Upcoming Events
Protecting and Restoring the Great Lakes
Emily Finnell, Chief Strategist of the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes, will share past and ongoing efforts to protect and restore our Great Lakes. She coordinated the development and implementation of the Michigan Water Strategy, a 30-year plan that focuses on healthy ecosystems, enhancing the use and enjoyment of Michigan's water resources, and growing stewardship. Learn about the initiatives and policies around the Great Lakes. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.
Find out more »Code Camp: Build a Business with Junior Achievement
Want to learn to build your own app? Come join Junior Achievement at the Grand Rapids Public Library for Code Camp, a JA Company Program. The camp is a 10-week session on how to solve a problem in the community by launching your own start-up business app. Unleash your creative entrepreneurial spirit and start building career skills for a high school job,vocational job, or college resume. This camp is for middle and high school students. Register at www.grpl.org/register. Limited drop-in…
Find out more »Code Camp: Build a Business with Junior Achievement
Want to learn to build your own app? Come join Junior Achievement at the Grand Rapids Public Library for Code Camp, a JA Company Program. The camp is a 10-week session on how to solve a problem in the community by launching your own start-up business app. Unleash your creative entrepreneurial spirit and start building career skills for a high school job,vocational job, or college resume. This camp is for middle and high school students. Register at www.grpl.org/register. Limited drop-in…
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 »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 »Small Business Research Essentials
Join the Business Librarian for an informative journey through the library's small business resources. Arm yourself with the best business information available and give yourself the upper hand whether you are starting or growing your business.
Find out more »Almost Adulting
Teens: get answers to your money questions! Learn how to find a job, figure out the smartest way to bank, and discover strategies for getting and using scholarships in this 3-part series. Because almost adulting is hard work, a snack will be provided. Spanish resources will be available. Get smart with your money now and set yourself up for a successful future. This week: Get Paid. Find out how to get a job and get paid! Sometimes finding a job…
Find out more »World War I Women’s Defense Cards
During one week in April 1918, 20,000 Grand Rapids women—half the city’s female population—registered for the war effort. One thousand registrars were trained to conduct a 30-minute interview with each woman. Each woman’s information was recorded on a government-issued 5x8 card. Unlike the male WWI registration cards, those from the woman’s nationwide registration are a data-rich resource. The men’s cards were saved; the women’s cards disappeared. Decades later, the women’s cards were discovered in the attic of the Grand Rapids…
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 »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 »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 »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 »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: Art Gone Wild. Have you ever painted with feathers? How about your feet? Make a mess using unique paintbrushes and paint from nature.
Find out more »Finding the Lake Michigan Mermaid: A Conversation with the Authors
The Lake Michigan Mermaid is a new tale that feels familiar. The breeze off the lake, the sand underfoot, the supreme sadness of being young and not in control. These sensations come rushing back page-by-page, bringing to life an ancient myth of coming of age in a troubled world. Join authors Linda Nemec Foster and Ann-Marie Oomen for an exciting conversation inspired by their book, The Lake Michigan Mermaid. Learn about the authors’ collaborative process, hear poems from the book,…
Find out more »Learn to Code with Lynda.com
Do you want to learn to write computer programs, design websites, and create mobile apps for free and on your own time? With Lynda.com and your GRPL library card, you can get started right away. In this series of classes, learn how to begin coding and develop skills that are needed in the tech job market. First, discover the basic tools used in coding and some simple techniques to get started. In the following two classes, you will begin to…
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 »How to Use the Library to Write a Business Plan
Do you have a great idea for a business? Take the first step to starting your own: write a business plan. A more advanced class designed for those who already have a working knowledge of computers and the Internet, this course will highlight library resources to assist students in crafting a well-written business plan. Both online and offline resources will be highlighted.
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 »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 »Evening Explorers
Do you like to build and discover how things work? Kids in grades 1-5 can have a unique, hands-on STEAM experience each month. Take part in science experiments and activities to learn how things work and explore the world around you. This month: IRL Minecraft. Learn about the basics of coding and engineering in activities based on the popular video game. Keep your device at home – this Minecraft takes place in real life.
Find out more »The Life and Times of Roger B. Chaffee
Join former NASA historian Glen Swanson to learn about the life and times of Grand Rapids native Roger Bruce Chaffee. Chaffee would have flown aboard America’s first manned Apollo mission but his life was cut short by a tragic fire that broke out inside the spacecraft on January 27, 1967 during a routine launch-pad systems test. The lessons learned from the fatal accident paved the way for the eventual success of the Apollo Program culminating in six missions that allowed…
Find out more »DIY@GRPL: Design Your Own Mug
Create your own coffee mug designs with sharpies, then take them home and bake them to set and use. We’ll provide one mug per participant; feel free to bring your own if you would like to make more than one.
Find out more »Almost Adulting
Teens: get answers to your money questions! Learn how to find a job, figure out the smartest way to bank, and discover strategies for getting and using scholarships in this 3-part series. Because almost adulting is hard work, a snack will be provided. Spanish resources will be available. Get smart with your money now and set yourself up for a successful future. This week: Get Bank. Learn how to make your money work for you! Exploring how different financial institutions…
Find out more »The #ToughSkinSoftHeart Truth to Being a #RockstarWoman who Leads, Loves, and Serves
Every difference maker has two sides. The tough outer shell is the leader seen and experienced from the outside. The softer inside houses a real human who takes on the world one day at a time and second-guesses every decision the next. Michigan author Shannon Cohen’s new book, Tough Skin, Soft Heart: A Leadership Guide for Growing Stronger, Better and Wiser, was written to inspire and uplift ‘Rockstar Women’--a female difference maker who is a pillar in her home, marketplace,…
Find out more »How to Use the Library to Write a Marketing Plan
One of the first rules of marketing is 'go where your customers are.' Where are your customers and what stories will you tell them? How do you stand out from the crowd and know if you are successful in reaching them? Join the Business Librarian for an informative session on how to use modern tools and timeless tactics to engage customers, start and grow your business.
Find out more »After the Bell on Thursday
After the Bell on Thursday (AtBoT) is your time to hang and do something at the library when school is out—a craft, activity, or movie. Each month will be something different. This month: Tie Dye with Sharpies. For grades 6-12. Ride to Read passes will be available.
Find out more »Almost Adulting
Teens: get answers to your money questions! Learn how to find a job, figure out the smartest way to bank, and discover strategies for getting and using scholarships in this 3-part series. Because almost adulting is hard work, a snack will be provided. Spanish resources will be available. Get smart with your money now and set yourself up for a successful future. This week: Get Schooled. Turn scholarships into earned money! College is expensive and a little effort can go…
Find out more »Cash-Flow for Small Business
The most important part of any business plan is the financial section. It’s where the rubber meets the road, but it’s also hard to understand. Serial entrepreneur and mentor Dennis Dornbush will teach the ins and outs of startup financials. Learn about break-even analysis, keeping up with cash-flows, budgeting, and other skills to make sure your start-up is on the right track. Basic spreadsheet skills are needed for this class.
Find out more »Grantseeking Research for Nonprofits
Designed for beginner fundraisers, this brief course shows how your organization can identify potential funders and prepare to seek grants. Using the Foundation Directory Online Platinum, a database of 140,000 funding sources, students will compile a list of foundation prospects that match their organization's needs. We'll also briefly touch upon other grant sources, such as government and business, and learn about various guidelines to proposal writing.
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: Monstrous Mess. Pretend you're a little monster and make a monster sized mess! Play with melting play dough, monster soup, and more.
Find out more »Evening Explorers
Do you like to build and discover how things work? Kids in grades 1-5 can have a unique, hands-on STEAM experience each month. Take part in science experiments and activities to learn how things work and explore the world around you. This month: Edible Architecture. Learn about the science behind buildings and build a structure with things you eat.
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? In this class, discover how social media uses personal information and how you can regain some control over your online profiles. We will discuss important settings and features that help you control your social media profiles and online identity.
Find out more »Internet Privacy: Protecting Yourself in the Digital Age
It seems every day we hear about how governments, corporations, and hackers are gaining access to individual accounts and personal information. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to minimize risk as you go online. Join us in learning how to secure information and manage your digital footprint. Topics include securing your internet connection and browser, creating and managing effective passwords, and using email aliases to keep your information secure.
Find out more »Basic Computer Maintenance
Have you noticed your computer slowing down? Have you had a virus or malware infect your machine? In this class, we demonstrate a few basic things you can do to keep your desktop, laptop, or mobile device running smoothly and efficiently. Learn about the various problems and threats that can completely disable or reduce the lifespan of your machine.
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: Snow and Slush.Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow . . . in the library! Play with cool to the touch cloud dough, fluffy goop, and other things.
Find out more »Evening Explorers
Do you like to build and discover how things work? Kids in grades 1-5 can have a unique, hands-on STEAM experience each month. Take part in science experiments and activities to learn how things work and explore the world around you. This month: Toy Take Apart. Have you ever wondered what is inside your favorite toy? We will provide a variety of toys that you can take apart and see how they work.
Find out more »Internet Privacy: Protecting Yourself in the Digital Age
It seems every day we hear about how governments, corporations, and hackers are gaining access to individual accounts and personal information. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to minimize risk as you go online. Join us in learning how to secure information and manage your digital footprint. Topics include securing your internet connection and browser, creating and managing effective passwords, and using email aliases to keep your information secure.
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: Patterns and Printing. Have you ever made a swirly picture using shaving cream? Print patters, make pictures, and have fun using paint, potatoes, and other messy things.
Find out more »Evening Explorers
Do you like to build and discover how things work? Kids in grades 1-5 can have a unique, hands-on STEAM experience each month. Take part in science experiments and activities to learn how things work and explore the world around you. This month: High (and Low) Tech Greeting Cards. Use math and circuitry to create fun and interactive greeting cards.
Find out more »