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
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibit: Gatsby & Fitzgerald Collection 10:00 am Exhibit: Gatsby & Fitzgerald Collection @ The Minnesota History Center Mar 20 @ 10:00 am – May 31 @ 4:00 pm 
Exhibit: Gatsby & Fitzgerald Collection at the Minnesota Historical Society March 20 – May 31 2025 The Minnesota History Center 345 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul View objects from Fitzgerald’s life and world on display… | ||||||
| Live Reading: “The Great Gatsby” 1:00 pm Live Reading: “The Great Gatsby” @ The Minnesota History Center Apr 10 @ 1:00 pm – 7:30 pm
The Great Gatsby: Live reading at the Minnesota History Center Thursday, April 10 | 1:00 – 7:30 p.m. The Minnesota History Center 345 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul Click here to download voucher for complimentary… | ||||||
| Book Club Discussion | Books & Bars: “The Great Gatsby – A Graphic Novel Adaptation” by Katherine Woodman Maynard 6:30 pm Book Club Discussion | Books & Bars: “The Great Gatsby – A Graphic Novel Adaptation” by Katherine Woodman Maynard @ Urban Growler Apr 15 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Books & Bars: The Great Gatsby – A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Katherine Woodman Maynard Tuesday, April 15 | 6:30 p.m. Discussion Urban Growler 2325 Endicott Street, Saint Paul The artist, Katherine Woodman Maynard,… | ||||||
| 37th Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony 6:00 pm 37th Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony @ Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Apr 22 @ 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm 
37th Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony Tuesday, April 22 | Ordway Center for Performing Arts 345 Washington Street, Saint Paul Learn more, get tickets, or register for the livestream here. Celebrate the state’s best book books… | Books & Bars: “The Great Gatsby – A Graphic Novel Adaptation” by Katherine Woodman Maynard 6:30 pm Books & Bars: “The Great Gatsby – A Graphic Novel Adaptation” by Katherine Woodman Maynard @ Sociable Ciderwerks Apr 23 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm 
The Great Gatsby – A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Katherine Woodman Maynard Wednesday, April 22 6:30 p.m. Discussion Sociable Ciderwerks 1500 Fillmore St NE Minneapolis This event is FREE and open to the public. —… | |||||
| One Book | One Minnesota Virtual Author Conversation 10:00 am One Book | One Minnesota Virtual Author Conversation @ Virtual Apr 29 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am 
One Book | One Minnesota Virtual Author Conversation Tuesday, April 29 | 10:00 a.m. With Diane Wilson, Sun Yung Shin, Shannon Gibney & John Coy Free and open to the public | Register here 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.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Wedsday, May 21
6:30 p.m. Discussion
Sociable Ciderwerks
1500 Fillmore St NE
Minneapolis
This event is FREE and open to the public.
—
In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time.
She is tasked with working as a “bridge”: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. Forced to confront the choices that brought them together, the bridge must finally reckon with how—and whether she believes—what she does next can change the future.
—
With The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, moderator Jeff Kamin brings his unique take on a public book club show to Saint Paul. 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.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Tuesday, May 27
6:30 p.m. Discussion
Urban Growler
2325 Endicott Street
St. Paul
This event is FREE and open to the public.
—
In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time.
She is tasked with working as a “bridge”: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. Forced to confront the choices that brought them together, the bridge must finally reckon with how—and whether she believes—what she does next can change the future.
—
With The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, moderator Jeff Kamin brings his unique take on a public book club show to Saint Paul. 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.
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.
Exhibit: Gatsby & Fitzgerald Collection at the Minnesota Historical Society
March 20 – May 31 2025
The Minnesota History Center
345 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul
View objects from Fitzgerald’s life and world on display at the History Center. Items from the collection will be on display in the Gale Family Library through May. Entry is free.
Gatsby at 100
2025 is the 100th anniversary of the publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book The Great Gatsby. To mark this milestone, The Friends will convene a variety of programs that invite us to revisit the book and consider how its themes apply today. Learn more and browse programs here.
Minnesota Women Authors of the 1920’s – Featured Collection
May 2025
George Latimer Central Library | Magazine Room (Third Floor)
90 West 4th Street, Saint Paul
Go beyond F. Scott Fitzgerald with these works by women authors of the 1920’s. Explore rare copies of books on loan from the Minnesota Historical Society (for in-library viewing only), and check out Saint Paul Public Library’s own jazz-age collection of women writers from across the country.
Gatsby at 100
2025 is the 100th anniversary of the publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book The Great Gatsby. To mark this milestone, The Friends will convene a variety of programs that invite us to revisit the book and consider how its themes apply today. Learn more and browse programs here.
Beautiful Little Fools: Author Talk with Jillian Cantor
Tuesday, June 10 | 6:15 p.m.
Riverview Public Library
1 George St E, St Paul, MN 55107
Livestream also available. | Register for livestream here.
Author Jillian Cantor will talk about her book Beautiful Little Fools. The book tells the stories of the women of The Great Gatsby in the years leading up to the events portrayed in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book.
Jillian Cantor is the best-selling author of 13 novels for teens and adults. Her work has been translated into 15 languages. She currently lives in Arizona.
To request ASL interpretation or other accommodations, contact [email protected] or 651-222-3242 at least seven days in advance. The livestream will be captioned.
Gatsby at 100
2025 is the 100th anniversary of the publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book The Great Gatsby. To mark this milestone, The Friends will convene a variety of programs that invite us to revisit the book and consider how its themes apply today. Learn more and browse programs here.
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 take place Wednesday evenings in January at 6:30 p.m. at Rondo Community Library and via Zoom.
January 15 | Jokeda “JoJo” Bell, Red Stained: The Life of Hilda Simms
January 22 | Naomi Cohn, The Braille Encyclopedia
January 29 | Pallavi Sharma Dixit, Edison
Captioning will be provided for all four Zoom livestream events; ASL interpretation will be provided for the 1/31 event and is available upon request for the other events with at least seven days’ notice. Contact [email protected] or 651-222-3242.
These programs are made possible in part through 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 2024 recordings here.
Watch the 2023 recordings here.
Watch the 2022 recordings here.
Watch the full playlist of events from 2020.
Listen to podcasts from previous years.
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.
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
Panel discussions will be posted soon.