Top Five Free Things to Do at Your Plano Public Library This February

Business workshops, budget making classes, genealogy exploration… for free – and virtual?

From preschool to professional, Plano Public Library (PPL) has something for everyone. Not interested in reading? No biggie – PPL is #morethanbooks! See what’s available from your public library to learn at home for all your educating and entertaining needs:

1. Get ready for storytime – live

(ages 3-5 with parent/caregiver, registration required)

Early literacy librarians are going live beginning February 5 to bring you a live Preschool Storytime each week! On Fridays at 10:30 a.m. join on a Zoom storytime session for books, music, early literacy tips and more. Register here. All other storytimes will be available weekly on the library’s YouTube channel beginning February 1.

2. Sow your seeds for spring

(adults, registration required)

The City of Plano’s Sustainability and Environmental Education Department is joining up with PPL to present two workshops this February on getting your garden ready for spring.

• Tuesday, February 9 at 1 p.m.: Get Ready to Spring into Gardening – Winter’s over and it’s time to do a spring spruce-up in the yard. Join us for our top tips on getting your landscape ready for the new season. Register here.
• Tuesday, February 23 at 1 p.m.: Made in the Shade: Plants for North Texas – Is your shady landscape an oasis of cool – or a project that makes you lose your cool? Learn the secrets of creating a restful (and successful) retreat in the shelter of shade. Register here.

3. Discuss popular authors for tweens

(grades 5-8 with parent/caregiver)

When children choose their own books, their self-esteem increases, and their critical thinking skills improve, along with other literacy skills. A new series coming to PPL is Author Spotlight, where you can discuss popular authors and their books monthly. This program is intended for tweens with parent participation, and meets on Zoom. The first session is covering author Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants, Dog Man) and meets on Tuesday, February 16 at 4 p.m. Register here.

4. Capture memories through conversation

(adults, registration required)

Memory Keepers is for those experiencing early stage dementia and a family member or care partner to share memories through guided prompts virtually. The idea behind Memory Keepers is that the people can talk about the topic, and the care partner can write down what is said, essentially capturing the memory. This workshop meets every other week, exploring a new topic each session. The first session is Monday, February 8 at 10:30 a.m. and the topic is romance. Register here.

5. Build your business graphics with the library

(adults, registration required)

One of the focus areas for PPL programs is business and career, and this spring is full of workshops perfect for those starting a business or looking to update their look. Here is what is coming up this February:

• Friday, February 12 at 1 p.m.: Creating a Store in a Digital Marketplace – Learn how to get your online store off the ground in a digital marketplace. This class will go over the basics of an online marketplace, along with tips for making your store and listings look professional and appealing to potential customers. Register here.
• Monday, February 22 at 1 p.m.: Intro to Building a Brand – Learn how best to get your work out there with this course on website and social media development! Discuss site setup and analyze the best projects to showcase. Register here.
• Friday, February 26 at 1 p.m.: Grow Your Business with Adobe Creative Cloud: Logos – This is the first in a three-part series in using Adobe Creative Cloud to grow your brand. In this session, the library will show how to use Adobe Illustrator to design a logo. Following sessions include designing letterhead and product photography. Register here for all three sessions.

If you do not already have a Plano Public Library card, be sure to register online here. All Plano Public Library locations are open to use computers and browse the collection. Porch side pickup for holds is still available, and you can always access eLibrary content online.