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. 

May 2024 Programs:

ALL AGES

Seeking Artists and Exhibitors for LibCon

We are currently seeking artists for our artist alley, as well as local businesses to partner with for our 2024 LibCon event! If interested, please fill out an application before May 31, 2024. Learn more at www.tolibrary.org/libcon

Author Talk with Mona Gable

Saturday, May 4 • 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm • GRB Community Room

LA Times writer and author, Mona Gable, will discuss her book Searching for Savanna: The Murder of One Native American Woman and the Violence Against the Many and the crisis of violence against Native women.

Gosh Yarn It

Friday, May 10 • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm • GRB Community Room

Relax, crochet, and socialize at the Thousand Oaks Library’s 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+.

The Great Puzzle Race

Saturday, May 25 • 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Gather your team of up to 4 people to race each other and the clock to see who can complete a 500-piece puzzle first. Each team will receive the same puzzle provided by the library and will have 90 minutes to complete it. The team that finishes first or completes the most before time is called wins!

LevelUp Lounge 

Stop by the Grant R. Brimhall Teen Space on Fridays for access to 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!

KIDS

Homework Help Center 

Mondays • 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Tuesdays • 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Wednesdays & Thursdays • 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm • GRB Community Room

Need help with homework? Want to improve your math or reading skills? Don't know much about history? Great news! Students in Grades K-8 can get help with homework from volunteers at the library. Closed on all CVUSD holidays and breaks. No sessions on May 23-30.

Dog Days

Thursday, May 2 • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Tuesdays • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm • GRB Children’s Program 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 • 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Wednesdays • 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm or 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm • GRB Community Room

Helping students in Grades 1-4 practice reading and gain read aloud confidence! Registration required. No sessions May 28 & 29.

Machines in Motion: Rubber Racers

Sunday, May 12 • 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm • GRB Community Room

Learn about the fun and exciting world of physics and engineering. Build a rubber band powered car step by step and race them! For grades 3-6. Registration required.

Writing Buddies

Thursday, May 16 • 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm • GRB Community Room

Let's Roll-a-Story! This activity engages students in Grades 2-5 by providing elements of storytelling while simultaneously supporting skills such as brainstorming and creative writing. Registration required.

Music & Movement

Saturday, May 18 • 10:15 am – 10:45am & 11:15 am – 11:45 am • GRB Community Room

Dance, clap, and sing along with Ms. Cheryl and her guitar during this fun, interactive program for ages 0-5 years. Registration required.

Mini Masters: Claude Monet

Sunday, May 19 • 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm • GRB Children's Program Room

An art history story and craft program led by a Teen Volunteer. Artist: Claude Monet. Book: The Magical Garden of Claude Monet. Craft: Magical Water Lily Garden. For grades 1-5. Registration required.

Future Einsteins: Acids, Bases, and Invisible Ink

Sunday, May 19 • 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm • GRB Community Room

Have fun learning about science. Experimenting with acids and bases using invisible ink and litmus paper. For grades 1-5. Registration required.

Make & Take: Mini Zen Garden

Monday, May 20 • 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm • GRB Community Room

Create and decorate a Mini Zen Garden to help calm and focus the mind. For grades K-5. Registration required.

Make & Take: DIY Visor

Wednesday, May 22 • 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Create your own cool visor for summer using fabric markers and your imagination. All supplies provided.

Talk, Read, Sing! with First 5 Ventura County

Friday, May 24 • 10:30 am – 11:15 am • NPL Meeting Room

Join First 5 Ventura County and participate in a variety of activities that promote speech/language and literacy development. For ages 0–36 months.

Storytimes & Playtime

Toddler Storytime

Wednesday, May 1 • 10:15 am – 10:35 am & 11:00 am – 11:20 am • GRB Community Room

This is a toddler storytime for ages 12-36 months. Registration required.

Preschool Storytime

Thursday, May 2 • 10:15 am – 11:00 am • GRB Community Room

This is a storytime & craft for ages 3-5 years. Walk-ins welcome!

Newbury Park Toddler Storytime

Thursday, May 2 • 1:15 pm – 1:35 pm • GRB Community Room

This is a toddler storytime for ages 12-36 months. Walk-ins welcome!

Enrichment Playtime

For babies (0-12 month) • Tuesday, May 7 • 10:15 am – 10:50 am

For toddlers (12-36 months) • Wednesday, May 8 • 10:15 am – 10:50 am

For preschoolers (ages 3-5 years) • Thursday, May 9 • 10:15 am – 10:50 am

NPL Toddler Playtime • Thursday, May 9 • 1:15 pm – 1:50 pm

Join us for 30 minutes of unstructured playtime in the GRB Community Room.

TEENS & TWEENS

AP Exams – Study Resources

Thursday, May 2 • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • Zoom

Learn about resources at the Library to help you study for your AP Exams. Registration required.

Summer Teen Volunteers Needed!

The Library needs friendly teen volunteers during the Summer to help with Summer Reading Club, LibCon, and Library programs and activities. Apply ASAP for first choice in Library and volunteer shifts. Go to www.tolibrary.org/teens for more information and application details. Orientation Training sessions available starting in May. Volunteer shifts available June 15-August 11, 2024.

Reading Rocks Book Club

Tuesday, May 14 • GRB Children’s Program Room

Rocks (Grades 4-5) • 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Boulders (Grades 6-8) • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Join us monthly to discuss books with strong female characters. This month’s books are Matilda by Roald Dahl for Rocks and Cinder by Marissa Meyer for Boulders. Registration required.

Custom Comic Bookmarks

Monday, May 20 • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • GRB Teen Space

Wednesday, May 22 • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • NPL Tech Space

Create a custom comic bookmark by recycling manga, comic and graphic novel pages. For grades 6-12. Registration recommended.

eComic Book Club (Virtual)

Thursday, May 23 • 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm • Virtual

Read comics, graphic novels and manga from our ComicsPlus catalog on your phone, tablet, or computer. Join us in an online safe space where we can discuss with other fans of eComics. This month we will read and discuss Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy. For ages 13-18. Registration required, details to join will be sent after registration .

Books for Buttons & Boba 

Come to the Library and pick-up a “Books for Buttons and Boba” form. Finish a book with more than 200 pages, get a button, and enter for a chance for a Boba gift card. For Grades 6-12. This program is held at both library branches.

ADULTS

Introduction to 3D Printing

Wednesday, May 1 • 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm • NPL Tech Space

Wednesday, May 8 • 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Learn the basics of 3D Printing as well as how to use Tinkercad, a free, easy-to-use software for 3D modeling. Registration required.

Free Movie Matinée

Friday, May 3 • 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Monday, May 6 & 20 • 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm • GRB Community Room

Watch free movie matinées at the library! View the movie schedule online.

Conversations with Mom

Tuesdays • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • GRB Community Room

This free support group is for moms and their newborns to get together in a relaxed environment to express their joys and concerns. A safe place to ask questions and meet other new moms in the community.

Excel Basics 1: Working with Text

Tuesday, May 7 • 12:30 pm – 2:15 pm • NPL Tech Space

Tap the organizational powers of Excel and learn about workbooks, cells, formatting, sorting, filtering, and other tools that can help you record information and stay organized. Registration required.

Cool Apps for Free

Wednesday, May 8 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Learn how to use a selection of the library’s free apps to access magazines and newspapers, listen to music, learn a language, and more! Registration required.

Open Mic Poetry Nights

Wednesday, May 8 • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Wednesday, May 22 • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Community Room

Come listen to local poets and share your own work! Poets include members of the Ventura County Poetry Project, local poets, and special guest readers.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Conversation Group 

Thursday, May 9 • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Practice speaking English in an informal and friendly group setting. All skill levels are welcome, from beginners to advanced. Adults and teens 14+. Registration preferred. Walk-ins welcome.

Happily Ever After Book Club

Monday, May 13 • 6:30 pm – 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 Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. Walk-ins welcome.

Board Game Club

Tuesday, May 14 & 28 • 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm • GRB Community Room

Adults are invited to join us monthly to play strategy board games like Forbidden Island, Dungeon Mayhem, and Wingspan. Walk-ins welcome.

Computer Basics: Windows 11

Wednesday, May 15 • 11:00 am – 12:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Gain confidence using the latest Windows 11 operating system to accomplish what you need to do on your computer! Registration required.

Many Voices Book Club (Hybrid)

Wednesday, May 15 • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm • GRB Tech Training Room or Zoom

Join us in reading and discussing books in a wide variety of genres by authors from a wide variety of cultures. Our book this month is What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad. Walk-ins welcome.

Microsoft Word Basics

Thursday, May 16 • 11:30 am – 1:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Gain confidence using Microsoft Word to write resumes, lists, stories, or whatever you like by learning the basics. Registration required.

Crafternoon

Friday, May 17 • 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Friday, May 24 • 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm • GRB Community Room

This month we will be getting into the springtime spirit by making felt bird bookmarks. Registration required.

Excel Basics 2: Working with Numbers

Tuesday, May 21 • 12:30 pm – 2:15 pm • NPL Tech Space

Tap the organizational powers of Excel and learn how cells, formatting, formulas, and charts can be used for budgets, record-keeping, and statistical reports. Registration required.

Spanish at Your Library 

Wednesday, May 22 • 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Intermediate and advanced learners will gain a better understanding of how to express themselves in Spanish under the gentle guidance and support of a language-learning professional. Adults and teens 14+. Registration preferred. Walk-ins are welcome if space allows.

Canva Basics

Thursday, May 23 • 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm • NPL Tech Space

Wednesday, May 29 • 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Learn how to create a wide range of flyers and promotional materials using Canva’s free, web-based graphic design software. Registration required.

CLU Lecture: To Empower or Marginalize: Latinos & the American Catholic Church

Thursday, May 23 • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Community Room

Dr. Kiku Huckle, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science at CLU, will discuss how the language the Church uses to discuss Latinos has evolved.

Garden to Table Series – Artichoke and Tomato Tango: A Dynamic Duo in the Garden

Thursday, May 30 • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Learn cultivation secrets, compatible growing tips, and creative culinary pairings to make artichokes and tomatoes the heart of your backyard oasis. Presented by the Master Gardeners of Ventura County.

Virtual Author Talks

Wednesday, May 1 • 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm • Virtual

Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I with Douglas Brunt

Wednesday, May 8 • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • Virtual

A Murder Mystery, Family Story, & Love Letter to Strong Women Everywhere with Nina Simon

Tuesday, May 21 • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • Virtual

Asian American Representation in Literature with Rebecca F. Kuang