April Events at Minnetonka Libraries

Free programs for children, teens, and adults, including storytimes, author and literary programs, book clubs, technology classes, career and small business workshops and multicultural programs, are scheduled in April at Hennepin County libraries. For the complete program schedule and more information online.

The following programs are scheduled at Hennepin County libraries in Minnetonka:

17524 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka, 612-543-5725

Baby Storytime
Thursdays, April 5-26, 9:30 a.m. at Minnetonka Library
Registration required; began March 8; limit 18. For children from birth to 24 months. Delight and stimulate your baby's senses with books and music. Build brain power.

Family Storytime
Thursdays, April 5-26, 10:30 a.m. at Minnetonka Library
For children age 2 and up. Share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement with your children.

Friends Meeting
Mondays, April 16 & May 21, 6:30-8 p.m. at Minnetonka Library
Join fellow library enthusiasts to hear what's happening at Hennepin County Library. Help support your local library by planning and volunteering at book sales, programs, and special events. The Friends look forward to meeting you. Board meeting.

12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, 612-543-8800

Toddler Storytime
Mondays, April 2 & 9, 10:30 a.m. at Ridgedale Library
For children ages 2 and 3. Interact with your toddler to nurture a love of books. Learn letters, sounds, and new words. Be active with music and movement.

Preschool Storytime
Mondays, April 2 & 9, 1:30 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
For children ages 4 to 6. Help your preschooler get ready to read. Enjoy stories together and build language skills.

Teen Anime Club
Mondays, April 2 & May 7, 4:30-6 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Grades 6-12. Can't get enough anime? Join up to watch and review brand-new anime episodes, share artwork and hang out with other anime fans.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgedale Library.

Family Storytime
Mondays, April 2 & 9, 7 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
For children age 2 and up. Share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement with your children.

Master Recycler: How to Hold Your Own Green Celebrations
Monday, April 2, 7-8 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
  or call 952-847-8847.
Whether it's a baby shower for 12, a graduation party for 50 or a wedding for 200, you can greatly reduce waste by choosing wisely and planning ahead. Learn tips from renting to using “reusables” to giving environmentally friendly gifts.
Presented in partnership with Hennepin County Environmental Services.

Toddler Storytime
Tuesdays, April 3 & 10, 10:30 a.m. at Ridgedale Library
For children ages 2 and 3. Interact with your toddler to nurture a love of books. Learn letters, sounds, and new words. Be active with music and movement.

SCORE® Small Business Consultations
Tuesdays, April 3 & May 1, 1-4 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Meet with a business counselor to develop your business plan, discuss a new idea or tackle a business problem. Consultations are free and confidential. Walk-ins welcome.

Family Storytime
Wednesdays, April 4 & 11, 10:30 a.m. at Ridgedale Library
For children age 2 and up. Share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement with your children.

Books You Don't Have Time to Read
Wednesdays, April 4-May 9, 2:15-3:45 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
  or call 952-847-8847.
Each week, hear a U of M Osher Lifelong Learning Institute member present a book that tackles a challenging subject of the day. Then discuss the issues involved.
Presented in collaboration with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Preschool Storytime
Thursdays, April 5 & 12, 10:30 a.m. at Ridgedale Library
For children ages 4 to 6. Help your preschooler get ready to read. Enjoy stories together and build language skills.

Socrates Café
Thursdays, April 5-May 31, 7 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Sit back and philosophize with your friends and neighbors. The topic is decided by popular vote at the beginning of the meeting. All welcomed; no experience necessary. The concept of Socrates Café is based on the book of the same name by Christopher Phillips.

Baby Storytime
Saturdays, April 7 & 14, 10 a.m. at Ridgedale Library
For children from birth to 24 months. Delight and stimulate your baby's senses with books and music. Build brain power.

Friends Meeting
Monday, April 16, 6:15 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Join fellow library enthusiasts to hear what's happening at Hennepin County Library. Help support your local library by planning and volunteering at book sales, programs, and special events. The Friends look forward to meeting you. Annual meeting.

Work of Art: Recordkeeping and Financial Management for Artists
Monday, April 16, 6:30-9 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Registration required; begins March 19; limit 20. Does your actual income match your desired income? Learn clear, simple methods for setting up your financial books, how budgets and cash flow statements can help you plan for profit and make accurate projections about what to expect. Find related books and more at the Library.
This project is funded with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Presented in collaboration with Springboard for the Arts.

Computer Skills Workshop
Tuesdays, April 17 & 24, May 15; 1-3 p.m.
Thursday, May 24, 1-3 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
  or call 952-847-8847.
Work on projects and practice skills from using the mouse and keyboarding to using email and Microsoft Office with our software instructors and volunteer assistants.

Microsoft Excel: Creating and Managing Lists
Tuesday, April 17, 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, May 26, 3-5 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Registration required; begins March 20; limit 10. Learn to create lists (inventory, contact or collection, etc.), sort data and print using Microsoft Excel. Prerequisite: Microsoft Excel Basics or familiarity with spreadsheets is highly recommended.

Minnesota's Other Civil War: The Dakota Uprisings
Tuesday, April 17, 7 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Dean Urdahl, Minnesota State Representative whose ancestors helped settle Litchfield Township in 1856, will speak on the 1862 Dakota Conflict as well as his "Dakota Uprising" series of historic novels. This sesquicentennial event will offer a deeper knowledge of Minnesota's history.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgedale Library.

Microsoft Word: Basics
Thursdays, April 19 & May 17, 4-6 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
  or call 952-847-8847.
Learn how to use the ribbon, enter and delete text, basic formatting, cut, copy and paste; and when to use 'save' and 'save as.'

Club Book With Richard Louv
Sunday, April 22, 2 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Louv is a journalist and author of books about the connections between family, nature and community, whose first book, "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder," was translated into 10 languages and published in 15 countries. His newest, "The Nature Principle,” offers a new vision of the future in which our lives are as immersed in nature as they are in technology. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Seating is first-come, first-served. Doors open at 1:15 p.m.
This project is funded with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. A program of MELSA (Metropolitan Library Service Agency). Coordinated by the Friends of the Hennepin County Library. Creative partner: A/B Geist. Media support: Minnesota Public Radio.

Work of Art: Simple Business Plans for Artists
Monday, April 23, 6:30-9 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Registration required; begins March 26; limit 20. What does it take to grow your artistic business, a.k.a. your career? Start with preparing a simple business plan in arts-friendly language, which is an essential planning tool for any small business (even if you’re “just a painter!”). Find related books and more at the Library.
This project is funded with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Presented in collaboration with Springboard for the Arts.

Microsoft Publisher: Basics
Tuesday, April 24, 6-8 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Registration required; begins March 27; limit 10. Learn to use the menus and toolbars to create and publish your own fliers, brochures and greeting cards.

DNA Day: Family Health History and the Risk of Cancer
Tuesday, April 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Registration required; begins March 27; limit 100. Knowing your family health history can help you determine if you're at risk for hereditary cancer. Learn from a genetic counselor what questions to ask your relatives when collecting your family history. Find related books and more at the Library.
Presented in partnership with the Minnesota Genetic Counselors Association.

First Pages: How to Generate Material When the Well is Empty
Tuesday, April 24, 7-8 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Registration required; begins March 27; limit 20. Has your muse decided to take a vacation? Learn from an experienced writer on how to generate ideas for good writing, even when you feel completely uninspired to sit down and write.
This project is funded with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Presented in collaboration with The Loft Literary Center.

Computer Class for Complete Beginners
Thursday, April 26, 1-3 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
  or call 952-847-8847.
Learn the difference between hardware and software, practice using a mouse, find out more about library resources if you have little or no experience using a computer.

Email: Intermediate
Thursday, April 26, 4-6 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Registration required; begins March 29; limit 10. Learn how to use folders, view and attach files to an email and set up an email address book using a Yahoo! account.

Microsoft PowerPoint: Basics
Saturday, April 28, 3-5 p.m.
Thursday, May 17, 1-3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 22, 1-3 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
  or call 952-847-8847.
Learn to create presentations and use the ribbon to create a basic slide show.

Work of Art: Pricing Your Work
Monday, April 30, 6:30-9 p.m. at Ridgedale Library
Registration required; begins April 2; limit 20. How can you ensure that you are compensated fairly for the art you create? Learn what to consider when setting a price for your work or the services you provide. Find related books and more at the Library.
This project is funded with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Presented in collaboration with Springboard for the Arts.

Hennepin County Library–Online

Kids Book Club Online
Monday, April 2-Friday, April 6
  or call 612-543-8529.
Grades 4-6 Join other kids to talk about a great book! Participate in the book discussion through www.kidlinks.org, Monday-Friday, any time of day. You must have a current email address (may use family email) and a computer with Internet access to participate.