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Summer Learning Adventure

Join our Summer Learning Adventure between June 1st and July 29th! Read, listen, create, and attend free activities this summer. Complete bingo cards tracking your progress and earn prizes.

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Spotlight

Event

Birding 101 Birding 101

Jul 22nd | 10:30am - 12:00pm
Wheelock Branch
It's a bird! It's plane! It's actually a bird, and, oh, what a bird! Learn the fundamentals of birdwatching from two avid birders. Topics w…
It's a bird! It's plane! It's actually a bird, and, oh, what a bird! Learn the fundamentals of birdwatching from two avid birders. Topics will include getting started, local birding hotspots, equipment, field guides and creating a lifelist. This program is appropriate for adults…
News

Importance of Reading over the Summer Importance of Reading over the Summer

Summer Reading Loss occurs when children learning to read, take a protracted break from regular reading. Upon returning to school, Children who read in the summer have increased reading skills while children who do not lose as much as three months of reading skills. These summer…
Summer Reading Loss occurs when children learning to read, take a protracted break from regular reading. Upon returning to school, Children…
News

Zinio eMagazines Reborn as RBDigital Zinio eMagazines Reborn as RBDigital

Tacoma Public Library's digital magazine service will be relaunched with an all new app available in the app stores on June 27, 2017. Existing users of the Zinio for Libraries app will need to install the new and improved RBdigital app. All of your checkouts and history will tra…
Tacoma Public Library's digital magazine service will be relaunched with an all new app available in the app stores on June 27, 2017. Exist…
Blogpost

Travel Light with eBooks Travel Light with eBooks

By TacomaLibrary
Heading somewhere special this summer? After you’ve packed your sunscreen, don’t forget to bring the other travel necessity – something to read. Did you know you have access to thousands of free eBook and eAudiobook titles with your library card? The Overdrive app makes it easy …
Heading somewhere special this summer? After you’ve packed your sunscreen, don’t forget to bring the other travel necessity – something to …
Staff List

Cool Food For Summer Cool Food For Summer

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Summer fun means the best kind of parties, gardens and recipes. And Tacoma Library has titles to help you find the best of all three right here.
Summer fun means the best kind of parties, gardens and recipes. And Tacoma Library has titles to help you find the best of all three right …
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Did You Know

eBooks and Comics now in Hoopla!

06/21/2017

OverDrive's new app Libby

06/21/2017

Account Registration

06/02/2017

PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next

04/03/2017

Borrowing History is Back!

03/29/2017

Catalog Carousels

  • New Fiction

Summer Reading

Event

Mad Science Mad Science

Jul 22nd | 10:30am - 11:30am
Kobetich Branch
Mad Science will be dazzle with the impressive science demonstrations in this spectacular show! From foggy dry ice storms and gravity defyi…
Mad Science will be dazzle with the impressive science demonstrations in this spectacular show! From foggy dry ice storms and gravity defying beach balls to a Mad Science burp flavored potion, audiences will be amazed by what they see, hear, and ugh taste!
Event

Zen Doodle Workshop Zen Doodle Workshop

Jul 22nd | 10:30am - 12:00pm
Main Branch
Need a break from ordinary life? Come doodle! Doodle art is much more than just drawing on a piece of paper during a dull meeting. It's a m…
Need a break from ordinary life? Come doodle! Doodle art is much more than just drawing on a piece of paper during a dull meeting. It's a meditative art form through which individuals can express themselves. Using lines, shading and geometric figures, this relaxing art form is f…
Event

Roominate Roominate

Jul 22nd | 10:30am - 12:30pm
Moore Branch
Teaches problem solving, confidence and creativity. Connect wall to floor panels, create bookshelves, tables, slides, spinning windmills, …
Teaches problem solving, confidence and creativity. Connect wall to floor panels, create bookshelves, tables, slides, spinning windmills, carousels, street lights and elevators. Ages 4 – 18 (manufacturer recommended age 6- 12). Required: Registration and accompanying adult. Prov…
Event

Family Tie Dye Family Tie Dye

Jul 22nd | 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Wheelock Branch
Come experience the time-honored art of tie-dye! The library will have stations set up on the front lawn where you will make your own color…
Come experience the time-honored art of tie-dye! The library will have stations set up on the front lawn where you will make your own colorful creations! Please bring your own prewashed white cotton t-shirt. Instruction will be provided. Appropriate for ages 6 and up (with paren…
Staff List

Revamped Read Alongs! Revamped Read Alongs!

recommended by TacomaLibrary_Kids
Tacoma Public Library has made a change! Remember those pesky bags that used to hold the children's picture books with attached CDs? Well, we've done away with them! Stop by any one of our eight locations and check out our new "Read Along (Book +CD)" titles just…
Tacoma Public Library has made a change! Remember those pesky bags that used to hold the children's picture books with attached CDs? …
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Local History

Blogpost

Out with the Old Out with the Old

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
By July of 1959, demolition of the aging Gothic-styled Piece County Courthouse at 1012 South G Street was well underway. Lige Dickson & Co. began tearing down the old courthouse in June with cranes and wrecking balls bringing it down piece by piece over the next several weeks. I…
By July of 1959, demolition of the aging Gothic-styled Piece County Courthouse at 1012 South G Street was well underway. Lige Dickson & Co.…
Blogpost

How to Cool Down in July How to Cool Down in July

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
On July 17, 1941, Ed Kinderbeck, ice handler at Tacoma Ice Company, cools-off on a block of ice as the temperature in Tacoma reaches 94.2 degrees. Slight relief came in the evening with a tremendous lightning show and thunderstorm accompanied by large, lukewarm rain drops. The f…
On July 17, 1941, Ed Kinderbeck, ice handler at Tacoma Ice Company, cools-off on a block of ice as the temperature in Tacoma reaches 94.2 d…
Blogpost

The First Block Party The First Block Party

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
On a warm summer evening, July 14th, 1920, the residents of Trafton Street between 6th Ave and South 8th Street were treated to Tacoma's first Block Party. The party was hosted by the Community Service Club in an effort to end the isolation of city life and help neighbors get to…
On a warm summer evening, July 14th, 1920, the residents of Trafton Street between 6th Ave and South 8th Street were treated to Tacoma's fi…
Blogpost

Missing Grizzly Missing Grizzly

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
Not wanting to cause a panic, the management of the Point Defiance Park zoo did not immediately notify the public when a 600 pound grizzly bear escaped from his cage in July of 1937. Several men inspected the bear's cage, but were unable to determine how he had managed to escape…
Not wanting to cause a panic, the management of the Point Defiance Park zoo did not immediately notify the public when a 600 pound grizzly …
Blogpost

Acrobatic Attitude Acrobatic Attitude

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
A member of western singer and motion picture actor Gene Autry's troupe, likely acrobatic dancer Audrey Haus, displays one of her talents backstage at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse on July 15, 1949. Gene Autry had brought his troupe of western stars and radio entertainer…
A member of western singer and motion picture actor Gene Autry's troupe, likely acrobatic dancer Audrey Haus, displays one of her talents b…
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We Recommend

Staff List

Bad Reviews Don't Mean a Thing Bad Reviews Don't Mean a Thing

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Looking for a good book with a bad review? Who isn't this summer? Here's a list of books from Tacoma Public Library, classic and contempora…
Looking for a good book with a bad review? Who isn't this summer? Here's a list of books from Tacoma Public Library, classic and contempora…
Staff List

Journal Time Journal Time

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Journaling is a great way to explore your thoughts, dreams and creativity. These books from Tacoma Library can help you get started.
Journaling is a great way to explore your thoughts, dreams and creativity. These books from Tacoma Library can help you get started.
Blogpost

Library Reads Top Ten July 2017 Library Reads Top Ten July 2017

By TacomaLibrary
Nothing says “must read” quite like a Librarian’s stamp of approval! Every month LibraryReads.org releases the top 10 picks for the month, as voted on by Librarians across the country.  At the end of the year, Librarians vote for their Favorites of Favorites. Subscribe to Tacoma…
Nothing says “must read” quite like a Librarian’s stamp of approval! Every month LibraryReads.org releases the top 10 picks for the month, …
Staff List

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Starting July 12th, Tacoma's Bring Your Own Bag ordinance goes into effect. Plastic bags will be banned and retailers will now charge for paper bags. Be prepared and make a one-of-a-kind reusable bag at home with the help of one of these books from Tacoma Public Library.
Starting July 12th, Tacoma's Bring Your Own Bag ordinance goes into effect. Plastic bags will be banned and retailers will now charge for p…
Staff List

In Theaters Soon, These Great YA Novels! In Theaters Soon, These Great YA Novels!

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Looking for a book to read that has been turned into a movie? Tacoma Public Library has these great novels that will be coming to a theater…
Looking for a book to read that has been turned into a movie? Tacoma Public Library has these great novels that will be coming to a theater…
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