Bemis Public Library Programs – May 2023
Adult/General Programs
Senior Social Club—Every Thursday, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Please join us for our weekly chat in Sophie’s Place at the front of the library.
Stitch Circle —May 11 and 25, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. — For All Ages
Join Bemis’s Stitch Circle in Sophie’s Place! Bring in your own projects or come to learn the basics of knitting, crocheting or embroidery.
Board Games @ Bemis—May 12, 5–7 p.m.—For All Ages
Drop in after hours for board games. Pizza and snacks will be served.
Macra-MAY Craft —May 20, 2 – 3:30 p.m. —For Ages 10 and Up*
Learn the basics of macrame – knotted string art – and create a simple wall hanging or other piece of fiber art. *Registration required. Call 303-795-3961 or click here to register starting April 20.
Tuskegee Airmen with Active Minds — May 22, 2-3 p.m. — For Adults of All Ages
The issue of race in the military extends from colonial times to the present day. Join Active Minds as we explore a chapter of this story from World War II: the Tuskegee Airmen. These groups of African American pilots were the first black military aviators in the U.S. armed forces. We will tell their story of struggle and triumph and bring this issue into a current context.
Dungeons & Dragons— May 24, 5–7:30 p.m.—For Ages 10 and Up*
Roll the dice, join a group, and let your imagination soar as we play this popular tabletop roleplaying game! Players of all experience levels are welcome, pre-generated characters and dice are available to borrow. *Registration required. Click here to register starting April 27.
Adult Summer Reading Program Kickoff – May 30, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – For Adults of All Ages
Early readers get the prize! Pick up the official Adult Summer Reading Bingo Card starting Tuesday, May 30, The first 50 participants will receive a free library tote bag. All participants have the chance to win gift cards to local restaurants and merchants.
Bemis Book Clubs
Join one of our fantastic groups to discuss thought provoking books – and sometimes just life in general. The Senior Book Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month. The Evening Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of the month.
- Senior Book Group — May 3, 1–2 p.m. — For Ages 50 and Up
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel Brown
It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating Adolf Hitler’s German team. In-person/virtual event: Attend at the library in the downstairs conference room or click here to join on Zoom.
- Evening Book Club – May 17, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Women Talking by Miriam Toews
For the past two years women and girls in a Mennonite colony has been repeatedly violated in the night by “demons” coming to punish them for their sins. Now the women have learned they were in fact drugged and attacked by a group of men from their own community. Determined to protect themselves and their daughters from future harm, the women meet while the men of the colony are off in the city. These women – all illiterate, unable even to speak the language of the country they live in – must choose: Stay in the only world they’ve ever known, or dare to escape? In-person/virtual event: Attend at the library in the downstairs conference room or click here to join on Zoom.
Library Speakers Consortium: Virtual Author Talks
Join us for live-streamed discussions with bestselling authors. Visit https://libraryc.org/bemis for information on upcoming events and to watch previously recorded discussions with authors.
- Britt Hawthorne, author of Raising Anti-Racist Children – May 3, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – For Adults of All Ages*
Join us for an empowering discussion with Britt Hawthorne, a nationally recognized teacher and advocate, about her strategies for building an inclusive and antiracist family environment. Raising antiracist children is a noble goal for any parent, caregiver, or educator, but it can be hard to know where to start. Raising Antiracist Children acts as an interactive guide for strategically incorporating the tools of inclusivity into everyday life and parenting. *Registration required. Call 303-795-3961 or click here to register.
- Jena Friedman, author of Not Funny – May 10, 6-7 p.m. – For Adults of All Ages*
Join us for a serious(ish) conversation with comedian and author Jena Friedman, discussing her book Not Funny: Essays on Life, Comedy, Culture, etc. Growing up, Jena Friedman didn’t care about being likable. And she never wanted to be a comedian, either. A child of the 90s, she wouldn’t discover her knack for the funny business until research for her college thesis led her to take an improv class in Chicago. That anthropology paper, written on race, class, and gender in the city’s comedy scene, was, in Jena’s own words, “just as funny as it sounds.” But it did lay the groundwork for a career that has seen her write and produce for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the Late Show with David Letterman, and the Oscar nominated Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. *Registration required. Call 303-795-3961 or click here to register.
- Courtney Summers, author of I’m the Girl – May 20, 12-1 p.m. – For Ages 14 and Up*
Join us for an engaging conversation with bestselling YA author Courtney Summers about her new thriller I’m the Girl. When sixteen-year-old Georgia Avis discovers the dead body of thirteen-year-old Ashley James, she teams up with Ashley’s older sister, Nora, to find and bring the killer to justice before he strikes again. But their investigation throws Georgia into a world of unimaginable privilege and wealth, without conscience or consequence, and as Ashley’s killer closes in, Georgia will discover when money, power and beauty rule, it might not be a matter of who is guilty—but who is guiltiest. *Registration required. Call 303-795-3961 or click here to register.
LIRC PROGRAMS
Calling for volunteers!
Would you like to work one-on-one with one of the immigrants in our community and help them on their path to citizenship? Do you have at least one hour per week you’d like to devote to helping them improve English? Then we’re looking for you! Call 303-795-3968 or email Robert librzl@littletongov.org about your interest in volunteering, and we’ll discuss your opportunities. We’ll train you for free and help you get more involved in the community you love!
International Conversation Circle—Every Thursday—Noon–1:15 p.m.
Would you like to meet people from other countries? Would you like to practice English or help others practice English in a social atmosphere instead of a class? Join us at the International Conversation Circle at Bemis Public Library every Thursday, noon–1:15 p.m. on the lower level of the library. Meet people from the U.S. and other countries, practice English and make new friends, and enjoy some food and drink together. For more information, email Robert Little at librzl@littletongov.org or call 303-795-3968.
TECH PROGRAMS
Technology Help: One-on-One —Various Dates & Times —For All Ages*
Sign up for an individualized technology appointment with a librarian. Get help with anything from accessing eBooks and digital resources, assistance with internet connectivity, video chatting and more.
*Registration required. Please call the library at (303) 795-3961 or click here to register starting April 20.
Drop-in Tech Help—May 4, 10:30-11:30 —For All Ages
Stop by Study Room A for basic technology assistance. As questions about your smartphone, eReader, tablet, laptop and more!
Tech Class: Search Engines—May 18, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. or May 25, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.— For Adults 18 and Up
Google? Bing? What’s the difference? Learn how to use search engines effectively and which is the best fit for you!
*Registration required. Please call the library at (303) 795-3961 or click here to register starting April 20.
TheStudio@Bemis: One-on-Ones —Various Dates & Times
For All Ages, Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult*
Sign up for an individualized appointment with a librarian to learn more about any resources in the library’s makerspace, TheStudio@Bemis. Learn more about the Cricut, sewing machines, digitization station and more!
*Registration required. Please call the library at (303) 795-3961 or click here to register starting April 20.
TheStudio@Bemis: Open Lab — May 9 and 23, 4–6 p.m. —For All Ages, Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult
Drop in to TheStudio to learn more about the space and its resources. Explore crafts with string in May!
