Kent library program listings | December

Libraries

Kent Public Library: 212 2nd Avenue N., Kent. 253-859-3330. Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 1-5 p.m., Sunday. Library events include:

CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Family Pajama Story Times: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 10. All ages welcome, ages 5 and younger with adult. Stories, songs and fun. Social time and a brief activity follows.

Toddler Story Times: 10:15 a.m. Dec. 4 and 11. Ages 2 to 3 with adult. Stories, songs and fun. Playtime follows.

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m. Dec. 4 and 11. Ages 3 to 6 with adult. Stories, songs and fun.

Full STEAM Ahead: 2:30-4 p.m. Dec. 4, 11, 18. Ages 5 to 12, ages 8 and younger with adult. Drop in after school for a fun science, technology, engineering, arts or math activity at the library. Bring your homework, read and play. Creative materials, art supplies, LEGO bricks and games provided.

Infant & Young Toddler Story Times: 10:30 a.m. Dec. 5 and 12. Newborn to age 2 with adult. Stories, songs and fun. Social time follows.

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn-Spanish: 10:30 a.m. Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27. Newborn to age 5 with caregiver. Have fun singing songs, telling stories, reading books, creating art and playing. Play & Learn is in English, and the facilitator is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Construction Zone, Story and Play Time: 10:30 a.m. Dec. 7. Family program, ages 8 and younger with adult. Enjoy a story or two, followed by time for building Lego masterpieces. Build big or small with bricks, straws and connectors, and other construction sets. Bring your friends and create around a theme, or build what you like. All materials provided.

Winterfest Holiday Story Time: 3 p.m. Dec. 7. Family program, all ages welcome with adult. Come to the library for crafts, followed by holiday stories, songs and fun for the family. Afterward, join the Kent Lions Club and the city of Kent for the tree lighting at 5 p.m. in Town Square Plaza. First come, first served.

KidsQuest Math Night: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 10. Family program, ages 2 and older with adult. Math play for the whole family! Join a KidsQuest educator as they lead this two-hour event all about the discovery of math. Learn tips and tricks in how to engage your child in early numeracy learning through play and exploration, as well as in everyday activities.

“The Polar Express” (2004) Movie & Craft: 3:30 p.m. Dec. 20. All ages welcome, ages 8 and younger with adult. Create your own cardboard boxcar, then climb aboard to view the movie at 4:15 p.m. Rated G; 100 minutes.

Book Swap and Board Games: 2-5 p.m. Dec. 27. Family program, all ages welcome with adult, preschoolers through teens. Looking for a new read for the New Year? Trade your old books for new-to-you titles! For each children’s book you bring, take home another to enjoy. Hang out to read, or enjoy an unplugged afternoon of friendly competition over board games and puzzles. Books for babies through high school ages must be in good condition.

Happy Noon Year!: 11 a.m. Dec. 31. Family program, all ages welcome with adult. Presented by Nancy Stewart. No need to stay up late – we’re ringing in 2020 in a family-friendly way. Learn about holiday traditions from around the world at this musical celebration of the season, followed by our own unique balloon “drop.”

TWEENS & TEENS

Study Zone: Sundays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sundays; 3:30-5:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Grades K-12. Drop in any time during Study Zone hours to get assistance from volunteer tutors on math, reading and basic study skills.

Between Time: 2 p.m. Dec. 4, 11, 18. Ages 9 to 19. Drop in between school and home to meet friends, play games, discover new books and music, study or try different craft or tech activities each session.

ADULTS

Welcoming Center, Immigration Legal Clinic: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4. A place for immigrants, refugees and new arrivals. Connecting you to the people and resources in the area you live. The Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) provides free 45-minute consultations with an immigration attorney to King County residents who qualify for assistance. Attorneys cannot represent clients but can refer to other assistance. Available by appointment only. Please call ELAP’s main line, 425-747-7274, to determine if you qualify for assistance and to schedule an appointment at the Kent Library. ELAP has over-the-phone translation services available.

Open Enrollment for Health Care Insurance and Orca Lift: 10 a.m. Dec. 6. Get enrolled in free or low-cost health care insurance by Dec. 15, and your coverage will begin Jan. 1. Free, in-person assistance available to answer your questions and help you enroll into coverage, and/or sign up for Orca Lift. The last day of open enrollment is Dec. 15. Provided by King County Public Health.

STARS Workshop, Fabulous Felt Board Fun: 2 p.m. Dec. 8. Presented by Nancy Stewart. Discover how to combine music, children’s books and felt board learning activities to enrich your early childhood classroom. Please bring fabric scissors; other supplies will be provided. Provides two STARS training credit hours in Curriculum and Learning Environments. Registration required beginning Nov. 24. Maximum 25.

After Lunch Book Group: 1 p.m. Dec. 11. “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” by David Grann

Friends of the Kent Library General Meeting: 1 p.m. Dec. 12. Join us.

Coordinated Entry for All, Housing Resources: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec 19. Coordinated Entry for All (CEA) ensures that people experiencing homelessness in King County can get help finding stable housing by identifying, evaluating, and connecting them to housing support services and resources. Take the first step and drop in to meet with an assessor. Questions? Call the Multi-Service Center, 253-838-6810.

Job Readiness: 3-4 p.m. Thursdays. Applying for a job? Get one-on-one help starting a job search or resume, or navigating the job application process. Registration required, 253-859-3330.

Welcoming Center, Ask a Welcoming Ambassador: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays. The Welcoming Center at Kent Library is a place for immigrants, refugees and new arrivals. Connecting you to the people and resources in the area you live. Ask one of our friendly welcoming ambassadors for help finding information and services. No appointment necessary.

Stories to Tell in the Dark Contest Finale and Open Mic: 2 p.m. Dec. 21. Ages 11 to 111. Join us on the darkest day of the year to celebrate the spooky, strange, haunted and bizarre. Bring stories to share and we will announce the winners of our regional Stories to Tell in the Dark short story writing contest. Refreshments, microphones and atmosphere provided.

One-on-One Computer Help: 2-4 p.m. Sundays, 5-7 p.m. Mondays. Drop-in.

Stories to Tell in the Dark, A Short Story Contest: Oct. 14-Dec. 7. Ages 11 and older. Do you have a spooky, scary, thrilling or just bizarre short story just waiting to be written? Here is your chance to showcase your creativity and possibly win a $25 gift card! We will select winners from the following age groups: 11 to 13, 14 to 18 and adult. Turn in your typed, short story to any of the following libraries: Des Moines, Kent, Kent Panther Lake or Woodmont by Dec. 7. You can also email it to KCLS-KentPantherLake@kcls.org. Include your name, age and phone number or email on the short story.

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Kent Panther Lake Library: 20514 108th Ave. SE, Kent. 253-854-0211. Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; closed, Sunday. Library events include:

CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Infant & Young Toddler Story Times: 10 a.m. Dec. 3 and 10. Newborn to age 2 with caregiver. Stories, songs and fun. Playtime follows.

Toddler Story Times: 11 a.m. Dec. 3 and 10. Stories, songs and fun. Playtime follows.

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn-Spanish: 10:30 a.m. Dec. 4, 11, 18. Newborn to age 5 with caregiver. Have fun singing songs, telling stories, reading books, creating art and playing. Play & Learn is in English, and the facilitator is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Seasonal Card Making: 4 p.m. Dec. 6. Ages 8 and older, ages 7 and younger with adult. Celebrate the winter season by making seasonal cards for friends and family. All supplies will be provided to make and decorate your cards.

Video Game Fridays: 4 p.m. Dec. 13. Grades 3-6. Come and hang out, eat snacks and play video games with friends at the library.

Ready to Learn Spanish Story Time: 2-3 p.m. Dec. 14. Newborn to age 6, older children welcome. Have fun singing songs, listening to stories, playing and making crafts. Families will also learn about early literacy and school preparedness.

Make and Decorate a Gingerbread House: 4 p.m. Dec. 20. All ages welcome, ages 7 and younger with adult. Make and decorate a graham cracker gingerbread house. You can make your own, or build one with friends and family. All supplies provided. Limited to 20. First come, first served.

TWEENS & TEENS

Study Zone: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, 11, 18. Grades K-12. Drop in for free homework help from trained volunteer tutors.

Gingerbread House Competition, Winter Horror Land: 2 p.m. Dec. 27. Grades 6 to 12. If you like winter, horror, making things with candy and winning prizes, then this program is for you! Build a graham cracker gingerbread house with the theme: Winter Horror Land! All materials and snacks provided.

ADULTS

Open Enrollment for Health Care Insurance and Orca Lift: 10 a.m. Dec. 6. Get enrolled in free or low-cost health care insurance by December 15, and your coverage will begin January 1, 2020! Free, in-person assistance available to answer your questions and help you enroll into coverage, and/or sign up for Orca Lift.

The Importance of Writing your Business Story, A Spanish Language Workshop: 10:30 a.m. Dec. 7 and 14. Presented in Spanish. Contact the library for details.