One way The Friends invests in the library is by connecting readers and writers statewide through a range of programs. For more than 30 years, we have offered programs that entertain, enrich, and nourish curious minds.
Our events are always open to the public and most are free. Browse our calendar below.
Captioning is provided for our livestream events; ASL interpretation is available upon request with at least seven days’ notice. To request ASL interpretation or other accommodations, contact [email protected] or 651-222-3242.
Full Calendar of Events
Events
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Books & Bars: “My Friends” by Fredrik Backman
Urban Growler 2325 Endicott Street, Saint Paul, MNMy Friends by Fredrik Backman Tuesday, September 22 6:30 p.m. Urban Growler 2325 Endicott Street, Saint Paul This event is FREE and open to the public. --- Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the…
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McDermott Lecture 2026 with Dr. Alaina Doten
Hamline Midway Library 1558 W Minnehaha Ave, Saint Paul, United StatesWednesday, September 23 | 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Hamline Midway Library - Large Community Room 1558 West Minnehaha Avenue, Saint Paul And livestreamed online. Register here. Join The Friends for the annual McDermott Lecture, featuring Dr. Alaina Doten, Executive Director of the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. Dr. Doten earned her…
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Moving Words: Writers Across Minnesota
Park Rapids Public Library 210 1st St W, Park Rapids, MN, United StatesThursday, September 24 | 6:00 p.m. Park Rapids Area Library 210 1st St W, Park Rapids, MN 56470 Enjoy a lively discussion with three Minnesota authors: Dave Hage, Jess Lourey, and Okwudili Nebeolisa. Moving Words is an opportunity for writers and readers to explore various themes together: the impact of literature in their lives, their…
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More Than a Single Story: Still Here, Together Through the Storm
Rondo Community Library at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center 270 N Kent Street, Saint Paul, MN, United StatesWednesday, September 30 | 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Rondo Community Library at Hallie Q. Brown Center 270 Kent Street, Saint Paul Couples from four Minnesota BIPOC communities will engage in rich, nuanced reflections on family, community, and life during the last six years of upheaval; from the murder of George Floyd, COVID, and the recent…
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Opus & Olives: A Benefit with Friends
Saint Paul RiverCentre 175 Kellogg Boulevard West, Saint PaulOpus & Olives: A Benefit with Friends Sunday, October 11, 2026 5:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception | 6:15 p.m. Dinner and Author Presentations Saint Paul RiverCentre | 175 Kellogg Boulevard West, Saint Paul Learn more here. Opus & Olives is not your average gala. This celebration includes national bestselling authors and hundreds of fellow readers, all…
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Books & Bars: “All the Sinners Bleed” by S.A. Cosby
Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative 1712 Marshall St NE Suite 100, Minneapolis, United StatesAll the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby Wednesday, October 14 6:30 p.m. Broken Clock Brewing 1712 Marshall St NE Suite 100, Minneapolis This event is FREE and open to the public. --- Titus Crown is the first Black sheriff in the history of Charon County, Virginia. In recent decades, quiet Charon has had only two…
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Fitzgerald in Saint Paul | Short Stories with Klecko
Merriam Park Library 1831 Marshall Ave, Saint Paul, MinnesotaThursday, October 15 | 6:30 p.m. Merriam Park Library 1831 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul Explore F. Scott Fitzgerald’s St. Paul stories in a casual environment with St. Paul and Fitzgerald enthusiast, Klecko. Your host will take advantage of his eclectic network to shine a light on the present-day resonance of the themes in Fitzgerald’s short…
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Books & Bars: “All the Sinners Bleed” by S.A. Cosby
Urban Growler 2325 Endicott Street, Saint Paul, MNAll the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby Tuesday, October 20 6:30 p.m. Urban Growler 2325 Endicott St, Saint Paul This event is FREE and open to the public. --- Titus Crown is the first Black sheriff in the history of Charon County, Virginia. In recent decades, quiet Charon has had only two murders. But after…
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Moving Words: Writers Across Minnesota
Jackson County Library 311 3rd St, Jackson, MN, United StatesTuesday, October 27 | 5:30 p.m. Jackson County Library 311 3rd St., Jackson, MN 56143 Enjoy a lively discussion with three Minnesota authors: H.M. Bouwman, Mary Logue, and Kelly Foster Lundquist. Moving Words is an opportunity for writers and readers to explore various themes together: the impact of literature in their lives, their connection as…
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Moving Words: Writers Across Minnesota
Morris Public Library 102 E 6th St, Morris, MN, United StatesThursday, October 29th 6:00 p.m. Morris Public Library 102 E 6th St, Morris, MN 56267 Enjoy a lively discussion with three Minnesota authors: Deborah Jiang-Stein, Hampton Smith, and Jason Walz. Moving Words is an opportunity for writers and readers to explore various themes together: the impact of literature in their lives, their connection as fellow…
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Moving Words: Writers Across Minnesota
Wadena City Library 210 1st St SW, Wadena, MN, United StatesSaturday, November 7 | 10:30 a.m. Wadena City Library 210 1st St SW, Wadena Enjoy a lively discussion with three Minnesota authors: C.M. Alongi, Jacqueline West, and Patricia C. Wrede. Moving Words is an opportunity for writers and readers to explore various themes together: the impact of literature in their lives, their connection as fellow…
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Books & Bars: “Exit Party” by Emily St. John Mandel
Urban Growler 2325 Endicott Street, Saint Paul, MNExit Party by Emily St. John Mandel Tuesday, November 17 6:30 p.m. Urban Growler 2325 Endicott St, Saint Paul This event is FREE and open to the public. --- Los Angeles, 2031: The first spring after the collapse of the United States, peacekeeping troops withdraw from the city, the Jacaranda trees blossom, and the curfew…
Ongoing Series
Books & Bars
With The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, moderator Jeff Kamin brings his unique take on a public book club show to our computer screen every first Wednesday of the month.
Even if you don’t like the featured book, he “guarantees a good time at our entertaining discussions.” All are welcome to try this moderated reinvention of the book club.
Books & Bars: “Exit Party” by Emily St. John Mandel
When: November 18 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pmExit Party by Emily St. John Mandel Wednesday, November 18 6:30 p.m. Broken Clock Brewing 1712 Marshall St NE Suite 100, Minneapolis This event is FREE and open to the public. — Los Angeles, 2031: The first spring after the collapse of the United States, peacekeeping troops withdraw from the city, the Jacaranda trees blossom,…
Books & Bars: “Exit Party” by Emily St. John Mandel
When: November 17 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pmExit Party by Emily St. John Mandel Tuesday, November 17 6:30 p.m. Urban Growler 2325 Endicott St, Saint Paul This event is FREE and open to the public. — Los Angeles, 2031: The first spring after the collapse of the United States, peacekeeping troops withdraw from the city, the Jacaranda trees blossom, and the curfew…
Books & Bars: “Everything is Tuberculosis” by John Green
When: December 16 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pmEverything is Tuberculosis by John Green Wednesday, December 16 6:30 p.m. Broken Clock Brewing 1712 Marshall St NE Suite 100 This event is FREE and open to the public. — Tuberculosis has been entwined with humanity for millennia. Once romanticized as a malady of poets, today tuberculosis is seen as a disease of poverty that…
Books & Bars: “Everything is Tuberculosis” by John Green
When: December 15 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pmEverything is Tuberculosis by John Green Tuesday, December 15 6:30 p.m. Urban Growler 2325 Endicott St, Saint Paul This event is FREE and open to the public. — Tuberculosis has been entwined with humanity for millennia. Once romanticized as a malady of poets, today tuberculosis is seen as a disease of poverty that walks the…
Fitzgerald in Saint Paul
The Friends stewards F. Scott Fitzgerald’s legacy through programming that celebrates the life and literature of the revered author and inspires people to reflect on both his historical and contemporary significance. Learn more here.
Fitzgerald in Saint Paul | Short Stories with Klecko
When: December 10 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pmThursday, December 10 | 6:30 p.m. Merriam Park Library 1831 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul Explore F. Scott Fitzgerald’s St. Paul stories in a casual environment with St. Paul and Fitzgerald enthusiast, Klecko. Your host will take advantage of his eclectic network to shine a light on the present-day resonance of the themes in Fitzgerald’s short…
Fireside Reading Series
Cozy up for four weeks of readings with great writers. In partnership with Saint Paul Public Library, Fireside Reading Series highlights some of Minnesota’s finest writers who have published new work. Events this year took place Wednesday evenings in January at 6:30 p.m. at Rondo Community Library at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center.
The 2026 featured authors were Mindy Mejia, Ricardo Levins Morales, Debra J. Stone, and Greg Gaut.
You can watch recordings of all four events here.
These programs are made possible in part through the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund and an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature to The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library as the Minnesota Center for the Book.
Previous Seasons:
Watch the 2025 recordings here.
Watch the 2024 recordings here.
Watch the 2023 recordings here.
Watch the 2022 recordings here.
Watch the full playlist of events from 2020.
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Read Brave Saint Paul
Read Brave is Saint Paul's annual citywide book club hosted by Mayor Carter and Saint Paul Public Library. Read Brave taps into the power of books to bring residents together to read and talk bravely across generations about an issue critical to Saint Paul and its future. The 2024 Read Brave book pick is the young adult novel Man o’ War by Cory McCarthy.
Sign up for the Read Brave e-newsletters or visit the Library's Read Brave webpage to learn how to access books and events.
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More Than a Single Story
More Than a Single Story is a series of panel discussions/public conversations where writers of color discuss issues of importance to them in their own voices and in their own words.
The 2025 Series is "Songs for Our Fathers: A Series to Celebrate Fatherhood" This series includes two panel discussions that aims to bridge cultural, racial, and generational divides as single fathers, married fathers, stepfathers, and grandfathers gather to explore the songs and silences passed down by our fathers, and the stories we’re crafting now as we raise, support, and stand beside the next generation.
Moderators: Suleiman Adan and Ben Weaver
Click on an event to the right to learn more.
There are no upcoming events to display at this time.