The St. Joe County Public Library, Bendable, and City of South Bend are hosting a series of lifelong learning opportunities this winter at the Technology Resource Center and library locations.
Learning Circles Library Events Nonprofit Office Hours South Bend Tech Mentorship Program Open Work Wednesdays SB Academy
Learning Circles
Learning Circles are just like a book club, where you would get together with a group of other learners like you and explore a new topic you’re interested in.
The first round of Learning Circles will cover topics like building your own website, creating a business plan for your small business, and learning technology basics like using a computer or making a video call using zoom.
Over 6-8 weeks, you and fellow learners will take a course on Bendable together and in-person, where you will be able to ask questions, share progress, and explore your chosen topic all for free with your library card!
Once you’re signed up, your Learning Circle facilitator will reach out to you with all the information you’ll need to get started. If you have any questions, please email us at bendable@sjcpl.org
Library Events
How to Brand your Business with Ben Bulgrien
Wednesday, January 12 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Join us in the new Studio 304 to learn from Bendable Collection Author Ben Bulgrien about how to strategically brand and market your small business.The workshop will be followed by a tour of Studio 304 with demos showcasing all of our small business marketing support tools available.
Studio 304 Camera Preview
Wednesday, January 5 | 6:00PM
Main Library, Studio 304
Different cameras excel at different jobs. Learn all about the different cameras you can borrow from Studio 304.
What Can Be Recycled: St. Joe County Soil & Water Conservation District
Thursday, January 6 | 5:30PM
North Liberty Branch
Ally Pudlo, Environmental Education Coordinator, will present activities, experiments, and supplies to help patrons gain a better understanding of what can be recycled. Registration recommended.
Beginning Genealogy
Saturday, January 8 | 5:30PM
Main Library
Grow your family tree with an introduction to genealogy research.
Coffee and Painting
Tuesday, January 11 | 3:00PM
Lakeville Branch
Enjoy a hot beverage and let your creativity flow onto a canvas. Beverages will be available on the patio.
Recycled Magazine Crafts
Thursday, January 13 | 6:00PM
Tutt Branch
Create coasters, beads, flowers and more!
Pollinator Habitats and Rain Gardens: St. Joe County Soil & Water Conservation District
Thursday, January 13 | 5:30PM
North Liberty Branch
Ally Pudlo, Environmental Education Coordinator, will present activities, experiments, and supplies to help patrons gain a better understanding of how to recycle our space with pollinator habitats.
Movies @ Main: “Big Enough, Small Enough – South Bend in Transition”
Friday, January 14 | 7:00PM
Main Library, Auditorium
Join Directors Ryan Blaske and Zach Schrank as they provide an inside look into their documentary for the library’s first film screening in our brand new Auditorium! Q&A session will follow the film.
Movies @ Main: “Big Enough, Small Enough – South Bend in Transition”
Saturday, January 15 | 2:00PM
Main Library, Auditorium
Join Directors Ryan Blaske and Zach Schrank as they provide an inside look into their documentary for the library’s first film screening in our brand new Auditorium! Q&A session will follow the film.
Relevant Reads: The Journey to Inclusion – Tightrope by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Tuesday, January 18 | 7:00PM
Zoom
Kate Lee, Director of Education and Workforce, South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce will lead our discussion of Tightrope, an examination of America’s overlooked and left-behind working class.
The Write Space Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, January 18 | 7:00PM
Francis Branch
Virtual support group for writers and aspiring writers.
New Year, New You!
Wednesday, January 19 | 6:00PM
German Township Branch
The changing of the year is a fun time to explore making changes in our lives. In this interactive workshop, we will explore proven strategies to turn great intentions into lasting, long-term change.
Recycling Our Food Waste: St. Joe County Soil & Water Conservation District
Thursday, January 20 | 5:30PM
North Liberty Branch
Ally Pudlo, Environmental Education Coordinator, will present activities, experiments, and supplies to help patrons gain a better understanding of how to recycle food waste.
Movies @ Main: “Prime Farmland” and “Kiss the Ground”
Friday, January 21 | 7:00PM
Main Library, Auditorium
Join Director Sybil Drew for an inside look and film screening of her documentary in the library’s brand new Auditorium! A second film will also be featured with a Q&A session to follow.
Movies @ Main: “Prime Farmland” and “Kiss the Ground”
Saturday, January 22 | 2:00PM
Main Library, Auditorium
Join Director Sybil Drew for an inside look and film screening of her documentary in the library’s brand new Auditorium! A second film will also be featured with a Q&A session to follow.
Recycling Our Rainwater
Thursday, January 27 | 5:30PM
North Liberty Branch
Ally Pudlo, Environmental Education Coordinator, will present activities, experiments, and supplies to help patrons gain a better understanding of how to recycle rainwater.
How to Record at the New Studio 304
Wednesday, February 2 | 6:00PM
Main Library, Studio 304
Learn about the new recording rooms and how to use them.
Club de conversación en español
Thursday, February 3 | 3:00PM
Main Library
If you’re interested in practicing authentic conversation in Spanish, this club is for you. Listen to an interesting, informal presentation from a native speaker, then discuss in small groups.
Club de conversación en español
Thursday, February 10 | 3:00PM
Main Library
If you’re interested in practicing authentic conversation in Spanish, this club is for you. Listen to an interesting, informal presentation from a native speaker, then discuss in small groups.
Great Backyard Bird Count
Tuesday, February 15 | 6:00PM
German Township Branch
Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count for four days in February to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds.
The Write Space Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, February 15 | 7:00PM
Francis Branch
Virtual support group for writers and aspiring writers.
Club de conversación en español
Thursday, February 17 | 3:00PM
Main Library
If you’re interested in practicing authentic conversation in Spanish, this club is for you. Listen to an interesting, informal presentation from a native speaker, then discuss in small groups.
The Ecological Garden
Saturday, February 19 | 10:00AM
Centre Township Branch
Our gardens represent a partnership with nature and how we garden is changing rapidly. Explore tools and strategies that will allow your garden to be more resilient, productive, and rewarding.
City Directories for Genealogy
Tuesday, February 22 | 6:30PM
Main Library
Place your ancestors in history and break down brick walls using U.S. City Directories in your family history research.
Understanding Grief and Mourning: Holly Farmer, Director of Bereavement Services
Tuesday, February 22 | 4:00PM
Francis Branch
Understanding Grief and Mourning by Holly Farmer, MA, LMHC Bereavement Coordinator Center for Hospice Care, Life Transition Center. Together we’ll define, describe, and explore grief and ways to cope.
Club de conversación en español
Thursday, February 24 | 3:00PM
Main Library
If you’re interested in practicing authentic conversation in Spanish, this club is for you. Listen to an interesting, informal presentation from a native speaker, then discuss in small groups.
Nonprofit Office Hours
Hosted by City of South Bend’s Department of Innovation & Technology in partnership with enFocus Inc.
February 10 | 11:30AM – 1:00PM
Technology Resource Center
The Department of Innovation and Technology, in partnership with enFocus Inc., will offer free lunch-hour information and help sessions once a month to local nonprofits. Nonprofit organizations seeking innovative solutions to common administrative, management, and operational challenges are invited to attend these sessions, each with a different topic.
Example topics include using data visualization to market and present goals; cleaning and filtering donor data; process improvement, and more. The office hours will begin with a demonstration in applying relevant skills, followed by open work time, with knowledgeable facilitators available to help present nonprofits with their specific needs.
South Bend Tech Mentorship Program
Hosted by City of South Bend’s Department of Innovation & Technology
Applications rolling, with a kickoff event on February 18
Technology Resource Center
The Department of Innovation and Technology’s Tech Mentorship Program matches local tech mentors with local high school and college students interested in pursuing a career in technology, offering mentees an opportunity to explore South Bend’s tech scene and seek career guidance from a professional. Sign up to be a mentor here, and sign up to be a mentee here.
Open Work Wednesdays
Hosted by City of South Bend’s Department of Innovation & Technology
January 26, all day
Technology Resource Center
February 23, all day
Technology Resource Center
Once a month, the Technology Resource Center will open its community space as a coworking space for individuals and organizations alike. The Department of Innovation and Technology invites project teams from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in the region to work out of the TRC for a day.
SB Academy
Hosted by the Technology Resource Center
Intro course: January 6 OR January 11, 9:30am-12pm
Technology Resource Center
Intermediate course: February 3 OR February 8, 9:30am-12pm
Technology Resource Center
Advanced course: March 3 OR March 8, 9:30am-12pm
Technology Resource Center
SB Academy will offer several courses on Excel, open to the public. The Intro course in January will explore understanding the structure of an Excel document, modifying spreadsheets, filtering and adding data, and more. The Intermediate course in February will explore creating functions, manipulating pivot tables, and more. Finally, the Advanced course will cover advanced formulas and data cleaning, amongst other concepts. Each level’s course will be offered twice a month.
