Week Calendar

meeting

Join the North Port Adult Writers Club, meeting the 1st and 3rd Monday of the Month.

Get genealogy research assistance from experienced and knowledgeable volunteers.

Bring your questions!

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

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.

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.

Musical Motion is a fun parent-child learn and play class that encourages bonding while developing early learning and literacy skills in children.  

What time is it? It's library time! Join us in the youth area for stories, songs and rhymes, fun activities, and a craft. Best for ages 0-5, but the whole family is welcome!

All ages are invited to have close encounters with animals, reptiles and birds with animal expert Aaron Sorbino. This interactive educational program teaches the importance of conversation while allowing attendees to touch some of the animals.

Join us for a morning of Mahjong, a game of chance and strategy beloved around the world! Players of any experience level are welcome.

Drop in to receive research-based lawn, landscape, pest management, and gardening help from the University of Florida.

These sessions are made possible through a partnership with UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.

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.

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 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.

Do you need access to a sewing machine for practice? Or do you need help with a sewing or mending project? This is an open lab for adults with basic sewing machine experience. 

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

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 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. 

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.

Every baby can be a library baby!

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.

Help us combat loneliness and spread joy by writing anonymous handwritten letters to isolated seniors. Come and write your stories and create engaging letters with stickers and fun stationary!

The Plant Clinic meets in the library lobby.

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. 

Join Teresa as she teaches even more difficult origami than she does in her beginner class.

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.

A storytime for preschool aged children that is filled with opportunities to wiggle our wobbles away! Join a library staff member and fellow storytime friends for stories, rhymes, and other fun activities!

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! 

Play with toys and enjoy being social with friends!

This program is best suited for children 1-3, however all ages are welcome as needed. 

Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey into the world of paper circuits? Join our 1-hour workshop to discover the magic of creating circuits using simple materials like copper tape, LEDS, and paper.

Join storyteller Debra Weller on a fun and Interactive storytelling presentation with guitar accompaniment. Debra brings fables and folktales to life in an engaging way and will put a smile on your face.

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.

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

Get simple strategies for eating healthy and learn how to make delicious, healthy food!  You get to eat what you make and take home a bag of groceries.

Registration required. 

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.

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 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.

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. 

Join Louis Masur, Author and Professor, for the second in a series of three lectures on our Founding Fathers. In this lecture, you’ll learn about the first President, George Washington, and the lasting impacts of his presidency.

Join us for a free one-hour lecture and Q&A to learn about the vibrant marine ecosystems of the Arctic and Antarctic.

This program will be a Zoom lecture with a library staff member available to facilitate audience questions.

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

Enjoy peaceful coloring with predesigned templates, or doodle your own patterns to color. Then use the button makers to turn your design into a functional piece of art!

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!

Join other local knitters and crocheters while working on personal projects and discussing all things knitting/crocheting. All skill levels welcome. 

Registration is not required, so come on in to knit and chat!

Turtle or tortoise? Join a UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County educator for an engaging presentation to find out what makes them different and take a peak into the world of Sarasota's tortoise and freshwater turtle species!

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.

Elphaba, a young woman ridiculed for her green skin, and Galinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads. Rated PG.

Hear from multiple speakers from Behavioral Teaching Solutions (BTS) and their collaborators promoting the Spectrum Speaks Florida Initiative and learn about empowering neurodivergent individuals, fostering inclusive opportunities, and streng

Join us for "Fall Prevention 101", a dynamic and informative workshop designed to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools to reduce the risk of falls.

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

Patrons of all ages can transform blank notecards into beautiful nature - themed art using stencils and paint. Bring your creative spirit for this self-paced activity that employs a variety of art supplies.

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.

Join us as Chef Warren teaches how to Use More Veggies, Fruit and Beans to Create Incredible Meals. 

Why not learn to incorporate veggies in creative ways!?

Registration required. 

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

Improve your Spanish by joining the group.

Do you struggle to find your name in any theme park gift shop? Do you have the idea that would make a perfect gag gift, but nobody else seems to sell your sense of humor? We can help; come to the library and make your own mug!

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

My Mother's Castle (original French title: Le château de ma mère) is a 1990 French film directed by Yves Robert, based on the book of the same name by Marcel Pagnol, the second volume of his Souvenirs d'enfance.

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

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.

Calling all young book lovers! Come join the book dragons, where we dive into the latest and greatest YA novels, classics, and everything in between.

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

Using beads, create a fun lizard!

Recommended for ages 5-9. 

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.

In this interactive presentation, award-winning author Erin Silver will talk about why food waste is a problem, how it happens, and what we can do in our own homes to prevent it.

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.

Drop in during this one-hour session to meet certified pet therapy dogs from Suncoast Humane Society and their parents.

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.

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 young scientists! Grow your scientific knowledge and dazzle with some cool hands-on science experiments with the help of Miss Jenny and the other librarians at Fruitville.

Hang out with us as we watch anime, try Japanese snacks, and try our craft skills out with Japanese crafts!

Unleash your creativity in a supportive 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 Ms. Adrianne and her Fun To Be Fit Bigs Class for ages 6 - 12.

Join us for a class full of dancing, fitness games and a whole lot of fun!

Celebrate the weekend with an hour of open gaming time with video games and board games!

Join Melina and learn how to make your own paper creation! Instructions and supplies provided, just bring your imagination! 

Glenn Allen has been a prominent figure in the Florida music scene ever since his days studying music at the University of Miami. He has since performed all over the state, captivating audiences of all ages.

Want to get more involved with the library?

Claim volunteer spots for summer programs including SRQCon. Take advantage of this leadership opportunity and make an impact!

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!

You love building with Lego^©, and you like challenges? Then come join our Building Bridges with Lego^© challenge.

Young performers can learn more about stage craft in this workshop! Participate in games and activities that highlight the fun and artistry of what happens on stage and behind the scenes.

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.

Children are invited for a special opportunity to share a story with a furry friend! Take advantage of this no-pressure, judgment-free zone to practice reading with a certified therapy dog. Space is limited. First come, first seated. 

Join other teens at our monthly Teen Advisory Board Meeting. The Board will discuss topics related to teen library services, teen programs and the teen collections. Attendees will receive community service credit for their time at the meeting.

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.

Make a Japanese fish sock or kite to hang on your porch or fly on a breezy day.

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!

Come to listen or to play at this bi-monthly open mic jazz jam session for amateur performers. No registration is required. Bring your instrument, and if you would like to play, you may sign up when you arrive.

Want to play chess? Can’t find someone or somewhere to play? 

Open to chess players of all ages and abilities. Chess sets will be provided but you're also welcome to bring your own. 

Join Sarasota Orchestra musicians Daniel Parrette, Assistant Principal Clarinet, and Fernando Traba, Principal Bassoon in a program featuring trios by Mendelssohn, Hurlstone and Glinka. 

Daniel Parrette, clarinet

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

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

You've got the magic in you! Professional illusionist James Chartier returns to Shannon Staub Library by popular demand to lead a workshop in which kids and teens ages 10 and up will learn to perform amazing tricks.