Upcoming Events and Free Programs at the Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park Branch Libraries
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Thousand Oaks (Grant R. Brimhall) Library.
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 April, with GRB denoting Grant R. Brimhall Library and NPL denoting Newbury Park Library. All Library programs are free and open to the public, some require registration, and all are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice. For the latest information on Library events, please visit www.tolibrary.org/calendar.
ALL AGES
Bookmark Contest
Let your creativity shine in our Bookmark Design Contest! Pick up an official contest form from the library and design a unique bookmark inspired by the 2025 Summer Reading theme: Color Our World! Open to all ages, from Kindergarten to adults, entries must be submitted on the official form by April 30, 2025. Check the form for rules and details, then grab your supplies and start designing!
National Library Week Scavenger Hunt
Sunday, April 6 – Saturday, April 12
Join our scavenger hunt at the Library, April 6–12! Find all the items to win a small prize—one per person, while supplies last.
Gosh Yarn It
Friday, April 11 • 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+.
Los Robles Children's Choir
Saturday, April 19 • 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Bring the whole family for a fun-filled sing-along, featuring live piano accompaniment and singers from Los Robles Children's Choir. Get ready for an afternoon of joyful singing for all ages!
Spring Break Movie
Wednesday, April 23 • 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul. Rated PG, 1h 40m, 2020.
Maker Mondays: Virtual Reality
Monday, April 28 • 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Teen Space
Experience virtual reality with the Meta Quest 3. Drop in, sign up, and explore this amazing technology! For ages 11+.
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 April 17 through April 26.
Dog Days
Tuesdays, April 1, 8, 15, & 29 • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm • GRB Children’s Program Room
Thursday, April 3 • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting 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. No Dog Days on April 22.
Reading Buddies
Tuesdays, April 1, 8, 15, & 29 • 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room
Wednesdays, April 2, 9, 16, & 30 • 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.
PACT Light with First 5 Ventura County
Fridays, April 4 & 11 • 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 Neighborhoods 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, April 5 • 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.
Writing Buddies
Thursday, April 10 • 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.
Spring Break Scavenger Hunt
Friday, April 18 – Sunday, April 27
Visit the library to join a scavenger hunt. Find all the correct items to enter an opportunity drawing for a prize—one entry per person.
Bricks 4 Kidz: Lego Workshop
Tuesday, April 22 • 10:15 am – 11:15 am • GRB Community Room
Friday, April 25 • 10:15 am – 11:5 am • NPL Meeting Room
Ignite your child’s curiosity, fuel their passion for learning, and watch them have fun while doing it! With our LEGO® workshop, kids will pair up with a partner to build a motorized LEGO® model and learn the science and history behind it. Program starts promptly at 10:15 am so please arrive a few minutes early. For ages 6-10 only. Registration required.
3D Printed Nametag
Thursday, April 24 • 10:15 am – 11:15 am • GRB Technology Training Room
Learn how to make a 3D printed nametag using Tinkercad. For grades 3-5 only. Space is limited. Registration required.
Spring Storytimes & Playtime
Baby Storytime
Tuesdays, April 8, 22, & 29 • 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, April 9, 23, & 30 • 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, April 10 & 24 • 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, April 10 & 24 • 10:15 am - 10:35 am • NPL Community Room
This is a toddler storytime for ages 12-36 months. Walk-ins welcome!
Bilingual Pajama Storytime for Día
Monday, April 28 • 6:15 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Join us for a special bilingual (English/Spanish) Día Storytime and craft for ages 3-5, celebrating children, families, and reading! 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, April 15 • GRB Community Room
For toddlers (12-36 months): Wednesday, April 16 • GRB Community Room
For preschoolers (3-5 years): Thursday, April 17 • GRB Community Room
For NPL toddlers (12-36 months): Thursday, April 17 • NPL Meeting Room
TWEENS & TEENS
Post-it Note Art & Comics – Drawn to the Library
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30
Create Post-it note art and comics in the Teen Space to celebrate National Library Week’s theme, “Drawn to the Library”—check out drawing books and make your own comic pages! Just for tweens and teens in grades 6-12.
Study Kits for Tweens & Teens
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30
These study and mental wellness kits, created by our Thousand Oaks Teen Advisory League volunteers, are designed to support students during exams. We hope they help you succeed! Just for tweens and teens in grades 6-12. While supplies last.
In-N-Out Spring Break Reading Challenge for Tweens & Teens
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30
Join the challenge by registering at the library and follow the instructions to earn an In-N-Out Valued Guest Card for a free burger! Just for tweens and teens in grades 6-12. While supplies last.
Reading Rocks Book Club
Tuesday, April 8 • 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 Totally Psychic by Brigid Martin for Rocks and The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera for Boulders. Registration required.
Comics and Manga Club
Tuesday, April 15 • 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 Tuesday of the month. This month’s suggested reading theme is “funny & humorous books.” 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.
Summer Teen Volunteers Needed!
Volunteer shifts available June 16– August 3
The Library needs friendly teen volunteers during the Summer to help with Summer Reading Club and Library programs and activities. Apply ASAP for first choice in Library volunteer shifts. Go to www.tolibrary.org/teens for more information and application details. Orientation Training sessions available starting in May.
ADULTS
Conversations with Mom
Tuesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 • 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. Other caregivers, including fathers and grandparents, are welcome to attend the program on the last Tuesday of the month.
Virtual Author Talk - Wordsmith and Wonder with Jodi Picoult
Wednesday, April 2 • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • Online
Step into Spring with us as we chat with the highly acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult about her newest novel, By Any Other Name.
Many Voices Book Club
Wednesday, April 2 • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Join us in reading and discussing books in a wide variety of genres by authors from a wide variety of cultures. This month’s book is As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh. Walk-ins welcome.
New West Symphony: Meet the Artists
Thursday, April 3 • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm • GRB Community Room
Meet the Artists provides a unique ‘behind the scenes’ experience with Maestro Michael Christie and guest artists. Learn about their musical insights, illustrious careers and fascinating beginnings, and enjoy intimate musical performances.
Goals and Tools for Budgeting and Spending Workshop
Saturday, April 5 • 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Learn how to create a budget and use money management tools to achieve your financial goals in this financial literacy workshop presented by Financial Beginnings. Registration required. Walk-ins and waitlist will be allowed if registered patrons do not arrive within 5 minutes of start of program.
Ventura College Jazz Band
Saturday, April 5 • 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm • GRB Community Room
Join Fundi Legohn, Director of the Ventura College Jazz Band, and his students for a dynamic performance of classic jazz from different eras. They’ll explore the musical styles and social influences of each period, while also adding modern day rhythmic twists to engage younger listeners.
Free Movie Matinées
Mondays, April 7 & 21 • 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.
Virtual Author Talk - The Stories, Science, and History of Trees with Smithsonian Gardens Greenhouse Horticulturalist Matthew Fleming
Tuesday, April 8 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • Online
Join us as Smithsonian Horticulturalist Matthew Fleming, guides us through the secret world of trees as is revealed in the beautiful and absorbing guide to the giants of the plant world—The Tree Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Trees.
Spanish at Your Library
Wednesdays, April 9 & 23 • 5:30 pm – 6:30pm • GRB Technology Training Room
Advanced & intermediate learners can practice speaking Spanish under the guidance of a language-learning professional.
Open Mic Poetry Nights
Wednesday, April 9 & 23 • 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.
