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August 2019
A Community Conversation on Facing the Opioid Epidemic
Recently declared a national public health emergency, opioid-related deaths kill more people in Michigan than car accidents or firearms. Local responses range from providing police with tools that counteract overdoses to opening safe injection sites. Join the library, along with Dirt City Sanctuary, the Kent County Opioid Task Force, and The Red Project for an important community conversation. Learn how the opioid epidemic has taken shape locally and how we can work to tackle the growing epidemic in our community.
Find out more »Let’s Play
Let’s Play is a four-week program for children 0-5 and their parents or caregivers and focuses on child-driven play. Children will explore different types of play. Each week an early childhood specialist will be available to answer questions parents may have about their child’s development. Families are encouraged to attend all four sessions.
Find out more »Open Lab – Bilingual Computer Help
Need help with your computer, tablet or smartphone? We’re here for you. Stop by during our drop-in computer help sessions and out bilingual staff can answer your questions.
Find out more »September 2019
Open Lab – Bilingual 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 »Building Basic Computer Skills
Are you often confused by computer terms and lingo? By learning the key concepts and basic terminology used in technology, you can build a foundation for digital literacy that will last a lifetime. In this class, you will being developing your skills to navigate the Internet, mobile devices, and many types of software.
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 »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 »Victorian Lady
Learn about the lives of Victorian era women with local historical interpreter Wendy Batchelder. She will offer a fascinating peek at the daily routine of a Victorian lady. Hear how fashions like hair and jewelry were presented. Guests are encouraged to bring their own photos for group discussion, as fashion clues can help date photographs. This program is co-sponsored by the Western Michigan Genealogical Society.
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 »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: Wheels of Mayhem. Use a toy truck to paint, pretend to make a care engine, or take your toy vehicles on a muddy course full of pine cones, shells, and other obstacles.
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 »Discovering the Internet
Using the Internet can be an intimidating experience for many people. Learn how the Internet works and basic definitions for the most common Internet terms. Discover tips and tricks on how to protect your information and identity while searching, shopping and surfing the web.
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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »Paths Less Taken: Grand Rapids Women and the Egyptian Revival in Cemetery Architecture
Tom Dilley, author and expert on Grand Rapids cemeteries, takes a daring, speculative path to consider why around 1900, the Egyptian Revival fashion took hold in Grand Rapids more than in other areas of the country. The brooding Egyptian Revival style in a funerary setting is uncommon in the Midwest and virtually unknown in the South. Tom will explore why three of our four examples of this exotic style of cemetery design--which in the eyes of the religious establishment was…
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…
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