Events

January

Late January – Early March 2020

  • Our Community Reads 2020 @ Aptos Library & other locations – Patriot Number One: A Chinese Rebel Comes to America, by Lauren Hilgers  is the book selected for this year. This book, and themes in the book, will be highlighted in a series of special events throughout our community:  There will be Films, Art Exhibits, Discussion Groups, Trivia Night, Guest Speakers, Happy Hour, Story Times, and more. These events will create a shared experience that will increase appreciation for our community libraries and for our local bookstores; foster pride in the varied experiences that our area offers; and the enrichment — culturally, intellectually, and emotionally — that comes from the joy of reading! Click here for the Schedule of Events.  (Some details are still subject to change.)

January 2nd

  • Friends Monthly Meeting @ Aptos Branch (5pm – 6pm) – Friends of the Aptos Library (usually the 1st Thursday of each month). The public is welcome. Aptos Branch Meeting Room. 

January 3rd

  • The MAKE Lab @ Scotts Valley Branch (10am – 5pm) – Santa Cruz Public Libraries’ very own makerspace—The MAKE Lab—is opened! This makerspace will offer a variety of tools for STEAM-based projects including: 3D printers, vinyl cutter, woodburning tool, soldering tool, pinback button machine, book binding machine, and a virtual reality-based sculpting and painting program. Tools are limited in quantity and will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Kids 13 and under will need parental permission for some of the tools. Staff will be available to help answer questions and train patrons on more difficult tools. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library. Held on the 1st & 3rd Friday of the month.

January 4th

  • Adult Arts & Crafts Workshop @ Scotts Valley Branch (1pm – 4pm) –  This workshop series for adults features a different art or craft every month. Discover your new favorite hobby or hone the skills you already have. Attendees get to leave with a new project, a learned skill, and a greater sense of community. All materials and teachers are paid for by the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library.
    Participants MUST register due to class size limits. Email hookerj@santacruzpl.org to register.

January 8th

  • Felton Library Friends, Monthly Meeting @ Felton Firehouse (4pm – 5:30pm) – Meeting the first Wednesday, every other month at the Felton Firehouse. All are welcome to attend!

January 8th

  • Friends Monthly Meeting @ Scotts Valley Branch  (6:30pm – 7:30pm) – The Scotts Valley Friends meet on the 2nd Wednesday every month in the Library Fireside Room. If you are interested in helping your local Scotts Valley Library, come to the meeting and learn how you can make a difference in your community. All are welcome.

January 11th

  • Board in the Library @ Scotts Valley Branch (12pm – 5pm) – Adults need playtime too! Come play with us for hours of tabletop gaming fun. Bring your favorite board game or play some of the library’s many games. No prior gaming experience is necessary. Every second and fourth Saturday. Sponsored by the Scotts Valley Friends!

January 15th

  • Ribbon Arts Guild @ Scotts Valley Branch (10am – 1pm) – Join Roxanne Langan for ribbon work and hand sewing from on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at the Scotts Valley Library. This program is sponsored by the Scotts Valley Friends of the Library. For more information, phone the library at 427-7712.

January 15th

  • Board in the Library @ Scotts Valley Branch (6:30pm – 8:30pm) – Adults need playtime too! Come play with us for hours of tabletop gaming fun. Bring your favorite board game or play some of the library’s many games. No prior gaming experience is necessary. Every first and third Wednesday. Sponsored by the Scotts Valley Friends!

January 16th

  • Munching with Mozart @ Downtown Branch (12:10 – 12:50pm) – A monthly series of free noon-time concerts at the Downtown Branch meeting room, feel free to bring your quiet lunch! This month will feature: Mandolin Magic.
    Some performers for upcoming months will be:
    February 20: Music for winds.
    March 19: Music for string ensemble and piano.

January 17th

  •  The MAKE Lab @ Scotts Valley Branch (10am – 5pm) – Santa Cruz Public Libraries’ very own makerspace—The MAKE Lab—is opened! This makerspace will offer a variety of tools for STEAM-based projects including: 3D printers, vinyl cutter, woodburning tool, soldering tool, pinback button machine, book binding machine, and a virtual reality-based sculpting and painting program. Tools are limited in quantity and will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Kids 13 and under will need parental permission for some of the tools. Staff will be available to help answer questions and train patrons on more difficult tools. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library. Held on the 1st & 3rd Friday of the month.

January 18th

  • Capitola Library Friends, Monthly Meeting @ Capitola City Hall Community Room (10am – 11:30am) – 420 Capitola Ave. Held every other month on the 3rd Saturday. Come find out more about the rebuilding of the library. Public Welcome!

January 18th

  • Book Sale @ Aptos Branch (10am – 3pm) – Come browse a wide ranging collection from fiction and non-fiction to children’s books, audio books to CDs. Held on the 3rd Saturday of each month, from January through October.

January 18th

  • Art Reception: Photographer Michael Singer @ Scotts Valley Branch (1pm – 3pm) – Meet the artist, photographer Michael Singer and enjoy his photography on exhibit at the Scotts Valley Library through March 28, 2020. From Abstract to Zebra: Our World and Beyond, the photographs of Michael Singer capture the realistic and abstract beauty of the natural and built worlds. A Friends of Scotts Valley Library program supporting the Scotts Valley Library.

January 20th

  • La Selva Beach Library Friends, Monthly Meeting @ LSB Clubhouse (3pm) – Meets on the 3rd Monday of each month, in the Boardroom of the LSB Clubhouse. All are welcome.

January 22nd

  • Writer’s Open Mic Night @ Scotts Valley Branch (5pm – 7pm) – Writers’ Open Mic Night offers you an environment to read your works aloud. Poets, novelists, short story writers, scriptwriters, essayists, writers of memoir, nonfiction, and children’s storybooks — plus friends, fans, and readers who want to hear something new — are all welcome! This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library. Sign-up slots for readers begin at 5pm. Readings begin at 5:30pm. Readers can take 5 minutes for reading or 10 minutes for reading and peer critiquing. 

January 25th

  • Board in the Library @ Scotts Valley Branch (12pm – 5pm) – Adults need playtime too! Come play with us for hours of tabletop gaming fun. Bring your favorite board game or play some of the library’s many games. No prior gaming experience is necessary. Every second and fourth Saturday. Sponsored by the Scotts Valley Friends!

January 28th

  • Speaker Series: Evergreen Cemetery and the Chinese of Santa Cruz @ Congregational Church, Soquel, Parish Hall (6:30pm) – In the midst of California’s Chinese Must Go movement, why did Santa Cruz’s Chinese view Evergreen Cemetery as symbolic of their commitment to their sacred traditions? And what motivated prominent pioneer men and women to stand up for the Chinese? Professor Traci Bliss — whose family donated the land — shares stories of resilience and humanity from her forthcoming book Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz. Location: Congregational Church, Soquel, Parish Hall, 4951 Soquel Drive (parking lot off Main Street) – 7:00 PM, doors open at 6:30. (Part of Our Community Reads 2020 series of events.) 

January 29th

  • FSCPL: Free Book GiveAway! @ Downtown Branch (12:00pm – 1:30pm) – The Friends of Santa Cruz Public Libraries receive so many books that we are giving some away to make room for new books and give back to the community! Some gems, some books only eclectic lovers of discards would like. These are also great books for Free Little Libraries! Come one come all — you’ll find some treasures!! We Appreciate Your Support! Location: Outside to the right of the Santa Cruz Library Downtown Branch entrance. FREE books from Friends of SCPL! * This event is weather permitting! *

January 29th

  • Board in the Library @ Scotts Valley Branch (6:30pm – 8:30pm) – Adults need playtime too! Come play with us for hours of tabletop gaming fun. Bring your favorite board game or play some of the library’s many games. No prior gaming experience is necessary. Every first and third Wednesday. Sponsored by the Scotts Valley Friends!

January 30th

  • Toddler Time @ Aptos Library (10am) – Join Aptos librarian Rowan Rammer for 40 minutes of playtime followed by 20 minutes of books and songs. Toddler Time includes music, stories, rhymes, and fun for your child and you, as well as social time with other children and their caregivers. Let’s play and learn together! Location: Aptos Library, Youth Services Room – 10:00 AM (Part of Our Community Reads 2020 series of events.)

January 30th

  • Film Series: “Mao’s Last Dancer” @ La Selva Beach Community Church (7pm) – 2009 Australian film based on professional dancer Li Cunxin’s autobiography. Taken from his family in rural China at the age of eleven to train in Beijing, he became a gifted dancer, but an invitation to perform in Houston led him to defect. Initially banned from returning to China, he eventually made a triumphant return to his native village. Location: La Selva Beach Community Church, 26 Florido Ave. – 7:00 PM (Part of Our Community Reads 2020 series of events.)

January 30th

  • Scotts Valley Genre Book Discussion Club @ Scotts Valley Branch (7:00pm – 8:30pm) – The Genre Book Club meets at the Scotts Valley Library in the Fireside Room on the last Thursday of the month from 7:00pm-8:30pm. the group discusses books from a different genre each month. The Scotts Valley Friends of the Library are sponsoring this group. If you have questions, call the Scotts Valley Library at 427-7712. 

Every weekend in January

  • Book Sales: Continuing, for Capitola Branch @ Capitola Mall – Our storefront Book Sale is at the Capitola Mall again this month! Lots of used books, CDs & DVDs! Where: Capitola Mall, between Macy’s and the Food Court. (Note: this is a new location.) Proceeds benefit the Capitola Branch Library, and held by the Friends of the Capitol Branch Library.
    Hours for the bookstore:
    Every Friday 12-4
    Every Saturday 10-4
    Every Sunday 12-4.