Wednesday, April 21st

7:00-8:00pm

Join us for this live virtual bird talk, and discover how easy it is to get started or to get better at birdwatching (often just called birding). Learn how to ID local birds and set up a bird feeding station. You’ll also hear about easy community science projects you can do that help support bird conservation - some as easy as just watching birds. Register to receive the Zoom link.

Thursday, April 29th

6:30-8:00pm

Join an Artistry instructor who will demonstrate some simple gesture drawing techniques designed to help you capture your pet’s personality either still or in motion. We will also talk about anatomy, and focus on shape and form to flesh out our drawings. Learn from an instructor who will give you live feedback on your work as you focus on capturing the shape, texture, motion, and light of your pet. Registration required.

Wednesday, May 5th - 7:00-8:00pm

Join us for this intriguing and informational presentation from two Minneapolis Star Tribune journalists. Discover how the front page of the Minneapolis Star Tribune is decided each day, and how reporters, editors and photographers do their jobs and find stories in our communities. Go behind-the-scenes and learn how journalists work, the ethical guidelines they follow, and how to be a wise news consumer in an era of growing misinformation on social media. Audience questions invited and encouraged! Register to receive the Zoom link.

Thursday, April 22nd

All Day

Meet with a volunteer attorney for 30 mins to discuss a civil legal issue (this can include family law, conciliation/civil court, protective orders, simple probate/estate questions, etc.). Advance registration required.

All events listed below are presented by CareerForce, and require advance registration.

South of the River Virtual Hiring Event - Thursday, April 15th, 10:00am-12:00pm - Our new platform offers a new, highly interactive experience, is accessible by mobile phone, other mobile device or computer with internet access and features easy registration! Attendees can interact with over 40 participating employers through chat and video interviewing.

Resume Writing Workshop - Wednesday, April 21st, 1:00-2:30pm - Through this workshop, we cover best practices for how to create a resume that meets the specific requirements of a position. We will also demonstrate the different types of resumes and when to use them, as well some common mistakes to avoid.

Networking Connections - April 22nd, 9:30-11:00am - Networking is a critical skill in your job search success, but finding the time and confidence to make it happen is not always easy. This workshop is designed to teach you the value of networking as well as give you tips, tricks, and suggestions to increase your comfort level.

CLIMB (Converting Layoffs into Minnesota Businesses) is a component of the state-funded Dislocated Worker (DW) program designed to assist aspiring entrepreneurs with training and consulting for a successful business launch or growth.

One Book | One Minnesota Author Discussion - Wednesday, April 21st, 1:00pm - Pete Hautman will take part in a statewide virtual discussion about his book Slider, the fourth featured title in this statewide book club. One Book | One Minnesota is a statewide book club that invites Minnesotans of all ages to read a common title and come together virtually to enjoy, reflect, and discuss.

2021 Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony, Thursday, April 29th, 7:00pm - The Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony is an annual celebration of the state's best books. Readers, writers, and book-lovers from all over the state gather together for one incredible evening to honor stories of Minnesotans that connect us all. Winners from nine categories will be announced during the live Ceremony and the annual Kay Sexton Award will also be presented.

Wordplay 2021, May 2nd-8th - The Loft’s Wordplay is Minnesota's largest celebration of readers, writers, and great books. As in 2020, Wordplay 2021 is all virtual due to public health concerns. Click here for the schedule of events.

This week's challenge: National Poetry Month Good luck!

Celebrate National Poetry Month with this special themed trivia, created by Kyle in New Prague. The multiple choice challenge is timed, so the faster you respond, the more points you get! You have until Tuesday, April 20 at noon to take the challenge.

We’ve built our trivia challenge in Kahoot!, but there’s no need for you to create an account. Just click the link, spin for a randomly-generated player name, and play!

Favorite Reads from Book Club – recommended by Kristy Limberg, Youth Services Librarian at the Shakopee Library.

My sisters and I live in different states. One lives in Nebraska and two in Florida. Last fall we decided to start a book club and invite a few friends. I have never belonged to an adult book club, although I have led many young adult and children book clubs! We have enjoyed trying new books and reading outside our comfort zones.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - Eleanor is a not-so-typical heroine. Eleanor believes her life is completely fine. She is a loner who sticks to a rigid schedule and likes it. That is until she meets her co-worker, Raymond and together they save the life of a stranger. Through these connections, she begins to learn about herself, her past and the joys of friendship. Funny, quirky and entertaining.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris - This is based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz. When it was discovered that Lale could speak a few languages, he was put to work tattooing numbers on the newest prisoners. While at the camp, he meets Gita. This is the story of their relationship as it began in the camps and how they survived. It is dark, realistic, and thought provoking.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson - This book is about endurance, suffering bias, overcoming obstacles and the joy of reading. Cussie is the last of the blue-skinned people. They are feared and treated very badly. After a disastrous experience with the courting rituals and marriage, Cussie seeks approval to be a traveling librarian. This position is a part of President Roosevelt's Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky.

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult - Murder on an Amish farm. You will meet Katie Fisher, an 18-year-old, unmarried, Amish girl. Her newborn baby is found murdered on the farm and she denies ever being pregnant. We watch as the plot progresses from the farm to the courtroom. What practices will be bent to allow a good defense for Katie in a world they do not know?

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - Kya Clark is the “marsh girl”. She was abandoned at ten years old and learned to take care of herself. She is enamored with the beauty of the world around her and draws and documents the wildlife in the marsh. As she grows, she becomes entangled in the lives of two boys from town. One who teaches her to read and write and one who wants to be with her but only if others don’t know. When one of these boys, Chase Andrews, is found dead, Kya becomes the main suspect.