May is a beautiful month in South Florida filled with anticipation for summer. Our exciting Summer Reading program for children, teens, and adults “Adventure Begins at Boca Raton Public Library” starts June 1 with a fun Kickoff Party on June 8! Teens are welcome to sign up as library volunteers to help with Summer Reading and earn community service hours.
Families can join us in celebrating Children’s Book Week with the Family Book Brunch – A Rover’s Story on May 4. Susan Gillis, historian and curator at the Boca Raton Historical Society, will present “Boca Raton During World War II,” an engaging and surprising look back illustrated by original photographs. The Friends Sunday Matinee Music Series program on May 5 showcases the amazing bluegrass-inspired Low Ground Band. Children enrolled in 1000 Books Before Kindergarten who have read 1000 books graduate on May 11.
We look forward to your visit in May and keep on reading!
Join Boca Raton Historical Society and Schmidt Museum curator, Susan Gillis, for an engaging talk on the history of Boca Raton and the city's experiences during World War II.
Register to receive a reminder but all drop-ins are welcome.
Curated in South Florida, Low Ground is a driving bluegrass inspired band that crosses sonic boundaries. The band is heavily influenced by Bluegrass, Swing, Folk, Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Jam. They strive to honor the history and tradition set forth by these styles of music, all while including their own creative vision. Performance sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
The film documents the history of Walt Disney Feature Animation from 1984 to 1994, covering the rise of a period referred to as the Disney Renaissance.
This presentation will focus on what you need if you are planning retirement, dropping group coverage, or continuing to work. Learn the protocol if you are Medicare eligible. Join Mindy Stern for a review of the basics of Medicare, your options, and what is needed!
Register to receive a reminder but all drop-ins are welcome.
Join Kim Haste, Library Assistant II, in a discussion about visiting National Parks! Bring your stories and hear unique experiences on visiting the parks!
Ready for Summer Trivia Night at the Downtown Library? Bring your friends or come solo—everyone's invited! We've got a mix of fun questions waiting for you.
Register to receive a reminder but all drop-ins are welcome.
Have you ever wondered just what living in the world of Bridgerton--or any other Regency-era romance--would have been like? Join us for a look into the odd, funny, and unique aspects of culture, society, tradition, life, love, and all other parts life during Britain's Regency Era.
Register to receive a reminder but all drop-ins are welcome.
Join Jeffrey Diamond for an engaging lecture on creativity, his career in broadcasting, his relationship with the late Ms. Walters and other big name personalities, and how he draws from these experiences to write the stories in his novels, the Ethan Benson Thrillers!
Register to receive a reminder but all drop-ins are welcome.
Poets from all walks of life, both established and emerging, are encouraged to share their work and offer positive feedback and support to each other. This weekly series is hosted by Pamela Passaretta, who coordinated this program for 10 years in Washington, DC. Open to ages 18 and up.
No enrollment required but seating is limited.
Socrates Cafè
Mondays, 1:00-3:00pm, Spanish River Library
Tuesdays, 1:30-3:00pm, Downtown Library
At Socrates Cafe, people from different backgrounds get together and exchange thoughtful ideas and experiences. Gatherings are free and open to any member of the public who wishes to freely discuss a question, which is chosen by vote.
Registration not required; drop-ins welcome.
Instructional Classes for Adults
Summer Crafting Clubs
Downtown Library
Taken one of our many crafting classes? Need help with a certain project? Register for any/all of our open summer sessions for extra help with current projects, to discuss ideas for new products, get recommendations for supplies, or just use the space to work on something with the group! Staff will be available to answer technical questions, but will not be providing extended instruction.
Registration required. Click on individual links below to register.
Come practice your conversational English skills over a cup of coffee or tea! We will improve our speaking and reading skills through a variety of everyday conversation topics and fun activities. Recommended for participants with advanced-beginner to intermediate speaking ability.
Do you need help preparing for the Citizenship and Interview Test? This 4-5 class series offers a range of resources and services for those preparing to become a United States citizen and repeats monthly.
The class includes developing civic knowledge, learning about N-400, practice on 100 questions and the naturalization interview one-on-one preparation.
Our Instructional Services team is offering many classes for adults in March! Click on the links below or visit the Library Calendar to register. Registration is required for all programs.
Summer is a time for rest, relaxation, and more time to read! Join library staff as they present highly anticipated summer releases. Be the first to hear about these upcoming titles and reserve your copies today.
The story of an Argentinian woman whose obsession is art. Her life is the story of the paintings, and painters, who matter to her. Her intimate, digressive voice guides us through a gallery of moments that have touched her.
Open seating; registration not required.
Click here to reserve a copy of the book with your library card.
The internationally best-selling author shares with readers his thoughts on the role of the novel in our society; his own origins as a writer; and his musings on the sparks of creativity that inspire other writers, artists, and musicians.
Open seating; registration not required.
Click here to reserve a copy of the book with your library card.
Set in 1960s California, this blockbuster debut is the hilarious, idiosyncratic and uplifting story of a female scientist whose career is constantly derailed by the idea that a woman's place is in the home, only to find herself starring as the host of America's most beloved TV cooking show.
Click here to reserve a copy of the book with your library card.
What's New in the Digital Library
This Mother’s Day, unwind with the perfect movie marathon! Dive into the Kanopy app and enjoy a range of films celebrating the beauty of motherhood. Whether it’s a cozy night in or a family gathering, let Kanopy be your go-to for memorable cinematic experiences.See all titles atMother's Day on Kanopy.
Join us for our annual Family Book Brunch to discuss the remarkable book, A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga. Enjoy fun activities, games, and delicious refreshments. A parent or caregiver must attend with child. After enrolling, visit either library to pick up your invitation and a free copy of the book (one book per family.) Space costumes encouraged but not required. Generously funded by the Friends of the Library.
StoryWalk is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s storybook along a popular walking route in the community. Different books are displayed throughout the year to keep the StoryWalk experience fresh and promote future learning. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Bring your skills, imagination and your whole family and join us for a weekly themed LEGO Challenge! LEGOs are provided to use during the program. First come first served basis as space is limited.
Now is the time for you & your family to get prepared for hurricane season! Our City Emergency Manager Christine and a representative from the National Weather Service will be on hand to teach us not only how to get prepared for hurricane season NOW, but also to discuss what’s important to put in a hurricane kit and how even kids can help with the preparations.
Join the Junior Sprouts program to learn the lost art of sustainable farming. Each class is designed to inspire children while participating in fun hands-on activities. Sponsored by Friends of the Library.
A terrible darkness is spreading across Perodia. Thorn, a powerful vulture, is using dark magic (and his dark army of spies!) to destroy the magical land. A young owl named Tag may be the only one who can save it!
Book discussion for early readers with themed activities. Child attends independently. Pick up a free copy of the book at the Library's Youth Services desk once registered (while supplies last). Books donated by the Friends of the Library.
Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is about an incredible two months for Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a feisty old neighbor with a most unusual chore― typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town.
Pick up a free copy of the book at the Boca Raton Public Library Youth Services Desk at the time of registration (while supplies last). Sponsored by Friends of the Library.
The year is 414 of the Xin Dynasty, and chaos abounds. A puppet empress is on the throne. The realm has fractured into three factions and three warlordesses hoping to claim the continent for themselves. But Zephyr knows it’s no contest.
Pick up a free copy of the book at the Library's Youth Services Desk at the time of registration (while supplies last). Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Adventure Begins at Boca Raton Public Library! You are invited to start your adventure by joining us for an exciting drop-in indoor party for all ages that will have a DJ, crafts, airbrush tattoos, snacks, costumed characters, and more. Children can also participate in our fun Treasure Map activity to earn stamps and a prize! Generously sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Are you ready to take the challenge and play a more formal competitive tournament game? Bring on your awesome chess skills and meet your next challenger! Children 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Pre-pay and pre-register with the Boca Raton Chess Club at www.bocachess.com.
As the son of a Columbian father and an American mother, Kike (pronounced "KeeKee") shares in the education and culture of both. He often portrays landscapes and flowers, still lifes of fruit and vegetables, and figures with Pre-Columbian characteristics. Kike paints with a hand-prepared custom mixture of soils, clays, and rocks with no binders, fillers, thinners, additives, preservatives, or artificial coloring agents of any kind. His art is sometimes referred to as “environmentally friendly Earth art,” since it is entirely biodegradable and totally recyclable.
Mr. Goldberg says: “Composition, I learned, is innate. In our mind’s eye we see things the way we want them to be and not necessarily how they are. Some people are realists and others, artists. I find myself somewhere in between the two.
He has been exhibiting his photography since 2014, first as a traditional photographer and in the last few years as an artist. As of 2023, his art had been exhibited at Galeria Azur in Miami and in galleries in Palma, Spain; Berlin, Germany; Zug, Switzerland; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Library Team Member Spotlight
Penny Darling
Library Assistant II
What I Do: I have the great joy and pleasure of serving youth, families and adults as a Library Assistant II in Youth Services. My responsibilities include planning and executing a variety of classes for children aged birth to seventeen years old, as well as drop-in family storytimes. I assist patrons of all ages with accessing library resources and raise awareness of all that the library has to offer. I am on the frontlines of teaching library etiquette. I create displays and book bundles. Lastly, I tidy the stacks, scan books and return them to the shelves, and maintain the cleanliness of computers, study tables and toys.
Why I Love My Job: Libraries have always been my happy place! I love that every day at work I’m surrounded by beauty, knowledge, creativity and endless possibilities for learning and inspiration. When I made a career change from social services to library service, I didn’t originally set out to work with children and youth. However, now that I’m in Youth Services, I can’t imagine working in a different department. The joy of connecting children with books and teaching them how to use the library, the magic and energy shared with families in stortytimes and classes, and the opportunities for me to tap into my creativity while planning and creating a variety of displays are all elements of my job that I love. The icing on the cake is that I have amazing co-workers and supervisors that make my workplace a cooperative, supportive and fun place to be. After two and a half years, I still look forward to going to work every day!
The Friends are grateful to the community for generous book donations.
Volunteers receive book donations Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am-3:30pm at the Bookstore located in the lobby of the Downtown Library.
Please review the book donation policy at the Friends Bookstore Webpage.
You can purchase Friends virtual book club picks online at Bookshop.org. Search for the Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library Bookstore to see their list of book club picks, and select them as the bookstore you would like to support with your purchase.