Our awesome Wichita Public Library has great events and classes for adults on a regular basis. They include seminars and workshops on tons of topics, book discussions, crafting clubs, sessions to help you in your career or business, and more. You won’t believe how many things there are to do, and the best part is that they are almost always FREE.
Unbelievable! (But totally true.)
The Outdoor Reading Terrace on the library’s second floor level will soon have seating and can accommodate up to about 70 guests, possibly more. In the future, this space will be available to rent for events.
Be sure to check out our visit to the brand new Advanced Learning Library, and see these related articles:
Events for kids and teens at the Wichita Public Library
Free Technology Classes and Demos at the Wichita Library
Here we’ve listed the latest classes and events for adults in Wichita at the various library branches. We’ll keep it as updated as possible, but be sure to check out the library’s event calendar because they keep adding great new things.
Here are a few things you’ll want to know about classes at the library:
- Most of the library’s classes and events are free; if they aren’t, there will be a fee clearly listed on their website.
- Even if a class is free, you often need to register for it so they’ll know how many people to expect, and so that you can get notifications if any schedule changes happen.
- Our library has many different branches; before you register for a class or seminar, be sure you note which branch library will be hosting the event.
- People and organizations from our own community often present these classes and workshops, usually as volunteers. Be sure to thank them!
- A wide variety of topics are covered, including financial, technology, business and career, home, crafting, arts and music, legal, and more.
Events and Classes for Adults at the Wichita Public Library
These classes and events are held at various library branch locations in Wichita. Some of them do require pre-registration, so be sure to follow the links on those so you don’t miss out.
First Tuesdays Book Club
- Tuesday, April 02, 2019
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Evergreen Branch Library, 2601 N Arkansas
First Impressions by Charles Lovett.
Spring Gardening: Basic Tomato Gardening
- Tuesday, April 02, 2019
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Rockwell Branch Library, 5939 E 9th St
Donna Wise, Extension Master Gardener will be is a discussing all aspects of growing tomatoes from the selection of which type you want grow through planting and caring for plants, to how to store tomatoes after they are harvested. There will be a short question and answer session to have a conversation about various tomato-growing issues. Co-sponsored by Sedgwick County Extension Office Master Gardeners program. Registration is required, beginning Mar. 1; call 688-9361 or register online.
http://wichita.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?EventId=6573
1 Million Cups
- Wednesday, April 03, 2019 (weekly on Wednesdays in April)
- 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
Based on the notion that entrepreneurs discover solutions and engage with their communities over a million cups of coffee, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation developed 1 Million Cups in 2012—a free program designed to educate, engage and inspire entrepreneurs around the country. As a program of the Kauffman Foundation, 1 Million Cups works with entrepreneurs, empowering them with the tools and resources to break down barriers that stand in the way of starting and growing their businesses.
Attendance is free. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Presentations run from 9-10 a.m. Each presentation ends with an audience Q&A where the last question is always, “What can we as a community do to support you as a startup?”
Hook & Needle Friends
- Wednesday, April 03, 2019 (Weekly on Wednesdays in April)
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Alford Branch Library, 3447 S Meridian
Bring knitting, crocheting, quilting, or other needlecraft supplies and share your ideas, questions, and love of needlecrafts. Learn from the experience of others and advise those who are just beginning.
ARRL Field Day Exercise Planning
- Wednesday, April 03, 2019
- 6:30 PM – 7:55 PM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
This program will develop plans for local participation in the national ARRL (American Relay Radio League) Field Day Exercise and Demonstration. On June 29th and 30th, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America will set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill and service to our community and our nation. Co-sponsored by the Wichita Amateur Radio Club.
Community Poetry Workshop
- Thursday, April 04, 2019
- 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
Poetry writing is great for self-expression and creativity, and it helps to have a community to learn and share with. Join us for a monthly gathering of poets who will offer a listening ear and support you in your journey. Each session will include a mini-lesson, a prompt and writing time, and time for reading and feedback.
Project Wichita Presentation
- Thursday, April 04, 2019
- 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
Project Wichita is a community engagement process to discover the community’s vision for Wichita and the region in the next 10 years. Based on community input from more than 249 focus groups and nearly 14,000 survey respondents, the Vision Team developed action plans for five focus areas: Talent, Lifelong Learning, Strong Communities and Neighborhoods, Economic Prosperity and Quality of Place. At this informative session, learn about the process and the vision for Wichita’s future.
Genealogy 101
- Thursday, April 04, 2019, also
- April 11, 2019
- April 18, 2019
- April 25, 2019
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
The Wichita Genealogical Society (WGS) is offering a 4-week beginning genealogy class, “Genealogy 101,” on April 4 – April 25, available at the Library. These classes are designed to help, inspire, and motivate beginning to experienced family history researchers. For information on class topics and registration information, visit the WGS website at wichitagensoc.org.
The series is $40 for non-members of the Wichita Genealogical Society and $20 for members. Registration is required. Visit the WGS website to register. For questions, contact Mary Hursey at wgs-maryhursey@outlook.com.
Spring Gardening: Basic Tomato Gardening
- Thursday, April 04, 2019
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Evergreen, 2601 N Arkansas
Donna Wise, Extension Master Gardener will be is a discussing all aspects of growing tomatoes from the selection of which type you want grow through planting and caring for plants, to how to store tomatoes after they are harvested. There will be a short question and answer session to have a conversation about various tomato growing issues. Co-sponsored by Sedgwick County Extension Office Master Gardeners program. Registration is required, beginning Mar. 1; call 303-8181 or register online.
http://wichita.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?EventId=6554
First Thursdays Book Discussion
- Thursday, April 04, 2019
- 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Evergreen Branch Library, 2601 N Arkansas
Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler.
The Harvey Girls
- Saturday, April 06, 2019
- 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Westlink Branch Library, 8515 Bekemeyer
The Harvey House chain of restaurants got its start in Topeka, Kansas, when Fred Harvey opened a café geared toward those traveling on the Atchison, Topeka, Santa Fe Railway. Preferring the term “Harvey Girls” to waitresses, he recruited single women to work at the Harvey Houses that gradually sprang up all the way to California and Texas. Between the 1880s and the 1950s, more than 100,000 women, many of them Kansans, proudly wore the black and white uniform of the internationally known Harvey Company. The presentation will explore the adventures of these pioneering young women. Presented by Michaeline Chance-Reay. Co-sponsored by Humanities Kansas.
Map of Kansas Literature: Beats of Kansas
- Sunday, April 07, 2019
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
Did you know that Wichita and Kansas have important connections to the Beat Movement of writers? From Michael McClure and Charles Plymell to William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsburg, Kansas has known the Beats from cradle to grave. Learn more about these writers and the Map of Kansas Literature, a project which highlights the work of a wide range of Kansas authors. Former Kansas poet laureate Denise Low will be the presenter and local author Troy James Weaver will read from his book Marigold. Sponsored by Humanities Kansas.
Spring Gardening: Planning Your Successful Vegetable Garden
- Tuesday, April 09, 2019
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Rockwell Branch Library, 5939 E 9th St
Rebecca McMahon, Horticulture Agent with K-State Research & Extension-Sedgwick County will guide you through the steps to developing a plan for a successful vegetable garden that makes the best use of your space and meets your needs. You will learn what to plant when and how to use succession planting to get more out of your garden. Registration is required, beginning Mar. 1; call 688-9361 or register online.
http://wichita.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?EventId=7924
We Rock Book Discussion
- Wednesday, April 10, 2019
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Rockwell Branch Library, 5939 E 9th St
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann.
Senior Wednesday: Recycling
- Wednesday, April 10, 2019
- 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
Learn more about the basics of recycling from PRo Kansas, including what items can be recycled, how long it takes materials to decay, and where recycled items end up.
Creating Circle
- Wednesday, April 10, 2019
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Westlink Branch Library, 8515 Bekemeyer
Love to craft? Enjoy interacting with others? The Westlink Branch Library is hosting a place for crafters of all sorts. Bring your small projects such as knitting, scrapbooking, or beading.
Spring Gardening: Planning Your Successful Vegetable Garden
- Thursday, April 11, 2019
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Evergreen Branch Library, 2601 N Arkansas
Rebecca McMahon, Horticulture Agent with K-State Research & Extension-Sedgwick County will guide you through the steps to developing a plan for a successful vegetable garden that makes the best use of your space and meets your needs. You will learn what to plant when and how to use succession planting to get more out of your garden. Registration is required, beginning Mar. 1; call 303-8181 or register online.
http://wichita.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?EventId=6556
#ReadICT Book Talk
- Saturday, April 13, 2019
- 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
Suzanne Tobias from the Wichita Eagle and Noelle Barrick from the Library will talk about recently published and upcoming books that will satisfy all your #ReadICT categories. Free and open to all. Not a #ReadICT member yet? Learn more about how to join athttp://www.wichitalibrary.org/readict.
Third Tuesdays Book Discussion
- Tuesday, March 19, 2019
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Westlink Branch Library, 8515 Bekemeyer
John Adams by David G. McCullough.
Open Books, Open Minds Book Discussion
- Tuesday, April 16, 2019
- 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan.
Spring Gardening: Perennials, the Backbone of the Garden
- Tuesday, April 16, 2019
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Rockwell Branch Library, 5939 E 9th St
Lynn Campbell Behnke, Extension Master Gardener will show you how to use perennials to create a dependable botanical framework for your garden that also reliably benefits wildlife. Learn how to plan color, size, and bloom time so your flower garden has “good bones”. Registration is required, beginning Mar. 1; call 688-9361 or register online.
http://wichita.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?EventId=6575
Spring Gardening: Perennials, the Backbone of the Garden
- Thursday, April 18, 2019
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Evergreen Branch Library, 2601 N Arkansas
Lynn Campbell Behnke, Extension Master Gardener will show you how to use perennials to create a dependable botanical framework for your garden that also reliably benefits wildlife. Learn how to plan color, size, and bloom time so your flower garden has “good bones”. Registration is required, beginning Mar. 1; call 303-8181 or register online.
http://wichita.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?EventId=6557
Tuesday Topics: Sentencing Reform
- Tuesday, April 23, 2019
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
With our prisons overflowing and amid requests that we build new ones, is our criminal justice system working? Are reforms needed and if so, what types of reform? Join us as Kansas Appleseed presents the current state of our Kansas justice system and explains the differences and similarities between the youth and adult systems. They will present different models of justice reform and specifically discuss the Juvenile Justice Reform that was implemented in Kansas in 2016 and what the state hopes to achieve. Join us for this informative presentation about our Kansas Justice System. Co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters Wichita-Metro. Doors open at 11:30 am for those who wish to bring a lunch.
Masters of Mystery Book Discussion
- Wednesday, April 24, 2019
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Alford Branch Library, 3447 S Meridian
Moriarty by Alexander Horowitz.
Backyard Basics of Beekeeping
- Thursday, April 25, 2019
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
Have you ever wanted a beehive of your own? Want to do your part to save the bees? Learn what it takes to be a backyard beekeeper and how to maintain your very own bee family.
Rockwell Mystery Book Discussion
- Monday, April 29, 2019
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Rockwell Branch Library, 5939 E 9th St
Midnight Line by Lee Child.
Learn How with GoCreate: Soldering Basics
- Tuesday, April 30, 2019
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St
Learn soldering basics from GoCreate instructors. Co-sponsored by WSU’s GoCreate. Registration is required, beginning March 1; call 261-8500 or register online.
http://wichita.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?EventId=7733
Budgeting
- Tuesday, April 30, 2019
- 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Alford Branch Library, 3447 S Meridian
Not sure where your money is going? Having a plan is the first step in taking control of your finances. Learn how to create a budget from the experts at Kansas Consumer Credit Counseling to get yourself on the right track to build savings, pay off debt, and maximize the potential of your income. Registration is required, beginning March 1; call 337-9119 or register online.
http://wichita.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?EventId=7944
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