Despite February being a short month, the Elsie Quirk Library has packed it full of opportunities to explore, learn, contemplate, conversate, and celebrate.
We are all zested up with Lemon Bay Fest; with our partners we are providing live music, intriguing talks, storytimes, and more.
We also invite you to check out our Black History is American History/Black History is World History display with a variety of resources to gain knowledge and perspective on the intersectionality of the United States’ and the world’s history and culture. February, of course, also marks Valentine’s Day when we celebrate love in its many forms.
The Elsie Quirk Library is your one-stop Valentine’s Day resource, whether you’re looking for a romantic movie, instructions to make your best friend a heart-shaped dream pillow, recipes for a strawberry trifle, or books to affirm your anti-Valentine’s stance.
Finally, February birthdays include Babe Ruth, Langston Hughes, Galileo Galilei, Thomas Edison, Elizabeth Taylor, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the incomparable Nina Simone. However and whomever you celebrate, your public library is here to help with the festivities!
A Sampling of Elsie Quirk Library Events, Opportunities, and Resources to Explore:
In-Person Programs
- Monday, February 7, 10:15 a.m. or Noon
Forty Carrots
For children who are mobile up to 5 years old. Uninterrupted play time with your child with the Partners in Play group. Friendly Parenting Educators show how play and learning go together!
- Monday, February 7, 2 p.m.- 3 p.m.
Lemon Bay Fest: American Roots Music Roadshow
Vermont’s Easy Street presents Bluegrass, Old-time, Country, Cajun, and Zydeco played on the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and plenty of singing! It’s a fun-filled story of American music, with a wagon full of information about the music as well!
- Monday, February 7, 4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Lemon Bay Fest: Kahoot! Englewood Trivia
Test your knowledge of Englewood in this fun trivia game.
- Monday, February 7, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Lemon Bay Fest: Patrick Smith’s Florida: A Sense of Place
Author Patrick Smith examines what makes our area special in this film.
- Tuesday, February 8, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Lemon Bay Fest: Monty’s Stories Book Discussion
Don Bayley, editor of Monty’s Stories, leads a discussion of the book, Monty Birdsey, and your favorite Englewood stories.
- Tuesday, February 8, 12 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Health in Motion Bus
Florida Department of Health staff will be on-site to provide no-cost health screenings and referrals for general health and wellness. Nursing staff will help individuals who lack medical insurance find a medical home for ongoing health care through referrals to the Community Health Centers of Sarasota County. No appointments needed. The bus will be located in the west parking lot. Flu shots will be available.
- Wednesday, February 9, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Board Game Night
Bring a friend or find a friend for some classic fun! Games for all ages and interests are available to play throughout the library.
- Wednesday, February 9, 4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Lemon Bay Fest: Kahoot! Englewood Trivia
Test your knowledge of Englewood in this fun trivia game, these will be different questions than on February 7.
- Wednesday, February 9, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Lemon Bay Fest: “Cracker: The Last Cowboys of Florida”
This film looks at the impact of the development in the state that once had the second largest cattle industry in the U.S.
- Thursday, February 10, 10:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Short Story Discussion Group
The Short Story Discussion group meets the second Thursday of each month. Readings will be from “The Best American Short Stories of the Century” (expanded edition, 1999), edited by John Updike.
- Thursday, February 10, 10:30 a.m.
Lemon Bay Fest: Family Story Time
Join Miss Cris for a special Lemon Bay Fest Story time- If Life Gives You Lemons.
- Thursday, February 10, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Lemon Bay Fest: Beginning Genealogy
Learn how to research and document your ancestors and family history with members of the Englewood Genealogical Society using online genealogical resources. Registration required.
- Thursday, February 10, 1 – 3 p.m.
Quirky Knitters
Bring your projects, patterns, and questions to Elsie Quirk Library and join the Quirky Knitters for an afternoon of knitting and crochet. All skill levels welcome. Registration is not required, just come on in to knit and chat!
- Friday, February 11, 10:30 a.m. – Noon
Basic Conversational Spanish for Beginners
Come and learn basic conversational Spanish with instructor Dan Duffy. This class is for persons who know little or no Spanish.
- Friday, February 11, 2 – 3 p.m.
Spanish Reading Group
Already took the Basic Conversational Spanish class? Graduate to this class which focusses on Spanish stories, translation, pronunciation and grammar. Open to anyone who speaks basic Spanish.
Community Support
- Job Seekers Kits
A purple folder packed with helpful tips, resources, and tools for job seekers, available at our community resource table.
- Care Kits
Reusable sinch bags with useful everyday items for those in need, such as personal hygiene supplies, sox, first aid supplies, and Kind Bars, available by asking any library staff member.
- Snack Bags
Full of popular snacks for children and teens 18 and under, available in the youth department. - Virtual Programs
Sign up or learn more at: scgovlibrary.librarymarket.com/events
- Alphabet Storytime
Online storytime for kids, enjoy Elsie Quirk’s own Cris and George reading books with their favorite letters, and discover new library friends from other branches.
- Tech Help by Zoom
Need help with your new phone? Can’t figure out how to get e-books on your iPad? Want to find out how to make Word stop putting spaces where you don’t want them? Set up a tech by Zoom appointment with an Elsie Quirk staff member by registering online or giving us a call. We are also happy to talk you through setting up a Zoom account over the phone.
- Dungeons and Dragons
Ages 14 and up. Join us online for the classic role-playing game and make new friends, every Thursday from 4 to 7pm! Requires the use of Zoom and the Roll20.net gaming platform—for help with either, contact the library.
