Community Book Club, Journaling Workshops for Kids, Genealogy Resources, and More from Your Library

In the Know Newsletter | November 2025

Books. Bites. Big Reveal.

Save the date for the unveiling of our community book club selection on Saturday, December 6, at the Downtown Bend Library. The concept behind A Novel Idea is simple: pick a great book, engage with community through thought-provoking events, and wrap it up with free and accessible visits from the authors. We can’t wait to share what we’re reading together in 2026.

Don’t miss this after-hours celebration (6:00–8:00 p.m.) with trivia, snacks, and bookish buzz.

November Journaling Series for Kids

This hands-on program invites kids to get creative as they design and decorate their very own journal, then dive into the fun of self-expression through writing. Together, we’ll come up with thoughtful and imaginative prompts to help inspire their journaling at home. All materials are provided, and every participant will take home a personalized journal to continue their writing journey.

La Pine - Tuesday, November 4

Redmond - Wednesday, November 5

Sisters - Thursday, November 6

Downtown Bend - Monday, November 24

Sunriver - Tuesday, November 25

A Fond Farewell to the East Bend Library

Join us on Saturday, November 8, from noon to 2:00 p.m. as we say farewell to the East Bend Library with refreshments, music, kids’ activities, and shared memories. The East Bend Library will close November 15 as we prepare to open the new Central Library at Stevens Ranch in spring 2026, just two miles away. Find a full timeline of Bend’s library transitions on our website.

Know-Vember? Know Problem!

This November, your library invites you to embrace the spirit of problem-solving. Explore how curiosity fuels discovery, whether you’re learning the basics of bicycle repair and maintenance, exploring the stars in a pop-up planetarium, or solving everyday challenges in the kitchen. From laid-back yoga for adults to creative workshops spanning photography and meditation, this month’s programs celebrate curiosity, community, and creative solutions.

Beyond the Books: Book Club Kits

Calling all book lovers! The library has hundreds of book club kits ready to check out, each with 10–12 copies of the book, a reader’s guide, and a convenient tote bag for easy transport. Kits can be borrowed for up to two months, making it simple to plan your next group read. Explore more than 300 kits on our website, sortable by genre, publication date, and more. Looking to join a club? Check out the library’s own book clubs: in November we are reading The Midnight Library, Colored Television, and more!

Service Spotlight: History & Genealogy Resources

Whether you’re a casual history buff or a dedicated family researcher, your library offers a wealth of resources to uncover your past. Explore billions of records through Ancestry Library Edition (available for in-library use), HeritageQuest, and MyHeritage, or dive into stories of notable figures with Biography in Context and U.S. History in Context. Listen to 15 Minute Histories featuring interviews with early Central Oregon pioneers or sharpen your research skills with free online Gale Courses.

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 - 11/4 (D.Bend)

Intro to Journaling for Kids - 11/4 (La Pine); 11/5 (Redmond); 11/6 (Sisters); 11/24 (D.Bend); 11/25 (Sunriver)

Family Planetarium Exploration - 11/7 (Sisters)

Math Stories - 11/10 (D.Bend)

B.U.R.S.T. - 11/11 (D.Bend); 11/18 (Sunriver); 11/20 (Redmond)

Graphic Novel Book Club: Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures - 11/11 (Remond)

Kids' Math Night with Mathnasium - 11/14 (D.Bend)

Graphic Novel Book Club: Bea Wolf- 11/18 (Larkspur Community Center)

Children’s Museum of Central Oregon Pop Up Exhibits - 11/19 (La Pine)

Free Succulent Pick Up - 11/19, 11/25, 11/26 (D.Bend)

Rainbow Family Night - 11/19 (Redmond)

Pokémon Club - 11/20 (D.Bend)

Music Together Workshop - 11/21 (Sunriver)

MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL

Teen Monthly D&D Club - 11/4 (La Pine); 11/7 (Sisters)

Needle Felted Butterfly Ornaments - 11/6 (Redmond)

Hack Your Space: AI DIY Edition - 11/8 (D.Bend); 11/8 (Redmond)

Teen Library Council - 11/12 (Redmond)

Middle Ground Book Club: The House with a Dragon In It - 11/20 (Redmond)

Tummy Time en Español - 11/3 (Redmond); 11/5 (D.Bend)

Bilingual Stories & Songs en Español e Ingles - 11/4, 11/11, 11/18 (D.Bend)

Taller de Music Together (Música Juntos) en Inglés y Español - 11/4 (D.Bend)

Clases de Inglés Para Hispanohablantes - 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24 (D.Bend); 11/4, 11/6, 11/11 (Redmond)

Ayuda Tecnológica - 11/4 (Redmond); 11/6 (D.Bend)

Conceptos Básicos de Reparación de Bicicletas en Español e Inglés - 11/5 (Larkspur Community Center); 11/12 (Redmond)

Tardes en Familia - 11/6 (D.Bend); 11/11, 11/18, 11/25 (Latino Community Association); 11/12 (Redmond); 11/25 (Sisters)

Abuso Infantil: Signos, Síntomas, y Prevención en Español - 11/6 (Online)

Hablemos de Estas Cosas en Español - 11/20 (Online)

BOOK CLUBS

The Library Book Club: Daughter of Mine - 11/6 (Redmond)

The Nonfiction Library Book Club: What the Wild Sea Can Be - 11/11 (Suttle Tea)

The Larkspur Book Club: The Wager - 11/19 (Larkspur Community Center)

The Fiction Library Book Club: Colored Television - 11/19 (Online)

The Library Book Club: The Midnight Library- 11/21 (D.Bend)

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.

Classical Guitarist Peter Fletcher - 11/3 (D.Bend); 11/4 (Sunriver)

Changing Patterns: Re-Entry Weeklies - 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24 (D.Bend)

College & Career Readiness: Digital Application Platforms - 11/3 (D.Bend); 11/6 (La Pine); 11/12 (Sisters); 11/13 (Redmond)

Tuesday Trekkers Walking Group - 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25 (La Pine)

Technology Troubleshooting - 11/4, 11/11, 11/18 (Redmond); 11/6, 11/20 (D.Bend)

Cognitive Connections Community - 11/4 (D.Bend)

SafetyNet® Training with KIDS Center - 11/4 (La Pine)

Lawyer in the Library - 11/5, 11/19 (Online)

Adult D&D Club: Beginners - 11/5 (Redmond)

Beginner Crochet Workshop - 11/7 (Redmond)

Law Librarian Office Hours - 11/11 (Redmond)

SCORE Small Business Counseling - 11/11, 11/25 (D.Bend)

Let's Talk About It with KIDS Center - 11/11 (Becky Johnson Community Center)

Medicare Made Simple - 11/11 (D.Bend)

Notary Public in the Library - 11/14, 11/17 (D.Bend)

Puzzle Swap - 11/15 (D.Bend)

Cascade Chamber Players - 11/15 (La Pine)

Dove Strong Quartet - 11/15 (Sisters)

Natural Resource Management - 11/17 (D.Bend)

Business/Nonprofit Librarian Office Hours - 11/18 (Redmond); 11/21 (La Pine)

Child Abuse: Signs, Symptoms & Prevention with KIDS Center - 11/18 (D.Bend)

Death Café - 11/18 (D.Bend)

Learn to Sew a Lined, Reusable Holiday Gift Bag - 11/19 (Redmond)

High Desert Saxophone Quartet - 11/22 (Redmond)

KNOW PROBLEM

Intro to Restorative Justice Principles - 11/5 (Sunriver); 11/12 (La Pine)

Chill Flow: Adult Yoga - 11/7 (Redmond); 11/15 (La Pine)

Navigating Perimenopause & Menopause: Understanding Hormones - 11/9 (D.Bend); 11/9 (Sisters)

Sensory Photography - 11/9 (D.Bend)

Stories of the Land Meditation - 11/12 (D.Bend)

From Curiosity to Contribution: A Community Science Intro - 11/14 (Sisters); 11/15 (Sunriver)

Common Cooking Problems & How to Overcome Them - 11/19 (Arome)

Exploring Central Oregon's Ungroomed Ski Trails - 11/19 (D.Bend)

WRITE HERE

Quiet Writing Time - 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25 (D.Bend)

Choosing the "Write" Platform: A Substack Session - 11/5 (D.Bend)

The Secret of Writing Memoir with Cherie Kephart - 11/11 (D.Bend)

None of the Answers: A Reading with Jeff Swaney - 11/16 (D.Bend)

Third Thursday Spoken Word Night - 11/20 (SCP Redmond Hotel)

The 3 C's: Courage, Confidence and Collaboration - 11/21 (D.Bend)

All libraries will be closed on Thursday, November 13, for staff in-service training and Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 in observance of Thanksgiving. 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.

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