The holiday season is often a time when individuals consider how they can use their talents and resources to help a special cause in their community. The Elsie Quirk Library has a variety of opportunities to give back this year. Visit us during regular business hours to make a card for a recipient of Sarasota County Meals on Wheels. All materials will be provided. If you or your group would prefer to make cards on your own, please drop them by any Sarasota County Library branch by December 14th.
Have you heard of the Box Tops for Education Program? Through this program, schools earn ten cents for every label turned in. A collection box is in the lobby of the library and all proceeds will go to Englewood Elementary School. Visit www.boxtops4education.com for more information.
There are several ways that you can make a positive impact on your community through the Elsie Quirk Library. The library is always in need of volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks. Support your local library by contributing a few hours of your time each week. For more information please visit www.scgov.net/Library/Libraries/Pages/Volunteers.aspx. If you have an interest in meeting other library supporters, join the Friends of the Elsie Quirk Library. Your membership is tax deductible and all contributions go towards supporting programs and services at Elsie Quirk. If you would like information on how to support the Sarasota County Library system, visit the Library Foundation’s website at www.sarasotalibraryfoundation.org.
Here are the Elsie Quirk Library events for this week:
Saturday
- Microsoft Word for Beginners will be held at 10 am. This class introduces the basics of word processing using Microsoft Word 2013 software. Students will learn how to create, edit and save a document. Other features to be covered will include spell check, fonts, margins, and inserting photos. Please bring your laptop.
- The Suncoast Writers Guild will meet at 10 am. This is a business meeting with members input, followed by a speaker or writing exercise. This general meeting is the first Saturday of every month.
Monday
- Forty Carrots’ Partners in Play is a free class for caregivers and children ages birth to 5 to enjoy together and is held from 10:15 to 11 am or 11:15 am to noon. Experience educational activities, join in circle-time fun, meet other families, and receive valuable parenting and child development information. Attendance is limited to 12 families per session.
- Mangrove Informational Workshop starts at 5 pm. The program will cover mangrove biology and identification and the ecological and economic benefits they provide. Also, current Florida State rules regarding mangrove trimming will be discussed and there will be an opportunity for questions.
- Our Monday Night Movie starts at 5 pm. In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it meant to be an activist for human rights. (Drama, R, 2 hrs, 8 mins., 2008)
Tuesday
- Drop in for the Master Gardener Plant Clinic in partnership with UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County from 10 am to noon. For more information, call 941-861-1307 or visit, http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/horthelp.shtml.
- Understanding Your Drinking Water will be held at 1 pm. Curious about your tap water? Learn about its origins, regulations and quality. Learn how supplies are replenished, look at what local water systems reported to their consumers about their water quality in 2015, review groundwater quality maps built by Florida regulators, and much more. Whether your water comes from a public supply, private well or is store-bought, this class will cover topics important to you!
- Englewood Computer Club meets at 1:30 pm. Join this group of individuals who are all working together to better understand computers. This group meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. For more information, email OurECC@comcast.net.
- Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead-Science is from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Learn about scientific principles that are a part of our everyday life. Awesome, exciting, hands-on fun! This program occurs on the first Tuesday of each month. Registration is open to ages 5 through 11 and limited to 12 participants.
Wednesday
- The French Conversation Club meets at 10 am.
- Neighborhood Grant Workshop starts at 10:30 am. This workshop will present an overview of Sarasota County’s Neighborhood Initiative Grant Program (NIGP) process and application. Through the NIGP, neighborhoods may seek up to $10,000 in matching funds from Sarasota County, to apply toward neighborhood improvement projects. RSVP to Miranda Lansdale at 941-861-5000 or mlansdale@scgov.net.
- Solar in the Sunshine State: The Basics of Solar Energy for Florida Homeowners starts at 3:30 pm. Learn about residential solar hot water and photovoltaic technologies. The basics of how the technology works, how to calculate return on investments, policies affecting solar adoption in Florida and available incentives, will all be discussed. Register at eventbrite.com or for more information contact Sara Kane at 941-861-9802 or skane@scgov.net.
- The Lego Club meets from 6 to 7:30 pm and is open to children ages 5 and up. LEGO bricks will be provided. Creations will be on display in the library until the next meeting date. The LEGO Club meets each month in the evening on the first Wednesday and on the third Saturday from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. No registration necessary.
Thursday
- The Short Story Discussion Group meets the second Thursday of the month, November through April at 10:15 am. This group will be reading selections from “The Best American Short Stories of the Century” by John Updike (1999). A copy is available at the Reference Desk to use in-house. December’s selections include, “Gold Coast” by J. McPherson and “The Shawl” by C. Orzick.
- Family Storytime starts at 10:30 am and is open to children ages birth to 5 and their families. Enjoy interacting with your child by participating in early literacy activities that include books, music and movement, crafts and other educational activities. No registration necessary. This week’s theme is Dance Party!
- The Knitting Club will meet to knit and chat from 1 to 3 pm.
Friday
- SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) will be on site from 3:30 to 5:30 pm to assist with Medicare questions. SHINE counselors are unbiased, specially trained volunteers who can assist with questions regarding Medicare Part A & B, Prescription Drug Plans and Advantage Plans. If you would like to make an appointment to see a SHINE counselor, please contact the Area Agency on Aging at 866-413-5337.
For more information on library programs, services, and resources visit us at 100 West Dearborn Street, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000, or visit our website at www.scgov.net/library.
