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It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
 
It’s the most wonderful time of the year -- a time to catch up on all the wonderful books that released this past year and look ahead to new adventures in reading.
 
December is when all the Best Books lists come out, but if you lost track of these new titles, don’t worry, because we have displays with all the best books of 2025. Need some cozy holiday reads? In addition to library displays, you can browse from home and reserve your copies from the New Titles, Staff Picks, Bestsellers, and Award Winners sites.
 
Looking for holiday food or entertainment choices for you and your family this season? Check out our holiday cookbooks, holiday-themed cake pans and jigsaw puzzles, family board games, holiday movies and music, and our new karaoke machines, all free with your library card.
 
We look forward to seeing you at the library this holiday season.
 
Helen Silver
Collection Services Librarian II
 
 
 
 
 
December Spotlight
Karaoke Night, Anyone?
New Sound Systems are Available for Check Out
Now you can take out a Mobile Sound System, including a microphone, from our Library of Things! The Sound System is available for checkout for two weeks. 
 
 
Puzzle Tournament a Success
Our inaugural Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament, in partnership with the Florida Jigsaw Puzzle Association, was a huge success last month! We had teams of siblings, parents and children, grandparents and children, friends, and more. A great time was had by all. Our Friends of the Library are generously funding quarterly tournaments beginning in February 2026. We appreciate our strong community of puzzle enthusiasts and hope to see you at a tournament soon. Watch our calendar for updates as registration fills quickly. 
Boca Jolly Days
Winter Make and Take (ages 0 - 10)
Friday, December 5, 3:00-4:00pm
Downtown Library
Chill out at the library as you have fun working on wintry crafts and watching the movie, Abominable. 
Children eight and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
 
Family drop-ins welcome.

Winter Family Movie Night: Ice Age (ages 0-12)
Thursday, December 11, 5:30-7:30pm
Spanish River Library
Bring the family for an outdoor movie, lakeside. Gather together and bring your own lounge chairs, pillows and blankets for a fun family movie night experience watching Ice Age. Hot cocoa and popcorn provided while supplies last.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.

Cultural Performance: Peter and the Wolf -
A Symphonic Tale for Children (all ages)
Friday, December 12, 3:00-4:00pm
Downtown Library
The Lynn Conservatory of Music performs Peter and the Wolf, a symphonic tale for children based on a Russian folktale.  Children and families will be introduced to all the instruments, woodwind, string, brass, and percussion ensembles. 
 
This program is conducted by Michael Finn, distinguished artist-in-residence, woodwind chamber music and orchestral repertoire at the LYNN Conservatory of Music and former head of artistic planning at The Juilliard School in New York City.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
 
Seat reservation required.
Reserve a seat

How to Use Cricut: Design a Holiday Gift Bag
Wednesday, December 17, 10:00am-12:30pm
Downtown Library
In this demo, you'll learn how to use Cricut Design Space and the Cricut Maker 3 to create your own holiday gift bag. This beginner-friendly class will guide you step by step in cutting and applying designs for a unique, handmade touch.
 
Library card required for seat reservation.
Reserve a seat
Events for Adults 
Senior Fraud Protection: A Moderated Discussion
Thursday Night Speaker Series
Thursday, December 4, 6:00-7:30pm
Downtown Library
Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring Mr. Tim Ratty from the Florida Securities Dealers & Advisors (FSDA), Ms. Mandy Mills from the Florida Office of the Attorney General, and Ms. Elizabeth Yoka from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) who runs FINRA’s Securities Helpline for Seniors. Learn how to spot common warning signs, understand how financial markets are regulated, and discover practical ways to protect yourself from financial scams.
 
The Thursday Night Speaker Series is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
 
Register to receive a reminder but all drop-ins welcome.
Reserve a seat

Draft to Screen
Thursday, December 4, 6:00-7:45pm
Spanish River Library
Draft to Screen is a community-led group for filmmakers, writers, animators, musicians, and artists who want to connect, grow, and find resources to finish their creative work. This group, which meets monthly, is completely free to join and open to all experience levels.
 
Led by Nabil Sealy alongside co-founder Wilandy Castelin, monthly group meetings will feature time for connection and networking, project pitching and a review of the accountability board for those working on projects, and workshops from industry professionals and accomplished creatives.

Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome. 

Short Stories for Writers with Dr. Caren Neile
Saturdays, December 6, 20, 10:00-11:30am
Virtual Program
Part-literature class, part-writing class, this course digs deeply into the techniques used by acclaimed short story writers to make their work sing. Participants will receive each story online in advance in order to thoughtfully engage in 90-minute lecture/discussion sessions on the texts.
 
Led by Dr. Caren S. Neile, the group usually meets the first and third Saturday of every month always on Zoom.
 
Seat reservation required to receive ZOOM link.
You will receive one link to use at every session. Ages 18 and up.
Reserve a seat

Mark Binder - A Story Central Performance
Saturday, December 6, 3:00-4:30pm
Downtown Library
What the Chelm? Jewish Stories, Harmonically Told.
 
Laugh along with award-winning storyteller Mark Binder’s tales from shtetl (village) life, told through the character of harmonica-playing Izzy Abrahmson. On the edge of the Black Forest, Chelm is traditionally known as a village of fools. But are they really?
 
Mark Binder is an Audie Audiobook Award-nominated storyteller. He is the author of the award-winning Village Life series, which he publishes under the name of Izzy Abrahmson.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.

Sunday Chess Tournament Play
Sunday, December 7, 9:00am-4:15pm
Spanish River Library
Ready to take the challenge and play a more formal competitive tournament game? Ages kindergarten to adult are welcome to join the Scholastic Chess Open in partnership with 954 Chess. Bring your awesome chess skills and meet your next challenger. Children 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Chess sets will be provided but please bring chess clock if you have one.
 
Before registering, see the detailed informational flyers for Downtown and Spanish River editions by clicking on each location.
 
Pre-pay and pre-register at chessregister.com. 

Sunday Matinee Music Series: A Celtic
Christmas with Emily & Kel
Sunday, December 7, 3:00-4:00pm
Downtown Library
English and Irish Gaelic. Kelly performs on guitar, percussion, and vocals. This program covers a wide range of Celtic music from Ireland, Scotland, and Canada, featuring reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, clogs, strathspeys, airs, waltzes, and songs. Interspersed between the music Emily explains the nuances of Celtic music.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library with additional support from Arthur and Ellen Wagner. 
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.

Monday Movies - Documentary: Food, Inc. 2
directed by Robert Kenner
Monday, December 8, 5:30-8:00pm
Downtown Library
In Food, Inc. 2, the sequel to the 2008 Oscar®-nominated and Emmy® Award-winning documentary Food, Inc., filmmakers Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo reunite with investigative authors Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) to take a fresh look at our vulnerable food system. 
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.

Acoustic Musicians 
Monday, December 15, 5:30-7:30pm
Spanish River Library
Bring your own instrument and come join in a monthly musical jam session at the Spanish River Library. Must be 18 years or older. Space is limited.
 
Seat reservation required.
Reserve a seat

Travelogue: Layers of Istanbul - From Empires to Everyday Life
Wednesday, December 17, 1:30-3:00pm
Spanish River Library
Istanbul is more than a city; it’s a living timeline. With guest speaker Anıl, we’ll explore how this former imperial capital continues to reflect its rich history in modern-day life. From ancient foundations to bustling neighborhoods, Istanbul’s story is one of transformation and resilience. Join us as we uncover the past living on in the present.
 
Seat reservation required.
Reserve a seat

Noches de Trivia en español /Spanish Trivia Night
Wednesday, December 17, 6:00-7:30pm
Downtown Library
You're invited to a fun Trivia Night in Spanish, where you'll put your knowledge of general culture, music, movies, history, sports, and much more to the test. 

Form your team, join in, and most importantly—have an amazing time! 
 
Seat reservation required.
Reserve a seat

2025 Supreme Court Case Review with Jeffrey Gordon
Thursday Night Speaker Series
Thursday, December 18, 6:00-7:30pm
Downtown Library
Join attorney Jeffrey F. Gordon to discuss some of the most recent and noteworthy opinions the Supreme Court has handed down to date this year, as well as pending cases with forthcoming decisions. 
 
The Thursday Night Speaker Series is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
 
Register to receive a reminder but all drop-ins welcome.
Reserve a seat

Story Central Storytelling Slam
Sunday, December 21, 3:00-4:30pm
Downtown Library
It's a community storytelling concert. It's a friendly competition. It's a chance to make new connections and renew old ones. Join us for the delightful cafe atmosphere, coffee and tea, and 5-7-minute true first-person stories (not read or memorized) from the audience. Maximum storytellers: 10. 

Reservations for storytelling preferred but not required. For more information email Caren Neile at cneile@fau.edu. 
 
Drop-ins welcome to listen in on shared stories.

Monday Movies - Feature Film: 20th Century Women
directed by Mike Mills
Monday, December 22, 5:30-8:00pm
Downtown Library
Dorothea is a 55-year-old single mother raising her 15-year-old son Jamie in late-1970s Santa Barbara, California. Fearing Jamie may require more than she alone can offer, she seeks help from Abbie, a photographer and cancer survivor, and Jamie's childhood friend, Julie. The effects the members of this unconventional family have on one another are chronicled in writer/director Mike Mills' semi-autobiographical seriocomedy
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.

Poets on the Fringe (POTF)
Tuesdays in December, 3:30-5:45pm
Spanish River Library
Poets from all walks of life, both established and emerging, are encouraged to share their work and offer positive feedback and support to each other. This weekly series is hosted by Pamela Passaretta, who coordinated this program for 10 years in Washington, DC. Open to ages 18 and up.
 
Seat reservation not required but seating is limited.

Socrates Cafè
Mondays, Spanish River Library, 1:00-3:00pm
Tuesdays, Downtown Library, 1:30-3:00pm
At Socrates Cafe, people from different backgrounds get together and exchange thoughtful ideas and experiences. Gatherings are free and open to any member of the public who wishes to freely discuss a question, which is chosen by vote.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome. 
What's New in the Digital Library
PressReader is the newest addition to our digital collection. Enjoy unlimited access to thousands of magazines, including The Economist, New York Review of Books, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Variety and many more. Read through the PressReader app or on library computers or Wi-Fi. 
 
Visit our Digital Library webpage for access instructions.
Instructional Classes for Adults
Next Level Knitting: Make a Holiday Scrubby
Tuesday, December 9, 11:00am-12:30pm
Downtown Library
Using a specialty yarn with scrubbing fibers, participants will choose from 3 different patterns to make a small scrubby to take home.
 
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of knitting skills.
 
Library card required for seat reservation.
Reserve a seat

How to Use a Heat Press: Create a Coaster
Tuesday, December 16, 1:00-3:00pm
Downtown Library
This class teaches the basics of designing, printing, and pressing vibrant, personalized coasters using the fun and creative art of sublimation.
 
Library card required for seat reservation. 
Reserve a seat

ESOL Book Club
Wednesday, December 10, 1:30-3:00pm
Spanish River Library
Join our monthly ESOL Book Club to practice your reading skills and discover fun new books. This is a space focused on adult literacy utilizing the library's Rapid Reads Hi-Lo collection, a series of titles for adults who want to read meaningful and engaging literature but may be on various reading levels.
 
Recommended for participants with advanced-beginner to intermediate speaking ability.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
 
Seat reservation required. 
Reserve a seat

US Citizenship Test Preparation
Tuesdays, 6:15-7:45pm
Spanish River Library
Do you need help preparing for the Citizenship and Interview Test? This class series offers a range of resources and services for those preparing to become a United States citizen and repeats monthly. 
 
Classes are designed to help prepare adult immigrants to successfully complete the naturalization process. This includes developing civic knowledge, learning about N-400, practice on 100 questions and the naturalization interview one-on-one preparation.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
 
Seat reservation required.
Reserve a seat

ESOL Conversation Corner
Tuesdays, 11:30am-1:00pm
Downtown Library
Come practice your conversational English skills over a cup of coffee or tea. We will improve our speaking and reading skills through a variety of everyday conversation topics and fun activities. We meet every Tuesday morning. Recommended for participants with advanced-beginner to intermediate speaking ability.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome. 

iPhone/iPad Workshop
Thursdays, 1:30-3:00pm
Downtown Library
Bring your iPhone, iPad, or both. An Apple-trained instructor will answer your questions in a group discussion setting that’s lots of fun for all.
 
Seat reservation required.
Chose your date(s):
 
December 11                December 18               

Our Instructional Services team is offering many classes for adults this month. Click on the links below or visit the library calendar to reserve a seat. Seat reservations are required for all programs.
Book Talks for Adults
Book Talks - An Hour to Kill: Death at the Sanatorium
by Ragnar Jonasson
Tuesday, December 2, 2:00-3:00pm
Downtown Library
Icelandic bestseller Jonasson presents a riveting new thriller spinoff from The Darkness, soon to be a TV series. In a former sanatorium in the north of Iceland, now a hospital ward, an old nurse, Yrsa, is found murdered. Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir and her boss, Sverrir, are sent to investigate her death. 
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.
 
Reserve a copy of the book here.
 

Book Talks - Non-Fiction/Biographies:
Joan Didion, the 1960s & 70s by Joan Didion 
Tuesday, December 16, 2:00-3:00pm
Downtown Library
Whether writing about countercultural San Francisco, the Las Vegas wedding industry, Lucille Miller, Charles Manson, or the shopping mall, Didion achieves a wonderful negative sublimity without condemning her subjects or condescending to her readers. Chiefly about California, these books display Didion's genius for finding exactly the right language and tone to capture America's broken twilight landscape at a moment of headlong conflict and change.
 
Seat reservation not required; drop-ins welcome.
 
Reserve a copy of the book here.

Friends Book Club: The Frozen River: A Novel
by Ariel Lawhon
Tuesday, December 23, 6:30-7:30pm
Virtual Program
A gripping historical mystery based on the real-life diary entries of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.
 
Open to all. No pre-registration required.
 
Join virtual program with our dedicated Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6188745394
 
Presented by the Friends of the Library.
 
Reserve a copy of the book here.
What's New for Children
New StoryWalk Book: Croc O'clock (all ages)
December, January & February
Patch Reef Park
Sing along and count up all the servings as the zoo's Croc eats through one feeding time after another.
 
StoryWalk is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s storybook along a popular walking route in the community. Different books are displayed throughout the year to keep the StoryWalk experience fresh and promote future learning.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Special Guest Storytime with Police (ages 0-5)
Monday, December 1, 10:00-10:30am at Downtown Library
Monday, December 8, 10:00-10:30am at Spanish River Library
This fun-filled half-hour will be packed with songs, fingerplays and stories read by library staff and a special guest reader from the Boca Raton Police Department.
 
Seat reservation required.
Reserve a seat - Downtown
Reserve a seat - Spanish River

Clue Crew: Solving Mysteries for Kids (ages 7-8)
Wednesdays, December 3, 10, 4:00-4:30pm
Downtown Library
Every week kids will come and learn how to problem solve, how to collect clues, collect evidence, and solve mysteries.
 
Seat reservation required for each individual class.
Reserve a seat

Kindergarten Prep Pals (ages 4-5)
Thursdays, December 4, 11, 4:30-5:00pm
Downtown Library & Spanish River Library
Our Kindergarten program is designed for 4-5-year-olds to build essential skills for a smooth transition into school. Through activity-based learning, children will develop early literacy and social skills in a structured environment. The program encourages curiosity, confidence, and independence to help every child feel excited and prepared for kindergarten. Child attends independently.
 
Library card required for seat reservation. A reservation is required for each individual class.
Reserve a seat - Downtown
Reserve a seat - Spanish River

Rookie Rooks: Introduction to Chess for Youth (ages 8-12)
Sunday, December 7, 10:30-11:30am
Downtown Library
Ready to learn how to improve your chess skills and your brain power? Make your move and join in this monthly chess class.
 
Seat reservation required for each individual class.
Reserve a seat

Spanish Bilingual Storytime (ages 0-5)
Sunday, December 14, 10:00-10:30am
Spanish River Library
Hola and hello! Enjoy a bilingual Spanish and English storytime surprise for families with children up to 5 years old. Join us for an assortment of funtastic stories, rhymes, lively songs, music, and movement which are sure to ignite imagination (even the adults can get in on the fun). Children must be accompanied by an adult. 
 
Seat reservation required.
Reserve a seat
What's New for Tweens & Teens
Tiny Treasures: Nature's Tiny Treasures with Clay (ages 9-12)
Saturday, December 13, 1:00-2:00pm
Spanish River Library
Create with heart a sustainable mini artwork each month at the Spanish River Library. Each month inspires a different creation.
 
Seat reservation required.
Reserve a seat
More to Enjoy
New Art Exhibit "Fur, Feathers, and Fins" by Sheila Perry 
December 1 - January 9
Downtown Library
Ms. Perry's vibrant paintings use texture and color to capture the natural world and its peaceful rhythms. She is inspired by the calm coastal environments often provide, using her techniques and this feeling to create luminous paintings bursting with character and color. Read more.

New Art Exhibit "For the Love of Abstraction" by Monica Kassan
December 8 - January 16
Spanish River Library
Her paintings are bright, vibrant, and dynamic. She notes that she is “in love with abstraction. It is in my ever-evolving vision.”  For Monica, art “enriches our world, brings peace to strife.”  Working with acrylics, inks, paper, and crayon, she feels this lets her leave space for her works to “breathe.” Read more.
Library Team Member Spotlight
Dr. Leonides Perez
Instructional Services Librarian II
What I Do: I love helping our community learn and grow! From providing instructional services to answering curious questions or guiding patrons through our resources, I strive to make the library a welcoming and inspiring place for everyone.
 
Why I Love My Job: There’s nothing quite like the joy of seeing someone’s eyes light up when they discover something new. I love empowering patrons, helping them build skills, and knowing that our work here truly makes a difference, one book, one question, one moment at a time.
 
What I’m Reading Now: The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann, and La Librera de Madrid by Mario Escobar. I can’t wait to see which story captures me next!
Friends of the Library News
The Friends are grateful to the community for generous book donations.  
Volunteers receive book donations Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am-3:30pm at the Bookstore located in the lobby of the Downtown Library. Please review the book donation policy at the Friends Bookstore Webpage.

Support Indie Bookstores
You can purchase Friends virtual book club picks online at Bookshop.org. Search for the Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library Bookstore to see their list of book club picks, and select them as the bookstore you would like to support with your purchase.
 

Friends' Bookstore Hours & Location
400 NW 2nd Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33432
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday -1:00-4:00pm
Monday: Closed
561-544-8596
 

The Library will be closed on Thursday, December 25 in observance of Christmas Day and on Thursday, January 1 in observance of New Year's Day. 
Library Hours & Locations
400 NW 2nd Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33432
1501 NW Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33431
Monday - Thursday: 9:00am-8:00pm
Friday - Sunday: 9:00-5:00pm
561-393-7852

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Boca Raton Public Library
400 NW 2nd Ave, Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561-393-7852
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