Upcoming Events and Free Programs at the Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park Branch Libraries
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Thousand Oaks (Grant R. Brimhall) Library.
There are two great Thousand Oaks libraries; the Grant R. Brimhall Library at 1401 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks (805.449.2660) and the local Newbury Park Branch is at 2331 Borchard Road (805.498.2139). These libraries provide year-round free events, activities and programs for all ages. Selected events from time to time will be covered here.
Visit the library website at www.toaks.org/library to learn more.
The following is a list of programs happening at the Thousand Oaks Library during the month of February at Grant R. Brimhall Library (GRB) and Newbury Park Library (NPL). All Library programs are free and open to the public; some require registration, and all are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice. For the latest information on Library events, please visit www.tolibrary.org/calendar.
ALL AGES
Fiero Code Temple Raiders Contest
Sunday, February 1 – Tuesday, March 31
Have fun, learn coding, and have a chance to win cool prizes. Learn to build a dino-jump arcade game and enter the contest by March 31. Go to Fiero Code under the Library’s Virtual Resources to start. For all ages & abilities!
Conversations with Mom
Tuesdays, February 3, 10, 17, & 24 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • GRB Community Room
This free support group is for moms and their newborns to get together, express their joys and concerns, and meet other new moms in the community. Other caregivers, including fathers and grandparents, are welcome to attend the program on the last Tuesday of the month.
Board Game Club
Tuesday, February 3 • 5:30 – 7:30 pm • GRB Teen Space
Love strategy board games but have a difficult time finding a consistent group to play with? Us too! Ages 14+ are invited to join us monthly to play games like Forbidden Island, Dungeon Mayhem, and Wingspan, or bring your own games to share with others!
Friends of the Library Book Sale
Saturday, February 7 • 12:00 to 3:00 pm • Newbury Park Library
The Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library invite book lovers of all ages to their upcoming Book Sale. This popular community event features a wide variety of affordable books, including children’s titles, adult mysteries, and romance. Most books are priced between 50¢ and $1. Early entry will be available beginning at 11:30 am for Friends’ members and teachers, offering first access to the best selection of titles. Proceeds from the sale support library programs, collections, and community services. For more information, please contact sales@ftol.org or visit FTOL.org.
The String Queens Concert
Tuesday, February 10 • 7:00 – 8:00 pm • Grant R. Brimhall Library
Praised for their authentic, soulful, and orchestral sound, The String Queens (TSQ), Kendall Isadore, violin, Élise Sharp, cello, and Dawn Johnson, viola, are a dynamic trio known for creating captivating musical experiences that inspire audiences to love, hope, feel, and imagine. Their versatile repertoire spans from the Baroque era and Jazz Age to today’s Billboard Hot 100, taking listeners on an exhilarating journey through time and genres. Seating will be open and available on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a FREE event being held at the Grant R. Brimhall Library.
Gosh Yarn It! Crochet Club
Friday, February 13 • 3:30 – 4:30 pm • GRB Community Room
Relax, crochet, and socialize at our crochet club! Beginners and experts alike are welcome to bring your own supplies and hang out with fellow crocheters as we sip tea and work on our projects. For ages 11+.
Maker Monday
Monday, February 23 • 5:00 – 7:00 pm • GRB Teen Space
Stop by and choose a design/experience using one or all of our ‘maker’ machines: Button maker, VR headset, 3D printer, and Cricut machine. For ages 11+.
Ask a Doula
Saturday, February 28 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • GRB Children's Program Room
Ask a Doula provides an open and welcoming space where families can ask questions about pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, newborn care, and infant sleep. Led by Sharon Cody, PhD, a former scientist turned certified doula, the session combines evidence-based information with practical, real-life support. For expectant parents, new parents, and caregivers of young children. Babies and little ones are welcome!
CHILDREN
Homework Help
Mondays • 3:00 – 5:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Tuesdays • 2:30 – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Wednesdays & Thursdays • 3:00 – 5:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Struggling with challenging school assignments? Our volunteers are here to help! For students in kindergarten through 8th grade. September 2025 – May 2026, closed on all CVUSD holidays & breaks. No session February 12 and 16.
Dog Days
Tuesdays • 3:30 – 4:30 pm • GRB Children’s Program Room
Thursday, February 5 • 3:30 – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Readers of all levels and abilities are invited to come and read to a certified therapy dog! Participants will sign up for a brief 10-minute session with a dog and their owner.
Reading Buddies
Tuesdays, February 3, 10, 17, & 24 • 4:00 – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Wednesdays, February 4, 11, 18, & 25 • 3:10 – 3:40 pm or 3:45 – 4:15 pm • GRB Community Room
A weekly program for students grades 1-4 to practice and gain confidence in their reading with the support of a volunteer. Registration required.
Los Robles Children's Choir: Family Singalong
Saturday, February 7 • 2:00 – 3:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Bring the whole family for a fun-filled Singalong, featuring live piano accompaniment and singers from Los Robles Children's Choir. Get ready for an afternoon of joyful singing for all ages! VibeWell Ventura County is a countywide initiative that celebrates the arts as a pathway to mental wellness, connection, and community vitality. Through partnerships and events, VibeWell integrates the proven mental health benefits of creativity into the fabric of Ventura County.
Step Into the Magic of Learning: CVUSD TK Winter Wonderland Night!
Wednesday, February 11 • 5:30 – 7:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Thursday, March 19 • 5:30 – 7:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Do you have a child who will be turning 4 by September 1, 2026? Join us for an enchanting evening at our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Night! CVUSD and Thousand Oaks Library are partnering to create a Winter Wonderland where your child can play, create, and explore while you get a firsthand look at how CVUSD’s TK program builds the foundation for academic success for students. Note: No snow gear required—just a sense of wonder!
Future Einsteins: Energy Chain Reactions
Friday, February 13 • 4:30 – 5:15 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Join us to create a popsicle stick chain reaction and learn about energy. Led by a Teen Volunteer. For ages 5-10. Registration required.
Pathways to Science: Electricity and Magnetism
Friday, February 20 • 3:30 – 4:30 pm • GRB Community Room
Join us to create a magnetic maze and learn about electricity and magnetism. Led by a Teen Volunteer. For ages 5-10. Registration required.
Music Time with Mr. Michael
Thursday, February 26 • 10:15 – 10:45 am & 11:15 – 11:45 am • GRB Community Room
A fun-filled, interactive concert, Mr. Michael creates a joyful atmosphere for kids and parents alike. For families. Registration required.
PACT with First 5 Ventura County
Friday, February 27 • 10:30 – 11:15 am • NPL Meeting Room
Join First 5 Ventura County for a series of classes that mimic the Parent and Child Together (PACT) classes offered at Neighborhoods for Learning sites for children prenatal to 5 years. Classes include books, songs, music and movement, guided play with open-ended materials, and parent education.
STORYTIMES & PLAYTIMES
Baby Storytime
Tuesdays, February 3 & 10 • 10:15 – 10:35 am • GRB Community Room
A lapsit storytime for babies 0-12 months. Walk-ins welcome!
Toddler Storytime
Wednesdays, February 4 & 11 • 10:15 – 10:35 am • GRB Community Room
A storytime for ages 12-36 months. Walk-ins welcome!
Preschool Storytime
Thursdays, February 5 & 12 • 10:15 – 11:00 am • GRB Community Room
This is a storytime & craft for ages 3-5 years. Walk-ins welcome!
Bilingual Pajama Storytime
Monday, February 23 • 6:15 – 7:00 pm • GRB Community Room
A bilingual (English/Spanish) storytime & craft for ages 3-5 years. Walk-ins welcome!
Enrichment Playtime
Join us for 30 minutes of unstructured playtime in the GRB Community Room.
For babies (0-12 months) • Tuesday, February 17 • 10:15 – 10:50 am
For toddlers (12-36 months) • Wednesday, February 18 • 10:15 – 10:50 am
For preschoolers (ages 3-5 years) • Thursday, February 19 • 10:15 – 10:50 am
TWEENS & TEENS
Heart Embroidery Kit - Take and Make
February 2026
Visit the Library to get a heart embroidery kit and instructions created by CReATE STUDIO. Only for ages 11-18. While supplies last.
SAT Prep Workshops by BrainFuse
February 4, 11, 18, & 25 • 3:00 – 4:00 pm • Online
Sign up for a free series of Zoom workshops to help prepare for the SATs. Author and SAT expert Brian Stewart will lead a series of sessions designed to help students understand the test, build confidence, and learn practical strategies. Registration limited; sign up ASAP.
Coding Club
Thursdays, February 5 & 19 • 4:00 – 5:00 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Thursdays, February 12 & 26 • 4:30 – 5:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Begin your journey to master Java through guided lessons, Fiero Code, and fun activities. Bring your own laptop and headphones. Led by Teen Volunteers. Only for ages 11-18. Registration required.
Reading Rocks Book Club
Tuesday, February 10 • GRB Children’s Program Room
Rocks (Grades 4-5): 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Boulders (Grades 6-8): 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Join us monthly to discuss books with strong female characters. This month’s Rocks selection is Murder at the Museum by Alasdair Beckett-King. This month’s Boulder’s selection is Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson. Registration required.
Financial Aid for College Applications
Tuesday, February 17 • 6:00 – 7:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Learn the best resources and ways to apply for financial aid for college, especially with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Taught by an Admissions Counselor from California Lutheran University (CLU). For parents and teens or those preparing for college. Registration required; walk-ins available if room.
Step Into the World of Robots
Tuesday, February 24 • 4:00 – 5:00 pm • GRB Teen Space
Discover the future of robots today through a robotics showcase with a live demonstration! Led by Teen Volunteers. Only for ages 11-18. Registration recommended.
Books for Buttons, Boba, or Burgers
Visit the Library and pick up a “Books for Buttons, Boba, or Burgers” form. Finish reading a book with more than 200 pages, submit to get a pin button, and enter for a chance for a boba or burger gift card. Read more books for more chances to win. For ages 11-18.
ADULTS
Movie Matinée
Monday, February 2 • 1:00 – 3:30 pm • GRB Community Room
Enjoy free movie matinées at the Library! Check our online schedule to see what’s playing and make your next afternoon a movie day.
Microsoft Word Basics
Tuesday, February 3 • 11:00 am – 12:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Learn the basics of Microsoft Word, including how to use and navigate the available tools to write papers, resumes, invoices, and more. Registration required.
Swashbuckling Heroines and High Seas Adventures with Novelist Vanessa Riley
Thursday, February 5 • 4:00 – 5:00 pm • Online
Join us for an unforgettable experience as we chat online with Vanessa Riley about her newest book, Fire Sword and Sea, based on the folk story of the female pirate Jacquotte Delahaye.
Crafternoon
Friday, February 6 • 2:30 – 4:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Adults are invited to join us at the Library to socialize and make a different craft each month! This month, we will be making a Collage Photo Frame. Materials provided. Registration required.
Happily Ever After Book Club
Monday, February 9 • 6:30 – 7:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Join us as we chat about our favorite romance novels, where a Happily Ever After (HEA)—or a Happily For Now (HFN)—is always guaranteed. This month’s book is An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole. Walk-ins welcome.
Excel Basics 1: Working with Text
Wednesday, February 11 • 12:30 – 2:15 pm • NPL Tech Space
Become familiar with Microsoft Excel and learn about tools that can help you stay organized. Registration required.
Open Mic Poetry Nights
Wednesday, February 11 • 6:00 – 7:30 pm • GRB Tech Training Room or Online
Wednesday, February 25 • 6:00 – 7:30 pm • GRB Community Room or Online
Come listen to local poets and share your own work every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, in collaboration with The Ventura County Poetry Project.
Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic with Dr. Lindsey Stewart
Thursday, February 12 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • Online
Feminist philosopher Dr. Lindsey Stewart’s book, The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic, tells the stories of Negro Mammies of slavery; the Voodoo Queens and Blues Women of Reconstruction; and the Granny Midwives and textile weavers of the Jim Crow era. These women, in secrecy and subterfuge, courageously and devotedly continued their practices and worship for centuries, passing down their traditions.
Cybersecurity Basics
Thursday, February 12 • 3:00 – 4:00 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Thursday, February 26 • 3:00 – 4:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Join us as we explore ways to be safe online and to protect yourself from scams. Registration required.
ESL (English as a Second Language) Conversation Group
Thursday, February 12 • 6:00 – 7:00 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Practice speaking English in an informal and friendly group setting, open to all non-native speakers. Registration recommended, walk-ins welcome.
Nostalgia Gardening: Growing Memories in Your Backyard
Saturday, February 14 • 2:00 – 3:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Create a garden space that honors your memories and brings joy using “Nostalgia Gardening.” Registration recommended. Walk-ins welcome.
Canva Basics
Wednesday, February 18 • 11:00 am – 12:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Perfect for beginners, this course will guide you through the essentials of Canva, a free web-based graphic design software. Registration required.
Smithson’s Gamble: The Incredible History Behind the World’s Largest Museum with Smithsonian Curator Emeritus Tom Crouch
Tuesday, February 24 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • Online
Tom D. Crouch, a Smithsonian veteran of almost 45 years, paints a robust picture of a unique American establishment and its lasting legacies in his book Smithson’s Gamble.
Excel Basics 2: Working with Numbers
Wednesday, February 25 • 12:30 – 2:15 pm • NPL Tech Space
Become familiar with Microsoft Excel and learn about tools that can help you stay organized. Registration required.
Spanish at Your Library
Wednesday, February 25 • 5:30 – 6:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Advanced & intermediate learners are invited to join our informal Spanish conversation group to practice and improve with fellow language lovers, guided by a native speaker! Registration recommended. Walk-ins welcome.
International Women’s History Month Story Slam
Saturday, March 21 • 3:00 – 4:30 pm • GRB Meeting Room
Writers eighteen and older are invited to participate in our International Women’s Month Story Slam. Stories may be fiction or nonfiction, but must highlight the voices and experiences of women or be primarily about female characters or influences. Stories must be submitted by Sunday, March 8th, at the Information Desk at either the Grant R. Brimhall or Newbury Park Libraries, or emailed to info@tolibrary.org with the subject heading “Story Slam.” Stories must be between 1000-1200 words. The reading of the top 8 stories will be held in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room on Saturday, March 21st at 3:00 pm. All readers will be notified on Friday, March 13th.
ON THE REGULAR
LevelUp Lounge
Fridays • 10:00 am – 5:30 pm • GRB Teen Space
Access all ages gaming with the Library’s Xbox Game Pass! Hang out and relax with games like No Man’s Sky, Powerwash Simulator, Forza, Sea of Stars, and over 250 more options!
Board Games at the Library
Grant R. Brimhall Library
Stop by the Information Desk to borrow board games to play while inside the Library! Games available include Wingspan, Parks, Forbidden Island, and more.
Dungeons and Dragons Kit
Grant R. Brimhall Library
The Thousand Oaks Library offers Dungeons & Dragons Kits, each packed with guides, handbooks, a game master screen, dice sets, and more for D&D 5th Edition. Find them alongside the Book Club in a Box collection. Perfect for your next adventure!
Stay & Switch
Newbury Park Library
Level up your visit with the Nintendo Switch Lite, available to borrow with your library card at the Newbury Park Library Information Desk. Loaded with fun digital games, the Switch Lite is perfect for in-library play. Come check it out and enjoy some gaming time!
