We miss you! Our library team looks forward to the day when we can welcome you back into our buildings again, but in the meantime we've been putting together some new items for you to borrow, virtual classes for all ages, and even an awesome outdoor StoryWalk next to the Spanish River Library.
We also extended our Summer Reading program to August 31 and added some exciting new prizes for adults. Summer Reading is open to all ages, so be sure to register here and start logging your books or reading time. Plus, when you let us know at curbside pickup that you've enrolled in Summer Reading, we'll bring your items out in a tote that features our "Imagine Your Story" dragon for your family to keep.
Read on to learn what's new at Boca Raton Public Library!
New Items for Checkout
Children's Book Bundles: Book Bundles group together 5 picture books on fun, kid-friendly topics, such as dinosaurs, counting, fairy tales, sports, colors and much more! Visit Book Bundles to see all the topics available and place a hold. We’ll let you know when your selections are ready for pick-up through our curbside holds pick-up service.
Magazines to Go: Do you love magazines? You can now use your Boca Raton Public Library card to place a hold on your favorites! Visit Magazines to Check Out to see our selection, click "Place a hold" on the title you want, enter your name, card number and library location, and then select the issues you'd like. We'll notify you when your magazines are ready to go home with you.
NOTE: Curbside holds pick-up service will not be available on Tuesday, August 18.
Virtual Classes and Programs for All Ages
For Adults: Want to learn something new from the comforts of home? Our Instructional Services team has been hard at work creating free on-demand virtual classes for adults. Visit On-Demand Classes for Adults to watch Space Exploring Apps, Photo Collage Apps for Beginners, Getting Started with Genealogy, Subscription Savvy, and Crafty Entrepreneurs. Keep an eye on this page as more virtual classes will be added in upcoming weeks.
An Hour to Kill Virtual Book Club: If you love mysteries, don't miss our virtual book club discussion with Neil Schulhoff! Join him on July 31 at 10:30am to discuss Kingdom of the Blind, by Louise Penny. Find out why People magazine called it "a captivating, wintry whodunit." Enroll here. A link to the GoToMeeting will be emailed prior to the discussion. Click here to reserve or access your copy of the book.
For Children: Our Youth Services team has been going all out to create fun story time and craft videos, which are posted on our Facebook video page. Make sure you "Like" our page so you don't miss out on great entertainment for the little ones in your life.
For Teens: Our Teen team has also come up with some fantastic virtual programs for ages 13-17. On our website, check out our Digital Library Escape! And, starting August 1, we're going to have four weeks of Dungeons & Dragons for Teens every Saturday. Register for either the morning session or afternoon session. Your registration signs you up for all four weeks.
Job Skills and Career Resources
Universal Class: Learn sought-after computer skills to help you land a new job, such as QuickBooks 101, Adobe Creative Suite, or Web Design programs. Other useful courses include Mastering Sales Skills, Payroll Management, Special Events Planning, and much more. Would you rather start your own business? Classes such as Home Business, Virtual Assistant 101, Marketing for Small Business 101, and How to Start and Run an Online Business could help.
LinkedIn Learning: Can your hobby or unique skill earn you extra money? LinkedIn Learning has hundreds of videos to teach you how to start, market and manage your side hustle, including 32 Ways to Make Extra Money, Employee to Entrepreneur, Switching Your Career, and Start a Business Online.
CareerSource: Need help with unemployment or retraining for a new career? CareerSource can help! Click here and look for the links under "Government."
StoryWalk® at Pondhawk Natural Area
In celebration of National Park and Recreation Month, Boca Raton Public Library has opened StoryWalk at the Pondhawk Natural Area next to the Spanish River Library. StoryWalk is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s storybook along a popular walking route in the community. Different books will be displayed throughout the year to keep the StoryWalk experience fresh and promote future learning.
StoryWalk is the result of a four-way partnership between the Boca Raton Public Library, the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management, the Friends of Boca Raton Public Library, and the City of Boca Raton Department of Recreation Services. It combines physical activity with books to help build children’s interest in reading while encouraging healthy activity for all. Watch this video to learn more about how StoryWalk was created!