While Turlock Library will only be open for a couple of weeks in March before closing down for the start of renovations, there are still many activities for readers of all ages to participate in this month.
The Turlock Library Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. March 4. This month's selection is “The Husband's Secret,” by Liane Moriarty. Discovering a tattered letter that says she is to open it only in the event of her husband's death, Cecelia, a successful family woman, is unable to resist reading the letter and discovers a secret that shatters her life and the lives of two other women.
Children can come into the library between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. March 4 and read to a four-legged furry friend. This program gives children a relaxed, non-judgmental atmosphere in which to practice reading aloud to a certified therapy dog for 15 minutes. No sign-ups necessary. First come, first served.
All are invited to attend the monthly board meeting of the Friends of the Turlock Public Library at 6:30 p.m. March 4. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month in the library. Come by and support your local library.
Teens can join fellow bibliophiles to discuss their recent favorite reads at the Turlock Teens Talk Books meeting, set for 3 p.m. March 7.
Visitors to the library at 4 p.m. March 10 can step back 65 million years and explore some of the creatures that once roamed the Earth. Learn how dinosaurs were different from other animals. This program, presented by the Great Valley Museum, includes a lot of fossils and is best for school-aged children.
The Turlock Teen Advisory Board will meet at 4 p.m. March 11. The board provides input on what kinds of programs and activities teens would like the library to provide. During the hour-long meeting, the group brainstorms and discusses ideas for library activities and services for teens in Turlock. Community service hours are earned by attending meetings and helping with projects.
The Mystery Lovers Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. March 13. This month's selection is “Dead Irish,” by John Lescroart. In his new life as a bartender at the Little Shamrock, Dismas Hardy is just hoping for a little peace. He's left both the police force and his law career behind. Unfortunately, it's not as easy to leave behind the memory of a shattering personal loss-but for the time being, he can always take the edge off with a stiff drink and round of darts. But when the news of Eddie Cochran's death reaches him, Hardy is propelled back into all the things he was trying to escape. Now he must untangle a web of old secrets and raw passions, for the sake of Eddie's pregnant widow Frannie — and for the others whose lives may still be at risk.
There are no other events scheduled at the Turlock Library in March. The library will be closed through the end of 2020 during construction, though a pop-up option will be open in the Turlock Senior Center, located across the parking lot from the library.
The pop-up library will be used for customers to place and pick up holds and for story times for children. Story times for babies, toddlers and preschoolers are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays at the Turlock Senior Center. Pop-up hours will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The book drops at the library will remain in operation.
The Turlock Library is located at 550 Minaret Ave. For more information on Turlock Library programs, call 209-664-8100.
Denair
March events at the Denair Library will start with a LEGO Day and meeting of the Chess Club.
Children are invited to take part in a day of playing with LEGO DUPLO blocks at the library every Wednesday in March. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct adult supervision.
The Denair Library will host its Chess Club from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday in March. Participants should bring their own chess boards and pieces for a nice, friendly game of chess. Chess puzzles will also be available to solve. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, all are welcome. These will be unranked, fun games of chess. Come by and meet fellow players, and maybe even make a new friend.
The library will hold three craft days in March, with bead butterflies starting at 4 p.m. March 5. To help visitors to the library look more like leprechauns for St. Patrick’s Day, a festive hat and silly beard craft will be held at 4 p.m. March 12. At 4 p.m. March 19, visitors can make their own vibrant flower to decorate their home made out of a coffee filter and other crafting supplies. All materials will be provided.
Children can come into the library between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 10 and read to a four-legged furry friend. This program gives children a relaxed, non-judgmental atmosphere in which to practice reading aloud to a certified therapy dog for 15 minutes. No sign-ups necessary. First come, first served.
The Great Valley Museum will present an Animal Adventure at 3:30 p.m. March 26. This hands-on experience will include fur, skin and shells — and live animals.
The Denair Library will hold a Spring Scavenger Hunt at 4 p.m. March 26. Visitors are invited to find all the hidden springtime pictures in the library to earn a prize.
The Denair Library is located at 4801 Kersey Rd. For more information on Denair Library programs, call 209-634-1283.
Keyes
The Keyes Library will hold four special events in March, starting with an origami craft on March 12. Kids can create a frog using origami folds and they will test to see how far it can jump.
Don't let Friday the 13th stress you out; come to the Keyes Library on March 13 for a coloring day and enjoy a quiet and relaxing time simply by adding color to paper.
The library will celebrate the beginning of spring on March 19 with a paper daisies craft.
Kids can turn an ordinary paper bag into their very own high-flying super hero using different decorations on March 26.
The Keyes Library is located at 4420 Maud Ave. in Keyes. For more information about programs at the Keyes Library, call 209-664-8000.
