We miss being with our library friends for in-person visits, but until our neighborhood libraries open again, we’re excited to bring you some of your favorite offerings online!
That’s right, our staff has taken to a variety of platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Crowdcast, and Zoom! – to bring you some of your favorite library events until we can all get together in person again. Programs are being offered for library lovers of all ages, from storytimes to financial workshops to cooking classes and so much more!
Head over to our brand new Virtual Programs page and find something that interests you – be sure to check out the event details and follow the instructions for participating.
Here’s just a sampling of what you can find!
Storytimes
Virtual Storytime with Miss Mary | Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. | View on Instagram
Join Miss Mary on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for a short storytime featuring two picture books! This will be presented on our Instagram Live (@freelibraryccd), which will be available for 24 hours after the program on IG stories! This program is intended for children ages 2-7, but anyone is welcome to join!
Every Saturday in April, Ms. Scout will celebrate National Poetry Month by sharing some of her favorite poems and talking about what makes them poetry! Come listen and write some poems of your own! These videos can be found on the social media platform of your choice (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram)!
Bedtime Storytime with Ms. Kate | Fridays at 6:30 p.m. | View on Facebook
Ms. Kate is hosting bedtime stories from her home! She's checking in with her stuffed animal friends, reading bedtime stories and folktales, and then ending storytime singing a lullaby or two! This program is intended for children ages 8 and under, but all friends are welcome to join us!
Workshops
Positive Affirmations: Mindful Writing with Ms. Becky | Wednesday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m. | View on Facebook or Instagram
Children will learn to write positive affirmations and repeat them daily to build self-esteem and self-love. This program will be posted to Instagram and Facebook stories at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 and will be available for 24 hours.
Crafternoons | Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. | View on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram
Ready to get crafty? Join Miss Mary every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. on the social media platform of your choice (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) to find out what three prompts we have for Thursday Crafternoons! Use these prompts to create whatever you want with whatever supplies you have! Check back at 4:00 p.m. to see what Miss Mary has created, and for a book suggestion! This program is intended for children 12 and under.
The Financial Advancement Network (FAN) is an initiative of the Urban Affairs Coalition that is supported by the Department of Community & Economic Development (CED). Through the combination of financial education and peer support, the Financial Advancement Network aims to empower individuals to take charge of their financial lives. Getting Loans will be the first in a four-part series of virtual workshops. Learners are given guidelines for loan eligibility and how it ties to their credit report. The topic will cover how to apply for a loan and reasons applications may be denied. These programs are free and will be available through Crowdcast.
Author Events
Judith Heumann | Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist | Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. | View on Crowdcast
A world-renowned leader in the Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement, featured in the new film Crip Camp, Judith Heumann has spent four decades working with a wide array of governmental agencies, activist groups, and NGOs on legislation and policy to benefit disabled people. In conversation with Tamala Edwards, 6ABC Action News morning edition anchor. Watch live on Crowdcast and be sure to register in advance!
Celebrated dancer and choreographer Mark Morris details his life as a young dancer and emergence as one of the most successful artists of the last half-century in his "rollicking, uninhibited and refreshingly raw" (Washington Post) new memoir. Assisting him on this memoir was author and musician Wesley Stace (known by the rock-and-roll pen name John Wesley Harding). Watch live on Crowdcast and be sure to register in advance!
Samantha Irby | Wow, No Thank You. | Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. | View on Crowdcast
In her popular long-running blog, bitches gotta eat, Samantha Irby offers raw, humorous takes on her sometimes difficult personal life, pop culture, and, of course, food. In her new essay collection, Irby ponders inspirational Instagram infographics, being friendzoned by Hollywood, living in a red state, and the discomfort of life as a 40-year-old. In conversation with New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino. Watch live on Crowdcast and be sure to register in advance!
If you’d rather work, read, or learn on your own, you can do that, too! Take advantage of the Free Library’s robust collection of digital resources that can be accessed from anywhere with a library card, including ebooks, audiobooks, movies and TV, music, and over 100 databases!
How are you utilizing the Free Library while at home? Let us know in the comments!
Have a question for Free Library staff? Please submit it to our Ask a Librarian page and receive a response within two business days.