Alpaca Party, Library Hacks, Summer Hiking Tips, and More from Your Library

In the Know Newsletter | July 2025

Summer with the Library Is In Full Swing

What’s an easy way to get a free book? Take part in Summer with the Library! Readers and adventurers of all ages can join the Summer with the Library program and dive into a season of stories, activities, and fun. Just for signing up, you’re entered for a chance to win great grand prizes including Tonies, LEGO BricQ Motion Education kits for kids, and e-Readers for teens and adults. Complete a reading and activity log and earn a free book of your choice!

To take part, track your progress online or with the Beanstack app or pick up a paper log at any Deschutes Public Library location (or download and print at home). For more information, visit our website.

The Alpacas are Back! Celebrate Summer with Us

This summer we’re bringing family fun to parks with games, prizes—and alpacas! Join us at Frontier Heritage Park in La Pine on July 12, when we’ll be joined by furry friends from Red Oak Alpaca Farms. The Children’s Museum of Central Oregon is also joining us with fun and educational activities. Check out our website for more Summer with the Library events, including on July 30 at Sisters High School, as well as fun with Professor Universe on July 31 at the Downtown Bend Library.

Library Hacks from the Experts: Library Staff!

We asked Deschutes Public Library staff for their best library hacks, and they delivered! From delaying holds on Libby to using the DPL mobile app like a boss, our superpower is helping you get all you can out of your library card. We’ve started collecting staff tips here, and will continue to roll them out on our Facebook and Instagram accounts, so be sure to check back often!

Oregon Hiking at Its Finest

The snow is melting away from the trails in Oregon and opening up a whole new world of adventure and exploration. We’ve pulled together a great list of guides and resources to help you explore every corner of our beautiful state, from beaches to high desert landscapes, and waterfalls to lakes. Explore the full list here on our website.

Have You Renewed Your Library Card?

Thanks to everyone who has taken a few minutes to renew their library card! If you haven’t renewed your card, and it was issued before January 21, 2025, now is the time to renew. Simply visit this page and confirm your current address and phone number. That’s it!

For more details, visit the FAQ page on our website.

Beyond the Books: Genealogy Research at Your Library

Ready to become your family’s historian? Deschutes Public Library provides the tools to help you trace your family’s journey through history, including powerful genealogy databases like Ancestry Library Edition plus an extensive collection of research books and guides. You can even Book-a-Librarian to help jumpstart your search. Free access, expert resources, quiet research space—everything you need to start exploring your family tree is available at your library.

Service Spotlight: Law Library

Did you know that the Downtown Bend Library houses Deschutes County’s Law Library? The Law Library provides access to statutes, rules, cases, and other legal information through printed materials and electronic access. Staff can assist you in locating materials or links that may aid in an individual search.

You can find information about the Law Library here, and find a collection of resources about specific topics here.

Follow the links below to learn how to access these programs

KIDS & FAMILIES

Family Story Time, Toddler Story Time, Preschool Story Time, and Baby Story Time - Visit our online calendar for dates, locations, and times. You’ll also find story times on our YouTube channel (as well as STEAM programs, scavenger hunts, and more).

Infant Music Together Workshop - 7/1 (D.Bend)

Kids’ Collagraph Printmaking Workshop - 7/2 (Freak'n Art)

Storybook Tea Party - 7/2 (Redmond); 7/24 (D.Bend); 7/25 (La Pine); 7/29 (Sunriver)

Camp Kinder! - 7/7, 7/14, 7/21 (E.Bend); 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29 (La Pine); 7/11, 7/25 (D.Bend); 7/24, 7/31 (Redmond); 7/24 (Sisters)

Graphic Novel Book Club: Anzu and the Realm of Darkness - 7/8 (Redmond)

Bookends: The Bad Guys - 7/9 (Redmond); 7/16 (Sisters); 7/22 (Sunriver)

Children’s Museum of Central Oregon Pop Up Exhibits - 7/9 (Sisters)

Rainbow Family Night - 7/9 (Redmond); 7/17 (D.Bend)

Summer With the Library Celebration - 7/12 (Frontier Heritage Park)

Graphic Novel Book Club: The Secret Garden on 81st Street - 7/15 (E.Bend)

Kids’ Math Night with Mathnasium - 7/18 (D.Bend)

Bookends: Pizza and Taco - 7/23 (E.Bend); 7/30 (La Pine)

Music Together Workshop - 7/24 (Sunriver)

Baduku and Bahuru Marimba Bands - 7/24 (Redmond); 7/25 (La Pine)

Summer With the Library Celebration - 7/30 (Sisters High School)

Professor Universe: A Comedic Science Show - 7/31 (D.Bend)

MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL

Summer Dungeons & Dragons Club - 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29 (La Pine); 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30 (Redmond); 7/3, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31 (D.Bend)

Fanbinding Workshop, Session 3 - 7/2 (Redmond)

Fanbinding Workshop, Session 4 - 7/9 (Redmond)

Creating with Open Arts Center - 7/11 (The Pavillion)

Roll with Board House Society - 7/13 (Redmond); 7/20 (Bend)

Paint, Patches, (re)Purpose - 7/24 (Redmond); 7/28 (E.Bend)

Clases de Inglés Para Hispanohablantes - 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29 (D.Bend)

Tardes en Familia - 7/3 (D.Bend); 7/17 (E.Bend); 7/24 (Sisters)

Conexiones Literarias con Hilda en Español - 7/8, 7/22 (Redmond)

Taller de Origami & Kirigami en Español - 7/19 (Redmond)

BOOK CLUBS

Nonfiction Library Book Club: The Wager - 7/8 (Suttle Tea)

Larkspur Book Club: Astor - 7/16 (Larkspur Community Center)

The Library Book Club: Someone Else's Shoes - 7/25 (D.Bend)

The Library Book Club: Anita De Monte Laughs Last - 7/26 (Sunriver)

The Online Library Book Club: Long Island - 7/30 (Online)

ADULTS

Thrive Central Oregon Drop-in Consultations - see calendar for dates and times and visit Thrive's website for more drop-in sessions and locations throughout the county.

Technology Troubleshooting -7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29 (Redmond); 7/3, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31 (D.Bend)

Lawyer in the Library - 7/2, 7/16 (Online)

Spanish Summer Sounds: Learn Spanish Through Music - 7/5, 7/12, 7/19 (D.Bend)

Changing Patterns: Re-Entry Weeklies - 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28 (D.Bend)

Solder Tinkers - 7/8 (Redmond)

Law Librarian Office Hours - 7/8 (Redmond); 7/15 (La Pine Activity Center); 7/15 (La Pine)

A Brief History of Redmond - 7/8 (Redmond)

Guided Kayaking Adventure with Wanderlust Tours - 7/10, 7/23 (Wanderlust Tours)

Notary Public in the Library - 7/11, 7/21 (D.Bend)

Plant Swap - 7/12 (Redmond)

Tuesday Trekkers Walking Group - 7/15, 7/22, 7/29 (La Pine)

Business/Nonprofit Librarian Office Hours - 7/15 (Redmond)

Bird Watching at La Pine State Park - 7/15 (La Pine State Park)

Accordionista Robin Werdal - 7/15 (Sisters); 7/22 (D.Bend)

Sewing Machine Mending - 7/16 (Redmond)

Charcoal Drawing & Perception - 7/16 (Sunriver)

Cozy Gaming: Stardew Valley - 7/16 (D.Bend)

Mac Essentials - 7/17 (D.Bend)

Dark Sky Preservation in Oregon - 7/18 (D.Bend)

Medicare Made Simple - 7/21 (Redmond); 7/24 (D.Bend)

Central Oregon Spinners & Weavers Guild Demonstration - 7/22 (Redmond)

Android Essentials - 7/22 (Redmond); 7/24 (D.Bend)

Wellness Garden: Growing Herbs for Traditional Self-Care - 7/22 (D.Bend)

Triangle-Fold Booklet Workshop - 7/22 (E.Bend)

Summer Patio Party Appetizer Class - 7/22 (Arome)

Watercolor Pet Portraits - 7/23 (D.Bend); 7/29 (Sisters)

Two-Necked-Guitar Player Mark Kroos - 7/25 (Redmond); 7/26 (The Commons Cafe & Taproom)

Golden Oldies & Holdin’ Harmonies! - 7/26 (Redmond)

Laptop Essentials - 7/29 (Redmond); 7/31 (D.Bend)

Death Café - 7/29 (D.Bend)

The Original Alpaca Picnic Experience - 7/30 (Offsite)

Around the World in 30 Instruments with Four Shillings Short - 7/31 (Sisters)

WRITE HERE

Voice: Who’s Telling Your Story? with Meg Fancher - 7/8 (D.Bend)

Defiant Moments - 7/12 (Redmond); 7/13 (D.Bend)

Art Above Everything: Author Stephanie Elizondo Griest - 7/14 (D.Bend)

Third Thursday Spoken Word Night - 7/17 (SCP Redmond Hotel)

All libraries will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Libraries will be closed until 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, for staff in-service training. Visit our website for locations and hours.

Our Mission:

Deschutes Public Library enriches the community through equitable, open access to books, services, and resources that inspire people to reach for their dreams. To learn more about our mission, vision, and core values, visit our website.

We’re here to help; contact us