Train Man Returns, A Novel Idea Unveiled, Author! Author!, and More

In the Know eNewsletter | December 2023

A Novel Idea... Unveiled! Be the First to Know

We are just days away from the unveiling of the 2024 A Novel Idea selections. Join us at the Downtown Bend Library on Saturday, December 2, at 6:00 p.m. when we reveal the 2024 A Novel Idea books—one selection for adults and one for youth. We’ll have trivia with prizes, snacks, and a no-host bar. Everyone is welcome! Books will be on hand for check-out as well as for sale.

The Author! Author! Literary Series is Back!

Author! Author! returns (in person!) in 2024 with three incredible authors: Anne Lamott (Bird by Bird; February 2), Stephanie Land (Maid; March 1), and Robin Wall Kimmerer (Braiding Sweetgrass; May 16). Series subscriptions are on sale now, and a subscription makes a great gift! (Individual tickets go on sale January 8, 2024.) Plus, the first 75 people to purchase a series subscription receive a package of four books from previous Author! Author! speakers. Learn more and buy tickets online.

The Return of The Train Man 🚂

It was nearly 25 years ago when Michael “The Train Man” Lavrich first shared his model trains with delighted children (and adults) at the Downtown Bend Library. In the decades since, his annual display of model trains became a highly anticipated holiday tradition for many families. Lavrich is back this December to share the trains with young and old alike. Visit our website for dates and times.

Library Updates: Remodeling

We are excited to have our most northern and southern library locations open to serve their communities. The La Pine and Sisters Libraries reopened in October and have resumed regular operations. Remodeling of the Sunriver Library began in November; a temporary location is now open in the parking lot to provide limited service during construction, which will be complete summer 2024.

Artist Reception: Join us at the Sisters Library on Saturday, December 16, between noon and 1:30 p.m. when we host a reception for artist Kristy Kún. Kún's handcrafted textile art will be installed at the newly remodeled Sisters Library.

Library Updates: New Construction

We are now more than half way through the construction of the all-new Redmond Library! Check out the progress through photos on our Flickr site. You’ll also find a great time-lapse of the progress, as well as some live video, on the Redmond Library construction page (scroll to the bottom). As a reminder, a temporary Redmond Library is open at 2127 S Hwy 97 in Redmond to serve you during construction. And stay tuned in the new year for information about the groundbreaking for the new Stevens Ranch Library at the intersection of 27th and Wilderness Way in Bend.

Kids & Families: Hygge with the Library

Grab a family member and join us for hygge (pronounced hyoo-gah) at the library! Hygge is the Danish practice of coziness and warmth and is perfect for cold December nights. We will have games, books, coloring, puzzles, hot chocolate, and a cozy atmosphere. This is a multi-generational event so bring your grandparents, your aunt, or even your second cousin. Visit our web calendar for dates and locations.

New: Library OBOB Teams

Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) is a trivia-style reading competition where students compete against one another by answering a series of questions based upon a list of select books. Deschutes Public Library is piloting library OBOB teams for the 2023-24 competition. To learn more and to register, visit our website. Note that registration is limited and closes on December 15 or when teams are full.

Bored with Your Board Games? Check Out Something New

Amp up your game night with the library! Borrow a board game to play with friends and family; our collection includes something for all ages. Whether you’re looking for a casual game or something a little more complex, the board games collection has something for you! Games check out for three weeks (no renewals). You can place a hold on any game in the collection and can pick it up at your nearest library as soon as it’s available. Explore the collection on our website.

Resource Spotlight: Notary Services

A notary public is available at Downtown Bend Library on the first and third Thursdays of the month (11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) to provide free, limited services for the public on a drop-in basis. The notary will sign up to two documents per person per session. (This service is not intended for commercial businesses.) The service is available on a drop-in basis. Learn more about this service, including what essential documents to bring with you, by visiting our web calendar.

Follow the links below to learn how to access these programs

Note: We’ve partnered with a variety of businesses and organizations to ensure that we can continue story times and adult programs during remodeling and construction work, so be sure to note the locations for all programs and events when following the links below.

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).

Hygge with the Library - 12/5 (D.Bend); 12/8 (E.Bend); 12/12 (Sisters); 12/14 (SCP Redmond Hotel); 12/15 (La Pine)

Rainbow Family Night - 12/6 (D.Bend)

Music Together Workshop - 12/8 9:15 a.m. (E.Bend); 12/8 10:30 a.m. (E.Bend)

Reading Readiness with Music - 12/12 (D.Bend)

Jump for Joy - 12/12 (Mountain Air Trampoline Park)

Holiday in a Jar - 12/13 (La Pine)

Sensory-Friendly Winter Wonderland - 12/18 (E.Bend)

MIDDLE GROUND (10-14 YRS)

Minecraft Code Knights: Castle Adventure - 12/3 (D.Bend)

Gingerbread Construction - 12/11 (E.Bend); 12/18 (Sisters)

Minecraft Code Knights: Lost City of Atlantis - 12/11 (D.Bend)

3Doodler Ornaments - 12/19 (D.Bend); 12/20 (La Pine)

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT (16-25 YRS)

Wednesday Teen Hangout (La Pine) - 12/6, 12/13

EN ESPAÑOL

Thrive Central Oregon (Downtown Bend) - Los viernes, 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Abogado en la Biblioteca (en línea) - 12/6, 12/13, 12/20

Hora del Cuento - 12/6 (East Bend); 12/9 (D.Bend)

Ayuda Tecnológica - 12/7 (Downtown Bend)

ADULTS

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

A Novel Idea... Unveiled - 12/2 (D.Bend)

Open Hub Singing Club - 12/4 (D.Bend)

Open Computer Lab - 12/5, 12/12, (Redmond); 12/7, 12/14 (D.Bend); 12/29 (Sisters)

SafetyNet Training with KIDS Center - 12/5 (La Pine)

Lawyer in the Library (online) - 12/6, 12/13, 12/20

Android Basics - 12/7 (D.Bend)

Notary Public Services (D.Bend) - 12/7, 12/21

Law Librarian Office Hours - 12/12 (Redmond); 12/19 (La Pine Activity Center);

SCORE Small Business Counseling - 12/12 (D.Bend)

Your Next Book Pop-Up - 12/14 (Larkspur Community Center)

Explore Your Kindle - 12/14 (D.Bend)

Kristy Kún Artist Reception - 12/16 (Sisters

Tea and Book Pairing - 12/19 (Suttle Tea)

KNOW GATHERING

Lilli Worona and Mike Biggers Perform - 12/1 (SCP Redmond Hotel)

Singers from the Redmond Community Choir - 12/2 (High Desert Music Hall)

Renaissance Sisters Holiday Performance - 12/6 (Sisters); 12/7 (D.Bend)

Sisters Jazz Choir Holiday Performance - 12/9 (Sisters); 12/9 (E.Bend)

Music in Public Places - 12/9 (High Desert Music Hall); 12/9 (La Pine)

Festive Cookies and Bars - 12/11 (online)

Wreath-Making Workshop - 12/12 (E.Bend); 12/14 (Sisters)

Caroling by Central Oregon Mastersingers - 12/13 (D.Bend)

Dutch Iris Holiday Cards - 12/13 (Becky Johnson Community Center)

Cocoa Making and Tasting - 12/14 (Arome)

The Train Man - dates and times (D.Bend)

WRITE HERE

Quiet Writing Time (D.Bend) - 12/4, 12/11, 12/18

Central Oregon Writers Guild: Holiday Potluck and Member Reading - 12/12 (in-person and online)

Third Thursday Spoken Word Night - 12/21 (High Desert Music Hall)

Take the library with you on the go; download the DPL Mobile app

Use Deschutes Public Library on the go! 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. Learn more here.

We’re here to help; contact us

All libraries will be closed on December 24 and 25, and all libraries will close at 5:00 p.m. on December 31.