Saturday, December 21 (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Location: Capitola
Room: Brad Mcdonald Conference Room

Please join us at the Capitola Branch Library on Saturdays, 10am-12pm for a chance to practice your English language skills with new friends and a group leader from the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County Literacy Program.

For more information about the Literacy Program visit https://scvolunteercenter.org/programs/literacy-program/ or call  831-427-5077.

Saturday, December 21 (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Location: Boulder Creek
Room: Boulder Creek Community Room, Outdoor Amphitheater

Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors. The Community Crafters are a diverse group of makers and love to share our knowledge. We knit, quilt, weave, spin, make jewelry, embroider, mend and so much more. All crafters are welcome! We hope you will join us in creating community and beautiful things!

Please note: Most weeks, crafters bring their own supplies to work on independent projects, but about once a month one of our members puts on a special workshop, sharing knowledge on a specific subject and materials are provided. Please refer to the Library calendar for updates on these special workshops, as they require registration.

Saturday, December 21 (10:30 AM - 11:30 AM)
Location: Downtown
Room: Downtown Community Room

Join us for Fratello Marionettes' performance of The North Pole Review.  Be entertained by high-kicking Russian Trepak Dancers, graceful ice skating and acrobatic penguins.  

Three shows on Saturday, December 21st. 

10:30a Downtown

1:00p  Aptos

3:30p Boulder Creek

Saturday, December 21 (12:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
Location: Capitola
Room: Ow Family Community Room

Come join the magical world of D&D storytelling, where you can be a bard, a wizard, or a barbarian for a few hours and let your creativity run free. Solve weird and wonderful problems with spells, cunning, or daggers and make some new friends in the process.

Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned player you will be welcomed every 1st and 3rd Saturday for an afternoon of collaborative storytelling. Friendly game masters will be ready with dice, characters, and the start of a story; all we need is your creativity and enthusiasm. 

No prior experience is necessary. This program is for adults 18+.

What is Dungeons and Dragons?

D&D is one of many tabletop roleplaying games, in which players create and control fictional characters within a shared imaginary world. A Game Master guides the story and sets the scene, while the players make decisions for their characters, rolling dice to determine outcomes. TTRPGs encourage creativity, teamwork, and storytelling as players collaborate to overcome challenges and complete quests. 

Modern D&D has veered away from the combat-heavy game it used to be. While it's still possible to spend hours attacking monsters and finding loot, many groups now tell stories of mystery, intrigue, horror, or whimsy. 

Who are the game masters? 

This event is organized by Jeltje van Baren (yinnah@yahoo.com), who learned to play a few years ago and has been creating games for new players ever since. She will be assisted by a rotating group of diverse GMs from the local TTRPG community, all of whom are used to patiently explaining the rules and keeping the game fun for everyone.

Saturday, December 21 (12:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
Location: Capitola
Room: Barbara Gorson Multiuse Room

Adults need playtime, too! Come play some new or old favorite tabletop games. Bring your favorite board game or play some of Lancelot's games. No prior gaming experience is necessary. This program is for adults 18+. 

We will meet every first and third Saturday of the month in the Barbara Gorson Multipurpose Room at the Capitola Branch Library.

Saturday, December 21 (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM)
Location: Felton
Room: Felton Community Room

Join the circle and write a poem in a creative and supportive  environment. No experience necessary. Open to all ages and levels of poets.

Facilitated by poet-teacher Magdalena Montagne.

Pre-registration is no longer required.

Questions: Call Magdalena at 831-252-5776 or email her at magdamontagne@gmail.com.

The group meets on the back patio, but if the weather is inclement, we will meet in the Community Room.

Saturday, December 21 (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
Location: Aptos
Room: The Betty Leonard Community Room

Join us for Fratello Marionettes' performance of The North Pole Review.  Be entertained by high-kicking Russian Trepak Dancers, graceful ice skating and acrobatic penguins.  

Three shows on Saturday, December 21st. 

10:30a Downtown

1:00p  Aptos

3:30p Boulder Creek

Saturday, December 21 (2:00 PM - 3:30 PM)
Location: Downtown
Room: Downtown Community Room

Professional chess instruction with Chess Master Gjon Feinstein.  For ages 6 - 18, all levels welcome!  If you have never played chess before, please contact Gjon before your first session: coach@santacruzchess.com or 831-425-7835.

Saturday, December 21 (3:30 PM - 4:30 PM)
Location: Boulder Creek
Room: Boulder Creek Community Room

Join us for Fratello Marionettes' performance of The North Pole Review.  Be entertained by high-kicking Russian Trepak Dancers, graceful ice skating and acrobatic penguins.  

Three shows on Saturday, December 21st. 

10:30a Downtown

1:00p  Aptos

3:30p Boulder Creek

Sunday, December 22 (1:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
Location: Downtown
Room: Downtown Community Room

Queer Gaming is a safe place for LGBTQ+ folks and allies to gather, play games and build community.

Sunday, December 22 (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM)
Location: Downtown

Are you stuck with a technology question?

Our tech savvy staff at the Downtown Library would like to help you troubleshoot your issue with a 30 minute (or less) appointment. Fixing broken hardware or software is not within our scope. Possible topics may include: creating an email account, creating documents, attaching files, using premium subscription library resources, downloading and streaming content like movies, books, and audiobooks, and more. Please bring any devices you use, and have your necessary passwords and library card with you. 

Make an appointment: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/appointments/downtown

Advance appointments are prioritized. Visit the library's information desk or call telephone information (831-427-7713) for help making an appointment. Arriving later than 5 minutes after scheduled time may result in appointment cancellation. Walk-ins are welcome, when openings are available.

Visit the library's Digital Learning webpage for more opportunites: https://www.santacruzpl.org/digitallearning

We look forward to helping you!

Monday, December 23 (10:30 AM - 12:00 PM)
Location: Aptos
Room: The Betty Leonard Community Room

Join us at the Bridge Club, every Monday from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Everyone is welcomed from beginners to social players. Make new friends and sharpen your mind. If you’re interested in playing Bridge, a table is waiting for you.

Bridge club is a partnership between Santa Cruz County Parks and Santa Cruz Public Libraries. 

Please click HERE TO REGISTER for the event on Santa Cruz County Parks website or in person one the day of the event at the Aptos Library.

Enjoy playing bridge for recreation, mental stimulation, and companionship at the library!

Monday, December 23 (12:30 PM - 2:00 PM)
Location: Felton
Room: Felton Community Room
Join us every Monday at the Felton Branch for a knitting party. All you need to do is bring some yarn and knitting needles. All ages are welcome.

Monday, December 23 (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM)
Location: Downtown
Room: Life Literacies Center

An Encompass Outreach worker will be available on a drop-in basis, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, in the Life Literacies Center at the Downtown Library for anyone with questions regarding connecting to social services, county mental health, addiction recovery options, housing applications, the Homeward Bound bus ticket program, obtaining a PO Box, clearing camping tickets, obtaining a fee-free DMV CA Identification application and more.

Monday, December 23 (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM)
Location: Aptos
Room: Dorosin Memorial Conference Room

Are you stuck with a technology question?

One of our tech savvy staff members at the Aptos Library would like to help you troubleshoot your question with a 30 minute (or less) appointment. Possible topics may include: creating an email account, creating documents, attaching files, using premium subscription library resources, downloading and streaming content like movies, books, and audiobooks, and more. Please bring any devices you use, and have your necessary passwords and library card with you. 

Please make an appointment in advance here: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/appointments/

Please call telephone information (831-427-7713) if you require assistance making an appointment.

We look forward to helping you!

Monday, December 23 (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM)
Location: Aptos
Room: The Betty Leonard Community Room

Aptos Writer’s Workshop is a place where writer’s meet to discuss, and provide suggestions for fiction and non-fiction work in a positive and supportive small group environment. It is designed to help members with their own work over time from an initial idea, through character/concept development, scene/chapter blocking to the finished piece. We are all at different places on our journey and it is okay. We will be meeting from 1-3 pm on the 2nd and 4th Monday’s of the month in the Community Room of the new Aptos Library. 

Monday, December 23 (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM)
Location: Downtown
Room: Life Literacies Center

The Santa Cruz Poetry Project facilitates poetry and writing workshops throughout Santa Cruz County. Our mission is to bring poetry to those who would not otherwise have access. We do this through our Poetry in the Jails project, which offers poetry workshops to incarcerated men and women. Our new workshop at the downtown library, offered in partnership with the Life Literacies Center, welcomes anyone who would like to establish a writing practice in a safe and encouraging environment.

Tuesday, December 24 (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Location: Scotts Valley
Room: Study Room B

Are you stuck with a technology question?

Our tech savvy staff at the Scotts Valley Library would like to help you troubleshoot your issue with a 30 minute (or less) appointment. Fixing broken hardware or software is not within our scope. Possible topics may include: creating an email account, creating documents, attaching files, using premium subscription library resources, downloading and streaming content like movies, books, and audiobooks, and more. Please bring any devices you use, and have your necessary passwords and library card with you. 

Make an appointment: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/appointments/scottsvalley

Advance appointments are prioritized. Visit the library's information desk or call telephone information (831-427-7713) for help making an appointment. Arriving later than 5 minutes after scheduled time may result in appointment cancellation. Walk-ins are welcome, when openings are available.

Visit the library's Digital Learning webpage for more opportunites: https://www.santacruzpl.org/digitallearning

We look forward to helping you!

Tuesday, December 24 (11:30 AM - 1:00 PM)
Location: Downtown
Room: Life Literacies Center

Volunteer Housing Navigators provides housing navigation services for people experiencing homelessness every Tuesday, 11:30-1 in the Life Literacies Center.

Tuesday, December 24 (2:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
Location: Systemwide

All library branches will close at 2pm for Christmas. Regular hours resume on Thursday, December 26th 2024.

Todas las bibliotecas públicas de Santa Cruz estarán cerradas a los 2pm por el Navidad. El horario regular se reanuda el jueves, 26 de diciembre, 2024.