There are two great Thousand Oaks libraries; the Grant R. Brimhall Library at 1401 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks (805.449.2660) and the local Newbury Park Branch is at 2331 Borchard Road (805.498.2139). These libraries provide year-round free events, activities and programs for all ages. Selected events from time to time will be covered here.
Visit the library website at www.toaks.org/library to learn more.
The following is a list of programs happening at the Thousand Oaks Library during the month of January, with GRB denoting Grant R. Brimhall Library, and NPL denoting Newbury Park Library. All programs are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice. For the latest information on Library events, please visit www.tolibrary.org/calendar.
ALL AGES
Agents of Discovery: Library Scavenger Hunt
December – January • Grant R. Brimhall Library
Explore, learn, and play with our augmented reality scavenger hunt! Connect to the library Wi-Fi, download the Agents of Discovery app, and start the Thousand Oaks Library Mission. Find eight animal images in the Children’s Area and Teen Space, complete fun challenges, and claim your prize!
Gosh Yarn It
Friday, January 10 • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm • GRB Community Room
Relax, crochet, and socialize at our crochet club! Beginners and experts alike are welcome to bring your own supplies and hang out with fellow crocheters as we sip tea and work on our projects. For ages 11+.
The Cat Who Lived with Anne Frank with David Lee Miller and Steven Jay Rubin
Saturday, January 11 • 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Join us for this engaging presentation from authors of the story of Anne Frank and her cat, Mouschi. For families and children aged 8 and older. Sponsored by the Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library.
Author Talk with Stuart Gibbs
Saturday, January 25 • 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm • Grant R. Brimhall Library
Join us for a special author event with Stuart Gibbs, the bestselling author of the Spy School, FunJungle, Charlie Thorne, Moon Base Alpha, and Once Upon a Tim book series. Mr. Gibbs will give a presentation and answer questions. A book sale and signing will follow this event. Best suited for students in grade 3 and up, teens, and adults. Presented by the Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library.
The Great Puzzle Race
Sunday, January 26 • 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Form a team of up to 4 people and race against other teams and the clock to complete a 500-piece puzzle in 2 hours. Registration required.
LevelUp Lounge
Fridays • 10:00 am – 5:30 pm • GRB Teen Space
Access all ages gaming with the Library’s Xbox Game Pass! Hang out and relax with games like No Man’s Sky, Powerwash Simulator, Forza, Sea of Stars, and over 250 more options!
Board Games at the Library
Grant R. Brimhall Library
Stop by the Information Desk to borrow board games to play while inside the Library! Games available include Wingspan, Parks, Forbidden Island, and more.
Stay & Switch
Newbury Park Library
Join the fun by exploring our newest addition to the Library of Things. Stop by the Newbury Park Library Information Desk to check out a Nintendo Switch Lite, loaded with exciting digital games! You can borrow it with your library card and enjoy gaming while you’re in the Library.
KIDS
Homework Help
Mondays • 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Tuesdays • 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Wednesdays & Thursdays • 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Struggling with challenging school assignments? Our volunteers are here to help! For students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Runs September 2024 to May 2025; closed on CVUSD holidays and breaks. No Homework Help on January 1, 2, & 20.
PACT Light with First 5 Ventura County
Fridays • January 3 – February 14 • 10:30 am – 11:15 am • NPL Meeting Room
Join First 5 Ventura County for a series of classes that mimic the Parent and Child Together (PACT) classes offered at Neighborhood for Learning sites for children prenatal to 5 years. Classes include books, songs, music and movement, guided play with open-ended materials, and parent education.
Music & Movement
Saturday, January 11 • 10:15 am – 10:45 am & 11:15 am – 11:45 am • GRB Community Room
Dance, clap, and sing along with Ms. Cheryl and her guitar during this fun, interactive program for ages 0-5 years. Registration required.
Dog Days
Tuesdays, January 14, 21, & 28 • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm • GRB Children’s Program Room
Readers of all levels and abilities are invited to come and read to a certified therapy dog! Participants will sign up for a brief 10-minute session with a dog and their owner.
Make & Take: Zines
Wednesday, January 15 • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Express yourself and create a Zine! All resources provided. For grades K-5.
Writing Buddies
Thursday, January 16 • 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm • GRB Community Room
Students in grades 2-5 are invited to share their creativity by writing a short story. Registration required.
Mini Masters: Marc Chagall - Stained Glass Windows
Sunday, January 26 • 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm • GRB Children’s Program Room
Read the story Dreamer from the Village, learn about the art and make stained glass windows. Led by a Teen Volunteer. For grades 1-5. Registration required.
Reading Buddies
Tuesday, January 28 • 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Wednesday, January 29 • 3:10 pm – 3:40 pm or 3:45 pm – 4:15 pm • GRB Community Room
A weekly program for students grades 1-4 to practice and gain confidence in their reading with the help of an interactive volunteer. Registration required.
Lunar New Year Craft: Year of the Snake
Wednesday, January 29 – Sunday, February 2 • Both Libraries
Visit the library to color a paper snake!
Pathways to Science: Space and Astronomy
Friday, January 31 • 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Create your own solar system model and paper rockets as we look into astronomy, space, and the science of the universe! Led by a Teen Volunteer. For grades 1-5. Registration required.
Winter Storytimes & Playtime
Bilingual Pajama Storytime
Monday, January 13 • 6:15 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Community Room
A bilingual (English/Spanish) storytime & craft for ages 3-5 years. Walk-ins welcome!
Baby Storytime
Tuesdays, January 21 & 28 • 10:15 am – 10:35 am • GRB Community Room
This is a lapsit storytime for babies 0-12 months. Walk-ins welcome!
Toddler Storytime
Wednesdays, January 22 & 29 • 10:15 am – 10:35 am & 11:00 am – 11:20 am • GRB Community Room
This is a toddler storytime for ages 12-36 months. Registration required.
Preschool Storytime
Thursdays, January 23 & 30 • 10:15 am – 11:00 am • GRB Community Room
This is a preschool storytime & craft for ages 3-5 years. Walk-ins welcome!
Newbury Park Toddler Storytime
Thursdays, January 23 & 30 • 10:15 am - 10:35 am • NPL Community Room
This is a toddler storytime for ages 12-36 months. Walk-ins welcome!
Enrichment Playtime
Join us for 30 minutes of unstructured playtime from 10:15 am – 10:50 am.
For babies (0-12 months): Tuesday, January 14 • GRB Community Room
For toddlers (12-36 months): Wednesday, January 15 • GRB Community Room
For preschoolers (3-5 years): Thursday, January 16 • GRB Community Room
For NPL toddlers (12-36 months): Thursday, January 16 • NPL Meeting Room
TWEENS & TEENS
Reading Rocks Book Club
Tuesday, January 14 • GRB Children’s Program Room
Rocks (Grades 4-5): 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Boulders (Grades 6-8): 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Join us monthly to discuss books with strong female characters. This month’s books are Wild Rescuers: Guardians of the Taiga by Stacy Plays for Rocks and Wild Bird by Diane Zahler for Boulders. Registration required.
It’s a Cinch – Make a Calendar or Notebook
Friday, January 17 • 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm • GRB Tech Training Room
Wednesday, January 22 • 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm • NPL Tech Space
Start the year off right by making your very own custom calendar, planner, or notebook using the Cinch. For grades 6-12. Registration required.
Mic Check
Monday, February 3 • 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm • GRB Community Room
Join us for an interactive program designed to enhance communication skills and explore creative storytelling for tweens ages 10 – 14, registration opens January 20! Registration required.
Comics and Manga Club
Tuesday, January 21 • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Dive into any comic, manga, or graphic novel! Share your favorites, chat about epic storylines and awesome artwork, and make new friends every third Thursday of the month. This month’s suggested reading theme is “first book in a great series.” For grades 6-12. Registration required.
Books for Buttons and Boba
Come to the Library and pick-up a “Books for Buttons and Boba” form. Finish a book with more than 200 pages, get a button and enter for a chance for a Boba gift card. For grades 6-12.
Teen Volunteers Needed
Sign up to help with Homework Help, One-Time Events, Thousand Oaks Teen Advisory League, and other programs and activities at the Library. Go to www.tolibrary.org/teens, setup your CERVIS account, and apply to volunteer for various opportunities.
ADULTS
Conversations with Mom
Tuesdays, January 7, 14, 21, & 28 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • GRB Community Room
This free support group is for moms and their newborns to get together, express their joys and concerns, and meet other new moms in the community. On the last Tuesday of the month other caregivers including fathers, grandparents are welcome to attend.
Spanish at Your Library
Wednesdays, January 8 & 22 • 5:30 – 6:30pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Advanced & intermediate learners can practice speaking Spanish under the guidance of a language-learning professional. Registration required.
Open Mic Poetry Nights
Wednesday, January 8 • 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Wednesday, January 22 • 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm • GRB Community Room
Come listen to local poets and share your own work every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, in collaboration with The Ventura County Poetry Project.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Conversation Group
Thursday, January 9 • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Practice speaking English in an informal and friendly group setting. Open to all non-native English language speakers.
Free Movie Matinées
Mondays, January 13 & 27 • 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm • GRB Community Room
Catch free movie matinées at the Library! Explore our online schedule to see what's showing and join us for a fun film outing.
Happily Ever After Book Club
Monday, January 13 • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Join us as we chat about our favorite romance novels, where a Happily Ever After (HEA)—or a Happily For Now (HFN)—is always guaranteed. This month’s book is At First Spite by Olivia Dade. Walk-ins welcome.
Virtual Author Talk - The Magic of Found Family: In Conversation with Author TJ Klune
Wednesday, January 15 • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • Online
Come have a magical moment with New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune as he chats about his Cerulean Chronicles, with special emphasis on his newest in the series, Somewhere Beyond the Sea.
Crafternoon
Friday, January 17 • 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Friday, January 24 • 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Adults are invited to join us at the Library to socialize and make a different craft each month! This month we will be making needle-felted corner bookmarks. Materials provided. Registration required.
Introduction to 3D Printing
Wednesday, January 22 • 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Learn the basics of 3D Printing as well as how to use Tinkercad, a free easy-to-use web app for 3D modeling. Registration required.
Virtual Author Talk - Notes on Modern Irrationality with Bestselling Author Amanda Montell
Thursday, January 23 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • Online
Join us as we chat with the New York Times bestselling author, Amanda Montell about her newest book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality.
Virtual Author Talk - An Inside Look at Working with a Literary Agent: A Conversation with Seth Fishman
Tuesday, January 28 • 10:00 am – 11:00 am • Online
You’re writing a book (or thinking about it), but what happens next? Join us for an inside look into working with an agent and the beginning stages of the publishing process with Seth Fishman, Vice President and Literary Agent at The Gernert Company.
Cybersecurity Basics
Wednesday, January 29 • 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Join us as we explore ways to be safe online and to protect yourself from scams. Registration required.
