Fond du Lac Public Library announces February programs

Become more tech savvy during February sessions at the Fond du Lac Public Library

Want to become more comfortable with technology, including using computers and smartphones? Let the Fond du Lac Public Library help with several sessions during February.

On Mondays, Feb. 3 and 17, stop by the library’s Reference Desk between 10 a.m. and noon for a 20-minute tech-help session. A librarian can help with questions about smartphones, laptops, basic computer skills, and more. Sessions are first-come, first-served.

Then, on Saturday, Feb. 8, drop in to two sessions in the Community Room offered by Bug Tussel University:

· At 10 a.m., learn smartphone basics, such as how to turn your device on and off, answer and make calls, read and send text messages, and more.

· At 1 p.m., receive help with computer basics, such as how to use a mouse and keyboard, and how to navigate a computer screen.

Interested in preserving family history? Join “Digitizing Family Photos” on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. in the McLane Room. This presentation discusses the preservation of family history through digitizing photos including best practices, file formats, terminology, and bringing old photos back to “life”. This program is for those interested in preserving history, family or otherwise. No registration required.

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Bluey will return to the Children’s Room at the Fond du Lac Public Library during February

Kids will have much to celebrate in February at the Fond du Lac Public Library. From the return of Bluey to the final weeks of the Winter Reading Program, they will have plenty to do.

Youth will be especially excited about the return of their favorite Blue Heeler, Bluey! The library will hold two sessions on Saturday, Feb. 22 with Bluey this year; caregivers should choose to bring children to either the 10 a.m. program or the 1 p.m. session.

No registration will be required for this free event, at which kids can play favorite Heeler family games, participate in crafts, and meet Bluey herself. This will be a first-come, first-served event held in various rooms at the Fond du Lac Public Library.

Other youth activities planned during February include:

· Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 1:30 p.m. in the Discovery Room: Drop in to Homeschool Hangout to connect with other homeschooled students. We’ll celebrate Black History Month by sharing information about important figures in African American and Black history with activities and projects.

· Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. in the Mc Lane Room: Drop into the latest meeting of the FDLPL Rook Club. Chess players of all ages and abilities are invited for friendly gameplay; experienced players are encouraged to assist newer players.

· Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 4:30 p.m. in the Discovery Room: Visit Crafty Kids to practice weaving paper hearts. No registration required.

· Monday, Feb. 17 at 4:30 p.m. in the Discovery Room: Join Maker Mondays to make a spin art bot with motors, circuits and switches. No registration required.

· Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 4:30 p.m. in the Discovery Room: Visit with a trained therapy dog and practice your reading skills. These dogs are great listeners.

· Friday, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.: Youth ages 5-12 will learn to paint a Sleepy Sloth during Paint-Along. Register starting Feb. 14 at calendar.fdlpl.org.

Teens, meanwhile, have plenty planned as well:

· Monday, Feb. 10 through Sunday, Feb. 16: Register for a Browser’s Cache bag, complete with a checked-out book and more, that can be picked up later in the month. Theme: Fake It ‘Til You Make It.

· Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 4:30 p.m. in the Discovery Room: Drop into Anime Afternoon to see a few episodes of anime and enjoy a few snacks. Cosplay is welcome. No registration required.

· Monday, Feb. 10 and Monday, Feb. 24 at 4:30 p.m. in the Teen Area: Drop in for some dedicated writing workshop time. Connect with other writers, and bring what you’re working on. We’ll offer writing prompts as well.

· Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 4:30 p.m. in the Discovery Room: Drop into Play with Your Food this month to try edible slime. No registration required.

· Thursday, Feb. 20 at 4:30 p.m. in the Teen Space: Get ready for a tabletop roleplaying adventure during Ready, Set, Roleplay. Bring your own Level 1 character or use one provided. All experience levels are welcome. For grades 6-12. No registration required.

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Langdon Divers Gallery will offer a peek into ‘A World Outside this One’ during February at the Fond du Lac Public Library

Explore “A World Outside this One” from Wednesday, Feb. 5 through Tuesday, March 4 at the Langdon Divers Community Gallery in the Fond du Lac Public Library.

Through this exhibit, artist Cherie Burbach shares her vision for a world filled with hope and possibility.

Her whimsical, colorful art will immerse visitors to her exhibit with large-scale paintings that pull the viewer in and large butterflies that hover beautifully above.

Burbach has been an artist and writer since she was very young. Words and images have always been linked for her when it comes to expression and creativity, and often you will find positive words painted or collaged in the backgrounds of her paintings.

She paints with vibrant colors that offer a positive, hopeful message. Burbach uses a whimsical style to convey emotion that transcends age and time.

She paints from her imagination and has been influenced by a variety of artists, her favorites being the emotive works of Vincent Van Gogh, the mother and child paintings of Mary Cassatt, and the expressive paintings of Marc Chagall.

Visit with Burbach during an artist reception planned for Thursday, Feb. 13 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Langdon Divers Gallery.

The Langdon Divers Community Gallery is open seven days a week, whenever the Fond du Lac Public Library is open at 32 Sheboygan St. The gallery may be found off the atrium at the south entrance to the Main Library.

For updates on Langdon Divers Community Gallery, follow the gallery on Facebook at www.facebook.com/langdondivers. Volunteer curator Mel Kolstad may be contacted at mel@kolstad.net.

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Eleventh-annual Teen Photo Contest begins Feb. 1 at the Fond du Lac Public Library

No one sees the world exactly the way you do. Share your unique point of view through the 11th-annual Fond du Lac Teens Photo Contest sponsored by the Fond du Lac Public Library.

Starting Feb. 1, area teens are invited to submit photos in three categories:

· Music: Capture the concept of music in a photo

· Portrait: Share someone’s story through a portrait

· Anything Goes: Be creative! As they say, anything goes

The photographer who submits the photo judged best overall will win a grand prize $250 Visa gift card. Honorable mention awards will be given for the winners of each category.

The contest is open to teens who attend school in Fond du Lac County in grades six through 12. Deadline to enter is April 9, 2025, at 8 p.m., after which the library will gather a VIP panel to judge entries. Entries will be displayed in the library’s Langdon Divers Gallery in May. Full contest rules and guidelines may be found at fdlpl.org or by calling (920) 322-3940.

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Discover the heritage of the Little White Schoolhouse museum during History at Home at the Fond du Lac Public Library

Learn about the Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon, which is known as the Birthplace of the Republican Party, on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. during History at Home at the Fond du Lac Public Library.

Sarah Elliott, program director of the Little White Schoolhouse museum, will discuss the history of the building itself, the issue of slavery as it was in the mid-1800s, and how the Republican Party was born out of that issue and out of a meeting held at the schoolhouse.

The Little White Schoolhouse is a nonprofit, nonpartisan history museum, celebrating the site where Ripon citizens from all different political parties came together to meet and discuss what they could do about slavery threatening to take over the nation. The museum emphasizes the value of civic participation as demonstrated by the men and women who attended the meeting.

Join History at Home in person on Feb. 13 or watch from home via the library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/FDLPL. No registration required to view the program.