East Central Regional Library Events

Join the Challenge & Celebration!

EARTH DAY CHALLENGE ON BEANSTACK Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd with East Central Regional Library by participating in an Earth Day Challenge on Beanstack. Find out how to reduce your environmental impact in our air, water, and in your home through this resourceful Earth Day challenge designed to educate and inspire! There are 3 different grade level challenges: (K-5th grade, 6-8th grade, and 9th grade-adult). Be a planet protector and earn 8 new badges, now through May 10th! Sign in or create an account or to participate today!

GARDEN WALK, NEW MONARCH SCULPTURE Thursday, April 22 5:00pm-6:00pm North Branch Library Celebrate the one earth we’ve been given! Take a walk through the new pollinator gardens at the North Branch Area Library at 5 p.m. We will be unveiling a beautiful new monarch sculpture along with a short program. Learn about some of the things you can do to help keep our earth and future healthy! Also, you will be able to participate by chalking pictures of monarchs and their habitats all over the sidewalks and parking lot. This event is sponsored in partnership with the North Branch Monarch Group. For more info, contact Tom Anderson at tomanderson444@gmail.com This will be a socially distanced, outdoor event.

Feed Your Body, Grow Your Mind

SEED LIBRARY Plant your garden and watch it grow! Learn to grow fresh, healthy food in your own backyard. Each kit will contain a small amount of seed variety, instructions on how to grow each variety and recommended books from the library to help you out. Participants can select which seed varieties they would like to receive in their kit. Seeds options include lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, squash, radishes, arugula, beans, swiss chard, peas and sunflowers. Registration is required. Kits will be sent to the library of your choice the week of May 3rd. Limited to one kit per household. This program is sponsored by the Chisago Lakes Friends of the Library. FOOD ALLERGY DISCLAIMER: East Central Regional Library is not responsible for adverse reactions to foods consumed or items one may come in contact with while participating in this event. Those concerned with food allergies should participate at their own risk.

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SPICED! FLAVORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Explore a new spice each month by participating in this event, which will provide us with a unique opportunity to learn about the different flavors that spices bring to our food. We'll also learn the rich history and culture of each spice. Each kit will include a sample of the spice as well as a few recipes. The featured spice for May is Turmeric. Registration is required and begins Monday, May 10th. Kits will be sent to the library of your choice the week of May 24th. Limited to one kit per household. This program is sponsored by the Chisago Lakes Friends of the Library. FOOD ALLERGY DISCLAIMER: East Central Regional Library is not responsible for adverse reactions to foods consumed or items one may come in contact with while participating in this event. Those concerned with food allergies should participate at their own risk.

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Arts and Crafts Time

OWL PUPPETS TAKE AND MAKE Register for this take & make kit and create your own owl puppets! All you need is a glue stick, scissors, and perhaps an adult to help with cutting out the owl wings; all other materials are included. Each kit contains supplies to make one paper-bag owl puppet and a set of six different craft-stick owl puppets. A list of Minnesota owls and a link to the Minnesota DNR page helps you find photos and fun facts about each species. Request a kit to be delivered to your library branch for pick-up. Recommended for ages 5 to adult. Registration is required (please use full names). Limit one kit per person. Registration will remain open and kits will be shipped to library branches as supplies last. Sponsored by the Friends of the Pine City Public Library.

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FUN WITH FLAT STANLEY Have fun reading and writing with our Flat Stanley project! Participating libraries (Aitkin, Cambridge, Chisago Lakes, McGregor and North Branch) will provide you with a paper doll, letter template, and stamped envelope.  You will get to color and name your paper doll. Then mail (or drop off) your new flat friend to one of the participating libraries with the letter form we provide you. Your friend will get to have all sorts of adventures in the library. Afterward, library staff will mail your friend back to you with a letter about all the fun they had! Flat Friends are due at the library by Tuesday, May 11th. Recommended for ages 5-10. Registration required. Please use the full name of the child for sign-up.

Register Here for Cambridge Register Here for North Branch Register Here for Aitkin Register Here for McGregor Register Here for Chisago Lakes

Out of This World

VIRTUAL DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CONTINUES Adult Edition (ages 18+) is Monday, April 26th, 4-6pm Teen Edition (ages 13-17) is Monday, May 3rd, 4-6pm Are you a Dungeons and Dragons fan or just looking to learn how to play? Join us via Zoom for an adventure filled with mystery and magic!  Have fun using your imagination and problem-solving skills while meeting and socializing with others who enjoy role-playing games. Rules and pre-made characters will be available for all! We will be playing using the 5th Edition rules.

Register Here for Adult Edition

Register Here for Teen Edition

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU A virtual panel event Tuesday, May 4th, 5-6pm Zoom online platform There has been an awakening in the force! Star Wars fans are invited to attend a virtual panel with several Star Wars characters including Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Sano Natura. Ask your burning questions, take part in Star Wars trivia, and chat about your favorite galaxy far, far away. This online event is recommended for fans ages 6 and up. Registration is required. The groups represented are the Minnesota Force, 501st Central Garrison and Rebel Legion Ilum Base

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Book Sales and More

SPRING BOOK BUNDLE CHALLENGE (North Branch) April 1st through May 29th Kids, teens, and adults are welcome to join our Spring Book Bundle Challenge. To participate, stop by the North Branch Area Library to see which book bundles are available and pick up your challenge sheet. Once you complete five activities on the challenge sheet, return it to the library to be entered to win that book bundle. Each bundle has its own challenge sheet, so you can complete as many as you would like.

MILACA FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY DONATION DAY Wednesday, April 28th, 1-3pm & Thursday, April 29th, 10am-12pm & 1-3pm Milaca Community Library Volunteers will be on hand to receive donations of gently used adult fiction and non-fiction books, children's books, CD audiobooks, music CDs, and DVDs to be used for the Milaca Friends of the Library Book Sale. These items will not be accepted: Bibles, cassette tapes, encyclopedias, dictionaries, textbooks, Reader's Digest condensed versions, VHS tapes, or moldy/smelly items. The Milaca Friends of the Library is a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization, so all donations are tax deductible.

MORA FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY POP-UP BOOK SALE Saturday, May 1st 8:00am-12:00pm Mora Public Library The Friends of the Mora Library are having a Pop-Up Book Sale on the library patio during the City Wide Yard Sale. Free-will donations accepted. As an added bonus, free craft kits will be available for any child who stops by (while supplies last). Make sure to add this book sale to your yard sale route; you don’t want to miss it! Masks and social distancing required.

MILACA FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE Tuesday, May 4th - Thursday, May 6th Tuesday, May 11th - Thursday, May 13th Milaca Community Library Browse the Milaca Friends of the Library Book Sale! A great selection of adult fiction and non-fiction books, children's books, CD audiobooks, music CDs, and DVDs will be available for purchase. This event will take place in the library building. Please practice safe Covid protocols while attending.

FRIENDS OF THE AITKIN LIBRARY BOOK SALE Friday, May 7th, 9am-3pm & Saturday, May 8th, 9am-3pm Aitkin Public Library The Friends of the Aitkin Public Library are hosting their annual Spring Book Sale in the Library's Community Room. Purchase gently used books and DVDs. All proceeds will go toward the Friends to help support the Library. All books and DVDs are 50 cents; magazines are free. Use the Community Room entrance from the parking lot. Registration is not required, but there is a limit of 10 shoppers allowed in at a time. Please wear your face mask while in the building and practice social distancing.

Children's Storytimes

ADVENTURE STORYTIME: SECRET AGENTS (Virtual, Regionwide) Saturdays, 10am-11am April 10th - May 29th Join us for a special Secret Agent themed Virtual Storytime series led by Mora Branch Librarian, Katherine! Each week we will meet on the Zoom  platform to sing songs, read top secret stories,  and complete secret missions. This program is recommended for children of preschool age. Craft supplies will be provided at your branch of choice. You will be contacted when your supplies are ready.  **By registering for this event, you are registering to participate in all eight weeks of activities.

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STORYTIME ON THE PATIO Wednesday, May 5th 10:30am-11am Cambridge Public Library Join us for an in-person socially distant storytime on the Cambridge Library Patio. To access the patio, it is best to park in the Fern Street parking lot. We will be reading stories, singing, and having general fun as we practice our early literacy skills. Recommended for families with children ages 2-6. Masks are required for adults. **Registration required for each child.

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STORYTIME ON FACEBOOK LIVE Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10:30am-11:00am Join us for Virtual Storytime! Together we will have fun, sing songs, read books and learn! Watch on our East Central Regional Library Facebook page. Kirsten is our Librarian for Tuesday. Amelia is our Librarian for Wednesday. You will need your shakers and scarves! Each week we will spend 20-30 minutes working on our early literacy skills while we all spend time at home. Video will be accessible for a week so you don't have to watch at 10:30 a.m.

Join a Book Club!

Most of our Book Club discussions are held on the Zoom online platform -- a great way to see friends face to face while social distancing. If you've never used Zoom before, all you need is internet access and a computer or smart phone with audio and video capabilities. Don't have Wi-Fi? You can also call into the meeting. Registration is required for each Virtual Book Club. Please register on the events calendar at ecrlib.org, and you will be contacted by the library with further instructions. Questions? Email us at ecregion@ecrlib.org or call your local library Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

NORTH BRANCH AREA MONDAY, MAY 17TH 11:00AM-12:00PM We plan to meet in person, socially distanced, on the patio at the library -- just follow the sidewalk around the right of the building. Please bring your own chair. In case of inclement weather, we will meet on Zoom. Join Branch Librarian Amelia for the North Branch Library book club, held on the third Monday of each month from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. This month, we are reading The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel. Copies of the book will be available through a book club kit at the library. Stop by the library and speak with staff about getting a copy or call (651) 674-8443 to arrange a pickup. For services and hours, visit the North Branch Area Library page at ecrlib.org.

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MORA AREA WEDNESDAY, MAY 19TH 1:30PM-2:30PM Join Mora Branch Librarian, Katherine, for Book Club on the third Wednesday of every month from 1:30-2:30 p.m. We will be meeting in person, socially distanced, in Library Park. Masks are required. Please bring your own chair.  Since this is our first meeting of the year, we will spend time catching up with each other and discussing how the new format of Book Club will work. This month's book will be distributed during this first meeting. In the event of inclement weather, Book Club will be canceled. Questions? Please reach out to Mora Branch Librarian, Katherine, at (320) 679-2642. For current services and hours, visit the Mora Public Library page at ecrlib.org.

PINE CITY AREA THURSDAY, MAY 20TH 10:00AM-12:00PM Join us for Book Group on the patio at the Pine City Library. Book group is typically held on the third Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The meeting will be hosted by Pine City Librarian, Heidi. This month we are reading Half Broke Horses: A True Life Novel by Jeannette Walls. Copies of the book are available in a book club kit at the Pine City Library. Stop by and speak with staff about signing out a copy, or call 320-629-6403 to arrange a curbside pick-up. You can also request to have a copy sent to your local East Central Regional Library branch. For current services and hours, visit the Pine City Public Library page at ecrlib.org.

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CHISAGO LAKES AREA THURSDAY, MAY 20TH 5:00PM-6:15PM Join Branch Librarian Kerstin for the Chisago Lakes Library book club, held on the third Thursday of the month. This month, we are reading The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. Visit the Library Catalog for copies of the selected title. You can also call the library at 651-257-2817 or email Kerstin at kfinsness@ecrlib.org. For current services and hours, visit the Chisago Lakes Area Library page at ecrlib.org.

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CAMBRIDGE AREA THURSDAY, MAY 20TH 6:30PM-7:30PM Join the Cambridge Public Library's monthly book club, this time in person on the patio! This month we are reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Copies of the book are available at the library. For easy access to the patio, park in the Fern Street library parking lot (west end of the library). Questions? Call 763-689-7390. For current services and hours, visit the Cambridge Public Library page at ecrlib.org.

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All library events are made available at no cost and are open to the public.