books. There needs to be one for children all about him.

Billy Mills Last year when South Middle School changed its name to Billy Mills, we discovered there are no children’s books about him in print. A used and outdated easy reader from 2004 was the best we could do for the first runner of color to win Olympic gold in the 10,000 meters. An Oglala Lakota who attended Haskell and KU, Mills was an orphan who persisted in the face of great adversity. He returns to Lawrence regularly and can be found each November standing at the finish line of the 10K that bears his name, congratulating each finisher with the same dignity and attention. It’s time to make a new book about him for kids.

Last year the Kansas City Call, one of America’s most historically important Black newspapers, celebrated its 100th year in print. Lucile Bluford, its long-time editor and publisher, graduated from KU in 1932. In 1939 she applied to and was accepted at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, but was kicked out when they discovered she was Black. She sued and won, but MU shut down its journalism school. In 1989 she received an honorary doctorate from MU, where there's now a residence hall named after her. This would be just one chapter of many in a book about Bluford’s lifetime of fighting for social justice, in word and deed, wherever she saw the need. Her nephew, Guion Bluford, actually became America’s first Black astronaut to see space, flying four Space Shuttle missions. The most recent children’s biography of him was published 14 years ago and is out of print.

Coleman Hawkins

CD JAZZ HAWKINS Charlie Parker is the local musician who usually gets credit for inventing bebop, but Coleman Hawkins, who went to high school and college in Topeka, KS, recorded "Body and Soul" in 1939, which many consider to be the first real document of the improv style Parker made famous. Billy Mills at the National Stadium in Tokyo, October 14, 1964 (AP Photo)

Find the Kansas City Call on our newspaper shelf

Charles Curtis Do many Kansas kids know that prior to the election of Barack Obama, the only other person of color ever to have been elected on a presidential ticket was also a Kansan? Charles Curtis, a member of the Kaw Nation, was elected as Herbert Hoover's Vice President in 1928. This capped a long career in national politics, including numerous terms in the U.S. House and Senate. There wasn't a viable book for young readers about Curtis until 2019 when historical researcher and reenactor Kitty Frank abridged and published parts of an abandoned autobiographical manuscript. A thorough biography for kids by a contemporary historian is way past due.

THE READER • 7


LPL BLOG

Read adventurously

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. by Leah Newton, Readers' Services Assistant When I was first asked to take over our Speculative Fiction Book Club (SFBC), I had my doubts as to whether it would be something I'd be good at and/or enjoy. I’d never participated in a book club before, much less hosted one. I understood at least part of the allure (mainly imposing my opinions about stuff I read onto others), but there's been one glaring issue: Having books picked for me. I am a reader of habit with a carefully crafted book hunting system that's evolved over the years. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. I'd had enough of assigned reading after being forced to endure Great Expectations, thank you very much. According to a study done by BookBrowse, the main reason folks cite for their disinterest in joining a book club is they don’t want to have to read

books that they didn’t choose themselves. That was most definitely me. The first book for SFBC when I was handed the reins was Sourdough by Robin Sloan. I read the back cover (one step in my time-tested and proven method of choosing my next read) and groaned inwardly as it was clearly a modern novel (I prefer historical, fantastical, or futuristic), about a woman neck-deep in a world of tech drudgery until by chance she adopts some sort of sentient bread ingredient that changes the course of her life. I'm sorry, but...what? Too contemporary, too bizarre, not my cup of tea, etc. Lo and behold, this book charmed my socks off, provided the club with lots of interesting things to discuss, and ultimately went down as one of my very favorite reads of 2018.

NEW YEAR. NEW BOOK CLUBS.

Queer | Have Pride in your reading. 1st Sun | 4-5 PM | Mtg Rm C

Short Story | For readers short on time. 2nd Wed | 7-8 PM | Mtg Rm A

Paint the Town Read | When books meet local events. 3rd Mon | 7-8:30 PM | Mtg Rm A

8 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

After this dark horse favorite, I’m on my way to being fully convinced that for most of us, required reading during our formative years is a big factor in our reluctance to relinquish control of our reading as adults. I'm certain my school reading material was chosen with the utmost care and the best of intentions. And to the credit of required reading, I never would've known how much I love dingy dystopias if I hadn’t read Lord of the Flies, or how much I hate didactic narratives if I hadn’t read any Charles Dickens. However, with the clear links between reading and success, as well as sobering statistics about declining readership in adults, there's a growing push among educators in the U.S. to either scrap teacher-selected materials altogether, or at the very least introduce a curriculum that gives children ownership and autonomy as readers. You know, that freedom they'll have as adults. But if I’m right, those of us who emerged from our educational experiences with our love of reading unscathed have nothing to fear from “required” or “suggested” reading at book clubs or when family or friends offer recommendations. Our taste in everything from genre to point-of-view is already well-established. And hopefully,


we have the wisdom to know that life's too short to read books we don’t like and that we can put down a book if it’s just not grabbing us. Fiction's inherently an adventure and we're free to discriminate, but perhaps most importantly to explore. But is that really what we're doing if we don't take chances on books? If there’s one thing I have learned in 30 years of dedicated fiction consumption, it’s that our taste is constantly evolving, as is the rich world of literature. I strongly believe now that it would behoove us all to be in a consistent, not constant, state of experimentation with our reading choices. It may or may not surprise you to learn that based on that same BookBrowse study, 91% of book club participants cited this as one of the best values of book club membership: Reading and enjoying books they may not have given the time to otherwise. One could argue that this merely points to two distinct types of readers, those who'd participate in a book club to get that value in the first place and those who wouldn't. That's fair, but I know there are converts in there. Because I'm one of them. So I challenge you, voracious reader, to take that step if it isn't already a part of your reading routine. Invite this multi-layered adventure into your reading life. Whether it means purposefully choosing books outside your preferred genres or authors, OR making a conscious decision and concerted effort to read books recommended by friends, OR discovering the many benefits of joining a book club.

READ AN AUTHOR'S DEBUT NOVEL: READ A GRAPHIC NOVEL OR MANGA: READ A FUNNY BOOK: READ A BOOK OF POETRY: READ A SHORT STORY: READ A BOOK WITH LGBTQ+ CHARACTERS: READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN IMMIGRANT: READ A TRANSLATED BOOK: READ A YOUNG ADULT (YA) BOOK: READ A BOOK BY AN INTERNATIONAL AUTHOR: READ A BOOK BY AN INDIGENOUS AMERICAN: READ A BOOK SET IN ANOTHER TIME:

Track your reads here. Read in any order at any pace. Get ideas from book displays, in-person chats, and online:

lplks.org/personalized-recommendations Tag and @ us so we can see your bookshelf and swap ideas for the year.

#BookSquadGoals2020 @lawrencelibrary THE READER • 9


LIBRARY NEWS

TRUE or FALSE? Based on census data, which of these could get funding?

a fixed pothole a new school tornado recovery help hospital services Medicare options veteran benefits new businesses new restaurants more reps in Congress ANSWER: All true. Visit census.gov to learn more.

Big thanks to the Winter Family Foundation for helping the library with 2020 Census promotion and equipment!

YOU COUNT. Census Day is April 1, 2020 We'll help you fill out the 10 easy census questions at the library. Your info will be kept confidential — it's the law. by Molly Washatka, Marketing Assistant An estimated $675 BILLION will be distributed to communities once the final counts are in for the 2020 census; sending an accurate count of our community will ensure we get the valuable funding that provides resources for all of us. We have safe internet access, phone services, and knowledgeable staff here to answer questions and help you with your response. STUDENTS: You should count yourself based on where you're living on April 1. If you're living in Lawrence, you'll count yourself as a resident of Lawrence. YOUNG CHILDREN: It’s important to count all children living in the household on April 1. This includes foster children, children of friends, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc. FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS: Those living in emergency or transitional shelters will be contacted and counted at the shelter.

The library is now fine-free! If overdue fines were keeping you away because of cost, fear, or embarassment, that's all behind you now. Access to information is one of our core values and we want to make it easy to use your library. On Tuesday, December 17, 2019 the Library Board of Trustees voted to eliminate the practice of charging overdue fines. Existing late fees were cleared from all cardholder accounts

10 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

#getcarded

lplks.org/get-a-card

on January 1, 2020. So, let's get you a library card. Swing by our Accounts Desk during regular business hours and "get carded". Bring proof of address and valid photo ID. It's free and only takes about five minutes. Borrowers will still be charged for lost or damaged items. Replacement charges will be dropped for lost items returned in good condition.


The state of eBooks and libraries

LIBRARY NEWS

Higher prices, metered access, and embargoes by William Ottens Cataloging + Collection Development Coordinator

Love the library’s digital collections? OverDrive’s Libby App and Hoopla are convenient ways to access eBooks and audiobooks, but we know they come with some frustration.

• you can't find what you want

• long wait periods for new stuff • checkout limits

We feel you. While we’re doing the best to get you what you want, we’d like to be transparent about why things are the way they are. You’ve likely noticed that consumer prices for eBooks aren’t much cheaper than print books. You may not know that the cost for libraries is significantly higher. Take Stephen King’s new book, The Institute. You'll pay $14.99 to get a copy on your Kindle. Our price for one digital copy on OverDrive is $59.99. You'll pay $30.62 for Audible's, while the library’s price is $99.99 for a copy on OverDrive. On top of this price difference, most library copies on OverDrive expire after a certain number of checkouts or amount of time. We then have to repurchase the title if we want to keep it in the collection. These terms are set by publishers and are not new. However, big publishers have begun to change their terms in ways that are not favorable to libraries.

the size, are limited to one eBook copy in the first eight weeks of publication. After that, we can buy more copies, but they’re be twice the price and expire after two years. So, even at library systems the size of Kansas City or New York Public Library, only one person can check that eBook out at a time. This results in even longer waiting lists for popular titles. If other publishers start to follow MacMillan’s example, imagine what that would do for the whole collection. By sharing this, we hope to shed some light on some of the frustration you may experience checking out eBooks on Libby. We LOVE how much you use our digital items and want you to know we're doing our best to meet your needs in this landscape. We could also use your help:

• Tweet about why we need #eBooksforall • Sign the American Library Association's

petition against MacMillan’s eBook embargo at www.ebooksforall.org

• Keep using our digital collections so we

can demonstrate value and need for access

While these changes may impact our digital collections, we at LPL will continue to do the best we can to provide the content you need. We appreciate your support!

In November of 2019, MacMillan implemented an embargo on new titles. Libraries, no matter THE READER • 11


FRIENDS & FOUNDATION

Mary Burchill developed an infectious passion for libraries at a tender age.

Lifelong library lover to lead Friends & Foundation Board

“The Carnegie at 9th and Vermont was my first library,” she says. “I remember an old librarian there, Miss Perkins, and she'd help you check out books. It was just wonderful! The Children’s Room was in the basement. We weren’t allowed upstairs until we were 12 or 14 because that’s where the ‘grown-up’ books were.”

by Cathy Hamilton, Legacy Coordinator

Eventually, Mary gained entrée to the main floor mecca and has patronized, supported, and guided libraries — including the KU Law Library where she worked as a librarian — ever since. “I got my degree from Emporia in ‘79 and worked at the KU Law library until I retired in ’95,“ Mary says. But, before she took the professional leap, Mary established herself as one of Lawrence Public Library’s most enthusiastic and versatile volunteers. “When Bruce Flanders became director in 1994, he asked me to be on the Board of Trustees. I filled out 3 years of someone else’s term and did 3 years of my own. I really enjoyed it. Great fun!” In 1972, Mary was asked by Chie Craig, Evelyn Hastings and others about forming a Friends of the Library group.

Mary Burchill holding one of the original Friends of the Library book sale posters from 1976

12 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

“Our purpose would be to raise money ... not for salaries but for extra things the library needed. We decided we’d have a book sale and brazenly asked people to donate books. And


they did! It was incredible! It was such a success, we just decided to keep doing it!” Mary’s talents were tapped again in 1996 when the library’s Foundation was formed, serving as one of its eight incorporators. “A gentleman on the board at the time said he was going to leave the library a substantial amount of money when he died,” Mary explains. “We needed a mechanism to accept big donations because we hoped there'd be more.”

FRIENDS & FOUNDATION

Wear your library heart on your feet for

National Library Week APR 19–25, 2020

The first 50 people to give $50 or more to the Library Friends & Foundation get a pair of these super soft, limited edition socks! Get socks here: LPLFF.org

Today, Mary has answered yet another call to preside over the inaugural term of the newly-merged Friends and Foundation board of directors. “I couldn’t say no. I think about starting my library career at the Carnegie building and what it meant to me. I think about how that library was run — which was fine — but the things our library does now are just incredible. You can’t outguess these guys who work here. They’re just an incredible group of people. I go in lots of libraries and our library is just wonderful. I mean, it’s really good.” Mary recently sat down to talk about growing up in the Carnegie Library as a child in the 1940s and we've captured it on video. Hear what a typical librarian was like “back in the day” and the best book Mary ever bought at the book sale by following this link to our YouTube channel.

bit.ly/marybvideo1 THE READER • 13


FRIENDS & FOUNDATION | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Look what you did.

In 2019, your thoughtful and generous gifts to the Friends & Foundation did all of this and more for our community!

• New LEGO tabletop • Storytime at Home Kits • Kindles • New Book Club in A Bag bags • 534 new eBooks and audiobooks • LPL Seed Library support • Dr. Bob Reader books • Grandparent Boot Camp • New public computers • Keep Retirement Weird Kickoff • Yoga classes • Local history digitization • ACT / SAT practice tests • 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten • 780s Music Storyteller: Rakim • 780s Music Storyteller: Mavis Staples • Weave A Tale storytelling conference • Library staff education scholarships • Hall Center intern • Paper Plains Literary Festival support • Kansas Reads to Preschoolers • Teen interns • Harry Potter Book Night • Walk Kansas for library staff • Retirement Boot Camp • Summer Reading program • Adult Book Nerd Party with Book Tarot • Read Across Lawrence program • Summer Reading parks scavenger hunt • Library collections • Robin DiAngelo author visit • Aquarium maintenance • Sing & Rhyme Storytime • SOUND+VISION Studio support • Book Squad Challenge prizes • Harry and the Potters concert • Bill Callahan concert support • Robin Sloan author visit • Jessie Janowitz author visit • Kansas Public Radio advertising

…and so much more! 14 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY


Friends & Foundation: Better Together The months of meetings and by-law drafting (and re-drafting) are over! On Sunday, January 19, library supporters gathered to toast the newly-merged Lawrence Public Library Friends & Foundation. The celebration featured live music by the Beer Bellies (led by former library trustee Martin Moore) memories from Jean Milstead, first chair of the Library Foundation, and Mary Burchill, co-founder of the Friends and new Friends & Foundation Chair.

SNIP. SEND. SUPPORT.

Our stronger, unified organization will bring you those epic booksales you've come to expect, over-the-top events, fundraisers you don't want to miss, and meaningful volunteer opportunities. Together, we'll keep the library a vibrant and essential community anchor that serves everyone in Lawrence.

Thank you. THE READER • 15


BC | Book Club KAB | Kid Advisory Board SR | Summer Reading

ST | Storytime TAB | Teen Advisory Board TZE | Teen Zone Expanded

MARCH

SUN

MON

TUE

1 PM | Tail Wagging Readers 2 PM | CHAMPSS 3 PM | Kids+Teens RAL Book Giveaway 3:30 PM | Sunday ST 4 PM | Queer BC SR T-Shirt Design Contest starts

1

10:30 AM | Toddler ST 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery 6:30 PM | Sing+Rhyme ST

2

10:30 AM | Library ST 3 PM | Resource Drop-In 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Books+Babies 6 PM | Tutoring Club 7 PM | Danny Caine + Kara Wray

8

10:30 AM | Toddler ST 2 PM | Movie Party 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery 4 PM | TAB 6:30 PM | Sing+Rhyme ST 7 PM | Diverse Dialogues

9

10:30 AM | Library ST 3 PM | Resource Drop-In 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Books+Babies 6 PM | Tutoring Club 7 PM | Speculative Fiction BC

10

3:30 PM | Sunday ST 4 PM | Social Justice BC

3

1:30 PM | Mystery BC 2 PM | Video Game Music 3:30 PM | Sunday ST 6 PM | Author Skype Pizza Party

15

10:30 AM | Toddler ST 3 PM | Stay Ahead of Scammers 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery 6:30 PM | Sing+Rhyme ST 7 PM | Paint the Town REaD BC

16

10 AM | Wii Sports 10:30 AM | Library ST 3 PM | Resource Drop-In 4 PM | Teen Queer BC 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Books+Babies 6 PM | Tutoring Club

17

1 PM | Lego Club 3:30 PM | Sunday ST

22

10:30 AM | Toddler ST 12:30 PM | Homeschool Hours 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery 6:30 PM | Sing+Rhyme ST

23

10 AM | Wii Sports 10:30 AM | Library ST 3 PM | Resource Drop-In 4:30 PM | AUMI Jam 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Books+Babies 6 PM | Tutoring Club 6:30 PM | All About Tomatoes

24

29

10:30 AM | Toddler ST 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery 6:30 PM | Sing+Rhyme ST 7 PM | Stopping Sexual Violence

30

10 AM | Wii Sports 10:30 AM | Library ST 3 PM | 20-Min Travelogues 3 PM | Resource Drop-In 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Books+Babies 6 PM | Tutoring Club

31

2 PM | Authors+Artists Outside 3:30 PM | Deja's Reading Rainbow 4 PM | Music at Your Library

16 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY


WED

THU

FRI

4

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 9:30, 10:30 AM | Toddler ST 4 PM | D&D Club 7 PM | Library ST 7 PM | YA for Grownups

5

11

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 9:30, 10:30 AM | Toddler ST 2 PM | Game-a-thon 4 PM | Lego Club 7 PM | Library ST 7 PM | 2nd Thu BC 7 PM | A Murderous Relation

12

10:30 AM | RAL Storytime 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | TZ Café 5 PM | SMART Recovery 7 PM | Friday 13th Society

13

9:30 AM | Homebuyer Wkshop 10 AM | Mindful Crafting 10:30 AM | Cuentacuentos / Spanish ST 3:30 PM | Magic Tree House Club

18

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 9:30, 10:30 AM | Toddler ST 7 PM | Library ST

19

10:30 AM | Library ST 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | Tween Club 4 PM | TZ Café 5 PM | SMART Recovery

20

10 AM | Tutoring Club 10:30 AM | Multicultural ST 1 PM | Super Smash Bros 4 PM | Chess Club

25

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 9:30, 10:30 AM | Toddler ST 4 PM | KAB 6 PM | Photoshop 7 PM | Library ST

26

10:30 AM | Library ST 11:30 AM | Bilingual Lunch 2 PM | Wind Science 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | TZ Café 5 PM | SMART Recovery

27

9:30 AM | Practice ACT Test 10 AM | Tutoring Club 10:30 AM | Cuentacuentos / Spanish ST 1 PM | Tail Wagging Readers 3 PM | Off Page, Onto Screen 3 PM | Census 2020 Bash

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 9:30, 10:30 AM | Books+Babies 2 PM | TZE: Tea Taste Test 3 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | Front Desk Café 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6 PM | Yoga 6:30 PM | Toddler ST 7:30 PM | Trees, Shrubs, Woody Vines

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 9:30, 10:30 AM | Books+Babies 2 PM | Writing Power 3 PM | Minecraft Party 3 PM | Tutoring Club 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6:30 PM | Toddler ST 7 PM | Short Story BC

6

SAT

10:30 AM | Library ST 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | Tween Club 4 PM | TZ Café 5 PM | S+V Basics 5 PM | SMART Recovery 7 PM | Teens-Only Movie

10 AM | Kaw Valley Fiber Day 10 AM | Tutoring Club 10:30 AM | Multicultural ST 3 PM | Engage, Connect, Protect 4 PM | Chess Club

7

14

7 PM | Louise Erdrich

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 9:30, 10:30 AM | Books+Babies 2 PM | TZE: Sci-Fi Fantasy Party 3 PM | Caregiver Support Group 3 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | Art Party 4 PM | Gen / Local Hist Drop-In 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6:30 PM | Toddler ST 6:30 PM | Nature BC 7 PM | My Dark Vanessa 9 AM | 1 Million Cups 9:30, 10:30 AM | Books+Babies 1:30 PM | Life Stories 2 PM | TZE: DIY Self-Care 3 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | Front Desk BC 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6:30 PM | Toddler ST 7 PM | BFF Drag Bingo 7 PM | Last Wed BC

21

28

March is Read Across Lawrence for Kids + Teens! Find all RAL events in our special brochure that hits library desks starting March 1.

KIDS + TEENS

Many thanks to our partners at KU Libraries and the University of Kansas for designing these every year.

THE READER • 17


APRIL

SUN

ST | Storytime TAB | Teen Advisory Board TZE | Teen Zone Expanded

TUE

April is Read Across Lawrence for Adults! Find all RAL events in our special brochure that hits library desks starting March 1.

ADULTS

Many thanks to our partners at KU Libraries and the University of Kansas for designing these every year.

5

1 PM | Tail Wagging Readers 2 PM | Wakarusa Wetlands 3:30 PM | Sunday ST 4 PM | Queer BC

1:30 PM | Myst Mustache BC 3:30 PM | Sunday ST

6

10 AM | Wii Sports 10:30 AM | Library ST 3 PM | Resource Drop-In 4 PM | Eco-Entrepreneurs

7

5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Books+Babies 6 PM | Tutoring Club

12

10:30 AM | Toddler ST 12:30 PM | Homeschool Hours 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery 4 PM | Kids in the Kitchen 4 PM | TAB 6:30 PM | Sing+Rhyme ST

13

10 AM | Wii Sports 10:30 AM | Library ST 3 PM | Resource Drop-In 4 PM | Eco-Entrepreneurs 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Books+Babies 6 PM | Tutoring Club 6:30 PM | Plant Life 101 7 PM | Speculative Fiction BC

14

19

10:30 AM | Toddler ST 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery 4 PM | Kids in the Kitchen 6:30 PM | Sing+Rhyme ST 7 PM | Paint the Town REaD BC

20

10 AM | Wii Sports 10:30 AM | Library ST 3 PM | Resource Drop-In 4 PM | Eco-Entrepreneurs 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Books+Babies

21

10:30 AM | Toddler ST 12:30 PM | Homeschool Hours 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery 4 PM | Kids in the Kitchen 6:30 PM | Sing+Rhyme ST

27

10 AM | Wii Sports 10:30 AM | Library ST 3 PM | Resource Drop-In 4:30 PM | AUMI Jam 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Books+Babies 6 PM | Tutoring Club 6:30 PM | Repotting 101

28

2:30 PM | Susan Orlean National Library Week begins

26

12 PM | Book Sale 1 PM | Lego Club 3:30 PM | Sunday ST Day 4 | Paper Plains Literary Festival

18 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

10:30 AM | Toddler ST 2 PM | CHAMPSS 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery 4 PM | Kids in the Kitchen 6:30 PM | Sing+Rhyme ST

CLOSED

BC | Book Club KAB | Kid Advisory Board SR | Summer Reading

MON


WED

THU

FRI

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 9:30, 10:30 AM | Toddler ST 94 P M | Teen D&D Club 7 PM | Library ST 7 PM | YA for Grownups

2

3

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 9:30, 10:30 AM | Books+Babies 1:30 PM | Life Stories 2 PM | TZE: Music Bingo 3 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | Kid President 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6:30 PM | Toddler ST Call for Summer VolunTeens starts

1

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 9:30, 10:30 AM | Books+Babies 2 PM | TZE: Cartoons and Pancakes 3 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | Kid President 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6:15 PM | Yoga 6:30 PM | Toddler ST 7 PM | Short Story BC

8

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 9:30, 10:30 AM | Toddler ST 4 PM | Lego Club 7 PM | Library ST 7 PM | 2nd Thu BC

9

15

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 9:30, 10:30 AM | Toddler ST 4 PM | Writing Club 7 PM | Library ST

22

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 9:30, 10:30 AM | Toddler ST 4 PM | KAB 5 PM | Members' Book Sale 7 PM | Library ST Day 1 | Paper Plains Literary Festival

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 9:30, 10:30 AM | Books+Babies 2 PM | TZE: Future Foods 3 PM | Caregiver Support Group 3 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | Kid President 4 PM | Gen / Local Hist Drop-In 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6:30 PM | Toddler ST 7 PM | Book That Changed America

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 9:30, 10:30 AM | Books+Babies 3 PM | Earth Day: Climate Diet 2 PM | TZE: Native Plants 3 PM | Tutoring Club 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6 PM | Gmail Essential Training 6:30 PM | Toddler ST

29

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 9:30, 10:30 AM | Books+Babies 2 PM | TZE: DIY Sustainability 3 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | Kid President 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6:30 PM | Toddler ST 7 PM | Downsizing 101 7 PM | Last Wed BC

SAT 9 AM | Preschool Fair 9 AM | Journal Quilting 10:30 AM | Multicultural ST 4 PM | Chess Club

4

CLOSED 10 AM l AARP Smart Driver 10:30 AM | Library ST 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | TZ Café 5 PM | Modular Synthesis 101 5 PM | SMART Recovery

10

10 AM | Mindful Crafting 10 AM | Tutoring Club 10:30 AM | Cuentacuentos / Spanish ST 2 PM | Secret of the Magic Crystal 3:30 PM | Magic Tree House Club

16

10:30 AM | Library ST 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | Tween Club 4 PM | TZ Café 5 PM | SMART Recovery

17

9:30 AM | Practice SAT Test 10 AM | Tutoring Club 10:30 AM | Multicultural ST 1 PM | Super Smash Bros 3 PM | Climate Panel 4 PM | Chess Club

23

10 AM | Book Sale 10:30 AM | Library ST 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | TZ Café 5 PM | SMART Recovery

24

9 AM | Bus Pass Giveaway 10 AM | Book Sale 10:30 AM | Cuentacuentos / Spanish ST 1 PM | Tail Wagging Readers 3 PM | Off Page, Onto Screen Day 3 | Paper Plains Literary Festival National Library Week ends

7 PM | Colson Whitehead

Day 2 | Paper Plains Literary Festival

11

18

25

30

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 9:30, 10:30 AM | Toddler ST 6:30 PM | Small Business Storytime 7 PM | Library ST Call for Summer VolunTeens ends

THE READER • 19


BC | Book Club KAB | Kid Advisory Board SR | Summer Reading

ST | Storytime TAB | Teen Advisory Board TZE | Teen Zone Expanded

MAY

SUN

MON

TUE

Summer Reading 2020

Imagine Your Story Cuéntame Tu Historia

STARTS MAY 21 1 PM | Tail Wagging Readers 2 PM | Capture Sound with RODE 4 PM | Queer BC

3

10:30 AM | Dance Party 2 PM | CHAMPSS 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery

4

3 PM | Resource Drop-In 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Tutoring Club 6 PM | Just Cook

5

4 PM | Social Justice BC

10

12:30 PM | Homeschool Hours 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery 4 PM | TAB

11

3 PM | Resource Drop-In 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Tutoring Club 6 PM | Just Cook 7 PM | Speculative Fiction BC

12

1:30 PM | Mystery BC 1:30 PM | Myst Mustache BC

17

7 PM | Paint the Town REaD BC 3:30 PM | SMART Recovery

18

3 PM | Resource Drop-In 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Just Cook

19

25

3 PM | Resource Drop-In 4:30 PM | AUMI Jam 5 PM | Tech Drop-In 6 PM | Just Cook

26

CLOSED

20 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

24

31

CLOSED


THU

WED

SAT

FRI 11:30 AM | Bilingual Lunch 3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 3:30 PM | Tween Club 4 PM | TZ Café 5 PM | S+V Basics 5 PM | SMART Recovery 7 PM | Teens-Only Movie

1

4 PM | Chess Club

2

6

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 4 PM | D&D Club 7 PM | Lawrence Talks 7 PM | YA for Grownups

7

3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | TZ Café 5 PM | SMART Recovery

8

8 AM | Bird Walk 10 AM | Mindful Crafting 10 AM | Tutoring Club 2 PM | Bike Repair Clinic

9

13

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 7 PM | 2nd Thu BC 7 PM | Lorraine Cannistra

14

3:30 PM | Tutoring Club 4 PM | TZ Café 5 PM | SMART Recovery

15

1 PM | Super Smash Bros 4 PM | Chess Club

16

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 2 PM | TZE: School’s Out Party 3 PM | Caregiver Support Group 4 PM | Gen / Local Hist Drop-In 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6 PM | iPhone / iPad Training

20

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In 3 PM | 20-Min Travelogues First Day of Summer Reading

21

5 PM | SMART Recovery

22

1 PM | Repair Studio 3 PM | Off Page, Onto Screen

23

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 5 PM | SMART Recovery 7 PM | Last Wed BC

27

9 AM | Safe Space Drop-In

28

5 PM | SMART Recovery

29

9 AM | Children’s Book Sale Summer Reading Kickoff

30

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 2 PM | TZE: Anime Bingo 3 PM | Tutoring Club 5 PM | SMART Recovery 7 PM | Dockum Drugstore Sit-in

9 AM | 1 Million Cups 2 PM | TZE: Cartoons and Pancakes 3 PM | Tutoring Club 5 PM | SMART Recovery 6:15 PM | Yoga 7 PM | Short Story BC

THE READER • 21


Library events are free, casual, and open to the public. As events are subject to change, please visit lplks.org to confirm location date and time closer to your event.

ALL AGES

Music at Your Library

SUN | Mar 29 | 4-5 PM | AUD

Students from the String Department of the KU School of Music will play pieces from their repertoire.

Friends & Foundation Spring Book Sale

Kaw Valley Fiber Day

SAT | Mar 7 | 10 AM–3 PM | AUD

Join the Kaw Valley Fiber Guild group of spinners, weavers, knitters, crocheters, basket makers, and anyone else who uses and creates with fibers of any kind.

Get Counted! Census 2020 Bash SAT | Mar 28 | 3-5 PM | AUD and LOB

Enjoy live music, snacks, and connecting with community members. Tablets will be available for filling out your Census survey, as well as lots of information about why it’s so important that #KansasCounts. Past undercounts of Native populations have deprived hundreds of thousands of Native Americans of their voice in government. In partnership with Read Across Lawrence we'll give away copies of The Round House by Louise Erdrich at this event to celebrate and amplify Indigenous voices within and outside of our community.

FRI–SAT | Apr 23–24 | 10 AM–6 PM | FG SUN | Apr 25 | 12–4 PM | FG

Spring reads are blooming at our first book sale of the year. With topics ranging from the ABCs to quantum mechanics, you're sure to find the perfect book. Items are priced $2 and under, so you can afford to boost your collection and support your library. For more info: LPLFF.org

All Ages Self Defense Workshop SAT | May 2 | 1-2 PM | AUD

ASR ATR AUD LAW LOB RT TZ

LOWER LEVEL Meeting Room A Meeting Room B Meeting Room C Friends' Garage Local History Room SOUND+VISION Studio

A B C FG LH S+V

TUE l Mar 3 l 9:30 AM–3:30 PM l AUD Free, but registration required Grants are a vital piece in your community's funding puzzle, and you can do it. Learn sources of data for community needs, where to find grants, elements of a great grant proposal, and practicing the grant elements with Nancy Daniels, Community Vitality Specialist, K-State Research and Extension. Register by Feb 27 to get the free lunch at tinyurl.com/wdww5kg or 785-843-7058. Event co-sponsored by K-State Research and Extension, Douglas County Community Foundation, and Lawrence Public Library.

Book Launch Party: Danny Caine, Kara Wray, and El Dorado Freddy’s TUE | Mar 3 | 7-8:30 PM | AUD

Summer Reading Kickoff Party

El Dorado Freddy's may be the first book of fast food poetry. In "Cracker Barrel," "Olive Garden," "Culver's," and other poems, Caine "reviews" chain restaurants, taking on topics including parenting, politics, the Midwest, and chicken fingers along the way. Caine's deceptively accomplished and funny poems are paired with Tara Wray's color-drenched photos resulting in a literary, yet goofy book about American food and identity set in a Midwestern landscape.

Save the date for the best summer reading party in town! Watch lplks.org for info.

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines in Kansas

ADULTS

Craig Freeman from the Kansas Biological Survey will present the new edition of the definitive Kansas guide, co-authored with Michael John Haddock.

Prime Martial Arts instructors Fe and Chris will show all ages/skill levels how to stay safe with strangers and deal with bullies. A high-energy vibe with hands-on techniques.

First Day of Summer Reading THU | May 21 | All day

Get a reading log, start tracking your time, and “imagine your story” with us all summer! SAT | May 30

MAIN LEVEL Atrium Study Room Atrium Auditorium Library Lawn Lobby Readers' Theater Teen Zone

Grant Writing Workshop

1 Million Cups Lawrence WEDS | 9–10 AM | AUD

We believe that conversations taking place over one million cups of coffee can make a measurable impact on the entrepreneur ecosystem and economics of Lawrence, KS. Each week, the 1MC program offers local startups an opportunity to present their companies to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors, and entrepreneurs. Join us and help us reach our goal of 1 Million Cups! Info: Taylor LaRue: taylornlarue@ku.edu

22 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

WED | Mar 4 | 7:30–8:30 PM | AUD

Diverse Dialogues: Writing and the Incarceration Experience MON | Mar 9 | 7-8 PM | AUD

Mike Hartnett and Antonio Sanchez-Day will talk about their new books. Harnett’s And I Cried Too: Confronting Evil in a Small Town is a memoir of his involvement in a notorious murder case in Lincoln, Illinois in the 70s. Taking on Life is Sanchez’s poetry collection about his 13-year incarceration in Kansas and renunciation of gang life.


An Evening with Louise Erdrich WED | Mar 11 | 7-8:30 PM | Haskell

In the Haskell Auditorium Haskell Indian Nations University 155 Indian Avenue | Lawrence, KS Made possible by The Raven Book Store In partnership with the Raven Book Store and Haskell Indian Nations University, we are honored to welcome one of the most revered novelists of our time to Lawrence. Louise Erdrich will talk about her latest book The Night Watchman. Based on the extraordinary life of Erdrich’s grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman.

Deana Raybourn: A Murderous Relation

THU | Mar 12 | 7-8:30 PM | AUD

This New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-nominated author will talk about the latest book in her Veronica Speedwell Mystery Series. Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian colleague Stoker are asked to help with a potential scandal so explosive it threatens to rock the monarchy. Prince Albert Victor is a regular visitor to the most exclusive private club in London and Veronica and Stoker are asked to retrieve a jewel from before scandal can break. Meanwhile, London is gripped by hysteria from history's most notorious and elusive serial killer, Jack the Ripper. The Raven will have copies of Rayboun’s work and a signing will follow after the talk.

Homebuyer Workshop

SAT | Mar 14 | 9:30 AM–1:30 PM | AUD

Learn more about the entire home buying process from start to finish, including what to consider when looking for a house, credit and budgeting, meeting with lenders, scheduling inspections, and more. You'll get a HUD-certified education completion certificate required by many loan programs.

Offered free in collaboration with Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. and Housing & Credit Counseling, Inc.

Mindful Crafting

SAT | Mar 14, Apr 11, May 9 | 10 AM–12 PM | C Free, but registration required; opens one month prior to each program. Join us for art-making and creative play, and connect with other crafters to explore crafting and art-making as it relates to health and mindfulness. Mar 14 | Design and sculpt your own “spirit doll” from found objects, drawing inspiration from your own strengths and sources of resilience. Led by art therapist Cara Weeks Neuburger ATR, LCPC.

Apr 11 | Hand sew and create with needle, thread, sequins, and beads. We'll explore the possibilities of these materials while working on small projects like a wearable brooch. Led by local artist Kristin Morland. May 9 | Learn paper casting techniques and create reliefs by constructing molds using handmade paper. Led by Betsy Roe, fiber sculptor and Gallery Educator.

Katherine Elizabeth Russell: My Dark Vanessa WED | Mar 18 | 7-8:30 PM | AUD

This stunning and much-anticipated debut novel follows Vanessa Wye as she grapples with sexual abuse allegations against a teacher with whom she had a relationship as a teen. Alternating between her present and her past, My Dark Vanessa juxtaposes memory and trauma with the breathless excitement of a teenage girl discovering the power her own body can wield. This book raises vital questions about agency, consent, complicity, and victimhood. A signing will follow Russell's talk and the Raven Book Store will bring copies of her book for purchase.

Genealogy + Local History Drop-In WED | Mar 18, Apr 15, May 20 | 4–5 PM | LH

Stop by with your questions, learn about library resources for exploring community history and researching your family tree.

All About Tomatoes

TUE | Mar 24 | 6:30-7:30 PM | AUD

Learn the history of the tomato and its wide array of varieties, what "indeterminate" means, what makes a tomato an heirloom, the full cycle of growing tomatoes from seed to ripe fruit, and ideas for using your bounty. Ruth Ellen Bartels, Emeritus Douglas County Master Gardener, takes us on an exploration of all things tomato!

BFF Drag Bingo with Deja Brooks WED | Mar 25 | 7–9 PM | Maceli’s 1031 New Hampshire | Lawrence, KS

Join us at Maceli's for another rowdy night of bawdy bingo. Enjoy ten themed games, win bookish prizes, and support the library while you're at it. Cost is $10 at the door; Friends & Foundation donors get in free.

Read Across Lawrence + NEH Big Read Adult Book Giveaway SAT | Mar 28 | 3-5 PM | AUD and LOB

Pick up your copy of The Round House by Louise Erdrich and fill out just 10 easy census questions while you're here at our 2020 Census Bash (see page 22.)

Local Authors + Artists Outside SUN | Mar 29 | 2–3:30 PM 710 Missouri | Lawrence, KS

Artist Nick Schmiedeler and poet Danny Caine will share their work to enhance our connections to community and a sense of place. Enjoy a poetry reading, peruse a plethora of art, then take a walking tour of interesting nearby neighborhood spots. Offered in partnership with the Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Office and Raven Book Store. In the case of inclement weather, we'll cancel.

Stopping Sexual Violence: A Community Approach MON | Mar 30 | 7-8:30 PM | AUD

Jennifer Hirsch and Shamus Khan will present insights from their book Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study of Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus. Grounded in the THE READER • 23


intimate, often painful accounts of the human beings at its center, they show how we can address this endemic problem in college life and across our community by empowering teachers, policy makers, parents, and students. The Raven will have copies of their book for purchase and a signing will follow the talk.

Journal Quilting

SAT | Apr 4 | 9 AM–5 PM w/ lunch break | A Free, but registration required With fabric, you'll make about an 18” x 16" quilted wall piece at this 1-day workshop with Kellogg Sisters Feed & Seed and use your creativity to uncover some of life’s big questions. Bring ideas or issues you'd like to explore and get guided help in creating your journal quilt. No sewing or quilting experience needed.

Wakarusa Wetlands Celebration

SUN | Apr 5 | 2–4 PM | Haskell University 155 Indian Avenue | Lawrence, KS

We’ll start with a land recognition at the Medicine Wheel Earthwork south of the Haskell Campus buildings. Local authors and artists will share their creative work, connection to the wetlands and outside world, and enhance our connections to nature, a sense of place, and community. Featuring Dr. Daniel Wildcat, Ken Lassman, Dave Loewenstein, Lora Jost, Kelly Barth, Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Stan Herd, and Dr. Jay T. Johnson. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Offered in partnership with Haskell Indian Nations University, the Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Office, and Raven Book Store. In case of inclement weather, we'll cancel.

Plant Life 101

TUE | Apr 14 | 6:30-7:30 PM | C Free, but registration required This basic indoor gardening class covers how to choose the best plant for your space and lifestyle, how and when to repot, and how to troubleshoot when things aren't going so well. You'll leave confident about bringing plants into your home. Led by Soil Sister Allison Lewis. 24 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Meet KU Authors: Randall Fuller's The Book that Changed America WED | Apr 15 | 7-8:30 PM | AUD

Throughout its history America has been torn in two by debates over ideals and beliefs. Fuller takes us back to one of those turning points, in 1860, with the story of the influence of Charles Darwin's just-published On the Origin of Species on five American intellectuals, including Bronson Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, the child welfare reformer Charles Loring Brace, and the abolitionist Franklin Sanborn. Each of these figures seized on the book's assertion of a common ancestry for all creatures as a powerful argument against slavery, one that helped provide scientific credibility to the cause of abolition. But some had difficulty aligning the new theory to their religious convictions and their faith in a higher power. Thoreau, perhaps the most profoundly affected all, absorbed Darwin's views into his mysterious final work on species migration and the interconnectedness of all living things. The Book That Changed America offers a compelling portrait of a unique moment in American history when the ideas of Charles Darwin reshaped American notions about nature, religion, science and race. Randall Fuller is the winner of the Phi Beta Kappa's Christian Gauss Award for best literary criticism and has written for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and has receieved fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities. He is the Herman Melville Distinguished Professor of American Literature. Offered in partnership with the Hall Center for the Humanities.

Celebrate National Library Week with Susan Orlean SUN | Apr 19 | 2:30-4 PM | Liberty Hall 646 Massachusetts | Lawrence, KS

The Library Friends & Foundation are kicking off National Library Week with a visit from author Susan Orlean. She'll share her experiences researching her latest work, The Library Book. This New

York Times bestseller and notable book tells the story of the 1986 arson fire at the Los Angeles Public Library. Orlean reveals how public libraries provide much more than just books—and why they remain an essential part of the heart, mind, and soul of our country. Made possible by the BNSF Foundation.

An Evening with Colson Whitehead

FRI | Apr 24 | 7-8:30 PM | LMCMS Liberty Memorial Central Middle School 1400 Massachusetts | Lawrence, KS

In partnership with The Commons at KU, The Hall Center for the Humanities, and Paper Plains Literary Festival, we're excited to host Colson Whitehead as our 2020 Ross and Marianna Beach author. Whitehead is the author of six novels including The Underground Railroad, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. His latest, The Nickel Boys, was long-listed for the 2019 National Book Award, received the Kirkus Prize, and is a New York Times bestseller.

Book Club Speed Dating

SUN | Apr 26 | 4-5:30 PM | Maceli's 1031 New Hampshire | Lawrence, KS Free, but registration required When you're cruising for books, you'll come up a winner with your librarian as your matchmaker! We’ll highlight new and popular reads, and you’ll leave with dozens of hot numbers. Maceli's will have delicious snacks on-hand and the bar will be open for biz. This is offered in conjunction with the Paper Plains Literary Festival. Registration opens online Apr 1.

Repotting 101

TUE | Apr 28 | 6:30-7:30 PM | B Free, but registration required Whether you just brought home a new plant or you inherited your grandma's forelorn ficus, this class aims to give you basic skills to identify when and how to repot most classic indoor house plants. Prepare to get a little dirty — and have fun — as we repot and enjoy plants together. Led by Soil Sister Allison Lewis.


Small Business Storytime: Phoenix Woodworking

THU | Apr 30 | 6:30–7:30 PM | AUD

Ever wondered what it’s like to start and build a business of your own? Well then, settle in with us for a Small Business Storytime! Phoenix Woodworking, which employs at-risk community members, is a rare example of a Kansas Benefit Corp — a business structure that places emphasis on social good over profit-making. Shine Adams and Neil Gaskin will be here to share the story behind this local small business, and the lessons they've learned along the way.

Just Cook

TUE | May 5,12,19,26 | 6–7:30 PM | AUD Free, but registration required Learn to cook healthy meals for around $2 a serving. Prepare your own dinner with Just Food's trained professionals, then stay and eat together. New recipes with every class. Adults, teens, parents and kids welcome. Registration opens Mar 1.

Prisca Barnes and the Dockum Drugstore Sit-in WED | May 6 | 7-8 PM | AUD

In July 1958, Black students gathered at downtown Wichita’s Dockum Drugstore to stage a peaceful protest against the unequal practice of segregation. Tired of being denied access to the city’s movie theaters and restaurants, students took action and turned their attention to the lunch counter at the popular drugstore. What happened during the three-week sit-in? What caused it to end? And why was its importance recognized by so few at the time? This presentation discusses the details of the sit-in, explores how these protests helped transform the struggle for racial equality in America, and considers contemporary non-violent protests. Prisca Barnes is the founder of Storytime Village, a nonprofit promoting reading among low-income children. Event presented by Humanities Kansas.

Lawrence Talks

Repair Studio

What makes a life worth living? Or what does a good life consist of? How do we know when we've achieved or are living the good life? There are so many ways we could answer these questions, but how we answer them only brings on further questions and challenges. In this Lawrence Talks production, we explore the many ways a good life has been conceived and the ways we can measure well-being. Join us to find out whether you're living the “good” life.

Calling all bicycles in need of care! Bring in your bike to the Library Lawn and we’ll work with you to try to fix it.

THU | May 7 | 7-8 PM | C

Baker Wetlands Bird Walk

SAT | May 9 | 8–9:30 AM | Wetlands Baker Wetlands Discovery Center 1365 N 1250 Road | Lawrence, KS

Grab your binoculars or borrow Baker’s, and come join us on our fourth annual birding expedition to the Baker Wetlands with Dr. Roger Boyd, at the peak of spring migration on World Migratory Bird Day!

Lorraine Cannistra: More the Same than Different

THU | May 14 | 7-8 PM | AUD

Have you ever seen a wheelchair user who you thought might need some help, but you weren't sure what to do? Have you ever wanted to start a conversation with someone who has a speech impediment but were afraid you might be awkward and say something offensive? Lorraine Cannistra, blogger and writer for Chicken Soup for the Soul, will talk about her book More the Same than Different: What I Wish People Knew About Respecting and Including People with Disabilities. Hers is a practical guide for anyone who may not have much experience interacting with people with disabilities and wants to feel more comfortable. Full of strategies and skills to implement, as well as stories from Lorraine's personal experience, this book includes various scenarios and explains, from Lorraine's perspective, what people did right and what could have happened differently.

SAT | May 23 | 1–3 PM | LAW

BOOK CLUBS Engage, Connect, Protect Book Discussion SAT | Mar 7 | 3–5 PM | A

Join Shirley and Jake for a discussion on Angelou Ezeilo's thought-provoking and practical debut book full of heartfelt personal and professional stories about connecting and advocating for the natural world. Reserve your spot and copy of the book with Shirley at sbraunlich@lplks.org. In partnership with the Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Office.

Last Wednesday Book Club Last WEDS | 7-8 PM | A

Join Ian for the library's longest-running adult book club! Selections range from beloved classics to modern favorites. If you've read this month's book, come and participate. Mar 25 | Less by Andrew Greer Apr 29 | Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead May 27 | Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast

Mystery Book Club

SUNS | Mar 15, May 17 | 1:30-3:30 PM | A

Join us for a different mystery subgenre each meeting. This lively discussion brings a variety of people together to talk about what they're reading and learn about diverse authors and characters. To reserve a spot and a book from our list, email Shirley at sbraunlich@lplks.org.

Looking for your event location? See p. 22 to learn what letters like TZ (Teen Zone) mean. THE READER • 25


Mar 15 | Place-Based Mysteries May 17 | Own Voices Mysteries (authors who share an identity with their character)

Nature Book Club

WED | Mar 18 | 6:30–8 PM | A

Join us before the Spring Equinox to talk about fiction or nonfiction books that connect to the natural world. Share what you’re reading and Jake and Shirley will give you new recommendations.

Paint the Town REaD Book Club

3rd MONS | 7-8 PM | A Join Kaitlin for a book club that goes beyond the page and into the community. Paint the Town REaD will curate monthly book selections that incorporate and expand conversations from local, related events. Mar 16 | The Round House by Louise Erdrich Apr 20 | The Library Book by Susan Orlean May 18 | Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz

Queer Book Club 1st SUNS | 4 PM | C

Why read queer books? Representation is important! Everyone wants to see themselves in their favorite book, go on adventures with characters they share something in common with, or discover authors with the same unique identities. For anyone who isn’t LGBTQIAP+ it's a great way to expand your reading horizons! Email Kimberly at klopez@lplks.org to reserve a book. Mar 1 | Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Apr 5 | Redefining Realness by Janet Mock May 3 | Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

26 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Second Thursday Book Club 2nd THUS | 7 PM | Oread Hotel 1200 Oread Avenue | Lawrence, KS

Read and discuss a new title each month over food and cocktails at The Oread. Free valet parking for book club members!

Mar 12 | The Library Book by Susan Orlean Apr 9 | The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead May 14 | Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Short Story Book Club 2nd WEDS | 7-8 PM | A

Join Ian each month to read a handful of stories (no more than 100 pages) and meet up to talk about 'em. Mar 11 | The Collected Stories by Grace Paley Apr 8 | Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah May 13 | The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson

Social Justice Book Club 2nd SUNS | 4 PM | A

Join Polli and get thinking and talking about inequality and injustice in the U.S. Nonfiction, novels, memoirs and more — we seek multiple perspectives, with multiple points of entry, and we work to center the voices of marginalized communities and people through our exploration. Mar 8 | LaRose by Louise Erdrich Apr 12 | Maid by Stephanie Land May 10 | Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Speculative Fiction Book Club 2nd TUES | 7 PM | B

If you're into world-building fantasy, eerie dystopias, and far-out sci-fi, Leah's book club is for you! If you have no idea what we’re talking about, but want to discuss weird books with cool people, this club is also for you! Speculative Fiction includes science fiction, fantasy, and several other subgenres.

March 10 | Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie April 14 | Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier May 12 | The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

YA for Grownups 1st THUS | 7PM | A

This group is for young-at-heart adults who still enjoy reading young adult fiction or anyone interested in exploring a variety of genres from the category. Kimberly welcomes anyone who's read the book to join in the discussion. Mar 5 | Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Apr 2 | Exit, Pursued by A Bear by E.K. Johnston

May 7 | The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

HEALTH SPOT + SMART Recovery Groups

No session Apr 3 and May 25 MONS | 3:30-5 PM | C WEDS | 5-6:30 PM | B FRIS | 5-6:30 PM | B

Self Management And Recovery Training supports individuals who have chosen to abstain or are considering abstinence from any type of addictive behavior like substance abuse or gambling addiction. Learn to change self-defeating thinking, emotions, and actions and work towards long-term quality and satisfaction.

Community Resource Drop-in TUES | 3–5:30 PM | A

Free walk-in consultations to connect you with the resources you need to thrive. Bring questions about food assistance, housing programs, job searches, or other services in Lawrence or Douglas County. All are welcome and encouraged to dropin during these sessions. We can help connect you to info for housing, food, shelter, employment, insurance and health care, disability support, senior support. There is no question too big or too small!


Safe Space Drop-in

THUS | 9 AM–12 PM | ASR

Sexual trauma, domestic violence, and human trafficking are public health issues affecting everyone in our community. Trained advocates from Willow and the Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center will host drop-in sessions in an informal and confidential setting where you can learn about the full range of crisis, advocacy, and support services offered right here in our community.

CHAMPSS Orientation

MON | Mar 2, Apr 6, May 4 | 2-3:30 PM | AUD

Nutrition program for people ages 60+. For more information call Beth Kinnan at 785-235-1367.

Yoga @ Your Library

WED | Mar 4 | 6-7 PM | AUD WED | Apr 8, May 13 | 6:15-7:15 PM | AUD

Join Sally McVey for an hour of Yin yoga, a slow-paced style of yoga that anyone can do. Just bring a mat and a desire to learn!

Caregiver Support

WED | Mar 18, Apr 15, May 20 3-4:30 PM | B

If you are a caregiver for a family member or other loved one, you may sometimes feel alone or overwhelmed — many caregivers need time to vent in a safe space. This monthly meeting, led by Michele Dillon of the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, is a place to give and receive support and connection with other caregivers. Any questions, call Michele: 785-832-0754. A glamour shot of our custom synth

Looking for your event location?

See p. 22 to learn what letters like ASR (Atrium Study Room) mean.

TECH Tech Drop-In

TUES | 5-6 PM | B

Bring your gadgets and questions for help from our resident techies. Walk-in format on a first-come, first-served basis.

SOUND+VISION Basics

Photoshop 2020: Tips + Tricks

Tour the library's SOUND+VISION Studio and learn about booking a session. We'll cover microphones, digital audio work station apps, the S+V video room, and more. Come see what you can create!

The SOUND+VISION Studio at LPL offers the full Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop 2020. Want to learn more about Photoshop? Whether you're an experienced user or a total newbie, this program is for you. Resident tech-staffgraphic-designer Tanner will show you hot new tips and tricks in Photoshop 2020 and answer questions along the way.

FRI | Mar 6, May 1 | 5-6 PM | S+V

Video Game Music: A Tech Evolution

SUN | Mar 15 | 2-3 PM | AUD

Video games have come a LONG way. Gone are the days of pixelated graphics and 8-bit beeps. Today's games aren't just visually stunning; their musical scores can include entire symphonies conducted by world-renowned composers. Resident library expert, Joel Bonner, will walk you through a history of video game music from Pong to Final Fantasy and beyond. You'll learn the stories behind the most influential video game music and the technological advances that made it all possible.

THU | Mar 26 | 6-7 PM | C

Gmail Essential Training WED | Apr 22 | 6-7 PM | C

Email is important. Understand it better! Gmail is the world's most popular email service, and for good reason. It looks great, is easy to use, and offers powerful spam filtering as well as easy integration with Google apps. Let our library tech staff walk you through Gmail Essential Training — everything you need to know to get the most from your email.

Modular Synthesis 101

Capture Your Sound with Rode Mics

Check out the library’s SOUND+VISION custom modular synthesizer. Learn what the different modules do, how to connect them, and construct basic “patches.”

Join Ryan White from Rode Microphones as he demonstrates microphone types, techniques, and selection to help you capture your perfect sound!

FRI | Apr 10 | 5 PM | S+V

SUN | May 3 | 2-3:30 PM | S+V

AUMI Jam

iPhone / iPad Training

What is AUMI? The Adaptive Use Musical Instruments app let you to play sounds and musical phrases with minimal movement and gestures. We focus on improv using the synth-like technology rather than traditional musical phrasing and notes. Anyone can make music with AUMI!

Get the most out of your Apple iPhone or iPad. Whether you need help with the basics or you're ready for something a little more advanced, we can help with that. In this program, our tech staff will walk through iPhone / iPad basics and then dive into tips and tricks to help you get the most from your mobile device.

TUE | Mar 24, Apr 28, May 26 4:30-6 PM | S+V

WED | May 20 | 6-7 PM | C

THE READER • 27


RETIREMENT BOOT CAMP Wii Sports

You’ll receive a free copy for you and your family. We’re offering two sessions, each with a different theme, or you can come up with your own. Reserve a 20-minute session and email chamilton@lplks.org.

Read Across Lawrence Book Giveaway SUN | Mar 1 | 3 PM | ATR

Come grab your copy of our Read Across Lawrence book, Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram. You can also hear about what we have planned for Read Across Lawrence and sign up for events.

TUE | Mar 17–Apr 28 | 10-11:30 AM | TZ Free, but registration required

20-Minute Travelogues

The kids are in school, so we're taking over the Teen Zone. Join us for Wii Sports video games, make new friends, and wow the grandkids. No experience needed.

THU l May 21 l 3-4:30 PM | AUD Wrong Turns That End Right

Teen Zone Expanded

Learn about fantastic travel experiences, both near and far. We have two great sessions lined up for you, presented by adventurers from in and around Lawrence. Afterwards, we’ll walk over to Mass Street for a happy hour.

Head to the library on early release day for gaming, movies, and crafts.

Bilingual Lunch Bunch Registration required

We’re partnering with the Senior Resource Center for Douglas County to bring you this fabulously fun food program! We’ll meet at various restaurants in town, try different cuisines from around the world, and learn a few key words and phrases from native speakers while we’re at it. PS: please bring your lunch money. FRI l Mar 27 l 11:30 AM-1 PM l El Potro 3333 Iowa | Lawrence, KS FRI l May 1 l 11:30 AM-1 PM l Paisano’s 2112 W. 25th | Lawrence, KS

Stay 1 Step Ahead of Scammers MON l Mar 16 l 3-4:30 PM l AUD

Mary Tritsch from the AARP Fraud Watch Network will teach you how to spot and avoid scams and also will provide guidance on what to do when fraud happens. Then we’ll walk over to Mass Street for social hour. Presented in partnership with AARP Kansas, Community Village Lawrence and the Senior Resource Center for Douglas County.

Life Stories Recording Sessions

WED l Mar 25 l 1:30-4:30 PM March Madness: The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat WED l Apr 1 l 1:30-4:30 PM April Fools: What I Did for Love Free, but registration required Record your own life story video interview with former Journal World reporter Cathy Hamilton in our SOUND+VISION Studio. 28 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

TUE l Mar 31 l 3-4:30 PM | AUD Travel with Purpose with Pam Grout

AARP Smart Driver Course FRI | Apr 10 | 10 AM-3 PM | B Registration required

A course on driving techniques and related laws. Insurance discount certificates will be given to those who complete the class. Space is limited. Cost for the class is $15 for AARP members, $20 for non-members. Make payment to the instructor at the class.

Downsizing 101

WED l Apr 29 l 7-8:30 PM l AUD

Learn from experts on how to mentally prepare, physically remove, and profit from getting rid of your stuff. This informative class features Dave Ekerdt, KU professor of sociology and author of Downsizing: Confronting Our Possessions in Later Life.

TEENS Summer Reading T-Shirt Design Contest Mar 1–Apr 5 | TZ

Design the next Teen Summer Reading tee. This year’s theme is "Imagine Your Story" and if you win, more than 800 people will wear your creation. Grab an entry sheet and submit your design in the Teen Zone by Sunday, April 5.

WEDS | 2-5 PM | AUD or RT

Mar 4 | RAL: Tea Taste Test | AUD Mar 18 | RAL: Sci-Fi Fantasy Party | AUD Mar 25 | RAL: DIY Self-Care | AUD Apr 1 | Music Bingo | AUD Apr 8 | Retro Cartoons + Pancakes | AUD Apr 15 | Future Foods | AUD Apr 22 | Native Plants | RT Apr 29 | Sustainable Architecture | AUD May 6 | Anime Bingo | AUD May 13 | Retro Cartoons + Pancakes | AUD May 20 | School’s Out Party | AUD

Dungeons & Dragons Club

THU | Mar 5, Apr 2, May 7 | 4-7 PM | AUD

Hail and well met! Transform yourself into a magical character and join in the epic adventure for 5th edition D&D. Seasoned adventurers and first-timers are welcome. First come, first served until all spots are filled.

Teen Zone Café

FRIS | Mar 6–May 15 | 4-5 PM | TZ

Celebrate Fridays and relax with friends over a snack and tasty beverage. Every Fourth Friday come sing with friends at a special Karaoke Café in RT.

Teens-Only After Hours Movie FRI | Mar 6, May 1 | 7-9 PM | AUD

Teens take over the library after hours to watch a movie and eat popcorn. Vote in the Teen Zone for the movie you’d most like to see.


Teen Zone Homeschool Hours

Super Smash Bros Tournament

Bus Pass Giveaway

Hang out, play games, and create art! Homeschooled students ages 11-18 and their adults are invited to come to the Teen Zone for exclusive hours.

Once a month, come compete against your fellow gamers.

We're giving away summer bus passes to the first 100 teens entering grades 6-12 who come to the Teen Zone. They'll go fast, so get here early!

MON | Mar 23, Apr 13, Apr 27, May 11 12:30-2:30 PM | TZ

Teen Advisory Board

MON | Mar 9, Apr 13, May 11 | 4-5 PM | B

Join T.A.B. to help us make the library an even better place for teens and get free snacks! Apply in the Teen Zone or online at: lplks.org/teen-advisory-board

Message in The Margins Book Club

THU | Mar 5, Apr 9, May 7 | Lunch | LHS THU ​ | Mar 19, Apr 16, May 14 | Lunch | FSHS

Join the club that encourages writing in margins, underlining, and leaving notes. Books available at high school visits and every day during Teen Zone hours.

Minecraft Party

WED | Mar 11 | 3-5 PM | AUD

It's a Spring Break party! Try gaming in VR and making IRL Minecraft crafts, and hang out with your friends.

Friday the 13th Society FRI | Mar 13 | 7-9 PM | AUD

We're taking over the library after hours to tell ghost stories, play extreme hide and seek, and celebrate all things strange and unusual.

Teens-Only Queer Book Club: Read Across Lawrence Edition TUE | Mar 17 | 4-5 PM | A

Join us for a special teen edition of the new Queer Book Club! We’ll chat about stories that feature authors or characters with queer identities—because everyone should have a little pride in their reading. Featured book: Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram.

SAT | Mar 21, Apr 18, May 16 1-3 PM | RT

Practice ACT Test

SAT | Apr 25 | 9 AM | TZ

SAT | Mar 28 | 9:30 AM-1 PM | AUD Free, but registration required

Eco-Entrepreneurs

Take this FREE practice test to prepare for the real thing. Space is limited.

Let’s get down to business! We'll work together to create an eco-friendly product to sell locally and donate the proceeds to environmental nonprofits.

Off the Page, Onto the Screen SAT | Mar 28, Apr 25, May 23 3-5 PM | RT Free, but registration required

Bike Repair Clinic

Join us monthly for this teens-only book club. We read a book with a film adaptation, watch the movie, and then discuss the book versus the big screen! Mar | Mob Psycho v. 1 by ONE Apr | Dr. Stone v. 1 by Riichiro Inagaki May | Carole & Tuesday by Shinichirō Watanabe

Call for Summer VolunTeens Looking to volunteer this summer? Help out here! Applications due Apr 30. Visit our website or stop by the Teen Zone to apply.

Practice SAT Test

Learn the ins and outs of taking care of your bike, basic bike safety, and other tips from local cycling aficionados.

KIDS

SPECIAL EVENTS Ages 7-11 FRI | Mar 27 | 2-3 PM | AUD

Come learn about the power and science of wind with us. We’ll have lots of fun, hands-on activities!

Deja's Reading Rainbow

SAT | Apr 18 | 9:30 AM-1 PM | AUD

Take this FREE practice test to prepare for the real thing. Space is limited.

Teen Climate Action Panel SAT | Apr 18 | 3-4 PM | AUD Free, but registration required

Got ideas to help our city go green? Let's brainstorm sustainability ideas and help Lawrence plan for the future with friends. We'll have snacks!

See p. 22 to learn what letters like B (Meeting Room B) mean.

SAT | May 9 | 2-3 PM | AUD

Wind Science

Apr 1–Apr 30

Looking for your event location?

TUE | Apr 7, 14 & 21 | 4-5 PM | B or C

nk Thaou! y

All Ages SUN | Mar 29 | 3:30-4 PM | RT

Join our host Deja Brooks as she reads and performs stories embracing our local LGBT community and celebrating families of all kinds! Hear stories about love and friendship, being different and belonging, being unique and being accepted, colors, rainbows, and of course, fun!

Our climate and sustainability-focused programs were made possible with support from the City of Lawrence and Douglas County Sustainability Office.

THE READER • 29


Preschool Fair

All Ages SAT | Apr 4 | 9 AM–12 PM | AUD

Find out about local preschools, center, and home-based preschool programs. Meet with local child care programs, learn about their curriculum, rates, hours, and more. Sponsored by Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas.

Kids in the Kitchen

Ages 7-11 MONS | Apr 6, 13, 20, 27 4-5:30 PM | RT Free, but registration required In this four-week class, you'll safely create and sample delicious recipes and learn about safety, nutrition, and food choices. Registration is closed after the first week of the program. Space is limited. Register online or at 785-843-3833. This program is made possible by Harvesters.

Kid President of LPL

Ages 8-11 WEDS | Apr 1, 8, 15, 29 | 4-5 PM | RT Free, but registration required Let the race begin! Learn about the world of politics and throw your hat in the ring to be Kid President of LPL. Special guests, including the Dole Institute of Politics, will talk about notable campaigns, candidate slogans, and kids who've changed the world. Kids will learn about candidate platforms, then design a poster about what they stand for so library visitors can vote. The president elect will get a budget to perform a service project in Lawrence. Space is limited. Register online or at 785-843-3833.

The Secret of the Magic Crystal Book Launch All Ages SAT | Apr 11 | 2-3 PM | AUD

Three friends, a magic crystal, and the power of friendship and imagination! Join Mishea Obiji as she shares her debut book, The Secret of the Magic Crystal, with a storytime and crafts. The Raven Book Store will bring books for purchase. 30 • LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Earth Day Storytimes

Front Desk Café

Ms. Linda will present stories and crafts honoring our planet.

Explore Chinese food and culture with us. We’ll learn to make some popular foods — with a side of history.

Earth Day: Climate Diet

Movie Party!

Kids are invited to bring family members, their guardian, or a friend for food demos, yummy samples, and hands-on games and puzzles that show what we can all do to ensure a better future for our planet. Presented by Joann Farb.

Watch Big Hero 6 on your day off! Like Mia, Hiro Hamada uses his smarts to fight for the ones he loves. We’ll have snacks!

Dance Party for Littles: Baby Yoda Edition

Wonder Fair will be here to talk about how writing can empower us like it did for Mia! We’ll see examples of letters that shaped the world…and how you can, too.

Ages 3+ TUE, FRI | Apr 21, 24 | 10:30–11:15 AM | RT THU | Apr 23 | 7–7:45 PM | RT

All Ages WED | Apr 22 | 3-5 PM | AUD

Ages 0-5 MON | May 4 | 10:30–11:30 AM | AUD

Fun tunes and funky jams will fuel a dance party for the galaxy. Jenny, Lauren, and Matt will get you moving to the perfect Baby Yoda beats. We'll have bubbles, shaker eggs, and scarves, too!

Children’s Book Sale

SAT | May 30 | 9 AM–4 PM | FG

Hey, Summer Reading folks with kids! Shop our huge collection of books for all the babies, children, and young adults in your life. Help 'em log those reading hours and stop the "summer slide" with fun reads about gaming, cooking, crafting, learning, and more. More info at LPLFF.org.

READ ACROSS LAWRENCE Read Across Lawrence Book Giveaway SUN | Mar 1 | 3 PM | ATR

Grab a copy of this year's book for kids, Front Desk by Kelly Yang. Hear about and register for all of our super RAL events!

Ages 7-11 WED | Mar 4 | 4-5 PM | RT

Ages 0-11 MON | Mar 9 | 2-4 PM | AUD

Writing Power

Ages 8-11 WED | Mar 11 | 2-3 PM | RT

Game-a-thon!

Ages 5-11 THU | Mar 12 | 2-4 PM | AUD

Play a huge game inspired by our RAL Kids book, Front Desk, plus our giant Jenga and Connect Four, board games, and videogames. Mia loved Monopoly, so we’ll have plenty of copies on hand. Brought to you by our Kid Advisory Board.

Read Across Lawrence Storytime All Ages FRI | Mar 13 | 10:30–11 AM | RT

Join us for a special storytime featuring Chinese stories. LPL Staffer, Yilan Zhao, will help us write our names with Chinese characters. We’ll make a craft and enjoy light refreshments.

Author Skype + Pizza Party Ages 7-11 SUN | Mar 15 | 6-7 PM | AUD

The library will be open late for a special Skype with Kelly Yang — from China! Bring questions and eat Mia’s favorite pizza (from Pizza Hut) while we chat with this incredible writer!


Art Party

Ages 7-11 WED | Mar 18 | 4-5 PM | RT

Like Lupe from Front Desk, we’ll draw and collage with Spencer Art Museum and learn to write our names in Chinese characters.

Front Desk Book Club

Ages 8-11 WED | Mar 25 | 4-5 PM | RT Let's discuss Front Desk and eat snacks!

STORYTIMES

IN THE READERS’ THEATER Storytimes will be on break FRI Apr 3, SUN Apr 12, and all of May.

Books + Babies

Birth–23 months with their families TUES | 6–6:30 PM WEDS | 9:30–10 AM, 10:30–11 AM

Bounce, read, and sing, and play together.

Toddler Storytime

2-year-olds with their families MONS | 10:30–11 AM WEDS | 6:30-7 PM THUS | 9:30–10 AM, 10:30–11 AM

Stories, songs and Morris the Monkey!

Library Storytime

Ages 3+ with their families TUES, FRIS | 10:30–11:15 AM THUS | 7–7:45 PM

Cuentacuentos / Spanish Storytime

All ages SAT | Mar 14, 28; Apr 11, 25 | 10:30–11 AM

Ven y disfruta de una mañana de cuentos y actividades en español. Come for a fun morning of stories and activities in Spanish.

CLUBS

Register for clubs at the children’s desk, online, or at 785-843-3833.

Tutoring Club

Reading: Pre-K–6th grade Math: K–9th grade MONS | 3:30–9 PM | ASR TUES | 6–9 PM | ASR WEDS | 3–9 PM | ASR FRIS | 3–7 PM | ASR SATS | 10 AM–1 PM | ASR Free, but registration required Boost reading and math skills with our KU tutors. For a 30-minute session, call 785-843-3833. Check our web calendar for the most up-to-date sessions.

Tween Club

Grades 3-5 (ages 8-11) FRI | Mar 6, 20; Apr 17, May 1 3:30–5 PM | RT

Meet up and hang out, play games, and craft with your friends.

Lego Club

Sing + Rhyme Storytime

Ages 5-11 THU | Mar 12, Apr 9 | 4–5 PM | RT SUN | Mar 22, Apr 26 | 1–2 PM | RT

Movement, play, and music-making.

Tail Wagging Readers

Come for stories and a simple craft. All Ages MONS | 6:30–7 PM

Sunday Storytime All ages SUNS | 3:30–4 PM

What will this month’s theme be?

Ages 5-11 SUN | Mar 1, Apr 5, May 3 | 1–2 PM | RT SAT | Mar 28, Apr 25 | 1–2 PM | RT

Matt presents songs, stories, and crafts carefully chosen to excite young minds.

Practice your reading skills with a cute pup. You'll get a 15-minute time slot when you arrive. No registration necessary.

Multicultural Storytime

Chess Club

Stories and songs with guest presenters highlighting featured languages/cultures.

Whether you’re brand new to chess or

All ages SAT | Mar 7, 21; Apr 4, 18 | 10:30–11 AM

Ages 5-18 SAT | Mar 7, 21; Apr 4, 18; May 2, 16 4–5:30 PM | RT

practicing for an upcoming tournament, everyone is welcome here. Kids under 10 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A limited supply of chess sets are available, so feel free to bring yours. No registration required.

Magic Tree House Club

Ages 5-8 SAT | Mar 14, Apr 11 | 3:30–4:30 PM | RT

It’s the Jack and Annie fan club! Join us for crafts and fun with a historical twist. Mar | Leprechaun in Late Winter Apr | Night of the New Magicians

Mysterious Mustache Book Club

Ages 8-11 Author Skype SUN | Mar 15 | 6-7 PM | AUD Book Discussion WED | Mar 25 | 4-5 PM | RT SUN | Apr 19 | 1:30–2:30 PM | RT SUN | May 17 | 1:30–2:30 PM I RT

If you love getting into the world of a book, chatting with other book lovers, and eating snacks, come for a new book discussion each month (and sometimes watch the movie)! Get the book we're reading at the Children’s Desk. Mar | Front Desk by Kelly Yang Apr | Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin May | Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

Kid Advisory Board

Ages 5-11 THU | Mar 26, Apr 23 | 4–5 PM | RT

Help make the library great for kids by joining the Kids Advisory Board. Snacks and fun are included!

Junior Author Writing Club

Ages 8-11 THU | Apr 16 | 4–5 PM | RT Free, but registration required

If you love to write and want to share what you’re working on, come create and get feedback at this new club for writers. Register online or at 785-843-3833.


Imagine more. Lawrence Public Library 707 Vermont Street Lawrence, KS 66044 785-843-3833

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