Week Calendar

Get genealogy research assistance from experienced and knowledgeable volunteers.

Bring your questions!

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

Appointments are preferred but not 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.

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

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

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 on Mondays of the month for adult coloring!  We supply the coloring pages and the pencils. Snacks will be provided by the Friends of the Gulf Gate Library. Hope to see you there.

On the first and third Tuesday of each month, the Pop-Up will be at the Town Center Green of Longboat Key with books for all ages and a Storytime for children at 10:30 AM. Swing by to sign up for a library card and read a book with us!

Use 1 of 5 Brother sewing machines on Your Own Project. Must Know How to Sew.  Machines Available on first come first serve basis.

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.

Meet the one and only Bluey, Sarasota County's only avian mascot. She helps to teach the importance of Mosquito Management.

Looking to try something new and maybe make a friend or two?  Join the library book club! 

Join us for a page or two of your favorite word puzzles! We'll have crosswords, sudoku, word searches, and more.

For people who want to improve their French speaking skills and enjoy reading French-language articles and discussing them.

Join Fun To Be Fit Kids with Ms. Adrianne! This is a music and movement program for children (ages 0 - 5) and their caregivers to attend together.

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.

Join us at the Fruitville Library with your knit/crochet projects. All ages and skills are welcome. Supplies and knowledgeable members are on hand to help anyone interested in learning to knit or crochet. 

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 from experienced and knowledgeable volunteers.

Bring your questions!

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.

Join us for a monthly cozy catch-up!

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. 

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

Florida Health will be in the Lobby offering drop-in blood pressure and cholesterol screening.

Ready to rock? Join us for a fun and family-friendly 6-week guitar class designated for complete beginners! Learn to play some of your favorite songs while making music and memories. 

Every third Saturday of the month, this program aims to inspire a love for reading and learning new things. Fun and engaging stories are followed by arts and crafts and other activities. Please register both caregiver and child.

The Suncoast Writers Guild has been helping people develop the craft of writing for 35 years as a safe place to share stories and poems, get feedback, and build connections.

REGISTER HERE:
https://srq4h-owls-april25.4honline.com/#/public/ins_j/evt_22a

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.

Please join us to explore the art of Ikebana in this day-long exhibition sponsored by the Sarasota Chapter of Ikebana International.

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! Come see the libraries at our information table and grab a craft to work on!

Get assistance from experienced and knowledgeable volunteers

Bring your questions

Get expert and experienced genealogy research assistance.

Bring your questions

Assistance from experienced and knowledgeable volunteers

Bring your questions

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.  

Join your friends for stories, rhymes, sign language, and other activities. 

This is best suited for toddlers aged 1-3, but all ages are welcome as needed. 

Students learn about why mucous, nose hairs, and digestion are gross but important parts of who we are!

Already know a few chords? Let's take your guitar skills to the next level! In this fun, family-friendly 6-week class, you'll learn to play your favorite songs, learn more chords and move forward with guitar techniques.

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.

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.

Go with the flow, learn Tai Chi, a low-impact exercise for your mind and body. 

Registration required. For adults.

Calling all teens on the job hunt! Are you stuck wondering where to begin? Want to make a resume but are unsure what to include? Or maybe you have been grueling through job applications that lead to a dead end?

Jam and learn with your teen teacher, Anni Szantosi, and her numerous instruments! This club is for music lovers who want to learn to play an instrument or find people who enjoy music. 

Learn to make intricate flowers and leaves with seed beads as you develop skills in patience and attention to detail.

Get assistance from experienced and knowledgeable volunteers

Bring your questions

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.

Celebrate Earth Day at the North Port Library!

Do you know… 

The Death Cafe returns to the Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library every third Saturday of the month! Join us for an open discussion about death and life, dying, end-of life topics and their place in our lives. Come and share.

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

Something smells fishy, but it won't be your cooking! Are you intimidated by seafood? These tips, hints, and recipes from Chef Warren Caterson will take the mystery and frustration out of cooking this healthy entree.

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.

Meet the one and only Bluey, Sarasota County's Mosquito Management Avian Mascot.  She helps to teach the importance of Mosquito Management, what she and her flock do, and how to stay safe from mosquito bites.   

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

The original and more accurate title of this program is: 

“The Top 10 Things You Absolutely, Positively, Need to Know About Venice History for Your Next Cocktail Party.”

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

This program is a unique and sustainable way to explore your creativity and imagination.

*THIS CLUB IS CURRENTLY FULL*

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.

Our clay modeling program allows participants to explore their creativity and express themselves through the art of shaping and molding clay. 

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.

Get ready for an epic night of fun and games at our Game Night.

Wii U, virtual reality, and more! 

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 Teens! 🎮

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 us in transforming everyday recycled materials into eco-friendly crafts! In this hands-on program, we'll take items like plastic water bottles, egg cartons, cardboard and other commonly discarded materials and turn them into works of art!

Unleash your inner architect with LEGO® and DUPLO® building! Come over and let's paint the town brick red with our creative construction skills.

Work one on one with an expert Student Success Coach to identify and learn more about the pathways you wish to pursue after high school.

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  

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.

Need a place to get some homework done, write that paper, or work on that group project? Come over to Elsie Quirk Library to study and listen to some tunes while you get your homework done!

If you like writing your own pieces or would like to grow your creativity, come join us for our Teen Writers Club!  Enhance your writing skills, participate in free-writing exercises and get feedback on written work.

Come draw with us! In this open hour have fun drawing your own doodle designs.

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

A different project every week!

Recommended for ages 6 and up.

Watch anime and discuss your favorite characters. Explore anime-inspired, Asian snacks and crafts. Ages 9-18 are welcome!

Tweens are invited to engage in theatre games and improv, exploring and expressing ideas through interactive non-competitive participation. They'll have fun learning about the actor's "instrument": voice, body, mind, and imagination.

Hang out as you please and play a variety of board games and card games with your friends! All games will be provided. Ages 11-18 only.

Have fun making cute DIY magnets shaped like a unicorn's head. This easy craft will add a touch of whimsy to any space.

Tweens are invited to engage in theatre games and improv, exploring and expressing ideas through interactive non-competitive participation. They'll have fun learning about the actor's "instrument": voice, body, mind, and imagination.

Using a cork, some paper, markers, yarn and polymer clay, make a troll!

Join us at our next Creation Station Evening Workshop. Attendees will create a unique craft project to take home at the end of the workshop. Advance registration is required due to limited seats.

Movie Club is every 3rd Tuesday of each month.

Movie will begin promptly at 5:30pm.

Enjoy a movie with a short discussion afterwards about what you liked or disliked about the movie. There will be popcorn and snacks available.

Free Archaeology Lecture presented by the Time Sifters Archaeology Society:

April 16, 2025

“Roman Villas”

Dr. Denise Cali

Join us to watch "Emma" (2020) Rated PG

Lebanese American soprano Christine Honein takes us on a journey from Seville to Beirut with this unique program of art songs in Spanish, Italian, French and Arabic. 

Christine Honein, soprano

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

Step back in time and feel the heartbeat of New York in the 1920's with live music and dancing. Discover the power of Black art and literature during the cultural explosion known as the Harlem Renaissance.

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

Join us as we discuss "The Wind Knows My Name" by Isabel Allende for our monthly Book Club!

We handle the mess, you bring the imagination! Come celebrate with us by dyeing eggs in our Storytime Room.