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

Storytime, book clubs and college budgeting workshops… for free?

From preschool to professional, Plano Public Library 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:

Boost your science experiment skills with Take It & Make It kits // photos courtesy PPL
Boost your science experiment skills with Take It & Make It kits // photos courtesy PPL

1. Boost your science experiment skills with Take It & Make It kits

(all ages)

The library has two STEAM Connections: Take It & Make It activities to complete their 2020 schedule: Air Pressure Drink Dispenser and Thermometer. With both of these projects, you can go to any of the five locations to pick up supplies beginning the Wednesday prior to the video going live. Both workshops premiere on the Plano Public Library Facebook page at 3 p.m. Supplies are limited to one kit per family, while supplies last. All you need to do is either come into a library and pick them up, or use the library’s porch side pick-up service to have a set of supplies brought out for you.

  • Air Pressure Drink Dispenser airs Saturday, December 5: make a drink dispenser using items from around the house. This activity shows how air pressure moves water, demonstrating the effect of pressure on movement
  • Thermometer airs Saturday, December 19: make a thermometer using items from around the house. Then, conduct an experiment to measure the temperature of ice cold water
Hear stories and songs in Chinese
Hear stories and songs in Chinese

2. Hear stories and songs in Chinese

(all ages)

The next round of Storytime Around the World is completely in Chinese! Three sessions of storytime – including reading books, singing songs, and learning a new early literacy tip – are brought to you on the library’s Facebook page on Sundays at 2 p.m.: December 6, 13 and 20.

Share your favorite holiday sweet recipes
Share your favorite holiday sweet recipes // photo Alex Loup

3. Share your favorite holiday sweet recipes

(adults, registration required)

The final Cook the Book session of 2020 is all about goodies to bake (and eat) for the winter holidays! In the past year the library has covered soups and breads, small bites, the latest food trends, and now it’s time for dessert. Cook the Book is virtual via Zoom, and attendees show off their favorite treats, or a new recipe they tried, and talk about the baking process and how it tastes. This session meets on Tuesday, December 15 at 1 p.m. Register here.

Build your marketable technology skills
Build your marketable technology skills

4. Build your marketable technology skills

(adults, registration required)

In the Make Your Mark with Technology Skills workshop on Thursday, December 10 at 1 p.m., attendees will learn about the Microsoft Global Skills Initiative to help job seekers re-skill and prepare for tech careers with current job openings. Discover how you can access LinkedIn Learning paths to help you prepare for fundamental and role-based Microsoft certifications, and sign up for deeply discounted certification exams available for a limited time. Register here.

Learn basic and advanced spreadsheet skills
Learn basic and advanced spreadsheet skills

5. Learn basic and advanced spreadsheet skills

(adult, registration required)

Plano Public Library is offering a four-part virtual series on Microsoft Excel throughout December. Registration is required, and you only need to register once to attend all workshops:

  • Microsoft Excel Basics, Wednesday, December 9 at 1 p.m. Learn the basic structure of a worksheet and workbook, along with basic formatting, functions and other data types.
  • Microsoft Excel: Formulas and Functions, Wednesday, December 16 at 1 p.m. Become familiar with data types and use formulas and functions.
  • Microsoft Excel: Charts, Tables, and Visualizations, Wednesday, December 23 at 1 p.m. Help your data tell a story. Learn how to select, analyze, and visualize data using Microsoft Excel.
  • Microsoft Excel: Pivot Tables, Wednesday, December 30 at 1 p.m. Pivot tables allow you to extract the significance from large detailed databases. Learn how to produce solid informative reports for presentation and your boss!

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.

Plano Public Library Locations and Programs >
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