Up and Atom: Women's History Month Binary Coding Bracelets inspired by Margaret Hamilton

Join us for Up and Atom STEAM Days where we try out different STEAM and craft activities. This week we’ll learn how to spell our names with 8-bit ASCII binary code. We’ll also make a visual representation of a binary word by making a bracelet. This program is a fun w......More

Join us for Up and Atom STEAM Days where we try out different STEAM and craft activities. This week we’ll learn how to spell our names with 8-bit ASCII binary code. We’ll also make a visual representation of a binary word by making a bracelet. This program is a fun way to introduce foundational computer science skills.

Español/English Chat Group

Want to practice your Spanish? Join us at the Swasey branch to exchange English and Spanish. Any level of knowledge is welcome to participate in this language exchange. ¿Quieres practicar tu ingles? Acompaña a nuestro grupo de charla para intercambiar inglés y espa......More

Want to practice your Spanish? Join us at the Swasey branch to exchange English and Spanish. Any level of knowledge is welcome to participate in this language exchange. ¿Quieres practicar tu ingles? Acompaña a nuestro grupo de charla para intercambiar inglés y español en la Biblioteca Swasey. Cualquier nivel de conocimiento es bienvenido a participar en este intercambio de idiomas.

Learn to Play Mah Jongg

Join long-time educator and experienced Mah Jongg player, Mattie, to participate in hands-on practice of traditional Mah Jongg. Players of all levels, including those with no experience, are invited to attend and learn the fundamentals, strategies, and social aspects ......More

Join long-time educator and experienced Mah Jongg player, Mattie, to participate in hands-on practice of traditional Mah Jongg. Players of all levels, including those with no experience, are invited to attend and learn the fundamentals, strategies, and social aspects of the game.   Registration is limited due to the number of tables and tile sets available.  Note: **If registration is full, please feel free to come and observe or sit in if there are no shows.  

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!

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 at 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.

Music of the Revolutionary War with the Spirit of 76 Living History Association

Come and celebrate America's 250th anniversary with a musical presentation from the Spirit of 76 Living History Association and step back into the 18th century with live music from Revolutionary War America!  Enjoy a Fife & Drum performance and hear some familiar tune......More

Come and celebrate America's 250th anniversary with a musical presentation from the Spirit of 76 Living History Association and step back into the 18th century with live music from Revolutionary War America!  Enjoy a Fife & Drum performance and hear some familiar tunes like "Yankee Doodle" and "George Washington's March", then sing along with the Spirit of 76 Living History Association as we take a tour through popular tunes of the era. We hope you'll join us for this special presentation celebrating iconic music in honor of America 250!

Up and Atom: Spies, Secrets, and the Women of the American Revolution

Meet real-life spies and heroes of the American Revolution! Join members of the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution for exciting stories, surprising facts, and hands-on artifacts you can see up close. Ask questions, discover secret missions, and learn how ki......More

Meet real-life spies and heroes of the American Revolution! Join members of the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution for exciting stories, surprising facts, and hands-on artifacts you can see up close. Ask questions, discover secret missions, and learn how kids and grown-ups helped win the war — all in a fun, interactive adventure!

Spies, Secrets, and the Women of the American Revolution

Join members of the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution for an engaging, story-driven program revealing the daring men and women who helped win the Revolutionary War. Blending fascinating research with lively storytelling and surprising details, this program ......More

Join members of the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution for an engaging, story-driven program revealing the daring men and women who helped win the Revolutionary War. Blending fascinating research with lively storytelling and surprising details, this program reveals a shadow war rarely told in textbooks. Come hear the little-known stories, ask questions, and interact with artifacts from the American Revolution. Come for the intrigue. Stay for the stories. Leave seeing the Revolution in an entirely new way. .  

Learn to Play Mah Jongg

Join long-time educator and experienced Mah Jongg player, Mattie, to participate in hands-on practice of traditional Mah Jongg. Players of all levels, including those with no experience, are invited to attend and learn the fundamentals, strategies, and social aspects ......More

Join long-time educator and experienced Mah Jongg player, Mattie, to participate in hands-on practice of traditional Mah Jongg. Players of all levels, including those with no experience, are invited to attend and learn the fundamentals, strategies, and social aspects of the game.   Registration is limited due to the number of tables and tile sets available.  Note: **If registration is full, please feel free to come and observe or sit in if there are no shows.  

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!

Tacoma Queer Collective

All are welcome in our LGBTQIA+ community at the Tacoma Queer Collective Meetup! Come and meet new folks, socialize, check in with each other, share resources, and have some fun with arts & crafts. No registration is required. This is a drop-in event. This event is p......More

All are welcome in our LGBTQIA+ community at the Tacoma Queer Collective Meetup! Come and meet new folks, socialize, check in with each other, share resources, and have some fun with arts & crafts. No registration is required. This is a drop-in event. This event is presented by the Tacoma Queer Collective and 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.

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 at 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.

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.