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All Tacoma Public Library branches will be closed on Friday, December 6th for Staff In-Service day. 

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TPL adopts One System, One Schedule in… TPL adopts One System, One Schedule in 2020

On Thursday, Jan, 2, TPL’s Main Library, located at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South in downtown Tacoma, will align its hours with the rest of the library system under the One System, One Schedule campaign. Currently, downtown’s Main Library operates on a different schedule from its…
On Thursday, Jan, 2, TPL’s Main Library, located at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South in downtown Tacoma, will align its hours with the rest of the…
Blogpost

ROADS on Mars Student Challenge ROADS on Mars Student Challenge

By TacomaLibrary
STEAM Programming With a Mission Grade Levels: 3-12 In the summer of 2020, NASA will launch its next rover to study Mars. NASA’s Northwest Earth and Space Science Pipeline team invites students to participate in a Red Planet rover mission of their own! The Rover Observation And…
STEAM Programming With a Mission Grade Levels: 3-12 In the summer of 2020, NASA will launch its next rover to study Mars. NASA’s Northwest…
Event

90-Second Newbery Film Festival 90-Second Newbery Film Festival

Jan 10th
Offsite
CALLING ALL YOUNG FILMMAKERS!  Tacoma Public Library invites kids and teens to submit films to the 90-Second Newbery Film…
CALLING ALL YOUNG FILMMAKERS!  Tacoma Public Library invites kids and teens to submit films to the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival!The deadline for submitting films is January 10, 2020 The Oscar Style Screening Party is on February 29, 2020 Learn more here. This is a…
Blogpost

Tuesdays with a Twist - EnviroChallenger Tuesdays with a Twist - EnviroChallenger

By TacomaLibrary_Wheelock
Drop in every second Tuesday afternoon, between 3:30 and 5pm, for a fun activity with the EnviroChallenger. Grades K-3rd. The EnviroChallenger program teaches free environmental lessons with a mix of science, social responsibility and fun!
Drop in every second Tuesday afternoon, between 3:30 and 5pm, for a fun activity with the EnviroChallenger. Grades K-3rd. The…
Event

Cubelets: Modular Robots Cubelets: Modular Robots

Various Locations
Through play and experimentation, Cubelets transform from a block set to robots. Click the magnetic blocks together and each arrangement...
Through play and experimentation, Cubelets transform from a block set to robots. Click the magnetic blocks together and each arrangement results in a sound, light, or motion. There's no wrong way to build! Ages 5 – 18 (manufacturer recommended 8 and up). Required: Helping…
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Did You Know

Eastside Microlibrary is now open!

10/08/2019

HelpNow: Featured eResource of the…

10/02/2019

New Library Cards Are Here!

09/25/2019

TPL launches Our Community Adventure…

09/18/2019

Thank you Tacoma!

08/22/2019

Catalog Carousels

  • New Fiction

Local History

Blogpost

Hell Night at CPS Hell Night at CPS

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
Although threatened with both humiliation and physical harm by his fraternity brothers, Herman Kleiner survived "Hell Night" at the College of Puget Sound and became a member of Delta Kappa Phi. In this photograph from December of 1939, Johnnie Esthen (left) and Norman…
Although threatened with both humiliation and physical harm by his fraternity brothers, Herman Kleiner survived "Hell Night" at the...
Blogpost

Making a Move Making a Move

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
An employee of Lyon Van & Storage carefully wraps a chair for transport from Fort Lewis in December, 1951. Sheets of heavy duty wrapping paper were used to swathe furniture prior to it being placed into a large wooden crate filled with soft packing material. The heavy crate…
An employee of Lyon Van & Storage carefully wraps a chair for transport from Fort Lewis in December, 1951. Sheets of heavy duty…
Blogpost

Fairy Tale Motherlode Fairy Tale Motherlode

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
The second annual Tacoma Fairyland and Christmas Parade was held on November 29, 1935. This tall Mother Goose figure with her billowing blue hoop skirt was actually a float. She was so tall that she could nod to the spectators in the second floor windows of the buildings she…
The second annual Tacoma Fairyland and Christmas Parade was held on November 29, 1935. This tall Mother Goose figure with her billowing…
Blogpost

Hamsome Hamsome

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
Two of the Canadian troops at Fort Lewis wear berets while they carve several hams on November 24, 1950. The main body of the 25th Canadian infantry brigade and the Canadian Army's Special Force came to Tacoma aboard troop trains starting in October 1950. The troops, all…
Two of the Canadian troops at Fort Lewis wear berets while they carve several hams on November 24, 1950. The main body of the 25th…
Blogpost

Amoozin' but confoozin! Amoozin' but confoozin!

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
Al Capp's popular comic strip, "Li'l Abner" was the inspiration for the Sadie Hawkins dance sponsored by the Stardust Dance Club in November of 1946. To help advertise the dance Grace M. (Mrs. C. Nathan) Lynn, as "Daisy Mae" tugs on a suspender of…
Al Capp's popular comic strip, "Li'l Abner" was the inspiration for the Sadie Hawkins dance sponsored by the Stardust Dance...
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Tacoma Reads

Staff List

Tacoma Reads Recommends Tacoma Reads Recommends

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native American experiences and cultures.
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native…
Staff List

Tacoma Reads Recommends for Kids &… Tacoma Reads Recommends for Kids & Families

recommended by TacomaLibrary_Kids
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native American experiences and cultures.
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native…
Staff List

Tacoma Reads Recommends for Teens &… Tacoma Reads Recommends for Teens & Tweens

recommended by TacomaLibrary_Teens
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native American experiences and cultures.
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native…
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We Recommend

Blogpost

LibraryReads December 2019 LibraryReads December 2019

By TacomaLibrary
Nothing says “must read” quite like a Librarian’s stamp of approval! Every month LibraryReads.org releases the top picks for the month, as voted on by Librarians across the country. Subscribe to Tacoma Library’s e-Newsletter service and get the Library Reads picks and more delivered...
Nothing says “must read” quite like a Librarian’s stamp of approval! Every month LibraryReads.org releases the top picks for the month, as voted...
Staff List

Beautiful Days With Mister Rogers Beautiful Days With Mister Rogers

recommended by TacomaLibrary
More than a decade after his passing, Mister Rogers (AKA Fred McFeely Rogers) is still very much in American's hearts and on our minds.…
More than a decade after his passing, Mister Rogers (AKA Fred McFeely Rogers) is still very much in American's hearts and on our…
Staff List

Never Too Young To Start Writing Right! Never Too Young To Start Writing Right!

recommended by TacomaLibrary_Kids
Do you have an idea for a story or a poem inside you? Maybe you know a young person who might be interested getting started with creative…
Do you have an idea for a story or a poem inside you? Maybe you know a young person who might be interested getting started with creative…
Staff List

Calligraphy and Penmanship Calligraphy and Penmanship

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Tacoma Library is supporting National Handwriting Day. Increased literacy and handwriting often support one another. The beauty of pen…
Tacoma Library is supporting National Handwriting Day. Increased literacy and handwriting often support one another. The beauty of pen…
Staff List

Tackle A Century Of Pro Football In 100… Tackle A Century Of Pro Football In 100…

recommended by TacomaLibrary
The 2019 – 2020 season marks the 100th season of play for America's dominant professional sports and cultural juggernaut, the National…
The 2019 – 2020 season marks the 100th season of play for America's dominant professional sports and cultural juggernaut, the National…
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