September 2019
Baby & Me Storytimes
Bring your baby, 0-18 months, and bounce along to fun stories, songs, and rhymes. Baby & Me is a 15-minute storytime followed by a relaxed playtime where you and baby will meet new friends.
Find out more »Baby & Me Storytimes
Bring your baby, 0-18 months, and bounce along to fun stories, songs, and rhymes. Baby & Me is a 15-minute storytime followed by a relaxed playtime where you and baby will meet new friends.
Find out more »Bilingual Pajama Time
Join us for an evening bilingual storytime filled with fun stories, movement, and music activities. The 30-minute English and Spanish storytime followed by a hands-on activity and playtime. Wear your pajamas and get those wiggles out before bed! For families with children 5 and under.
Find out more »Reach Customers Online with Google
Learn how customers find your business online and how to promote your business using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Smart Campaigns in Google Ads.
Find out more »Toddler Time
Bring your toddlers, ages 18 months to 3 years, to share fun stories, songs, and rhymes and learn together! Toddler Time is a 25-minute long storytime followed by a hands-on activity and playtime designed to help your child's brain grow.
Find out more »Art Attack with the DAAC
Our new neighbors, the Division Avenue Arts Collaborative (DAAC) is leading an after school art program at the library. Kids in grades 3-8 can kick back and get creative with local artists.
Find out more »Pajama Time!
Come explore learning through fun stories, movement, and music activities during this evening storytime. Pajama Time is a 30-minute storytime followed by a hands-on activity and playtime. Wear your pajamas and get those wiggles out before bed! For families with children 5 and under.
Find out more »STEAM Ahead Storytime
Children ages 3-5 can discover the world around them through science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Join us for a 20-minute storytime followed by 25-minutes of hands-on activities.
Find out more »Toddler Time
Bring your toddlers, ages 18 months to 3 years, to share fun stories, songs, and rhymes and learn together! Toddler Time is a 25-minute long storytime followed by a hands-on activity and playtime designed to help your child's brain grow.
Find out more »Baby & Me Storytimes
Bring your baby, 0-18 months, and bounce along to fun stories, songs, and rhymes. Baby & Me is a 15-minute storytime followed by a relaxed playtime where you and baby will meet new friends.
Find out more »Toddler Time
Bring your toddlers, ages 18 months to 3 years, to share fun stories, songs, and rhymes and learn together! Toddler Time is a 25-minute long storytime followed by a hands-on activity and playtime designed to help your child's brain grow.
Find out more »STEAM Ahead Storytime
Children ages 3-5 can discover the world around them through science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Join us for a 20-minute storytime followed by 25-minutes of hands-on activities.
Find out more »Open Lab – Computer Help
Need help with your computer, tablet, or smartphone? We're here to help. Stop by during our drop-in computer help sessions.
Find out more »Baby & Me Storytimes
Bring your baby, 0-18 months, and bounce along to fun stories, songs, and rhymes. Baby & Me is a 15-minute storytime followed by a relaxed playtime where you and baby will meet new friends.
Find out more »Toddler Time
Bring your toddlers, ages 18 months to 3 years, to share fun stories, songs, and rhymes and learn together! Toddler Time is a 25-minute long storytime followed by a hands-on activity and playtime designed to help your child's brain grow.
Find out more »STEAM Ahead Storytime
Children ages 3-5 can discover the world around them through science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Join us for a 20-minute storytime followed by 25-minutes of hands-on activities.
Find out more »Managing Your Digital Footprint
Have you ever forgotten a password? Do you wish you had a plan to manage your online information and protect your privacy? Managing your digital footprint may seem intimidating, but with a plan and the right tools, you can stay safe and get the most out your experience online. This class offers methods and tools you can use right away to begin managing your online profiles, passwords and information.
Find out more »Pajama Time!
Come explore learning through fun stories, movement, and music activities during this evening storytime. Pajama Time is a 30-minute storytime followed by a hands-on activity and playtime. Wear your pajamas and get those wiggles out before bed! For families with children 5 and under.
Find out more »Mindstorm Saturdays
Kids ages 10 and up can explore robotics every Saturday at the library. Using Lego Mindstorms EV3 kits, these hands-on robotics teach essential coding skills, problem solving, and more. This is a self-guided, drop-in event.
Find out more »Storytimes for Families
Parents and caregivers are invited to bring their children 18-months to 5 years old to this 45-minute class featuring hands-on, literacy rich activities such as stories, songs, fingerplays, and hands-on fun. Classes end with a fun and creative art activity.
Find out more »Yoga Time
Bend and breathe in this yoga class for kids, led by an instructor from AM Yoga. Mats will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. For ages 4-11.
Find out more »Storytime at the Farmers Market
Join us for a very special storytime at Martin Luther King Jr. Park! We will read stories, sing songs, and have activities and information on library programs. Come join us at the South East Area Farmers Market!
Find out more »Lego Block Party
Kids 6 and up can explore engineering, art, math, and other core concepts using Legos and other building blocks. Each month will feature a building challenge to teach critical thinking, problem solving, decision making and more. This is a self-guided, drop-in event. This month’s challenge: Design your dream school.
Find out more »October 2019
Lego Block Party
Kids 6 and up can explore engineering, art, math, and other core concepts using Legos and other building blocks. Each month will feature a building challenge to teach critical thinking, problem solving, decision making and more. This is a self-guided, drop-in event. This month’s challenge: Design your dream school.
Find out more »Resources for Genealogical Research in Foreign Countries
Once you've discovered your immigrant ancestor's home country, how will you go about finding documents generated while they were still there, and how will you research his or her parents? Participants in this program will discuss how to use available resources be begin conducting research in foreign countries, including how to locate foreign language genealogy terms and examine online maps that provide contextual information on shifting country boarders. This program is co-sponsored by the Western Michigan Genealogical Society.
Find out more »CHAOS Lab
Toddlers and preschoolers will explore the world through merry mess-making. Each month there will be a new set of activities to make kids squeal with glee! Create some chaos in the library, not in your home. Dress for a mess! This month: Gross Gala. Pretend you are a monster and make a monster size mess! Prepare gross monster stew, paint a picture of a pumpkin with a pumpkin, and enjoy other frightfully fun activities.
Find out more »From Managerial Void to the Medical Mile: The Evolving Roles of Women and the Enduring Presence of History
Fleshing out the history of women founders of early Grand Rapids medical institutions, Julia Bouwkamp will reveal a pattern where they were pushed from the centers of organizations they had created to the more feminine realm of nursing. Despite their marginalization, these nineteenth-century women exploited limiting ideas about gender to continue the expansion and sophistication of our medical world. This program is co-sponsored by the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council, the Grand Rapids Historical Society, and the Grand Rapids…
Find out more »Let’s Create with Bestselling Author David Wiesner
Spend the morning with David Wiesner, the author and illustrator of beloved picture books Flotsam and Mr. Wuffles!. Learn about the power of wordless art and help create a masterpiece that will be displayed for the whole community. A book signing will follow the presentation. This event is co-sponsored by the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
Find out more »Social Justice Begins with Me: A Book Club for Kids
Children ages 4-11 can explore social justice topics that impact their daily lives through children's literature. GVSU, GRPL and community volunteers a will read children's books on that month's social justice topic (e.g. celebrating diversity, gender, equity, disability). After the book readings, we discuss the month's social justice topic in small groups and enjoy a snack and themed craft activity. This program is a partnership between the Grand Rapids Public Library and the School of Social Work at Grand Valley…
Find out more »Friends of the Library Book Sale
Huge used book sale! Find treasures, bargains, and more! Saturday all books 3 for $1.00 or 50¢ each. Sunday fill a bag for $5. All proceeds benefit the Grand Rapids Public Library.
Find out more »DIY@GRPL: Book Planters
Create a planter out of a book. This ingenious craft will be a fantastic conversation piece for your home or the perfect gift for a loved one. All supplies will be provided, including one succulent per person. Space is limited.
Find out more »Michigan POW Camps in WWII
Prisoner of War (POW) camps popped up nationwide during World War II, and Michigan had dozens of camps that housed about six thousand German and Italian war prisoners. Men were processed at Fort Custer near Battle Creek, then assigned to 31 smaller camps, most in remote areas of the state. Under the Geneva Convention, prisoners were allowed to volunteer for non war-related work. They picked fruit in Berrien County, harvested sugar beets in the Thumb, cut pulpwood in the Upper…
Find out more »Yoga Time
Bend and breathe in this yoga class for kids, led by an instructor from AM Yoga. Mats will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. For ages 4-11.
Find out more »Día de los Muertos: Honoring Day of the Dead
Come celebrate Día de los Muertos with the Grand Rapids Public Library. Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that honors family and friends who have passed on. Loved ones come together to build altars that celebrate the life and memory of the dead. This is a time of celebration and joy, filled with talk and memories of those who have died. Altars from members of the community honoring family and friends will be on display. Every altar is…
Find out more »November 2019
Día de los Muertos: Family Day
Families are invited to learn more about the Día de los Muertos holiday. Children can have their face painted and listen to bilingual storytimes. Other activities include live music and food sampling from local restaurants.
Find out more »Basic Computer Maintenance
Have you noticed your computer slowing down? Have you had a virus or malware infect your machine? Learn a few basic things you can do to keep your desktop, laptop, or mobile device running smoothly and efficiently. Discover the various problems and threats that can completely disable or reduce the lifespan of your machine.
Find out more »Social Justice Begins with Me: A Book Club for Kids
Children ages 4-11 can explore social justice topics that impact their daily lives through children's literature. GVSU, GRPL and community volunteers a will read children's books on that month's social justice topic (e.g. celebrating diversity, gender, equity, disability). After the book readings, we discuss the month's social justice topic in small groups and enjoy a snack and themed craft activity. This program is a partnership between the Grand Rapids Public Library and the School of Social Work at Grand Valley…
Find out more »Understanding the Ethnic Ancestry in Your DNA Test
Many DNA tests now include a breakdown of your overall ethnic ancestry. Yet many people don't get the results they expect. Different companies may show different results for the same person. People also wonder why siblings see different results in the same test, or why Native American ancestry does not always show up as expected. This session will address these issues and more, such as which tests to consider and which to avoid. We will review and compare actual ethnicity…
Find out more »Backup Basics: How to Secure Your Data
Whether its your family photos, business documents, or digital media collection, your digital data is valuable. Learn how to ensure your digital data is kept safe and secure. From thumb drives and hard drives to cloud storage, find multiple ways to backup your data on any device.
Find out more »Grant Seeking 101
The process of grant writing can be daunting, but we'll show you the ropes. Learn how to plan, write, and fund your grants using Grantspace.org and The Foundation Directory Professional.
Find out more »Division Avenue: A Trip Back in Time
South Division was once a dirt road that connected Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Over time, it evolved into a thriving corridor important to area businesses and the people of Grand Rapids. Prior to an era with malls and shopping centers, South Division was home to a number of retail businesses, as well as auto deals, lawyers, restaurants, factories, hotels, doctors, and more. In the first of a two-part series, local researcher Ed Pacienca details the story of South Division, including…
Find out more »Genealogy Lock-In
Come to the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department for a free after-hours program just for genealogists. Learn how to use the library databases, newspaper microfilm and other resources, and take advantage of free copying and printing during the event. Bring your family history questions or problems—volunteers from the Western Michigan Genealogical Society will be on hand to assist. Network with other genealogists—you never know what you might find. Registration required: www.grpl.org/register or call 616-988-5400.
Find out more »Yoga Time
Bend and breathe in this yoga class for kids, led by an instructor from AM Yoga. Mats will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. For ages 4-11.
Find out more »Social Media Privacy: Taking Control of Your Profiles
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have revolutionized how we communicate and relate to one another. But at what cost? Learn how social media uses personal information and how to regain some control over your online profiles. Discover important settings and features that help control your social media profiles and online identity.
Find out more »