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One County One Book 2025
The One County, One Book community reading title selection for 2025 is The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel.
The One County, One Book initiative is designed to unite the community through a shared reading experience. By encouraging residents across Ventura County to read the same book and participate in related activities, the program sparks conversation and fosters connection. Printed copies of The Art Thief will be available to borrow at all branches and digital eBook and eAudio copies are available through cloudLibrary. Local branches will host book discussions in September and early October.
The author and journalist Michael Finkel
will make a special appearance at the Pavilion at the Museum of Ventura County at 2:00 pm on Saturday, October 11. The event is free, no reservations required.
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Winter Vegetable Gardening
EP Foster Library Topping Room
Saturday, October 4, 11:00 am to 12:00 pmCertified Master Gardener Terry Garman will speak about how to prepare for your winter vegetable garden. You will learn what to plant, when to plant, how to prepare your soil, fertilizing and irrigating, as well as vegetable garden pests.Register for the event at
https://www.library.venturacounty.gov/event/winter-vegetable-gardening-6132
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Ventura Friends of the Library Annual Membership Meeting 2025 Sunday, October 5, 1:00 to 3:00 pm, E.P. Foster Library Topping Room
Our guest speaker, Elisabeth Haggblade was born in 1942 in Munich, Germany. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1961 and became a naturalized citizen. She holds a Masters in Linguistics from CSU Fresno and Ph.D. in English Philology from Freie Universitat Berlin. Academic publications include articles, book reviews and short nonfiction stories. Now retired from academic teaching, she lives in Santa Barbara.Trauterose: Growing Up in Postwar Munich is a memoir of her childhood in Germany after World War II. Orphaned at birth during WWII, she was fostered by a former S.S. officer and his family. Negotiating daily life postwar was challenging living in a garden hut located several miles from school. After her foster mother passed, she was accepted into the Sisters of St. Anna Heim boarding school. This education led to her immigration to the U.S. and teaching.
She will have books for sale at the meeting (cash only) for $18 and she will sign them.
Her presentation will be followed by a brief business meeting to elect the Officers for 2025.
Guests who are interested in our guest speaker or our organization are always welcome at our annual membership meetings.
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Horror in the Stacks
Saturday, October 11
Foster Library – Line starts at the 2nd floor entranceJoin us for a frightfully fun evening as the library transforms into a haunted space!
- 7:00 – 7:30 PM: Spooky Fun for Young Kids
Enjoy a mild version of the haunted library—perfect for younger visitors. - 8:00 – 9:00 PM: Enter If You Dare for All Ages
The scares ramp up! Brave the haunted library if you dare.
This free event is open to youth in grades 5–12. Children in 4th grade or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Hosted by Foster Library’s Teen Advisory Group and sponsored by Ventura Friends of the Library.
- 7:00 – 7:30 PM: Spooky Fun for Young Kids
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The Art Thief discussion
Saticoy Library
Saturday, October 4
10:30 to 11:30 am
Join the discussion of the Ventura County Library’s One County One Book selection, The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel.
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SOCAL – CELLO – CENTRIC
E.P. Foster Library Topping Room
Saturday, June 28, 3:00 to 4:30 pmThree Local Artists. New Cello Music. A variety of guest artists will join in playing violin, viola, electric cello, bass viol and hammered dulcimer. The program is free and open to the public.
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From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall
E.P. Foster Library Topping Room
Saturday, June 7, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Grammy-winning clarinetist David Singer, former Orpheus Chamber Orchestra member, tells stories from his memoir, punctuated by music.
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Protect Our Beaches! with Surfrider Ventura
E.P. Foster Library Topping Room
Saturday, February 8, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
The Surfrider Foundation has been protecting our ocean, waves, and beaches since 1984. Interested in learning more about the ways you can help preserve our local beaches and waterways? Join Surfrider Foundation’s Ventura County chapter in the Topping Room for an overview of their programs and how you can get involved! All ages welcome.
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Vegetable Gardening Fundamentals
Join Certified Master Gardener, Terry Garman at Avenue Library for Vegetable Gardening Fundamentals, Wednesday, January 8, 4:00 to 5:00 pm.
Learn about choosing the right plants for your space and climate and basic growing techniques to help ensure success in this “Getting Started with Growing Your Own Food” class.
Perfect for complete beginners as well as seasoned gardeners looking for some new tips. Walk-ins are welcome or use this link to Register: https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=44108
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25th Anniversary Reception for Sally Weber’s Matrix
E.P. Foster Library
Friday, November 15, 6 to 8 pm
Join us the 25th anniversary celebration of Sally Weber’s stunning artwork Matrix at E.P. Foster Library. Hear from the artist behind the library’s iconic entrance, which has served as a beacon of color and inspiration for the community since its unveiling in 1999. Event hosted in partnership between Ventura County Library and Kelly Coty Design.
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Nutcracker Storytime
E.P. Foster Library Topping Room Saturday, November 16, 11:00 am to noon
EP Foster Library and Ventura County Ballet invite young readers and their families to a special Storytime featuring the Nutcracker story. Dancers will perform select scenes from The Nutcracker, showcasing the beauty and elegance of the beloved ballet. They will lead a dance demonstration where children can learn some basic ballet moves and experience the magic of ballet firsthand. The audience will also have the chance to participate in a Q&A session with Kathie Noblin, Director of Ventura County Ballet, and the ballet dancers.
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Horror in the Stacks 2024
Horror in the stacks E.P.Foster Library Saturday, October 12, 7:30 to 8:30 pm
Visit for a scary fun time as the library turns haunted!
This event is free and open to youth, grades 5 – 12. Children 4th grade or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Hosted by: FOSTER LIBRARY’S TEEN ADVISORY GROUP Sponsored by: VENTURA FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
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Annual Membership Meeting
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North American Trade Beads
Local Ojai author Joseph M. Puglia will visit the Ojai Library at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 31 to give a talk titled “North American Trade Beads.” The history of beads dates back 40,000 years, expressing culture, social circumstance, political history, religious beliefs, wealth and trade. . Dr. Puglia’s focus will be on North American trade beads, exploring their roles in indigenous cultures with an emphasis on artistry. He will share his collection of trade beads dating back to the Lewis and Clark era.
Dr. Puglia is a former college professor who taught English, Philosophy, Social Science, and History of Western Expansion. He also taught high school English on the Cheyenne Reservation at Lame Deer Montana. Currently, he is a writer soon to publish his fifth novel.
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Ventura County Celebration of Books
Ventura County Library Foundation has announced the Ventura County Celebration of Books for 2024. The event will take place on the campus of California State University Channel Islands on Saturday, October 12.
There will be lectures relating to the One County One Book selection, local author tables, family activities and food trucks.
For more information: email@vclibraryfoundation.org
The One County One Book selection is Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder.
