Week Calendar

Introduction to Genealogy: participants will follow the instructor as she uses her own ancestor to demonstrate the features of Ancestry.com library edition and HeritageQuest.

Want to learn more about Florida-Friendly gardens, composting, or citrus trees? Need a plant or insect identified? On the first and third Monday mornings of every month, from 10:00 a.m.

Drop in to get assistance with and ask questions about downloading library books to your computer and other devices, such as the Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPod, iPhone and Android phones and tablets.

SHINE counselors provide free, unbiased and confidential counseling to Medicare beneficiaries, their caregivers and those soon to be eligible.

Free unbiased counseling for Medicare from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

For Medicare appointments call the Elder Help Line at 1-866-413-5337 to request a referral to a SHINE Medicare Counselor.  

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

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

This computer-based genealogy course covers the following topics: why study genealogy; how to get started; what sources are available; and how to organize and present your research.

Join us for stories,songs,rhymes,crafts and other fun activities for the whole family!

Librarian Charlotte Thompson leads a monthly book discussion group. 

The Literacy Council of Sarasota 

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)  Class

Registration required through The Literacy Council of Sarasota  941-955-0421

Want to learn more about Florida-Friendly gardens, composting, or citrus trees? Need a plant or insect identified? Homeowners can receive research-based lawn, landscape and pest management help from the University of Florida.

Sign Language program for children 0 - 2 1/2 years old. Learn with Beebo the Signing Bear using songs, books, and toys. Older siblings welcome.

This program is geared toward babies from newborn to age 2 ½ years. The 45 minute program includes songs, baby sign language, a book and playtime. Older siblings are welcome.

For mobile babies to 5 years old.

Drop in to enjoy special play time with your child, meet our friendly Parenting Educators.

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.

Students who attend Part 1 will continue to research their family history on the second day in Part 2 during which the class instructor is available to answer questions and help the students in their research. Basic computer skills are required.

Join early learning specialist, Donna Love for Wiggles and Giggles, an interactive storytime with fun follow-up activities that can be reproduced at home to help prepare babies, toddlers and preschool children for school success.&nbs

Join Kidding Around Yoga instructor Sheila Blake for yoga poses with fun active storytelling and creative movement. Limit 24. Come to the Youth Desk for a free ticket the morning of the program. Please bring mats if you wish. 

For people who want to improve their French speaking skills and enjoy reading French-language articles and discussing them. Come practice speaking the romantic language of French.

Enjoy interacting with your child by participating in early literacy activities that include music and movement, books, crafts, and educational activities.

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

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 and crochet! All ages and skill levels welcome! Bring your own yarn and needles. Supplies provided for beginners.

Get into the adult coloring craze ! Join us for a fun and unique way to unwind, reduce stress, and express your creativity at the Shannon Staub Library. All supplies will be provided. Artistic talent is not required. Refreshments are included.

Socrates Café are gatherings around the world where people from different backgrounds get together and exchange thoughtful ideas and experiences while embracing the central theme of the Socratic method: that we learn more when we respectfully list

Come use our Adobe/ Mac software and sewing machines on your own personal projects. Time slots are filled on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Early literacy begins at birth. Bond with your baby through stories, songs, parachute time and peek-a-boo scarf songs.

For ages 0-2 years old.

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

 Ask Bob, our local Windows expert, any questions about your PC or Laptop.

Master Gardener Plant Clinic: Have experienced and trained gardeners answer your botanical questions from every first and third Thursday morning in study room C. 

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.

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

The Reading Discussion Group meets the 3rd Thursday of each month October through April. Selected titles will be available for checkout from the Sarasota County Library System.

For infants to five years, attending with caregiver. The storytime includes simple stories, nursery rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and crafts. Space is limited to 80 people. Free tickets are available at the youth desk beginning at 10 a.m.

Featuring great stories, singing, dancing, and movement activities young children learn valuable skills and enjoy being with other children.

For ages 2-4.

Interact and participate with your child in a variety of early literacy activities that include music, stories, movement, crafts and school readiness.  For children ages 0-5. 

Your Windows computer organizes all your files into folders. In this class we will use the free Windows File Explorer app to look at all the files and folders on your computer.

Stop by our Creation Station for our 3D printer demonstration.

Let's Get Crafty

The Literacy Council of Sarasota 

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)  Class

Registration required through The Literacy Council of Sarasota  941-955-0421

Prescription Medication & Health Care Assistance for those that are uninsured and qualify financially.

Join American Sewing Guild teacher Kathy for an afternoon of machine sewing, sharing and creativity. Drop in with your works-in-progress or use our fabric stash and sewing books to start something new.

Weekly meeting of the Venice French Club. 

Need a peaceful place to write? Come to the Conference Room for some uninterrupted time to work on your novel for National Novel Writing Month.

For more information, go to: nanowrimo.org

For children 18 months to 5 years old and their caregivers. Interact with your child in a variety of early literacy activities including music, movement, stories, crafts and games.

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.

Preschoolers, ages 2 ½ - 5 and their parent, guardian or caregiver are invited to join us for stories, songs, finger plays, rhymes, and crafts. There is a different theme every week.

Come use our Adobe/ Mac software and sewing machines on your own personal projects. Time slots are filled on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Teens Who Code is a variation of Girls Who Code using the same curriculum.

The Plant Clinic meets in the library lobby.

Join the G.A.R.D.E.N. (Gardeners and Readers Develop Naturally) Club for ages 5 -11 for gardening fun! Storytelling and learning activities to inspire the green thumb in everyone!

Meet new friends and chat with other parents and caregivers while your kids play and read in the picture book area. Enjoy a place to chill after walking around the Downtown Farmers Market!

Practice speaking English! Sponsored by the Literacy Council of Sarasota. This is a intermediate level conversation group.

View and discuss anime.  Participate in a variety of Japanese arts and crafts.  Discuss manga and anime looking for similarities and differences in Japanese and American culture.  Share your artwork.

This group is dedicated to young adults, aged 19 to 35, who wish to read, discuss and appreciate the great classics of western literature.

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

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

Drop in for assistance using library technology including e-Books and audiobooks from Overdrive and the Cloud Library.

Weekly meeting of local chess enthusiasts. Join in the fun! Questions? Call Heather at 941-861-1273.

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.

Engage babies newborn to 18 months with movement to music, singing, rhymes and basic sign language to enhance social interaction and language development. Playtime follows.

For parents and babies ages birth to seven months old.

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

Join us for a fun-filled morning of reading, songs, dancing, learning kindergarten readiness skills and craft activities.

For ages 4-6.

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.

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

Children 5 - 9 can drop into the Children's Department and work on a craft kit!

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.

Come build, experiment, and create with our 3D printer, laser cutter, sewing machines, and more. Bring your own projects for development, prototyping, and production, or start something new working hands-on with our Creation Station equipment.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is an annual, Internet-based approach to creative writing in which participants work towards a goal of writing 50,000 words during the month of November.

Advanced Research : Use your own ancestor to search Ancestry and HeritageQuest. To begin your personal search bring the complete name, dates (birth/death), and location of where this family member lived or might have lived.

VPL patrons playing chess and teaching the game to others

Help with laptops, cell phones

Open time for questions, sharing solutions

Bring your device and library staff will try to answer your questions in an informal group setting.
 

Each month is a different activity in the Creation Station!

September 17 - Intro to Sewing

Socrates Café 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

Want to learn more about Florida-Friendly gardens, composting, or citrus trees? Need a plant or insect identified?

Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga that can improve flexibility, decrease stress, and reduce joint strain.

Want to learn more about using a computer or your device?

Sign up for your 30 minute session with one of our librarians.

Sessions are set up for Wednesdays starting at 1:00 pm.

Call 941-861-1360 to sign up.

Join us as we will be discussing the 2020 One Book One Community choice, "The Radium Girls" by Kate Moore. 

Learn how to use your device or get basic computer assistance.

One-on-one technology assistance moves you to confidence when accessing electronic resources!

After completing Computer Basics, Parts 1 and 2, the student is ready to learn File Management. The basics of file creating and organizing will be demonstrated.

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.

Jack, The Computer Guy, will explain how your computer works and why it doesn't.

Work on your own creations or build as a team. We provide the LEGOs, you provide the imagination.

Writing a novel alone can be difficult, even for seasoned writers.

 Learn the basics of using your iPad and iPhone. Class will cover the buttons, navigating and understanding the settings menus/options, connecting to the internet, navigating internet menus (Safari), and basic sharing features.

Come create, play, or just relax at the library after school.  Our Teen Room is open from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

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

Drop in to get assistance with and ask questions about downloading library books to your computer and other devices, such as the Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPod, iPhone and Android phones and tablets.

New movies every Tuesday in the meeting room. Movie schedules are published bimonthly and available at the front circulation desk. 

Come create, play, or just relax at the library after school.  Our Teen Room is open from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

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

At the end of this series of informative, provocative conversations, how can an individual affect change or put expanded perspective into action?  This program is an opportunity for gaining insight through productive disagreement, for navigat

literacy

Come create, play, or just relax at the library after school.  Our Teen Room is open from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

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

Drop in and learn what the Cricut Maker is and how it works.

Les Paul was the godfather of the electric guitar and inventor of multi-track “sound on sound” recording. A musical pioneer, inventor and innovator who changed the  music industry as we know it.

Learn how to use your device or get basic computer assistance.

One-on-one technology assistance moves you to confidence when accessing electronic resources! 

Loose lecture-oriented discussion group for people who are relatively familiar with their Apple devices. Make the most out of your iPhones and iPads!

Join us for a fun and easy craft!

For people who want to improve their Spanish speaking skills. Come practice your pronunciation and oral understanding through conversation and instruction of this romantic language. Everyone is welcome.

Drop in to get assistance with and ask questions about downloading library books to your computer and other devices, such as the Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPod, iPhone and Android phones and tablets.

Are you a movie buff? Interested in watching critically acclaimed films and learning a little bit about the movie industry as well?

Come create, play, or just relax at the library after school.  Our Teen Room is open from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

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

Please join us as Baila Miller presents a lecture on fashion photographers.

Come create, play, or just relax at the library after school.  Our Teen Room is open from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

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

Explore a variety of activities in the Creation Station. Fun distractions for younger children are available while teens and adults tinker with sewing machines, the Cricut Cutter, 3D printing, Adobe and more!

Come up with a game concept, design it and test it! Come back each month to work on your project. Work with others to troubleshoot problems and share ideas. This program is recommended for ages 11-18.

Come to the teen room and choose from a variety of board games like Apples to Apples, Balderdash, Uno, Scattergories, Scrabble and more.

Work on your own creations or build as a team. We provide the LEGOs, you provide the imagination.

Looking for something a little more advanced than basic Spanish lessons? Every Monday from 3:30-5, join an open group of intermediate Spanish speakers for a small discussion-oriented lecture.

Children are invited to read with certified pet therapy dogs. This program encourages conversation and develops reading and communication skills. The dogs love the attention and the kids love the interactions.

Children are invited to read with certified pet therapy dogs. This program encourages conversation and develops reading and communication skills. The dogs love the attention and the kids love the interactions.

Come to the teen room and choose from a variety of board games like Apples to Apples, Balderdash, Uno, Scattergories, Scrabble and more.

Work on your own creations or build as a team. We provide the LEGOs, you provide the imagination.

LEGO WeDo 2.0 for children (ages 5-9).  Register your child and then stick around for this team building project. (Parent/guardian is required for this program to assist their kiddo.) 

Children are invited to read with certified pet therapy dogs. This program encourages conversation and develops reading and communication skills. The dogs love the attention and the kids love the interactions.

Teens and tweens take over the Creation Station. Drop in to explore electronic music, digital design, sewing, podcasting and more. 

Drop in to get assistance with and ask questions about downloading library books to your computer and other devices, such as the Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPod, iPhone and Android phones and tablets.

Join us the third Wednesday of every month to learn about gardening and the environment. Experience a deeper enjoyment of our library’s Reading Garden through crafts, experiments, interactive activities and more.

Come join other 11-17-year-olds for an afternoon of competitive card games and board games: Sushi Go, Coup, Dutch Blitz and Love Letter just to name a few!

Learn how to use your device or get basic computer assistance.

One-on-one technology assistance moves you to confidence

when accessing electronic resources.

Variety of music performed by Venice Musicale Members

Come to the teen room and choose from a variety of board games like Apples to Apples, Balderdash, Uno, Scattergories, Scrabble and more.