East Jefferson County’s two libraries have no shortage of educational, entertaining activities to keep community members of all ages engaged through the end of winter and spring.

PORT TOWNSEND
Before the spring starts, the Port Townsend Public Library will host “Fall in Love With Libraries” during an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 14.

“We’ll have chocolate-chip cookies and other goodies, plus a live harpist and Valentine-making for all ages,” director Melody Sky Eisler said. “It’s great when kids and grownups can get together, especially doing something like making Valentine’s cards.”

Before the last month of winter closes out, kids will have the opportunity to “Leap Into Science” at the public library at 2 p.m. Feb. 20.

Hilary Verheggen, one of the library managers, said grant funding from the Franklin Institute allowed them to bring a “STEM and STEAM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) program to the library for ages 6 to 10.

“The theme is balance, so we’ll be focusing on stories and activities that explore balance through scientific thought,” Verheggen said.

Spring will kick off with the culmination of eight weeks of rehearsals at the library as a choir made up of children ages 6 to 12 will produce  a concert conducted by Phina Pipia. It will be open to all ages at the First Baptist Church next door at 2 p.m. March 2.

“It’ll include environmental themes,” Verheggen said. “It’s a celebration of the earth.”

The theme will continue into the 14th annual Community Read, which takes as its inspiration Kathleen Dean Moore’s novel “Piano Tide.” It will start with an exhibit at Northwind Arts Center for the first Saturday Art Walk on March 2, showcasing artwork inspired by the environmentalist novel.

“The Community Read is an opportunity for the entire community to have the shared experience of reading the same book, and to discuss it,” said Eisler, who credited the Friends of the Library and the Library Foundation as partners for the month-long event.

Not only will the library make extra copies of “Piano Tide” available to the public, but the community  also will have an opportunity to hear from the author at 6:30 p.m. March 28 at Port Townsend High School, complete with a classical pianist to provide accompaniment.

April will see the library celebrating National Poetry Month by inviting local poet Joanne Clarkson to present “50 Things to Do With a Poem” from 7 to 8 p.m. April 18.

“She’s both a librarian and a published poet,” Eisler said. “It goes to show the level of talent we have in our community.”

Eisler believes local talent  also will shine through during Robert Sullivan’s six-week “auto-geography” class, starting in May.

“Like the rest of our library programs, it’s all free, although registration is required for this one,” Eisler said. “The course is about learning to tell your autobiography through a sense of place, and the places you used to be.”

Eisler said  once dates are announced, prospective attendees should sign up quickly, since it’s been one of the library’s best-attended and most well-received events.

Also in May, Keith Darrock, another library manager, recommended folks check out John McCormack’s talk about kayaking the Inside Passage to Alaska.

“He’s an instructor at the Port Townsend School of Woodworking who made a solo voyage of the Inside Passage,” said Darrock, who added the presentation is scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. May 9.

For further details, check out the library’s website at ptlibrary.org.

JEFFERSON COUNTY
The Jefferson County Library’s Inquiring Mind lecture series continues through the end of winter and the start of spring.

Chris Hoffman-Hill, public services manager for the library, expressed enthusiasm for seeing state climatologist Nick Bond at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27, when he’s slated to talk about the impact of climate change on salmon in a talk entitled “Are Salmon Doomed? Hatching a Plan to Save a Northwest Icon.”

One month later, the library will be treated to a talk by Carlos Gil, a professor emeritus at the University of Washington who will share the multi-generational history of his family as it transitioned “From Mexican to Mexican-American,” the title of his lecture at 6:30 p.m. March 27.

Brwyn Griffin, administrative services manager for the library, touched on environmental issues by promoting the library’s “Global Warming: What Can be Do?” month-long series in March.

Griffin said Paul Loubere, former professor at Northern Illinois University, will host this four-part series from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on March 4, 11, 18 and 25, to explore the ways we can reduce global warming on personal, local and national levels.

Griffin also invited community members to check out the Tech Tuesdays drop-in technical assistance sessions from 4 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday this year, presided over by Daniel Heaton, systems and technical services manager for the library.

Martha Ashenfelter, who’s in charge of youth services for the library, said kids ages 6 to 11 will have a chance to exercise their tech skills with the Bridge Science interactive activity from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Feb. 20.

“It’s your chance to design a bridge spanning 16 inches and made out of whatever construction material you want, including paper,” said Ashenfelter, who added a variety of construction materials would be provided.

Ashenfelter said participants of all ages would be able to exercise their creative impulses through Community Art sessions facilitated by professional art educator Sidonie Maroon from 2 to 4 p.m. March 9 and April 13.

In March, prospective artists will be able to create “fabric stories” using recycled textiles and adhesives, while April will allow them to create flower circles, or mandalas, out of natural materials, before piecing them together digitally into a “story quilt.”

“Sidonie treats art as a serious way to learn new skills and develop critical thinking,” Ashenfelter said. “This is the kind of art that kids can do as part of a family.”

Because space is limited, Ashenfelter encourages those interested to sign up at the Jefferson County Library or call 360-385-6544.