Week Calendar

Every Second Sunday the Sarasota Art Museum offers a free, community day where visitors can not only see exhibits but also participate in family friendly art classes!

Want to learn more about Florida-Friendly gardens, composting, or citrus trees?  Need a plant or an insect identified?  On the first and the third Monday mornings of the month, from 10am to 12 pm, Gulf Gate Library hosts the Master Garde

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy a special uninterrupted playtime with your child in our FREE Partners in Play® (PIP) groups. Meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand.

Enjoy special uninterrupted play time with your child in our drop-in FREE Partners In Play® (PIP) parenting education groups.

Join us for songs, rhymes, play, and of course great stories! Engage kids in visual literacy, language development, and social skills in a fun class presented by our Youth Services team.

Join us for storytime! Stories, rhymes, songs, and simple crafts for little ones with their special grownup.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free assistance for federal returns. By appointment only. You must schedule your appointment in person at Elsie Quirk Library's front desk.

Use 1 of 4 Brother sewing machines on Your Own Project. Must Know How to Sew. 

Machines are available on a First Come First Serve Basis.

On the first and third Tuesday of each month, the Pop-Up will be at Longboat Key with books for all ages and a Storytime for children at 11:15 AM. Swing by to sign up for a library card and read a book by the beach! 

Stop by the Health in Motion Bus to talk to a Nurse with the Florida Health Department with any questions you might have!

No appointment required. 

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy a special uninterrupted playtime with your child in our FREE Partners in Play® (PIP) groups. Meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand.

Ready to write that book but not sure how to begin? In this workshop, we'll cover everything from identifying characters to developing plot twists. You'll walk away with a personalized game plan and motivation to get started. 

Join us for a cup of coffee and a page or two of your favorite word puzzles!

Grab some supplies from the teen room to color and make your own bookmarks! While supplies last. 

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy special play time with your child, meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how Forty Carrots Family Center can help you enjoy parenting even more.

Learn to knit or crochet! All ages and skill levels welcome! It is recommended to bring your own yarn and needles. Instructor-supplied yarns remain with the instructor weekly until piece is completed.

Preschoolers, kindergarteners, and their families can enjoy loosely structured play with a variety of rotating toys and activities in our Story Time Room.

Children ages 2-8 and their caregivers are invited for Wednesday morning free-play time, with an assortment of toys and props to inspire the young imagination! Drop-in anytime between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Everyone is welcome to the open-topic discussions of the Socrates Cafe.

Come and socialize with fellow knitting, crocheting and sewing enthusiasts! All levels welcome. Bring your current project to work on.

Come and get assistance with your genealogy questions from a knowledgeable and experienced volunteer

Stumped by technology? Your technology questions can be answered through an in-person appointment with one of our Tech Navigators. Tech Navigators are library staff members ready to assist you with technology skills.

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy a special uninterrupted playtime with your child in our FREE Partners in Play® (PIP) groups. Meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand.

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy a special uninterrupted playtime with your child in our FREE Partners in Play® (PIP) groups. Meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand.

For infants to five years, attending with caregiver. The storytime includes simple stories, nursery rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and crafts. Space is limited. Free tickets are available at the youth desk beginning at 10 a.m.

For ages 2-5. Join us for story time filled with a variety of early literacy activities that include music, stories, movement, crafts and school readiness. 

Prescription Assistance for income qualified individuals.

Enjoy a cup of tea while discussing British movies and television series with a very welcoming group.

No Cost Health Screening

Join Amy the Hoop Lady and enjoy playing fun preschool games with music and hula hoops. Recommended for ages 2-6.

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy special play time with your child, meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how Forty Carrots Family Center can help you enjoy parenting even more.

Early literacy begins at birth! Delight your baby with fun songs, fingerplays, books, and lap bounces while connecting with fellow caregivers. Ideal for babies 0-24 months with their special grownup.  

Learn how to make paper hydrangeas, daisies, hyacinths and roses, and maybe some wisteria vines.

Children ages 7-12.

Join Teresa as she teaches the art of origami. She likes to create items to decorate a home or to give away as a gift. She brings in her own extra work as examples and sometimes to give away.

Assistance with genealogy questions from knowledgeable and experienced volunteers

Join a fun exercise class with a coach from Stretch and Grow of Sarasota. Recommended for ages 3-6; all ages welcome in the room as needed.

Join us at the North Port Library for storytime!  Songs, crafts and stories guaranteed! 

Join us at the North Port Library for a kid's sensory playtime.  

A fun interactive, educational time designed for children with autism and/or sensory challenges.  

Learn some simple yoga exercises for beginners wanting to start their own yoga practice! Yoga can help improve strength, balance, and flexibility as well as helping to mitigate stress. Please bring a yoga mat and a towel.

Every third Saturday of the month, children are invited to read with certified pet therapy dogs. This program encourages conversation and develops reading and communication skills.

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy a special uninterrupted playtime with your child in our FREE Partners in Play® (PIP) groups. Meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand.

Bringing a baby into the world can fill our hearts with joy and love, and our minds with questions and wonder.

Socrates Cafe is a gathering where people from different backgrounds get together and exchange thoughtful ideas and experiences while embracing the central theme of Socratic method: we learn more when we respectfully listen to and debate ideas wit

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy special play time with your child, meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how Forty Carrots Family Center can help you enjoy parenting even more.

The Health in Motion Bus offers free and low-cost public health services. A registered nurse is available at all visits. Individuals who need follow-up medical care are referred to a primary health care provider. No appointment needed.

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy a special uninterrupted playtime with your child in our FREE Partners in Play® (PIP) groups. Meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand.

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy a special uninterrupted playtime with your child in our FREE Partners in Play® (PIP) groups. Meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand.

For mobile babies to 5 years old. Drop in to enjoy special play time with your child, meet our friendly Parenting Educators and discover how Forty Carrots Family Center can help you enjoy parenting even more.

This club is for music lovers who want to learn to play an instrument or find people who like music as well. Anni Szantosi will teach and jam with participants.

Calling all Super Smash Bro fans!! Join us in some friendly competition, where the winner gets bragging rights and prizes!

Bring a copy of a published poem (from a credited book or magazine) to read and discuss with a group!

Join us for a Needle Felting Workshop.

Play Mah Jongg with other experienced players in the Rotunda and make new friends! Please bring your own NMJL card with your name on it.

Join us as we discuss "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichiefor our monthly Book Club!

Bring your projects, patterns, and questions to Elsie Quirk Library and join the Quirky Knitters for an afternoon of knitting and crochet.  All skill levels welcome.  Registration is not required, so come on in to knit and chat!

Sarasota County Extension Services Master Gardeners are here to help folks identify plants, flowers, etc. as well as care for them.

Get expert advice on your landscaping needs.

On the third Saturday each month, the Pop-Up gets an education by going to the Old Miakka School House. With books and services for all ages, it’s a truly informative experience!

Teens in grades 6 through 12 are welcome to hang out, play games, and more.

AARP Tax help will be available January 29 - April 15 to assist in tax preparation.

Monday - Thursday: 2 - 5 p.m.

Saturdays: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

CLOSED Fridays, Sundays, and Holidays.

Many parts of the United States recently experienced a total solar eclipse. Join NASA Ambassador Ruth Ruud, to learn about lunar and solar eclipses and what amazing things are happening in the skies. 

Registration required. 

Stumped by technology? Your technology questions can be answered through an in-person or distance appointment with one of our Tech Navigators. Tech Navigators are library staff members ready to assist you with technology skills.

Teens in grades 6 through 12 are welcome to hang out, play games, and more.

Drop by the teen room and watch this week's requested movie: Big Hero 6. Add more wishlist movies to our clipboard request page in the teen room!

Sew an origami-inspired triangle bag. This simple and stylish design has been around for generations in Japan, and you can sew it without a pattern! This class is beginner friendly. All materials will be provided.

Teens in grades 6 through 12 are welcome to hang out, play games, and more.

Meet the author of "Mahjongg and Murder," Lynne Bernfield and hear all about her inspiration from vacations in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.

Come and learn about the library resources you can use to find those elusive ancestors.

Teens in grades 6 through 12 are welcome to hang out, play games, and more.

Drop by the teen room and watch this week's requested movie: Guardians of the Galaxy. Add more wishlist movies to our clipboard request page in the teen room!

Join us for a fun, informative session of freestyle art.

Teens in grades 6 through 12 are welcome to hang out, play games, and more.

Meet other coders and work on your coding project. Share with others and troubleshoot as a team. Led by Levi Szantosi whose top picks are Python, Scratch, and Unreal Engine.

Young aspiring veterinarians role-play the responsibilities of a real vet by performing a nose-to-tail exam, sewing stitches, giving medicine, and removing ticks from a stuffed puppy patient provided to them.

Calling all young scientists! Explore a combination of technology and art this science club by making your own Scribble bots, robots that color on paper.

Self-care and maintenance will be enhanced through meditation, guided imagery and breathing techniques.

LAST Stop is a drop-in program designed for teens in 6th through 12th grade to participate in fun activities, talk with friends, have snacks, and play games.

A representative from All Faiths Food Bank will be available to help with your SNAP application. 

Appointments are preferred but not required. 

Drop in to play games on our Nintendo Switch!

Ages 5+

LAST Stop is a drop-in program designed for teens in 6th through 12th grade to participate in fun activities, talk with friends, have snacks, and play games.

Calling all families with readers! Our dog friends from the Suncoast Humane Society are returning to the Jacaranda Library, and they want you to read to them!

Join artist Judy Levine as she helps us create pet inspired collages!

All supplies will be provided, and steps will be shown in this fun afternoon of art making.

LAST Stop is a drop-in program designed for teens in 6th through 12th grade to participate in fun activities, talk with friends, have snacks, and play games.

Read for at least 10 minutes in our "lounge" and enjoy a sweet treat as a reward. For ages 6+.

LAST Stop is a drop-in program designed for teens in 6th through 12th grade to participate in fun activities, talk with friends, have snacks, and play games.

Children are invited to read with certified pet therapy dogs. The program encourages conversation and develops reading and communication skills.

This program is intended for children who can read independently  

Victor Lundy, Sculptor of Space 

LAST Stop is a drop-in program designed for teens in 6th through 12th grade to participate in fun activities, talk with friends, have snacks, and play games.

Join other tweens and teens for the Gulf Gate Library Remake Learning Day. Attendees will be collaborating with their parent(s) to creating artwork using the acrylic pouring method. All materials will be supplied.

Spring Classical Concert Series #3

A rare opportunity to hear this combination of instruments in the famous rhapsody trio by Charles Martin Loeffler.

Bobby Nunes (oboe)

Stephanie Block (viola)

If you like writing your own pieces or would like to branch out and grow your creativity, come join us for our Teen Writers Club! We will be meeting weekly on Mondays @ 4 p.m. Ages 11-18 welcome!

Learn to knit or crochet! All ages and skill levels welcome! It is recommended to bring your own yarn and needles. Instructor-supplied yarns remain with the instructor weekly until piece is completed.

Meet therapy dogs and their owners.  Enjoy the benefits of spending time with therapy pets!

A different project every week!

Ages 6+.

Join us in the Teen Center for Teen Video Gaming! Play together or compete on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, or experience virtual reality with the Meta Quest 3!

Children are invited to read with certified pet therapy dogs. The program encourages conversation and develops reading and communication skills.

Honk Honk! Don’t leave your joke making for the birds. In this program we will learn basic clay building and modeling techniques through a silly craft.

Make sure you wear clothes that can get dirty!

Play the classic role-playing game with a new group of players/adventurers.

Do you want to share your anime/manga obsession with other Otaku? Come to the club! We will enjoy talking about Japanese culture, eating Japanese snacks, and of course, watching anime!

A bi-monthly open mic jazz jam session for amateur jazz performers and listeners.

Is your Bandana Bag unfinished? Drop by to tie up any loose threads with us this evening! This event is for those who have participated in the Bandana Bag Beginner Sewing program and have not yet finished their bags.

This month's movie is: Hail, Caesar!

Movie Club is every 3rd Tuesday of each month.

Movie will begin promptly at 5:30pm.

Join us for a fun, informative session of freestyle art.

Join The Florida Panther Project, Inc. for an old-fashioned Kodak slide presentation highlighting the recovery of the panther in Florida and what is the current outlook for panthers in Florida! 

Time Sifters Archaeological Society present monthly lecture programs. This month:  “Human Origins”, Dr. Sarah Freidline

For more information visit timesifters.org

Join us as we discuss "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichiefor our monthly Book Club!

Let your imagination run wild with other Lego fans using our massive collection of bricks and accessories.