May: Central Library Opening, Apply to Join the Library Board, Know Camp, and More From Your Library

A Novel Idea 2026 Author Event

Join us in Bend on Saturday, May 2 for a free event featuring a discussion with Supersonic author, Thomas Kohnstamm. Free tickets are available online.

Central Library Opening This Month!

The brand new Central Library in Bend (61956 SE Santorini Street) will open to the public on Monday, May 11! The drive-thru at the Central Library is already open. Starting on May 11, the Central Library will be open seven days a week, providing library materials and free resources to the community. Thump Coffee will also be open in the library's lobby seven days a week from 9 am to 5:30 pm.

The Downtown Bend Library is now temporarily closed for a remodel and will open again in mid-2027.

This May: Know Camp

Calling all happy campers! Join us this May to celebrate “Know Camp” and discover something new. Learn about local fauna with wildlife stories, flora and food foraging in nature, and better birding field trips. Attend a lecture on companion planting and soil building, and hear about Oregon’s fire loo kouts and nearby hikes. Teens can upgrade their glamping essentials with a personalized pillow and attend a workshop on essential knot tying for outdoor adventures. All programs are free and open to the public.

Library Board Vacancy

Are you interested in representing the Zone 4 position on the Deschutes Public Library System board of directors? The term for this position runs from May 2026 to June 30, 2027; submit applications by by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4. Interested candidates must reside in one of the following Deschutes County precincts: 2, 4, 9, 12, 21, 25, 33, 43, 44. If you are unsure of what precinct you live in, a precinct map can be found on the Deschutes County Clerk’s website.

Peterson's Test and Career Prep

Search thousands of college and graduate schools, identify scholarships, take practice tests, create resumes, and explore careers. Get started with testing and career prep resources.

Use the DPL Mobile App

The Deschutes Public Library mobile app makes it easy to find and discover titles, place holds, renew items, rate titles, create lists, and get information about our libraries. Get the app.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Explore a curated list of books that acknowledge, honor, and celebrate the Asian American and Pacific Islanders experience throughout history through present day.

EVENTS AND PROGRAMS IN MAY

KIDS & FAMILY

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).

Story Stones Workshop - 5/2 (Two Suns Art Studio + Makerspace)

Jump for Joy: Toddler Time - 5/5 (Mountain Air Trampoline Park)

Creating Prosthetics for Sea Creatures - 5/7 (Redmond)

Kids' Math Assessments and Games with Mathnasium - 5/8 (Redmond)

Stories and Owl Pellet Dissection with Think Wild - 5/9 (Sisters)

B.U.R.S.T. - 5/12 (Sunriver); 5/19 (Sisters); 5/21 (Redmond)

Graphic Novel Book Club: Bea Wolf - 5/12 (Redmond)

Music Together Workshop - 5/15 (Sunriver)

Dungeons & Kittens Pop-Up! - 5/15 (Sisters); 5/21 (La Pine)

Page to Screen Family Movie Night: Dog Man - 5/15 (Tower Theatre)

Open Play Time: Camp Creativity - 5/19 (Redmond)

Graphic Novel Book Club: My Sister the Werebeast - 5/19 (Central)

SPRING Into Action! - 5/20 (Sisters)

Pokémon Club - 5/21 (Rosie Bareis Community Campus)

Pop-Up Exhibits with the Children's Museum of Central Oregon - 5/27 (La Pine)

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL

Monthly D&D Club - 5/1 (Sisters)

Recycle a T-shirt into a Camp Pillow - 5/8 (Redmond)

Teen Library Council - 5/13; 5/21 (Redmond)

3D Paper Art - 5/15 (Sisters); 5/20 (Redmond); 5/26 (La Pine); 5/27 (Central)

Skate Camp: All Abilities Flow Edition - 5/18 (Northpointe Park)

Teen Open Mic Night - 5/21 (The Open Arts Center)

3 Essential Field Knots and Expedition Stories - 5/23 (Larkspur Community Center)

ESPAÑOL

Tummy Time en Español - 5/4 (Redmond)

Technology Troubleshooting in English y Español - 5/5 (Redmond)

Tardes en Familia - 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27 (Redmond)

Clases de Computación en Español - 5/7 (Redmond)

Taller de Lámparas de Papel en Español - 5/17 (The Open Arts Center)

Campamento de pausa y reconexion en Español - 5/19 (Redmond)

RootedHomes Drop-In Consultations en Español - 5/20 (Redmond)

BOOK CLUBS

A Novel Idea Book Discussion: Supersonic - 5/6 (Roundabout Books)

The Library Book Club: Brave the Wild River - 5/7 (Redmond)

Saturday Larkspur Library Book Club: Bear - 5/9 (Larkspur Community Center)

The Nonfiction Library Book Club: The Phantom of Fifth Avenue - 5/12 (Suttle Tea)

Larkspur Library Book Club: The Book Swap - 5/20 (Larkspur Community Center)

The Fiction Library Book Club: Where the Wildflowers Grow - 5/20 (Online)

Thump Downtown Library Book Club: Book and Dagger - 5/29 (Thump Downtown 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.

Mending 101 - 5/1 (Redmond)

Puzzle Swap - 5/2 (Redmond)

A Novel Idea Author Thomas Kohnstamm - 5/2 (Summit High School)

Changing Patterns: Re-Entry Weeklies - 5/4, 5/11, 5/18 (Deschutes Historical Museum)

Library at Alfalfa Community Hall - 5/5 (Alfalfa Community Hall)

Mother's Day Charcuterie - 5/5 (Redmond); 5/8 (Sisters)

Law Librarian Office Hours - 5/5 (La Pine); 5/12 (Redmond)

Technology Troubleshooting - 5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26 (Redmond)

Lawyer in the Library - 5/6, 5/20 (Online)

Let's Talk About It Training with KIDS Center - 5/7 (Deschutes Children's Foundation)

Volunteer Expo - 5/9 (Redmond)

D&D for Beginners - 5/11, 5/29 (Redmond)

Notary Public in the Library - 5/12, 5/26 (Council on Aging of Central Oregon)

Library at Rockridge Park - 5/12 (Rockridge Park)

SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices with KIDS Center - 5/12 (La Pine)

Business/Nonprofit Librarian Office Hours - 5/15 (La Pine); 5/19 (Redmond)

S.O.S. Share Our Stories - 5/16 (Redmond)

SCORE Small Business Counseling - 5/19 (Redmond)

Pathways for Affordable Homeownership with RootedHomes - 5/19 (Redmond)

RootedHomes Drop-In Consultations - 5/20 (Redmond)

Medicare Made Simple - 5/20 (Larkspur Community Center)

Darkness to Light® Training with KIDS Center - 5/26 (Sisters)

Death Café - 5/27 (Rosie Bareis Community Campus)

Getting to Know Your iPhone Workshop - 5/28 (Redmond)

Live Well La Pine Volunteer Fair - 5/30 (La Pine)

KNOW CAMP

Bugs, Fish, Flies and the Rivers Between - 5/4 (Redmond)

Wild Food & Self-Sufficiency: Modern Practical Foundations - 5/6 (Hanai); 5/7 (Sisters Firehouse Community Hall)

Understanding Wilderness Trail Permits - 5/12 (Redmond); 5/26 (Deschutes Children's Foundation)

More Accessible Mindful Birding - 5/13 (Riley Ranch Preserve); 5/17 (La Pine State Park)

Fitness Boot Camp for Every Body - 5/16 (Gym X)

Companion Planting and Soil Basics - 5/17 (Larkspur Community Center)

One Pot Camp Meals - 5/18 (Arome)

Pinch Pots - 5/24 (Camp Clay)

Hiking Oregon's Fire Lookouts - 5/30 (Redmond); 5/31 (Rosie Bareis Community Campus)

Quiet Writing Time - 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27 (Redmond); 5/7, 5/21, 5/28 (Sisters)

Central Oregon Writers Guild - 5/12 (Central Oregon Community College)

Third Thursday Spoken Word Night - 5/21 (SCP Redmond Hotel)

All library locations will be closed on Monday, May 25. 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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