Please note: All branches of the Library will be closed on Friday, March 29, for Good Friday. The Library will be open during its regular hours on Saturday, March 30.

Explore Library Events

Mar
18
Mon
………………………………………………………………………………………..Passport to Spring Break!……………………………………………………………………………………….. @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 18 @ 9:00 am – Mar 23 @ 5:00 pm

Grab your passport to Spring Break this week!  Get your passport stamped for every program you participate in for a chance to win prizes while having fun.

Each day we will have a craft station set up for you to come in during regular Library hours to create on your own time.

Monday:

  • 1PM Robots & Games
  • 3PM Teen Resin Jewelry Making
  • Craft Station: Jewelry Making

 

Tuesday:

  • Noon Board Games
  • 3:30PM Kids Dungeons & Dragons
  • Craft Station: Origami

 

Wednesday:

  • 10:30AM Story Time!
  • 1PM Kids Art
  • Craft Station: Paper Lanterns

 

Thursday:

  • 10AM 3yo-Kindergarten Homeschool (Everyone welcome, even if you don’t homeschool)
  • 11:30AM 1st grade & Up (Everyone welcome, even if you don’t homeschool)
  • 4PM Legos
  • Craft Station: Foam Rainbows!

 

Friday:

  • 1PM SLIME TIME!
  • 4PM Movie & Craft: Watch Moana and make Kakamoras!
  • Craft Station: Slithering Caterpillars

 

Saturday:

  • 10:30AM Special Story Time on Space!
  • 3:30PM Learn about the Solar Eclipse that is happening on April 8th
  • Craft Station: Macaroni Jewelry

 

 

Mar
19
Tue
Art Class @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 19 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Self-expression through art is an important part of human nature. You don’t have to be in art school, or create marble sculptures, or create realistic paintings to be an artist. Whatever you create is an extension of you, and it is beautiful in that regard.

Join us on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 AM to let your creativity shine!  In this class we will explore different mediums such as sketch, paint, multimedia and more!

Mahjong @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 19 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Mahjong is played at the library on Tuesdays from 10AM until noon in the community room on the first floor. The group welcomes all skill levels! 
Playing Mahjong has several benefits such as:
  • Keeps dementia at bay.
  • Decreases possibility of depression.
  • Improves hand-eye coordination.
  • Trains concentration and pattern recognition.
  • Helps benefit short-term memory

 

Adult Crafts @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 19 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Adult Crafts is moving to Tuesdays!  Every other Tuesday at 1 PM join in on the crazy crafty fun!

Kids Dungeons & Dragons @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 19 @ 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm

Kid’s D&D is moving to Tuesdays, 3:30 PM, after school!

Level up your gaming experience by taking on the role of a mighty hero in the world’s most popular fantasy role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons

 

 

 

Mar
20
Wed
Story Time For Toddlers & Preschool Ages @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 20 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Join us for stories, songs and activities for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers.

Wednesdays at 10:30 AM Children’s Area

2nd Floor

Lignum Vitae Letters
Mar 20 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Children and teens are invited to join us once a month to pen and exchange letters with the Fort Kent library in Maine! Located at the opposite end of A1A / Highway 1, children & teens will be able to share unique end of the road perspectives!

Supplies will be provided!

Sign reading "You Are Leaving Key West Florida, The Beginning of US Route No. 1 and Ending in Fort Kent Maine. Thank you, come again. State Road Department."

The “You are leaving…” Key West for Fort Kent sign that was on North Roosevelt Boulevard C 1950. Jeff Broadhead Collection.

Teen Dungeons and Dragons @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 20 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Teens, level up your gaming experience by taking on the role of a mighty hero in the world’s most popular fantasy role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons!  We meet in the Activity Center Wednesdays, after school, at 3 PM.

 

Adult Dungeons and Dragons @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 20 @ 5:00 pm – 6:45 pm

Grab your characters and join us for our new Dungeons and Dragons campaign on Wednesdays at 5 PM!

 

Adult Game Night +18 @ Key West Library
Mar 20 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Stop in for the Key West Library Game Night every Wednesday! Pick up any of our board games, or bring your own and sit at any of the tables in the library’s lounge.  

Mar
21
Thu
Homeschool Learning Activities 3-year-olds to Kindergarten! @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 21 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

The homeschool group has been growing and we are splitting groups to accommodate everyone.  We will still meet on Thursdays with Kindergarten & under group meeting from 10 AM-11 AM and the 1st grade and up group will meet from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM.  There will be different themed activities for both learning and fun!

Homeschool Learning Activities 1st grade and up @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 21 @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

The homeschool group has been growing and we are splitting groups to accommodate everyone.  We will still meet on Thursdays with Kindergarten & under group meeting from 10 AM-11 AM and the 1st grade and up group will meet from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM.  There will be different themed activities for both learning and fun!

Game On! @ Key West Library
Mar 21 @ 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Game On! @ Key West Library

Game On! Thursday and Friday after school for all ages Passive Program- Events on Your Time!

Relax and unwind by playing popular games with friends and family. After homework and studying are done kick back and get your Game On! Board games, video games even MTG!

Games in a library?! Of Course! Now you and your children can enjoy new and popular games with friends and family. Make friends while going on quest in Dungeons and Dragons or crush your opponents in a game of Magic the Gathering. After homework and studying are done kick back and get your Game On!

*Note the video game zone is only available when a librarian is present.

Why do we have toys, board games, and video games in the library?

“Play is the highest form of research”-Albert Einstein

Many games in the library are multiplayer games that encourage teamwork and social skills. Playing games is a great way for kids to meet new people and make some friends. Video games and board games can be pricey at times and not affordable for every hose hold, so it is important to us here at the library that every child is given the opportunity to experience the joy of playing games and being a kid.

With all that fun our kids are having while playing board/video games, they don’t realize they are developing some very important skills. Gaming (especially Nintendo games) challenges kids on their reading, mathematics, and critical thinking skills. Gaming is also a great way for kids to relieve stress and make some friends.

For further reading on video games in the library check out this NPR article: At Libraries Across America, It’s Game On

 

Mar
22
Fri
Photography Basics: Take Better Pictures @ Marathon branch
Mar 22 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Would you like to learn more about your camera, or camera phone, and how it works?  Are your pictures underexposed, overexposed, out of focus, poorly composed, or just plain old dull, and boring? If you answered yes to any of these questions join us on Friday mornings from 11 AM till 1 PM in the Activity Center to learn how to take better pictures and do fun assignments!  Not only will you learn how to take better pictures, but you can also reap the benefits of photography.

Top Benefits of Photography

  1. Photography is a form of self-care.
  2. Photography improves a person’s well-being through community interaction.
  3. It also improves well-being through the potential for reminiscence.
  4. Helps to find beauty in our world.
  5. Enhances memory and keeps your brain healthy.
  6. Gets you outdoors and makes you exercise.
  7. Photography makes you enjoy what you are doing more.
  8. Photography can help people who are struggling with depression.
  9. Stimulates and improves your creativity.

Storytime! @ Key West Library
Mar 22 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Storytime is a fun early literacy program for children. Join us for interactive stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts. The early literacy practices featured each week help build the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. Storytime offers an opportunity to experience early literacy practices in action, to discover great books, music, and to socialize with other parents after Storytime.  Expecting parents and siblings are welcome to attend.

 

Game On! @ Key West Library
Mar 22 @ 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Game On! @ Key West Library

Game On! Thursday and Friday after school for all ages Passive Program- Events on Your Time!

Relax and unwind by playing popular games with friends and family. After homework and studying are done kick back and get your Game On! Board games, video games even MTG!

Games in a library?! Of Course! Now you and your children can enjoy new and popular games with friends and family. Make friends while going on quest in Dungeons and Dragons or crush your opponents in a game of Magic the Gathering. After homework and studying are done kick back and get your Game On!

*Note the video game zone is only available when a librarian is present.

Why do we have toys, board games, and video games in the library?

“Play is the highest form of research”-Albert Einstein

Many games in the library are multiplayer games that encourage teamwork and social skills. Playing games is a great way for kids to meet new people and make some friends. Video games and board games can be pricey at times and not affordable for every hose hold, so it is important to us here at the library that every child is given the opportunity to experience the joy of playing games and being a kid.

With all that fun our kids are having while playing board/video games, they don’t realize they are developing some very important skills. Gaming (especially Nintendo games) challenges kids on their reading, mathematics, and critical thinking skills. Gaming is also a great way for kids to relieve stress and make some friends.

For further reading on video games in the library check out this NPR article: At Libraries Across America, It’s Game On

 

Kids Crafts @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 22 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join us at 4 PM Friday, February 9th, in the Activity Center for our kids & teen crafts.  Each week we will do a different craft or activity!

 

 

Mar
23
Sat
Magic The Gathering @ Key West Library
Mar 23 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Magic The Gathering @ Key West Library

Magic the Gathering

Saturdays 9am- Noon

MTG is a tabletop card game. Join us every Saturday morning as we host a MTG for adults. Newcomers and veterans are welcome! We have premade decks that new players can use to learn how to play. Magic-themed giveaways and tournaments throughout the year!

 

 

Story Time Saturday @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 23 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Join us for stories, songs and activities for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers.

Saturdays at 10:30 AM Children’s Area

2nd Floor

Let’s Talk Eclipses @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 23 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Join us on March 23rd at 2PM.  We will have a NASA Solar system Ambassador and a representative from the Florida Keys Astronomy Club come visit us to talk about Eclipses and how to view them safely. There will be activities, demonstrations, and some telescopes to look at the sun!

This will be great information to prepare you for the Solar eclipse on April 8th.  Glasses for that eclipse will be handed out at the end of the program.  We do have a limited supply and will give out one per family while supplies last. 

Mar
25
Mon
Bridge Club @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 25 @ 12:15 pm – 3:15 pm
Bridge is played at the library on Mondays from 12:15 – 3:15 PM in the community room on the first floor. 
Playing Bridge has several benefits such as:
  • Meaningful social interaction
  • Strengthening communication and teamwork skills
  • Maintaining mental sharpness
  • Boosting immunity to ward off illness
  • Improving test scores
  • Delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia
  • Being an inexpensive form of entertainment
  • Being a career path
  • Being good clean fun

Teen Crafts @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 25 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Teen Connect is now Teen Crafts!  Come in on Mondays at 3 PM for an afternoon of fun crafting with friends.

February 5 – Resin Jewelry

February 12 – Clay Beads

February 26 -Key Chains

Mar
26
Tue
Art Class @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 26 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Self-expression through art is an important part of human nature. You don’t have to be in art school, or create marble sculptures, or create realistic paintings to be an artist. Whatever you create is an extension of you, and it is beautiful in that regard.

Join us on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 AM to let your creativity shine!  In this class we will explore different mediums such as sketch, paint, multimedia and more!

Mahjong @ Monroe County Public Library Marathon
Mar 26 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Mahjong is played at the library on Tuesdays from 10AM until noon in the community room on the first floor. The group welcomes all skill levels! 
Playing Mahjong has several benefits such as:
  • Keeps dementia at bay.
  • Decreases possibility of depression.
  • Improves hand-eye coordination.
  • Trains concentration and pattern recognition.
  • Helps benefit short-term memory