Registration is required to view the live event and submit questions for the author. Register using the Event URL below.

Extinctopedia tells a complex story, not just of those who are extinct but also of those in greatest peril, with explanations of what threatens their survival. It is also a story of hope—hopes for animals that have been rediscovered, hope in the form of newly-discovered animals, and hope that we might hear the warning call and act to preserve the amazing biodiversity of our fragile planet for future generations to come.

You’re invited to grab your family and friends and join us as Smithsonian scientists highlight information found in the Smithsonian’s book, Extinctopedia: Discover What We Have Lost, What Is at Risk, and How We Can Preserve the Diversity of Our Fragile Planet.

In this talk, you will discover: 

• Animals that are no longer with us
• Endangered animals at risk of extinction
• Organizations that aim to protect animal life
• Strategies for preserving biodiversity

Extinctopedia provides a fascinating catalog of life on earth and encourages the reader to find ways of preserving the incredible diversity of species, so we may all thrive and life itself can endure on this amazing and beautiful planet.

About the Presenters: 

Brian Gratwicke is a conservation biologist and leads the amphibian conservation programs at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Brian’s focus is building capacity to conserve amphibians in Appalachia and Panama, developing outreach and educational programs and exhibits to build public support for amphibian conservation, and research to develop tools to reintroduce amphibians back into the wild. At SCBI, Brian collaborates with Panamanian conservation biologists and zoo partners to build an ex-situ amphibian facility in Panama. The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project based at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa maintains and grows captive assurance populations of species most heavily affected by the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus. One major research focus is developing applied solutions for the amphibian chytrid fungus, including research into the area of beneficial skin bacteria and identifying genetic traits associated with resistance to the disease. He also conducts research into emerging diseases and the effects of climate change on Appalachian salamanders.

Gratwicke grew up in Zimbabwe and began his conservation work researching the impacts to freshwater fish in Africa. In 2000, he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship that took him to Oxford, where he studied marine fish communities in the British Virgin Islands for his doctorate. After completing his doctorate, Gratwicke moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked as a program administrator and then assistant director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Save the Tiger Fund.

Dr. Gina Della Togna is a researcher and conservationist, currently serving as the Executive Director of the Amphibian Survival Alliance and a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Dr. Della Togna earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, with a specialization in Molecular and Cell Biology, from the University of Maryland, USA. Her groundbreaking research focuses on the reproductive biology of amphibians and the development of Assisted Reproductive Technologies for endangered species facing challenges in reproduction. As the co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group ARTs and Biobanking working group since 2017 and co-author of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP), Dr. Della Togna plays a vital role in advancing conservation efforts for amphibian species worldwide. Additionally, she is part of the IUCN SSC ASG Atelopus Task Force and member of the Atelopus Survival Initiative, co-chairing the Ex Situ Working Group. Dr. Della Togna serves on the Advisory Board of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, further showcasing her commitment to species preservation. Her dedication to amphibian conservation extends to her involvement in global, regional, and local initiatives, where she fosters collaborations and spearheads innovative projects to safeguard amphibian populations. Her expertise and passion have made her a leading figure in the field of conservation biology, inspiring positive change for the future of amphibians and their ecosystems.

SCLD Online Authors Series

🌟 Business & BBQ - Business Growth Strategies that Actually Work! 🌟

Featuring Profectus Business Consulting

Get ready for an energizing Lunch & Learn on June 4th at Longhorn Barbecue in Airway Heights! 🔥 Join Kendra Wiiest, Senior Certified Business Coach and Owner of Profectus Business Consulting, as she shares smart strategies to help your business grow, thrive, and overcome common roadblocks.

From leadership tips to actionable insights, you’ll leave with tools you can put to work right away 💡 — and as a special bonus, all attendees will receive Profectus’s exclusive Hiring e-Book (one client used it to get 160 applicants! 🙌).

Don’t miss this chance to learn, network with fellow business pros, and enjoy some great BBQ 🍖.

📅 Mark your calendar today! Space is limited!

Linger at the Lake - FREE Concert Series

Get ready to linger lakeside all summer with our second annual, FREE concert series at Medical Lake Waterfront Park! Each night brings live music from 6:00 PM–8:00 PM, delicious food vendors, a beer garden, a kids’ zone, car show and more family fun—plus the best sunset views in town!

• Friday, June 20, 2025 – Whack A Mole, a 5-piece powerhouse delivering electrifying rock ’n’ roll to kick off our Founders Day weekend City of Medical Lake
• ​Thursday, July 3, 2025 – Soul Proprietor, a 9-piece ensemble with horns spinning soul, funk and pop to fuel your Independence Day celebration City of Medical Lake

• Thursday, July 31, 2025 – Sara Brown Band, a 5-piece boogie force rocking blues, rock, pop and funk under the stars City of Medical Lake

• Sunday, August 31, 2025 – Justyn Priest Band, a hot 4-piece guitar outfit blending country, rock and blues for a grand summer send-off City of Medical Lake 
  
  Mark your calendars, pack a picnic blanket, and join the fun at 1300 S. Lefevre St. for four unforgettable nights of music and community spirit!
  
  On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559759082956&sk=events 

Camp Code for Girls is a FREE week-long program that makes computer programming fun and accessible for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade girls. Campers gain hands-on experience in coding, while learning how to solve real-world problems, build mobile apps, and make a positive impact.

Instructors and guest speakers—all accomplished tech professionals—connect with the campers to introduce them to the opportunities open to women in tech from programming to engineering to cybersecurity, and more!

Registration is required to view the live event and submit questions for the author. Register using the Event URL below.

Join us as award-winning author and summer reading champion Katherine Applegate talks to viewers about her enthusiastically heartwarming novel in verse, Odder. 

Everyone wants to meet Odder, the Queen of Play. Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she’s known. She’s a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself―and about the humans who hope to save her.

Katherine Applegate’s Odder, is inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers. This poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature’s most beloved and charming animals.

About the Author: Katherine Applegate is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including The One and Only Ivan, Wishtree, Crenshaw, the Endling series, the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series.  She lives with her husband, who writes as the author Michael Grant, and their children in California.

SCLD Online Authors Series

Ages 5+ & their families

Come to the library for fun and games created by you! Design and build your very own board game to play with your friends and family.