Annie's Little Linguistics

Come and practice your language skills!  Students from Annie Wright will lead youth ages 5 through 12 through an exploration of a language's basic vocabulary while doing fun and engaging activities such as crafts, sing-a-longs, and more.   From the pool of students,......More

Come and practice your language skills!  Students from Annie Wright will lead youth ages 5 through 12 through an exploration of a language's basic vocabulary while doing fun and engaging activities such as crafts, sing-a-longs, and more.   From the pool of students, there is expertise in Spanish, French, Mandarin, Ukrainian, Polish, Vietnamese, and Japanese. To learn more about this student led project, visit www.annieslittlelinguists.com

Switch Saturday

Join us once a month at the Swasey library for a fun gaming session! Bring your Nintendo Switch, or your favorite handheld console. No Switch? No problem! Use ours, loaded with Smash Bros, Minecraft, Overcooked, and tons more! Hang out, talk games, and play your favori......More

Join us once a month at the Swasey library for a fun gaming session! Bring your Nintendo Switch, or your favorite handheld console. No Switch? No problem! Use ours, loaded with Smash Bros, Minecraft, Overcooked, and tons more! Hang out, talk games, and play your favorites on our projector. Be sure to check out our new circulating video game collection while you’re here!

Tacoma Light Trail Lanterns

Make a lantern to bring on the Light Trail & Parades! Artist will lead you through creating a colorful lantern or luminary from sustainable or upcycled materials that you can carry in the December Dragon Light Parades, New Year's Eve Dragon Parade and as you walk the T......More

Make a lantern to bring on the Light Trail & Parades! Artist will lead you through creating a colorful lantern or luminary from sustainable or upcycled materials that you can carry in the December Dragon Light Parades, New Year's Eve Dragon Parade and as you walk the Tacoma Light Trail itself. All materials provided. Presented by Tacoma Light Trail, funded by the City of Tacoma/Tacoma Creates, and hosted by Tacoma Public Library.

Up and Atom: Ice Experiments

Join us for Up and Atom STEAM Days where we try out different STEAM and craft activities. Bundle up for a frosty adventure at the library! In this hands-on program, kids will explore the chilly world of ice through fun experiments and creative building challenges.

Learn to Play Mah Jongg

Join us for hand-on practice in a welcoming environment and connect with Other Mah Jongg enthusiasts. All levels are invited to participate in this interactive session to learn the fundamentals, strategies, and social aspects of the game. No prior experience r......More

Join us for hand-on practice in a welcoming environment and connect with Other Mah Jongg enthusiasts. All levels are invited to participate in this interactive session to learn the fundamentals, strategies, and social aspects of the game. No prior experience required—just bring your curiosity. Register for one date or all the dates. Choose what works best for you!

Baby Storytime

Fun for you and your baby with songs, rhymes, stories and movement. For babies and their caregivers. Recommended for ages birth – 18 months. Want to continue the fun at home? View these fun Storytime song and book recommendations ......More

Fun for you and your baby with songs, rhymes, stories and movement. For babies and their caregivers. Recommended for ages birth – 18 months. Want to continue the fun at home? View these fun Storytime song and book recommendations here.

Teen Time

Welcome all teens! Middle School and High School students are invited to join us at the Swasey branch Teen Time.  Meet new friends, relax, play games, work on homework, or make a craft.  We'll do something different each time! Activities will be provided for free a......More

Welcome all teens! Middle School and High School students are invited to join us at the Swasey branch Teen Time.  Meet new friends, relax, play games, work on homework, or make a craft.  We'll do something different each time! Activities will be provided for free and the fun you create will be priceless!

Community Compass

Offered as an extension of our Social Work program, drop-in to connect with University of Washington Tacoma's Master of Social Work Practicum Students. They will be happy to listen and assist patrons with general support and resource navigation.

A Gathering of Poets

Ever want to participate in a conversation with local poets? Now is your chance! Come visit with the poets of #VoicesofTacoma who have published an anthology of their most recent works. Feel free to bring your questions, your poetic ideas, and/or your own works for sha......More

Ever want to participate in a conversation with local poets? Now is your chance! Come visit with the poets of #VoicesofTacoma who have published an anthology of their most recent works. Feel free to bring your questions, your poetic ideas, and/or your own works for sharing. If there is time, we will also use it to create poetry! Be among us with rhythm and rhyme, speak words for our chosen time-- join us!

Play to Learn

Play to Learn is a FREE program for children and adults to play TOGETHER! Play to Learn is for parents, grandparents, neighbors, family, and friends who nurture children ages six and under. Thematic curriculum invites individual play, fun group activities, songs, and a......More

Play to Learn is a FREE program for children and adults to play TOGETHER! Play to Learn is for parents, grandparents, neighbors, family, and friends who nurture children ages six and under. Thematic curriculum invites individual play, fun group activities, songs, and a whole group circle time for children and adults to enjoy together. Presented by Greentrike, funded by the City of Tacoma/Tacoma Creates, hosted by Tacoma Public Library.

Play to Learn

Play to Learn is a FREE program for children and adults to play TOGETHER! Play to Learn is for parents, grandparents, neighbors, family, and friends who nurture children ages six and under. Thematic curriculum invites individual play, fun group activities, songs, and a......More

Play to Learn is a FREE program for children and adults to play TOGETHER! Play to Learn is for parents, grandparents, neighbors, family, and friends who nurture children ages six and under. Thematic curriculum invites individual play, fun group activities, songs, and a whole group circle time for children and adults to enjoy together. Presented by Greentrike, funded by the City of Tacoma/Tacoma Creates, hosted by Tacoma Public Library.

Drop-in Tech Help @ Swasey Branch

Swasey Branch staff will assist with learning basic computer skills like email, web searching and MS Office programs, navigating apps and using your iOS or Android devices, getting started on resumes and cover letters, and more. No registration required, but capacity ......More

Swasey Branch staff will assist with learning basic computer skills like email, web searching and MS Office programs, navigating apps and using your iOS or Android devices, getting started on resumes and cover letters, and more. No registration required, but capacity is limited. Ask for assistance at the Information Desk. People will be assisted in the order they arrive. Please note: It is easiest to assist people with more specific tasks, technical issues, or focused subjects for study (for example, "Learning how to print photos off my phone?"). That said, staff will work to help learners with more general issues (for example, "Learning about computers?"). If you need help right now, be sure to check out Tacoma Public Library's always available online computer learning and assistance resources as well as the free DigitalLearn online courses available from the Public Library Association.

Creative Expressions: Open Crafting for Adults

Unleash your creativity in a welcoming, relaxed environment! Whether you're a seasoned crafter or just exploring a new hobby, this open crafting program is designed for adults looking to create, connect, and unwind. Bring your own project or experiment with provided su......More

Unleash your creativity in a welcoming, relaxed environment! Whether you're a seasoned crafter or just exploring a new hobby, this open crafting program is designed for adults looking to create, connect, and unwind. Bring your own project or experiment with provided supplies while enjoying casual conversation and inspiration from fellow craft enthusiasts. No registration required—just drop in and start crafting! From painting and paper crafts to knitting and beyond, there’s something for everyone. Come as you are, leave with something handmade and a newfound sense of artistic joy. Basic crafting supplies will be provided.

Brick by Brick LEGO Club

Join us on the first and third Friday of month for Brick by Brick LEGO Club! Build a LEGO creation around the theme, or free build to your heart's content! All ages welcome. No registration required. Please leave your personal LEGOs at home.

Up and Atom: Winter Wonderland Science

Join us for Up and Atom STEAM Days where we try out different STEAM and craft activities. In this program, participants will explore the science behind snow and ice formation, learning about weather, states of matter, and crystallization. The hands-on activities will ......More

Join us for Up and Atom STEAM Days where we try out different STEAM and craft activities. In this program, participants will explore the science behind snow and ice formation, learning about weather, states of matter, and crystallization. The hands-on activities will include making fake snow and creating candy crystals.