Plattsmouth Public Library Upcoming Events

Tiny Art Show - Vote for Your Favorite

Sixty entries have been received for the Plattsmouth Library's third Tiny Art Show! Artwork from those aged 2 years and up are now on display on the upper floor of the library. One entry per person on a 4"x4" canvas was accepted.

Entries have been split into four age groups: 2-5 years, 6-11, 12-18, and 19 and over. The art will be on display upstairs in the library May 12-30. During this time, the community is encouraged to vote for their favorite piece in each age group up to once a week.

The winners will be announced on Saturday, May 31. Gift cards will be awarded to the winners. Artists can take their pieces home after the art show. If you have any questions, contact Jessy at 402-296-4154 x20.

Gangsters vs. Nazis, May 22

In the 1930s, Nazis were not only active in Germany, but they were organizing in the U.S. On Thursday, May 22, at 6:30pm, Jessica Omer from Bellevue University will tell the story of how a U.S. judge, a rabbi, and a group of gangsters put a stop to Nazi organizations trying to build support for Nazi ideologies in the states. The presentation has been drawn from the book Gangsters vs. Nazis by Michael Benson which can be found in the library collection.

Hydro-Dipping Classes in May 27-31

Learn how to dip mason jars or other objects into paint to create a marbling effect when the library presents classes on hydro-dipping. The library provides free instruction and limited supplies. If you have a special jar, vase, or other object from home that you'd like to dip, please bring it with you. The library will have a variety of colors, but you can also bring your own spray paint if you'd like. Please register (call 402-296-4154) for a 15-minute time slot during one of the classes listed below so we have enough supplies.

• Tuesday, May 27, 3-5:30pm
• Wednesday, May 28, 3-5:30pm
• Saturday, May 31, 1-3pm

Library Closed Memorial Day

The Plattsmouth Public Library will be closed on Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day. The library will be open both Saturday and Sunday of that weekend.

Summer Reading Program Special Events

Adult Summer Reading Program

Adults, can enjoy reading and fun challenges each week from June 2 to July 27 in the summer reading program for adults. The challenge sheets feature crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and finding historical markers around town. During these months, each book read will earn you 3 raffle tickets and each challenge completed will earn you 1 raffle ticket. At the end of the program, we will have three drawings for a large prize (book of your choice up to $25 library cost or $25 gift card to a local business). The more you do, the more chances you’ll have.

Puzzles, Board Games Available for Checkout

Many patrons have helped put together a puzzle in the library. Now you can borrow puzzles to make at home, too! Puzzles range in size from 300 to 1000 pieces and check out for one week, but you can renew them if you need more time.

Next time you're in the library, check out our board games! Some of the titles are Candy Land, Clue, Sorry, Lexogon, Race for the Galaxy, Operation, Trouble, Hungry Hungry Hippo, Apples to Apples, Yeti in my Spaghetti, and Codenames. Check out a board game from your library!

Enjoy the Outdoor Musical Instruments!

Outdoor musical instruments are available year-round at the back entrance to the library, including five Samba drums, eight Calypso Chimes, a Cavatina (like a xylophone), and a music book with eight songs to play on the Cavatina. To top off the project, the rubberized surface material makes it safer and easier to access in all types of weather.

This project was funded by city capital improvement funds, Cass County Tourism – visitcasscounty.com, and by state aid funding appropriated by the Nebraska Legislature, granted and administered by the Nebraska Library Commission.

FREE MONTHLY ACTIVITIES

Activity	Ages	Dates	Notes
Bingo	Adults	3rd Wednesday, 1:30-2:30pm Next date: May 21	We provide the bingo cards.
Sip & Stitch	All	1st and 3rd Saturday, 10am-noon Next dates: May 17	A social club for knitters and crocheters (or any other kind of crafters out there)! Bring your project and enjoy some coffee or tea.
Ani-Manga Club	Ages 12-18	2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 4-5:30pm Next dates: Fall	Watch and discuss an anime or manga series. Snacks provided.
Bad Art Club	Ages 11+	2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 4-5pm Next dates: May 13, 27	All materials provided.
Chess Club	Ages 10+	Next date: TBD	Learn how to play or teach others to play
Crafter-noon	All ages	Select days, noon-1:30 or 1-2:30 Next date: TBD	All supplies provided. Be creative!
D&D Heck Fire Club	11-18 years	1st and 3rd Saturdays, 10am-2pm Next date: May 17, June 14, 28	For novices and experienced players. More Dungeons Masters are needed.
Friday Friends	0-5 years	2nd and 4th Fridays, 9:30am-noon Next dates: May 23	Play on indoor playground equipment and make new friends.
Homeschool Group	Homeschoolers	2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 1-3pm Next dates: May 14, 28	Connect with other homeschool groups.
Junk Journal Junkies	Ages 15+	2nd and 4th Saturdays, 10:30am-noon Next date: May 24	Use library supplies to continue or start your own journal; journals provided if needed
Library Beats for Little Feet	18 months-3 years	Mondays, 9:30-10am Next dates: TBD	Engages young minds in the magical world of music, encouraging them to groove, giggle, and grow
Library Café		Tuesdays, 9:30-11am Next dates: September	Enjoy social time with fellow library lovers.
Manic Madness Mondays	All ages	Every Monday, 6-9pm Next dates: May 12, 19	Play new and old board games or bring your own. Includes Magic cards. Host: Adam Vraspir
Paws for Reading	All youth	3rd Wednesday, 4:30-5:30pm (March to June, Sept. to Nov.) Next date: May 21	Children read to certified therapy dogs. Registration preferred, not required.
Saturday Morning Cartoons	All youth	2nd and 4th Saturdays, 9-11am Next dates: TBD	Family-oriented cartoons. Pajamas welcome. Cereal provided.
Silent Book Club Café	Grades 4-12	1st and 3rd Thursdays, 4-5:30pm Next dates: May 15	Bring a book or borrow one and read with fellow book lovers where the Magic of Books meets the Peace of Silence. Hot drinks provided.
Trading and Training Day	Grades 2+	2nd Saturday (odd-numbered months), 2-3:30pm Next date: TBD	Trade Pokemon, magic, sports, Yu-Gi-Oh and other cards and train your Pokemon in preparation for the next gym day.
Video Gaming	All youth	2nd and 4th Saturdays, 1-3pm Next date: May 24	Play your games or ours on 75" TV. Wii, Xbox 360, Switch, or your own.
Youth Bingo	All youth	1st Wednesday, 4-5pm Next dates: June 4
Youth Volunteers	Ages 13-18	Select Tuesdays, 4-5pm Next date: May 20	Discuss volunteer opportunities, upcoming programs, and Advisory Board.

Reading Suggestions

Whether you're hunting for your next book, selecting for a book club, or getting ideas for kids, you'll find great selections in the Booklist Reader, a companion to the magazine that we use to select titles for our library. Enjoy a new issue each month free of charge.

Free Passes to Area Attractions

The library has free passes to Lauritzen Gardens, Durham Museum, and Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. These library passes must be checked out and returned within one week. The only thing you need is a library card in good standing - no overdue materials or fees for lost or damaged items.

Each pass is a little different. The Lauritzen Garden pass admits 2 adults and their children under age 18 for one use. The Durham Museum pass admits 2 adults and children within that household but it can only be used once every six months by the same family.

The Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods passes admit 2 adults and up to 5 children. Each pass is for a specific day of the week so, if you check out a Monday pass, you have to visit on a Monday. Visitors also receive $5 off a membership if purchased on the day you use the library pass. You can use the pass for a discount in the gift shop, attend special member-only events, and attend for free any programming on the day of your visit.

Sorry, but the library can't put a pass on hold, but you can call ahead to make sure one is available before you come.

Henry Doorly Zoo passes are available on the first day of even months, October through April. They admit up to 2 adults (ages 12 and over) and 6 children. Only one pass per family, and each pass is only good for 2 months.

Search Your Genealogy for Free at the Library

The library is now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library which means it has access to more genealogy resources. There are only a few hundred affiliate libraries in the country.

The popular web service has over 6 billion searchable names and 2 billion images of historical genealogical records. FamilySearch adds over 300 million free genealogical records and images online yearly from all over the world and manages the famous Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It has amassed billions of birth, marriage, death, census, land and court records from more than 130 countries. Access FamilySearch from a library computer to set up your free account.

Besides FamilySearch, the library provides access to Ancestry Library Edition from computers in the library and to My Heritage from the library or home.

Read Any Size Print with New Video Magnifier

The Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired has provided an ONYX Deskset Video Magnifier to all Nebraska public libraries to better serve our visually impaired patrons. You don't need a library card to use the machine, and it's very easy to use. It features the ability to change colors or display white text on black. It provides reading lines or a mask that helps you follow along on the page, and it can magnify up to 106x. It's also great for reading prescription bottles and viewing images. Stop by the library to use it or to see a short demo.

Plattsmouth Newspapers Online, 1857-2021

The library recently converted the remaining backfiles of the Plattsmouth Journal to microfilm so all Plattsmouth newspapers from 1857-2021 are accessible and searchable on the Internet or in the library. University of Nebraska-Lincoln's website, Nebraska Newspapers, has hosted eight newspapers from 1865-1939  for about 10 years. Last year, History Nebraska turned over its backfiles to newspapers.com which now includes 31 Plattsmouth newspapers from 1857-2008. To complete the archive, the library now offers the 2009-2021 Journal issues for searching in the library. The project to make the 2009-2021 Journal issues available was made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Hot Off the Press!

In fall 2021, the library received a heat press and accompanying mug press! The library also has hundreds of shirts for children and adults, aprons, cloth bags, mouse pads, glass tiles, aluminum signs, coasters, and many more items to be imprinted with the presses.

Call the library for a 30-minute training or to make a reservation to make your own items. During training, you will be able to create your own design or use a sample design provided by the library. You can print one mug and one other item (shirt, mousepad, or any other material) for free. Beyond that, items cost anywhere from 25 cents to $4.

Schedule Laser Cutter Training

The library has a laser cutter capable of etching on wood, glass, ceramic tiles, cork, metals, and many other materials. It can be used by anyone who has completed the one-hour training session. Call the library, 402-296-4154, ext. 24, to schedule training or to reserve time to work on your projects.

You don’t need to have a library card or even live in Plattsmouth to use it. It can be used for personal or business purposes, so think about how you might benefit from the opportunity!

See some of the items we've made with the makerspace equipment!

Charge Your Device While You Browse!

You can charge your phone, tablet, iPad, Kindle, or other device while you’re browsing or working on the computer in the library. You don’t even need a cord since the charger already has several different connectors for Apple, Android, and other devices. The charger is at the main circulation desk and can accommodate up to 8 devices at a time. The charger is plugged into an outlet, not a computer, so your data is secure.

The library also has a card reader that will allow you to read data from a camera memory card or other micro or mini SD card. The reader has slots for four different kinds of cards. It connects to the computer with a USB cord. You don’t need to have your own cord for your camera or other device. Just ask for the reader so you can download pictures or other files from your device while you're in the library.

Yearbooks, Newspapers Digitized

Read about the local newspapers and high school yearbooks that have been digitized and made available to the public.

Visit Our Patio!

The library has a patio in the back of the building! It was constructed in 2012 with bricks from Main Street and is shaded by a pergola. You can see how the patio took shape by looking at these pictures. It was made possible with a grant from the Cass County Visitors Promotion Committee and donations from the Plattsmouth Public Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library.