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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Fireside Reading Series: Greg Gaut
Rondo Community Library at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center 270 N Kent Street, Saint Paul, MN, United StatesGreg Gaut, author of The War at Home: Minnesota During the Great War, 1914-1920 Nonfiction Wednesday, January 28 | 6:30 p.m. New location! Rondo Community Library at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center 270 North Kent Street, Saint Paul Or via Zoom | REGISTER HERE for Zoom event About the Book Historian Greg Gaut focuses on the lives of individual Minnesotans to tell the dramatic…
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Books & Bars: “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James MacBride
Utepils 225 Thomas Avenue North, Minneapolis, MNThe Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James MacBride Wednesday, February 18 6:30 p.m. Discussion Utepils 225 Thomas Ave N, Minneapolis This event is FREE and open to the public. --- In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a…
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Books & Bars: “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James MacBride
Urban Growler 2325 Endicott Street, Saint Paul, MNThe Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James MacBride Tuesday, February 24 6:30 p.m. Discussion Urban Growler 2325 Endicott St. St. Paul This event is FREE and open to the public. --- In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was…
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Books & Bars: “Playground” by Richard Powers
Utepils 225 Thomas Avenue North, Minneapolis, MNPlayground by Richard Powers Wednesday, March 18 6:30 p.m. Discussion Utepils 225 Thomas Ave N, Minneapolis This event is FREE and open to the public. --- Twelve-year-old Evie Beaulieu sinks to the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal strapped to one of the world's first aqualungs. Ina Aroita grows up on naval bases across…
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Meet the Finalists of the 2026 Minnesota Book Awards
George Latimer Central Library 90 W 4th Street, Saint PaulMeet the Finalists of the 2026 Minnesota Book Awards Saturday, March 21 | 10:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. George Latimer Central Library | 90 W. Fourth Street, Saint Paul Free and open to the public | Registration requested below (This helps us plan and allows you to get important event updates and more finalist information.) Come meet this…
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Books & Bars: “Playground” by Richard Powers
Urban Growler 2325 Endicott Street, Saint Paul, MNPlayground by Richard Powers Tuesday, March 24 6:30 p.m. Discussion Urban Growler 2325 Endicott St St. Paul This event is FREE and open to the public. --- Twelve-year-old Evie Beaulieu sinks to the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal strapped to one of the world's first aqualungs. Ina Aroita grows up on naval bases…
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Books & Bars: “I Cheerfully Refuse” by Leif Enger
Urban Growler 2325 Endicott Street, Saint Paul, MNI Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger Tuesday, April 21 6:30 p.m. Discussion Urban Growler 2325 Endicott St. St. Paul This event is FREE and open to the public. --- Rainy, an endearing bear of an Orphean narrator, seeks refuge in the harbors, fogs and remote islands of Lake Superior in the not-too-distant future. Encountering lunatic…
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Books & Bars: “I Cheerfully Refuse” by Leif Enger
Utepils 225 Thomas Avenue North, Minneapolis, MNI Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger Wednesday, April 22 6:30 p.m. Discussion Utepils 225 Thomas Ave N Minneapolis This event is FREE and open to the public. --- Rainy, an endearing bear of an Orphean narrator, seeks refuge in the harbors, fogs and remote islands of Lake Superior in the not-too-distant future. Encountering lunatic storms…
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One Book | One Minnesota: Virtual Author Discussion
VirtualOne Book | One Minnesota: Virtual Author Conversation Tuesday, April 29 | 10:00 a.m. Conversation with Cristina Oxtra Free and open to the public | Registration required Cristina Oxtra, author of the featured title What Lolo Wants, will participate in a statewide virtual discussion about her book. Reading Period: March 9 – May 3 One Book | One Minnesota is a…
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2026 Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony
Ordway Center for Performing Arts 345 Washington Street, Saint PaulMinnesota Book Awards Ceremony Wednesday, May 6 | Ordway Center for Performing Arts 345 Washington Street, Saint Paul Get tickets here Free livestream also available Celebrate the state’s best books at the 38th annual Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony, sponsored by Education Minnesota. Readers, writers, and booklovers from all over the state gather together for one…
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Books & Bars
Utepils 225 Thomas Avenue North, Minneapolis, MNBooks & Bars - Minneapolis Wednesday, May 20 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Utepils Brewing 225 Thomas Avenue, Minneapolis Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar Cyrus Shams is a young man grappling with an inheritance of violence and loss: his mother’s plane was shot down over the skies of the Persian Gulf in a senseless accident; and his…
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Fitzgerald in Saint Paul – The St. Paul Stories with Klecko
Merriam Park Library 1831 Marshall Ave, Saint Paul, MinnesotaThursday, May 21 | 6:30 p.m. Merriam Park Library | Meeting Room A 1831 Marshall Avenue, Saint Paul Explore F. Scott Fitzgerald’s St. Paul stories in a casual environment with Saint 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…
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.
There are no upcoming events to display at this time.
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.