Hillsborough County, Fla. (May 1, 2024) - Join the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative for engaging, entertaining, and informative free programs for the entire family in May. The events listed below are only a sampling of the many scheduled. Find more listings under the "Events & Classes" tab at HCPLC.org.
The views expressed in these programs are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies, positions, or opinions of Hillsborough County, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries, or the Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc., which do not endorse the presenters. For more information about these and the many other programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit HCPLC.org.
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Holiday Closings
Memorial Day - All Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative libraries will be closed on Monday, May 27.
Children's Theatre: The Magic Fish
Saturday, May 4, at 11 a.m. at Seminole Heights Branch Library at 4711 Central Ave., Tampa, FL 33603
When two siblings discover a fish who grants wishes, will they both remember what is truly important? Or will one of them be swept away by their own greed? The Magic Fish is a modern adaptation of the classic Grimms' fairy tale, "The Fisherman and His Wife," that explores a theme as old as time and yet is still relevant to today's world. Recommended for ages 4 and up. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.
44th Annual Storytelling Festival: Adventure Into the World of Stories
Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 6-7p.m.
This 44th Annual Storytelling Festival will be online this year, featuring ambassador youth storytellers, adult storytellers, and nationally known Grammy-winning storyteller Bill Harley. This event will also introduce festival-quality storytellers' videos on the library's YouTube channel. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.
Digital Citizenship for Business
Tuesday, May 7, at 6 p.m. at SouthShore Regional Library
15816 Beth Shields Way Ruskin, FL 33573
Maintaining an online presence is an important part of marketing for business owners. Learn key aspects of digital citizenship to establish a safe, productive online presence for your business. Recommended for adults. Registration required. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.
Teen Entrepreneurship
Famous companies from Facebook to Subway sandwich shops were started by teens. Maybe you have the idea for the next big app or want to start your own business. In this workshop, participants will learn about entrepreneurship and some steps they can take to plan a business. Recommended for teens. Registration recommended. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.
Tuesday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Bloomingdale Regional Public Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico, FL 33596
Wednesday, May 8, at 4 p.m. at North Tampa Branch Library, 8916 N. Blvd., Tampa, FL 33604
Wednesday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. at New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647
Master Gardener: Gardening with Native Plants
Tuesday, May 14, at 7 p.m. at New Tampa Regional Library at 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647
Learn about native plants for your landscape and their benefits to the ecosystem. Presented by the University of Florida/Hillsborough County Extension Service. Recommended for adults.
Grow Your Business with Reference Solutions
Learn how to use Reference Solutions to identify sales prospects, perform competitor analysis, create customized marketing lists, and research for your business plan. Recommended for adults. Registration recommended. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.
Thursday, May 16, at 3:30 p.m. at Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library, 1505 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, FL 33602
Wednesday, May 29, at 7 p.m. at C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library, 2607 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa, FL 33610
Book Discussion: "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Saturday, May 18 at 3 p.m. at New Tampa Regional Library at 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647 Join us for a discussion of "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro. From her place in the store, Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her, but when the possibility emerges that her circumstances may change forever, Klara is warned not to invest too much in the promises of humans. Copies of "Klara and the Sun" are available at the library and as an eBook and Audiobook on Libby. Recommended for adults. Registration required. Limited to 15 participants. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.
SouthShore Readers Book Club
Thursday, May 23, at 2 p.m. at SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL 33573 Join a book discussion of "The Island of Sea Women" by Lisa See. Registration is required. Participation is limited to 15. Each participant must register separately. Copies of the book will be available at the library.
Meet Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls from very different backgrounds living on the Korean island of Jeju. They start working in the sea with their village's all-female diving collective and, over the decades, develop a close bond. However, their differences are impossible to ignore: Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, and Young-sook will one day inherit her mother's position as leader of the divers. Set during Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and spanning the Korean War and its aftermath, "The Island of Sea Women" is a historical novel about women's friendships and the larger forces that shape them. Full of powerful characters, heartbreak, and triumph, this story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.
SEO Basics for Small Business
Friday, May 24, at 11 a.m. at SouthShore Regional Library, at 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL 33573 Learn about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to increase the visibility of your business online. Recommended for adults. Registration required. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.
Turn the Page Book Discussion: "Mika in Real Life" by Emiko Jean
Tuesday, May 28, at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday, May 29, at 6 p.m. at Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library at 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa, FL 33618
This month's selection is "Mika in Real Life" by Emiko Jean. A synopsis from novelist: Getting to know Penny, the daughter she placed for adoption 16 years ago, 35-year-old Mika Suzuki finds unexpected love with Penny's widowed father and finally has a chance to have the life and family she's always wanted, until her deceptions catch up with her. Copies of the book, eBook, audiobook, and eAudiobook are available at the library. Recommended for adults. Registration recommended. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.
Grants - Research Basics and Demographics Now
Wednesday, May 29, at 10:30 a.m. at the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center, 2101 E. Palm Ave., Tampa, FL 33605
Grants can be a fantastic way to fund the start or growth of a small business. This month's library workshop focuses on research basics and the Demographics Now database tools. Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptops for hands-on practice. Registration is recommended. The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public library invites entrepreneurs, business professionals, or anyone looking to add new knowledge and skills to their repertoire to join this session. Recommended for adults. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.