Community Corner

Want to Join an Adult or Kid Book Club?

July events at Minnetonka libraries include an anime lantern festival, teen book clubs and family story time.

“Bookawocky,” Hennepin County Library’s summer program series for kids and teens, is in full swing at local libraries.  Storytimes, book clubs, art programs, music, movies, online activities and other free activities are scheduled. Author, small business, career and other free programs for adults are offered this summer, too.

Hennepin County operates 41 libraries in the city of Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County.

Access Hennepin County Library's complete program schedule, the catalog, online databases and other online resources, information about the Friends of the Hennepin County Library and other library information 24/7 at www.hclib.org

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The following activities are scheduled in July at Hennepin County libraries in Minnetonka:

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Teen Guys Read Book Club

Tuesdays, July 10 & 24, 2-3 p.m. at Minnetonka Library 
or call 612-543-5725.
Guys entering grades 7-9. Get together with other guys to talk about great books! Pick up a copy of the book at the Information Desk two weeks before program begins. 
Sponsored by Best Buy Children's Foundation and funded by the Friends of the Hennepin County Library.

Family Storytime

Thursdays, July 12 & Aug. 9, 10:30 a.m. at in Minnetonka 
For children age 2 and up. Share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement with your children. 

Teen Girls Only Book Club

Thursdays, July 12 & 26, Aug. 9; 2-3 p.m. at Minnetonka Library 
Registration required; began June 14; limit 15. Girls entering grades 7-9. Get together with other girls to talk about great books! Pick up a copy of the book at the service desk three weeks before program begins. 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Minnetonka Library.

Friends Meeting
Mondays, July 16 & Aug. 20, 6:30-8 p.m. at Minnetonka Library 
General membership meeting. 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. 

Spanish-Language Book Club for Children

Thursday, July 19, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Minnetonka Library 
or call 612-543-5725.
Entering grades 3-4. Join other kids to talk about a great book in Spanish! Pick up a copy of the book at the service desk. 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Minnetonka Library.
Inscríbete a partir de mayo 31; cupo limitado a 15 personas. Para niños entrando a los grados 3-4. ¡Únete a otros niños para hablar acerca de libros fenomenales en español! Recoge una copia del libro en el escritorio de información.
Patrocinado por los Friends of the Minnetonka Library. 

Digital Scavenger Hunt

Monday, June 11-Friday, July 27 at Ridgedale Library 
Entering grades 6-12. Use any camera to find all of the items on our official list. Your name will be entered in a prize drawing upon completion of the hunt! Obtain complete details from the customer service desk at the library. 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgedale Library.

Family Storytime

• Mondays, July 2-30, 10:30 a.m. at Ridgedale Library 

For children age 2 and up. Share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement with your children. 

• Mondays, July 2-30, 7 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 

For children age 2 and up. Share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement with your children. 

• Tuesdays, July 3-31, 10:30 a.m. at Ridgedale Library 

For children age 2 and up. Share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement with your children. 

SCORE Small Business Consultations 

Tuesdays, July 3 & Aug. 7, 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. 
Presented in collaboration with SCORE.

Socrates Café

Thursdays, July 5-Aug. 30, 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. 

Teen Anime Club

Mondays, July 9 & Aug. 6, 4-5:30 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Entering 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.

Baby Storytime

Wednesdays, July 11-Aug. 1, 9:30 a.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Registration required; began June 13; limit 25. For children from birth to 24 months. Delight and stimulate your baby's senses with books and music. Build brain power. 

Baby Storytime

Wednesdays, July 11-Aug. 1, 10:30 a.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Registration required; began June 13; limit 25. For children from birth to 24 months. Delight and stimulate your baby's senses with books and music. Build brain power. 

Spanish-Language Book Club for Children

Thursday, July 12, 1-1:45 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Registration required; began June 14; limit 20. Entering grades 3-5. Join other kids to talk about a great book in Spanish! 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgedale Library.
Inscríbete a partir de juno 14; cupo limitado a 20 personas. Para niños entrando a los grados 3-5. ¡Únete a otros niños para hablar acerca de libros fenomenales en español!
Patrocinado por los Friends of the Ridgedale Library.

Inventing With Hugo

Monday, July 16, 1-3 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Registration required; begins June 18; limit 20. Entering grades 1-6. Use your imaginations to design, create and construct handmade toys. Explore various arts and crafts materials including wood, wire, cardboard and clay to create a board game and sculptural wooden toy inspired by the film "Hugo." 
Sponsored by MELSA (Metropolitan Library Service Agency) and funded by the Friends of the Hennepin County Library.

Conductor's Notes: Gershwin and Schoenberg

Monday, July 16, 7 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Registration required; begins June 18; limit 100. It is hard to imagine two composers with more different backgrounds and personalities, not to mention their music! Acclaimed international conductor Mischa Santora will discuss the composers' friendship and highlight modernist masterpieces that influenced the musicians. A musical performance will follow. See related materials for further information. Find more by searching the library catalog or Ask Us
This project is funded with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. 

Minnetonka Reads Parent-Child Book Club

Tuesday, July 17, 1 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Registration required; begins June 19. Entering grade 5 and up with a parent. Join us for a parent-child book discussion of "The Red Umbrella" as part of Minnetonka Reads! 
Sponsored by the Minnetonka Community Commission. 

Teen Girls Only Book Club

Wednesday, July 18, 1-2 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
  or call 952-847-8847.
Girls entering grades 7-8. Get together with other girls to talk about great books! Pick up a copy of the book at the children's Information Desk four weeks before program begins. 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgedale Library.

Teen Girls Only Book Club

Wednesday, July 18, 3-4 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
  or call 952-847-8847.
Girls entering grades 9-12. Get together with other girls to talk about great books! Pick up a copy of the book at the children's Information Desk four weeks before program begins. 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgedale Library.

Guys Read Jr. Book Club

Thursday, July 19, 10:30 a.m. at Ridgedale Library 
  or call 952-847-8847.
Guys entering grades 2-3. Join other guys to talk about a great book! 
Sponsored by Best Buy Children's Foundation and funded by the Friends of the Hennepin County Library.

Teen Guys Read Book Club

Thursday, July 19, 1 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
  or call 952-847-8847.
Guys entering grades 7-12. Get together with other guys to talk about great books! 
Sponsored by Best Buy Children's Foundation and funded by the Friends of the Hennepin County Library.

Computer Class for Complete Beginners

Saturday, July 21, 3-5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 30, 4-6 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Registration required; begins June 23; limit 10. Learn the difference between hardware and software, practice using a mouse and keyboard. Find out more about computer training resources at the library. For students with little or no experience using a computer. 

Comic Arts

Monday, July 23, 1-3 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Registration required; begins June 25; limit 20. Entering grades 4-6. Are you interested in the growing field of comic and illustration arts? Minnetonka Center for the Arts instructors will work with you on cartoon and illustration styles of interest. You can practice character and concept development, composition, drawing, inking and coloring. 
Sponsored by MELSA (Metropolitan Library Service Agency) and funded by the Friends of the Hennepin County Library.

Computer Skills Workshop

Tuesday, July 24, 1-3 p.m.

Thursdays, July 26, Aug. 2, 23 & 30; 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 PowerPoint: Basics

Tuesday, July 24, 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 25, 3-5 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
  or call 952-847-8847.
Learn to create presentations and use the ribbon to create a basic slide show.

Email: Intermediate

Thursday, July 26, 4-6 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Registration required; begins June 28; 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 Word: Basics
Saturday, July 28, noon-2 p.m.

Tuesday, July 31, 1-3 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 6-8 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.”

Microsoft Excel: Basics
Saturday, July 28, 3-5 p.m.

Tuesday, July 31, 6-8 p.m.

Tuesdays, Aug. 21 & 28, 1-3 p.m. at Ridgedale Library

  or call 952-847-8847.
Learn the basics of working with an Excel spreadsheet: navigation, entering data and using formulas. 

Anime Lantern Festival

Saturday, July 28, 6-9 p.m. at Ridgedale Library 
Entering grades 6-12. Dress up, hang out and have a great time -- otaku style! Join Anime Clubs from around Hennepin County for a night of costumes, games, anime and music. 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgedale Library and sponsored by Anime Twin Cities. 

Hennepin County Library - Online


Teen Girls Only Book Club Online 
Monday, July 9-Friday, July 13 
Registration required; began June 11; limit 20. Girls entering grades 6-8. Join other girls to talk about a great book! Participate in the book discussion through www.teenlinks.org, Monday-Friday, any time of day. You must have a current email address (may use family email) and Internet access (you can use a computer at the library, at home or a mobile device) to participate. 

Girls Only Book Club Online 
Monday, July 16-Friday, July 20 
Registration required; begins June 18; limit 20. Girls entering grades 4-6. Join other girls 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 Internet access (you can use a computer at the library, at home or a mobile device) to participate. 

Guys Read Book Club Online 
Monday, July 16-Friday, July 20 
Registration required; begins June 18; limit 20. Guys entering grades 4-6. Join other guys 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 Internet access (you can use a computer at the library, at home or a mobile device) to participate. 

Teen Girls Only Book Club Online 
Monday, July 30-Friday, Aug. 3 
Registration required; begins July 2; limit 20. Girls entering grades 6-8. Join other girls to talk about a great book! Participate in the book discussion through www.teenlinks.org, Monday-Friday, any time of day. You must have a current email address (may use family email) and Internet access (you can use a computer at the library, at home or a mobile device) to participate.


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