Adults
Downtown Billings ArtWalk feat. Jordan Pehler
Friday, December 1, 5-9:00PM
Come see the work of local artist Jordan Pehler for the last ArtWalk of 2023! Jordan's encaustic sculptures and other works will be on display under the library's oculus, so come out and meet this great artist and Billings educator!
Jordan Pehler is a Billings-based artist and art educator. He has worked as the Education Director for the WaterWorks Art Museum in Miles City, Montana, and as the Museum Art Educator for the Yellowstone Art Museum. Jordan is currently an Art Educator for Billings Public Schools, working at Riverside Middle School.
Over the past 12 years, Jordan has had the privilege of inspiring and educating thousands of students across the region. In addition to his teaching endeavors, he has consistently nurtured his personal artistic practices. His current artistic focus lies in the captivating medium of encaustic, which employs a blend of beeswax and oil paint. Through this medium, Jordan constructs numerous semi-translucent layers, allowing molten wax and oil paint to converge into ethereal and obscured images that evoke a sense of familiarity and intrigue.
Billings Public Library is committed to providing a free space for local artists of all types to display and demonstrate their artistic expression. For more information about showing your work or performing, please email us at arts@billingsmt.gov.
Under the Oculus: Dylan Petit
Friday, December 8, 6-7:00PM
Dylan Petit is a born-and-raised Billings musician. Music has always been a part of his life and is integral to every facet of his day-to-day routine. Dylan loves music that wraps the listener in a warm hug and allows them to forget themselves as the story unfolds, just as any good book, TV series, or video game might do.
Dylan's eclectic taste has lent itself to a colorful menagerie of musical influences, from the smooth, sultry voices of Frank Sinatra or Norah Jones, to the intricately woven harmonies of The Civil Wars or Boygenius, all the way to the raw emotion of Chris Cornell and Highly Suspect. He holds the firm belief that public libraries are to be cherished and preserved against the ever-encroaching progression of time, so he is absolutely thrilled to lend his talents to Billings Public Library any chance he gets.
Billings Public Library is committed to providing a free space for local artists of all types to display and demonstrate their artistic expression. For more information about showing your work or performing, please email us at arts@billingsmt.gov.
The American Buffalo Watch Party
December 13, 2023, 6:00pm - 7:30pm, Community Room
Join the Billings Public Library for a screening of the newly released documentary, The American Buffalo. Directed by Ken Burns, written by Dayton Duncan, and produced by Julie Dunfey and Ken Burns, the film explores more than 10,000 years of North American history, across some of the continent’s most iconic landscapes, tracing the animal’s evolution, its significance to the Indigenous People and the Great Plains, its near extinction, and the efforts to bring the magnificent mammals back from the brink.
Support for this event was made possible by the American Indian Library Association and Montana PBS
Under the Oculus: Christmas with Juliette!
Saturday, December 16, 2-3:30PM
Musician Juliette Angelo will perform live under the oculus! Come enjoy festive holiday tunes as well as some of her originals!
Juliette Angelo is an actress, singer, and songwriter, best known for her prominent roles as Emily Fornell on NCIS, Geneva on Shameless, and Reba McEntire's daughter June on ABC's Malibu Country. She released her first solo constructed album, "Fields of Tennessee," in early 2023. She's known for her intricate songwriting skills and abstract way of communicating her emotions.
Billings Public Library is committed to providing a free space for local artists of all types to display and demonstrate their artistic expression. For more information about showing your work or performing, please email us at arts@billingsmt.gov.
BPL Film Pass
December 2023
Transform your library card into a passport to cinematic adventures with our exciting new program, sponsored by the Art House Billings and the Friends of the Billings Library! Now, library cardholders have the exclusive opportunity to check out a movie ticket just like a book (but there’s no need to return it!). Please note, each library cardholder is eligible for one ticket.
- Registration and library card number are required to reserve a ticket
- Each library cardholder is eligible for one ticket per month
- Tickets can ONLY be used for general admission to one regular film screening at the Babcock Theater or Art House Billings.
- Tickets cannot be used for special events or screenings
- Tickets can be picked up at the 2nd floor help desk at the Billings Public Library with your library card
- Unclaimed tickets expire on the last day of each month
One Book Billings 2023 - 2024
Our city-wide book group season will continue with On Sarpy Creek by Ira S. Nelson. Books will be available to pick up in early December, and discussion groups will be held the week of January 13th.
Please stop by the 2nd floor Reference desk or view the Library Calendar to sign up for a discussion group and receive your copy of the book. Click here to see the upcoming books!
NaNoWriMo: Join us for National Novel Writing Month in November!
People participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) attend write-ins to write their 50,000 word novel, share tips and tricks, and encourage other Wrimos in their own writing endeavors.
- November 4th, 11th, & 18th: Come Write-Ins (9:30 - 11:30 am, Conference Room). Bring your writing tool(s) and come join us for a two-hour write-in!
Great Billings Book Hunt 2023
Our online scavenger hunt is now in its 4th year. Log your books & complete monthly missions to challenge yourself and maybe win a prize.
November Challenge: Readers' Corner Recs. Did you know that Billings Public Library has a blog where staff members post reviews of books, movies, and tv series? Your challenge for November is to seek out this blog, the Readers' Corner, and find a book to read based on our recommendations! We'll even get you started - here's the link: http://billingspubliclibrary.blogspot.com/
Enjoy!
This challenge will be open from November 1st - 31st, and badges earned will be eligible for a monthly gift card drawing. Don't forget to click the button if you'd like to be included in a monthly social media post, too.
United Federation of Trekkies
A group of Star Trek fans get together, watch an episode, and discuss! Trivia and behind-the-scenes stories, as well as the themes of the episode and Star Trek in general. Costumes encouraged. Meet in the Community room on the dates below
Meeting Times:
Stardate: 06122023 (Wednesday, December 6th, 2023)
D&D for Grownups: The Campaign Continues!
Saturdays at 12:00 - 4:00 pm, Large Conference Room
Who's up for a little adventure--of the tabletop variety? We are hosting continuing campaigns every Saturday in the Large Conference Room. Our campaigns alternate each week between the Pathfinder (1st edition) and Shadowrun game systems. We'll provide the dice, you supply your imagination!
Registration is required; Please call us at 406-657-8290 or email refdesk@billingsmt.gov for more information.
Turning Page Book Discussion Group
The Turning Page selects titles from the Library's Book Club Kits. We will be on hiatus for the holidays, so our next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024, in the Yellowstone Board Room at 6:30 to discuss Lisa See's historical fiction novel, The Island of Sea Women. Please email us for more information.
Nintendo Switch Games are Available for Checkout!
We are pleased to announce that Nintendo Switch video games are now available for checkout at the library! Games are limited to two (2) games per patron, and will be checked out for 14 days. We have an assortment of DVDs and books related to video game history and culture available, as well, so feel free to check out some fun, informative companion materials!
Games can be placed on hold but are not renewable. Games will accrue $1/day in late fines to a maximum of $10. Games must be checked out at the 2nd-floor Reference desk.
Click here to view our full Nintendo Switch games collection!
Jigsaw Puzzle Collection now available!
We are excited to announce that Jigsaw puzzles have returned to our library collection! The puzzle collection is located on the second floor of the library, on the purple tower that faces the east windows, just around the corner from the newspaper collection.
How does it work? Puzzles are available for swapping and borrowing - bring a puzzle and swap it out for a new puzzle. Don't have a puzzle to swap? - no problem! Take a puzzle to try it out and swap it back later - puzzles do NOT need to be checked out, so there is no time limit.
How many puzzles can be swapped and borrowed at a time? There are no restrictions on how many puzzles you can try at a time, but we would like puzzles returned/swapped back with their correct pieces and in good condition for the next puzzle builder to enjoy.
Does the library accept puzzle donations? Absolutely! We want to build our puzzle collection so they can be enjoyed by everyone. Puzzles that are complete and in good condition can be donated at the Second Floor Help Desk.
Questions can be directed to refdesk@billingsmt.gov and GET READY FOR SOME SERIOUS PUZZLE BUILDING FUN!
Check out all of BPL's upcoming events on our Library Calendar!
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