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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

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Blogpost

Atomic Comicon 2017 Atomic Comicon 2017

By TacomaLibrary_Teens
Mark your calendar for the 2017 Atomic Comicon! On Friday, June 23rd and Saturday, June 24th our free annual celebration of reading, comics, fandoms, and geek culture blasts into Tacoma for its fifth year! Join us at the Main Branch of Tacoma Public Library for…
Mark your calendar for the 2017 Atomic Comicon! On Friday, June 23rd and Saturday, June 24th our free annual celebration of reading, comics…
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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 …
woman holding resume
Event

Build a Better Resume Build a Better Resume

Jun 29th | 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Main Branch
Join us for a session where we'll explore what makes a great resume. Find out about recommended formats (chronological or functional), crea…
Join us for a session where we'll explore what makes a great resume. Find out about recommended formats (chronological or functional), creating active statements, exploring resume samples and much more. No registration required.
ozobots
Blogpost

Ozobots - Program Miniature Robots Using… Ozobots - Program Miniature Robots Using Color!

By TacomaLibrary_Kids
Have fun with Ozobots that move in patterns, play games and dance! By using different color markers to draw, these mini robots can be programmed to follow commands. Ozobots Channel ideas into reality – racetracks, puzzles, mazes, obstacle loops, battlefields Encourage sequential…
Have fun with Ozobots that move in patterns, play games and dance! By using different color markers to draw, these mini robots can be progr…
Register Now!
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News

What is Summer Slide… What is Summer Slide and Why is it Important to Stop?

School is almost out for summer and for children around the country it means “No more pencils. No more books. No more teachers’ dirty looks.” But for educators, librarians, and parents it also means many children will succumb to the Summer Slide. What is the Summer Slide you ask…
School is almost out for summer and for children around the country it means “No more pencils. No more books." But for educators, librar ...
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Did You Know

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eBooks and Comics now in Hoopla!

06/21/2017
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OverDrive's new app Libby

06/21/2017
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Account Registration

06/02/2017
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PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next

04/03/2017
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Borrowing History is Back!

03/29/2017

Catalog Carousels

  • New Fiction

Summer Reading

walking shoes
Event

Walking Club Walking Club

Jun 23rd | 9:30am - 10:15am
Wheelock Branch
Wheelock Branch is walking this summer! Every Friday, beginning June 6 through July 28, we'll head out for a 30-45 minute morning walk arou…
Wheelock Branch is walking this summer! Every Friday, beginning June 6 through July 28, we'll head out for a 30-45 minute morning walk around the Proctor neighborhood. If you've wanted to start exercising but didn't want to do it alone, this is your opportunity! Enjoy casual con…
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Event

Angel Ocasio's Comedy Angel Ocasio's Comedy

Jun 23rd | 10:30am - 11:30am
Mottet Branch
Angel brings a high energy, very funny one man variety show to Tacoma Public Library. This wonderfully interactive performance combines phy…
Angel brings a high energy, very funny one man variety show to Tacoma Public Library. This wonderfully interactive performance combines physical comedy, jokes, juggling, object balancing, comedy magic and impromptu comedy situations. This event is bilingual, english and spanish.
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Event

Pokemon Drop-in Play Pokemon Drop-in Play

Jun 23rd | 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Main Branch
Pick up a game of Pokémon (cards or DS) in the gaming zone. Are you still learning how to play? Pokémon Master and educator, David Nelson w…
Pick up a game of Pokémon (cards or DS) in the gaming zone. Are you still learning how to play? Pokémon Master and educator, David Nelson will be on hand to guide anyone looking for tips or training. Bring your own cards or DS.
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Event

Seattle Reptile Guy Seattle Reptile Guy

Jun 24th | 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Wheelock Branch
Seattle Reptile Guy will bring between 25 and 30 different animals, such as snakes, lizards, tortoises, giant geckos, giant tree skinks, be…
Seattle Reptile Guy will bring between 25 and 30 different animals, such as snakes, lizards, tortoises, giant geckos, giant tree skinks, bearded dragons and other cool animals to Tacoma Public Library. Kids get to touch the animals and learn all about the amazing things that the…
Ask Mr. Bear
Click, Clack, Moo
Five Little Ducks
I Took My Frog to the Library
The Bear's Toothache
Dr. Seuss's ABC
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
Library Lion
May I Bring A Friend?
The Three Little Pigs
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

Image of a fishing fleet
Blogpost

Bump the Axis Bump the Axis

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
When President F.D. Roosevelt called for a nationwide scrap rubber collection campaign to take place June 15-30, 1942, Tacoma's fishing fleet responded by giving up their boat bumpers to "Bump" the Axis. Rubber recycling was necessary because 92% of the U.S.'s normal supply of c…
When President F.D. Roosevelt called for a nationwide scrap rubber collection campaign to take place June 15-30, 1942, Tacoma's fishing fle…
Image of building on fire
Blogpost

Cushman Indian Hospital Commissary Fire Cushman Indian Hospital Commissary Fire

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
On June 21, 1938, firemen watch as the side of a building collapses and smoke billows from inside. The $30,000 fire on June 20-21 at the United States Cushman Indian Hospital destroyed the hospital commissary, a two and 1/2 story, wood frame building. The intense flames lit up t…
On June 21, 1938, firemen watch as the side of a building collapses and smoke billows from inside. The $30,000 fire on June 20-21 at the Un…
Image of a tugboat
Blogpost

Sioux Sioux

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
The tugboat "Sioux" chugs powerfully through the waves as she undergoes sea trials on June 29, 1970. Launched at Martinac Shipbuilding on June 13th along with sister tug, "Seneca", she would be used to haul barges to the oil fields of Alaska's Prudhoe Bay. See more featured imag…
The tugboat "Sioux" chugs powerfully through the waves as she undergoes sea trials on June 29, 1970. Launched at Martinac Shipbuilding on J…
Image of a banquet
Blogpost

Fathers and Sons Fathers and Sons

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
To honor fathers and sons of University Place and Day Island communities, the University Place School sponsored a banquet on March 2, 1934. The program included music by Fred May's orchestra, Boy Scout demonstrations and motion pictures on scouting, boxing and songs. See more fe…
To honor fathers and sons of University Place and Day Island communities, the University Place School sponsored a banquet on March 2, 1934.…
Image of a woman displaying box of takeout food
Blogpost

Tray Vittles - Yum! Tray Vittles - Yum!

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
In June of 1954, customers at Scotty's Cafe, 29 Tacoma Ave. North, could purchase Tray Vittles, "delicious foods served conveniently", packaged in easy-to-carry boxes. The complete hot dinners, which might have included soup, burgers & fries, turkey and mashed potatoes, and a la…
In June of 1954, customers at Scotty's Cafe, 29 Tacoma Ave. North, could purchase Tray Vittles, "delicious foods served conveniently", pack…
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We Recommend

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Catcher in the Rye
Collateral Damage
Girling up
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
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…
Beowulf
Dracula
The Count of Monte Cristo
Frankenstein
Jane Eyre
The Personal History, Adventures, Experience & Observation of David Copperfield, the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery
Staff List

Oldies but Goodies Oldies but Goodies

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Tired of modern life? Overwhelmed by the non-stop pace? Enjoy a simpler time through these titles published before 1900 at Tacoma Public L…
Tired of modern life? Overwhelmed by the non-stop pace? Enjoy a simpler time through these titles published before 1900 at Tacoma Public L…
Astonish Me
The Anatomy of Dreams
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
Find Me
The Luminaries
Maine
Staff List

Authors under 30 Authors under 30

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Discover at Tacoma Public Library these novels that were written when the authors were under 30.
Discover at Tacoma Public Library these novels that were written when the authors were under 30.
Animal Farm
Anthem
Heart of Darkness
Of Mice and Men
The Old Man and the Sea
The Pearl
Staff List

Books under 100 pages Books under 100 pages

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Check out these books under 100 pages at Tacoma Public Library.
Check out these books under 100 pages at Tacoma Public Library.
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Library Reads Top Ten June 2017 Library Reads Top Ten June 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, …
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