At the libraries: Activities for kids and adults abound

A weekly glance at the many programs for children and adults offered by the Stanislaus County Library system’s 13 branches. Some programs are ongoing, others are special events and all are free and open to the public:

Knitting and crocheting help for beginners or those needing help with a special project. 3 p.m. Wednesdays. Waterford Library, 324 E St. 209-874-2191.

After Story Time on Thursdays. Music, movement, and sensory play. 10:30 a.m. Salida Library, 4835 Sisk Road. 209-543-7353.

New and classic picture books, flannelboard and puppet stories, fingerplays, music and dancing, all for preschoolers aged 3-5 and their caregivers. Held regularly at most branches; contact individual branches for dates, times and locales.

Storybooks, lap bounces, music, dancing, rhythm activities, fingerplays and more at programs for babies, active toddlers, and adult caregivers. Held regularly at most branches; contact individual branches for dates, times and locales.

All are invited to attend the monthly meeting of the Friends of the Patterson Library. Meetings are held the second Monday of the month. Come by and support your local library. 1 p.m. Patterson Library, 46 N Salado Ave. 209-892-6473.

Get ready for the holiday season by learning how to shop wisely and save money. The Modesto Money Mavens will discuss strategies for saving time and money, as well as sharing couponing techniques and smartphone apps that may help shoppers save even more. 5:30 p.m. Turlock Library, 550 N. Minaret Ave. 209-664-8100.

In celebration of National Bundt Cake Day, come visit the Turlock Library and pick up copies of customer favorite cake recipes. Copies of recipes will be available all day and were shared by other library users for this event. Open hours. Turlock Library, 550 N. Minaret Ave. 209-664-8100.

This workshop will introduce you to the Internet and the World Wide Web and teach you how to search on the Web. Advance registration is required. 10:30 a.m. Oakdale Library, 151 S. First Ave. 209-847-4204.

Come take part in a free yoga program with Rosa, our bilingual Yoga instructor. 11:30 a.m. Patterson Library, 46 N Salado Ave. 209-892-6473.

Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO displays for the library. Children must have direct adult supervision. 3 to 5 p.m. Hughson Library, 2412 3rd St. 209-883-2293.

Children will create a fun, festive and colorful craft for the fall season using candy corn. We will supply the items needed for this craft. Children must have direct parental supervision. 3:30 p.m. Newman Library, 1305 Kern St. 209-862-2010.

What are you thankful for? Children are invited to make paper Thanksgiving pumpkins. Kids will write what they're thankful for on orange strips of paper and gather them together to make thankful pumpkins. 3:30 p.m. Riverbank Library, 3442 Santa Fe St. 209-869-7008.

Join us for this unique hands-on learning experience that showcases different ocean habitats and the flora and fauna that live there. All ages welcome; designed for children in kindergarten and older. Children 4 and under must have direct parental supervision. 4 p.m. Turlock Library, 550 N. Minaret Ave. 209-664-8100.

This workshop is a continuation of Excel Basics and will teach you additional basic functions of Excel. Advance registration is required. 5 p.m. Modesto Library, 1500 I St. 209-558-7800.

Children and their families can enjoy a family-friendly movie and picnic dinner at the library. This month's movie is the animated film “Pocahontas.” Children may come in their pajamas. Bring a picnic dinner and a blanket to sit on. The library will provide a beverage and popcorn. 6 p.m. Salida Library, 4835 Sisk Road. 209-543-7353.

If you love to read, please join our book club for adults. This month bring a favorite book to discuss. Tell others what you enjoyed about it. The book club meets monthly. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ceres Library, 2250 Magnolia St. 209-537-8938.

Make and decorate a foam turkey. Write a thankful message on your finished turkey. 3:30 p.m. Patterson Library, 46 N Salado Ave. 209-892-6473.

Come make bears, squirrels, and other forest animals using pine cones. 3:30 p.m. Hughson Library, 2412 3rd St. 209-883-2293.

Through demonstrations and hands-on activities, children will learn how mixing, cooling, and heating can change matter from one form to another. Recommended for ages 5 to 10. 4:30 p.m. Modesto Library, 1500 I St. 209-558-7800.

Learn about how nutrition and diseases can affect one another. 5 p.m. Patterson Library, 46 N Salado Ave. 209-892-6473.

This workshop teaches you the basics of creating and sending an email. You will need to have created your email account prior to the beginning of class. Advance registration is required. 1:30 p.m. Modesto Library, 1500 I St. 209-558-7800.

Create a special decoration for your fall holiday. 3 p.m. Keyes Library, 4420 Maud Ave. 209-664-8006.

Make an edible scarecrow out of various delicious items, including cookies, frosting and candy. All materials will be provided. Children under the age of 4 must have direct parental supervision. 3:30 p.m. Ceres Library, 2250 Magnolia St. 209-537-8938.

Join us for a reading of “Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes” by Roseanne Greenfield Thong. This story follows a little girl as she discovers things that are round, square, and rectangular in her Hispanic American neighborhood. 3:30 p.m. Oakdale Library, 151 S. First Ave. 209-847-4204.

Children will have the opportunity to make two terrific turkey crafts. First, participants can make a Tasty Cereal Turkey using Cheerios and Fruit Loops. Children can also make a Thankful Turkey using colorful construction paper. All supplies will be provided. 3:30 p.m. Empire Library, 18 South Abbie St. 209-524-5505.

This workshop will introduce you to the Internet and the World Wide Web and teach you how to search on the Web. Advance registration is required. 6 p.m. Oakdale Library, 151 S. First Ave. 209-847-4204.

Drop in throughout the day to create a special decoration for your fall holiday. Open hours. Denair Library, 4801 Kersey Road. 209-634-1283.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages are invited to participate in this craft. Participants will decorate plastic tumblers using stencils and sharpies. All materials will be provided. Sign up for this activity. 10 a.m. Oakdale Library, 151 S. First Ave. 209-847-4204.

November's selection is “Deadly Nightshade,” by Cynthia Riggs. 10:30 a.m. Turlock Library, 550 N. Minaret Ave. 209-664-8100.

Join us for a National Diabetes Month program, hosted by Healthy Aging Association director Kim Viviano. Learn how to make good food choices and prepare old favorites that are healthy as well as delicious. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Modesto Library, 1500 I St. 209-558-7800.

Coloring has been shown to be a stress reliever for adults. Enjoy the comfortable and relaxing environment of the library while tapping into your creative side. We will supply the paper, colored pencils and crayons. 1:30 p.m. Newman Library, 1305 Kern St. 209-862-2010.

Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO displays for the library. Children under 4 must have direct adult supervision. 3 p.m. Oakdale Library, 151 S. First Ave. 209-847-4204.

Learn basic crochet techniques with Instructor Prithika Singh. Please bring your own crochet hooks. Yarn will be provided. 4 p.m. Patterson Library, 46 N Salado Ave. 209-892-6473.

To celebrate the new movie in the Harry Potter universe, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” there will be drop-in activities all week upstairs in the Children’s Department. The Yule Ball is most suitable for Hogwarts aged students (11 to 19) but families and Hogwarts alumni are also welcome. Tickets are required to attend this special after hours event; for details and to pick up Yule Ball tickets, please visit the Children’s Desk during Hogwarts Week. Tickets will be available starting on Nov. 14 while supplies last. 6 to 8 p.m. Modesto Library, 1500 I St. 209-558-7800.

Games and puzzles will be made available all day. Play one of the games provided or bring one of your own to share. Open hours. Turlock Library, 550 N. Minaret Ave. 209-664-8100.

We will make paper bag trees, fall tree luminaries out of mason jars, and more. Noon to 3 p.m. Hughson Library, 2412 3rd St. 209-883-2293.

All ages are welcome to drop in to play with fellow players. We will provide games but you are welcome to bring your own. Noon to 4 p.m. Modesto Library, 1500 I St. 209-558-7800.

Curiosity led to traveling beyond our home planet with the first rockets launched from Earth. Engage your own curiosity through this soda straw rockets craft. Using simple materials, children will experience the process of engineering rockets. Materials will be provided. 1:30 p.m. Newman Library, 1305 Kern St. 209-862-2010.

A basic introduction to computers, including an explanation of the parts of the computer, a tour of Windows, and simple tasks. Advance registration is required. 10 a.m. Modesto Library, 1500 I St. 209-558-7800.

This story was originally published November 11, 2016 at 1:49 PM with the headline "At the libraries: Activities for kids and adults abound."