Missoula Writes: 18th Annual Writing Contest
Our 18th annual writing contest kicks off Friday, January 2, 2026. We welcome fiction, non-fiction, and poetry submissions from writers in the following age groups: 8-10, 11-14, 15-18, and 19+. Cash prizes will be awarded to the first-, second-, and third-place winners in each category and age group. Full contest rules and submission link are available on our website.
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Events for February
2
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
AARP TaxAide
Cooper Room A
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Art with a Purpose
Families First Classroom
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
LEGO Club
Imaginarium
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lolo LEGO Club
Lolo Community Library
6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
Learn Computer Animation with Blender
MCAT
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
One Book Montana – Becoming Little Shell Book Club
Blackfoot Room
Events for February
3
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
AARP TaxAide
Cooper Room A
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Infant to 3-Year-Old Playgroup
Imaginarium
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Tiny Tales at EmPower Place
EmPower Place
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
College Financial Aid Workshop – Understanding How to Pay for CollegeThe workshop has been canceled and will be rescheduled
Blackfoot Room
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Dads and Dialogue
Families First Classroom
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Gratefulness and Grilled Cheese
Demonstration Kitchen
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
Events for February
4
9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Spice It Up: Library Spice Club
Demonstration Kitchen
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Kids STEM Building
Families First Classroom
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Open Hours/Sewing Drop In
MakerSpace
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Peaceful Bracelet Making Club
Imaginarium
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Seeley Lake Branch Library: Student Reading Group
Seeley Lake Branch Library
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Big Sky Writers’ Group
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
Events for February
5
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
11:00 am
Seeley Lake Book Club
Seeley Lake Branch Library
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
YMCA Yoga at the Library
Cooper Room A
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Missoula Scholastic Chess Club at MPL
Imaginarium
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Big Sky Branch Tech Time
Big Sky Branch Library
Events for February
6
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Swan Valley Branch Story Time
Swan Valley Branch
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Art Box
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Teddy Bear Sleepover
Imaginarium
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
First Friday: Like Mother, Like Daughter
Level Four
Events for February
7
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Ice Cream for Breakfast
Art Box
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
11:30 am
Story Time
Imaginarium
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Rooted: Enhancing Children’s Wellbeing through Nature Connection Workshops
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
A Cozy Afternoon with Missoula Poets
Cooper Room A
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
D&D Guild for Teens
Virtual Event
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Learn 3 Camera Studio
MCAT
9:00 pm - 11:00 am
Teddy Bear Sleepover
Imaginarium
Events for February
9
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
AARP TaxAide
Cooper Room A
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Art with a Purpose
Families First Classroom
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
LEGO Club
Imaginarium
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lolo LEGO Club
Lolo Community Library
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Yarns @ Lolo
Lolo Community Library
6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
Learn Computer Animation with Blender
MCAT
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
One Book Montana – Becoming Little Shell Book Club
Blackfoot Room
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Meet the Playwright & the Director of Can’t Drink Salt Water
Cooper Room A
Events for February
10
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
AARP TaxAide
Cooper Room A
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Infant to 3-Year-Old Playgroup
Imaginarium
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Tiny Tales at EmPower Place
EmPower Place
2:00 pm
Memory Café
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Words as Resistance: A Teen Poetry Workshop
Blackfoot Room
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Winter Olympics Watch Party!
Cooper Room A
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
Events for February
11
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Resource Access Day (RAD)
Level Four
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Kids STEM Building
Families First Classroom
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Story Time for Diverse Abilities
Art Box
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Swan Valley Book Chat
Swan Valley Branch
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Open Hours/Sewing Drop In
MakerSpace
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Peaceful Bracelet Making Club
Imaginarium
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Seeley Lake Branch Library: Student Reading Group
Seeley Lake Branch Library
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Big Sky Writers’ Group
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Potomac Branch Library Book Club
Potomac Branch Library
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
2nd Wednesday Night Book Group
Blackfoot Room
Events for February
12
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
YMCA Yoga at the Library
Cooper Room A
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Game On! @ MPL
Imaginarium
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Big Sky Branch Tech Time
Big Sky Branch Library
Events for February
13
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Art Box
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
D&D Guild for Adults
Virtual Event
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Teen After Hours UnValentine’s Day Party
Level Two
Events for February
14
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
11:30 am
Story Time
Imaginarium
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Rooted: Enhancing Children’s Wellbeing through Nature Connection Workshops
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Love Your Therapy Dog Meet and Greet
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Learn 3 Camera Studio
MCAT
Events for February
15
No Events
Events for February
16
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lolo LEGO Club
Lolo Community Library
Events for February
17
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Infant to 3-Year-Old Playgroup
Imaginarium
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Tiny Tales at EmPower Place
EmPower Place
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
Events for February
18
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Kids STEM Building
Families First Classroom
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Open Hours/Sewing Drop In
MakerSpace
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Windows User Group
Blackfoot Room
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Peaceful Bracelet Making Club
Imaginarium
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Seeley Lake Branch Library: Student Reading Group
Seeley Lake Branch Library
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Big Sky Writers’ Group
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
6:30 pm
3rd Wednesday Book Group
Art Box
Events for February
19
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Death Cafe @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
YMCA Yoga at the Library
Cooper Room A
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Game On! @ MPL
Imaginarium
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Big Sky Branch Tech Time
Big Sky Branch Library
5:45 pm
Frenchtown Book Club
Frenchtown Branch Library
Events for February
20
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Swan Valley Branch Story Time
Swan Valley Branch
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Art Box
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
Events for February
21
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
11:30 am
Story Time
Imaginarium
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Rooted: Enhancing Children’s Wellbeing through Nature Connection Workshops
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Sensory Story Time
Imaginarium
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
D&D Guild for Teens
Virtual Event
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Learn 3 Camera Studio
MCAT
Events for February
22
No Events
Events for February
23
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
AARP TaxAide
Cooper Room A
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Art with a Purpose
Families First Classroom
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
LEGO Club
Imaginarium
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lolo LEGO Club
Lolo Community Library
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Yarns @ Lolo
Lolo Community Library
6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
Learn Computer Animation with Blender
MCAT
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm
Financial Fraud and Scams
Cooper Room B
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
One Book Montana – Becoming Little Shell Book Club
Blackfoot Room
Events for February
24
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
AARP TaxAide
Cooper Room A
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Infant to 3-Year-Old Playgroup
Imaginarium
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Tiny Tales at EmPower Place
EmPower Place
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Basal Hospitality Cooking Class
Demonstration Kitchen
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
4HistoryBuffs
Cooper Room
Events for February
25
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Kids STEM Building
Families First Classroom
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Story Time for Diverse Abilities
Art Box
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Open Hours/Sewing Drop In
MakerSpace
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Peaceful Bracelet Making Club
Imaginarium
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Seeley Lake Branch Library: Student Reading Group
Seeley Lake Branch Library
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Big Sky Writers’ Group
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm
Library Board of Trustees Meeting
Blackfoot Room
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
Events for February
26
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
YMCA Yoga at the Library
Cooper Room A
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Game On! @ MPL
Imaginarium
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Big Sky Branch Tech Time
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Like Mother, Like Daughter: Breaking the Cycle of Bias and Hate
Level Four
Events for February
27
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Art Box
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
D&D Guild for Adults
Virtual Event
Events for February
28
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
11:30 am
Story Time
Imaginarium
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Linux User Group
Blackfoot Room
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Rooted: Enhancing Children’s Wellbeing through Nature Connection Workshops
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Learn 3 Camera Studio
MCAT
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