April 2026
News & Events
EARTH DAY ASK A MASTER GARDENER: THE ABCs OF SUMMER GARDENING Sat | Apr 25 | 10:00am – 11:30am | DR Learn about gardening in the heat, including watering strategies, shading options, the monsoon season, and what you can plant in your summer garden. Q&A with Maricopa County Master Gardeners will follow. "CLIMATE FUTURE": A SHORT FILM FESTIVAL Thurs | Apr 23 | 5:30pm – 7:30pm | GW Experience ten short films from four continents, exploring global views while inspiring reflection, empowerment, and action.
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MASON JAR BEEHIVES FOR EARTH DAY Wed | Apr 22 | 3:30pm – 4:30pm | MEL Kids will make their own mason jar beehives while learning why bees are so important to our planet. PLANT SWAP & PROPAGATION DEMONSTRATIONS Sat | Apr 11 | 10:00am – 12:00pm | RM Bring your potted plants and cuttings to swap with other plant lovers. Maricopa County Master Gardeners will conduct planting demonstrations and provide propagation tips.
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HOW TO READ THIS GUIDE: ☑ Registration required
🎟 Ticketed event
CITIZEN SCIENCE MONTH Each April, SciStarter's Citizen Science Month celebrates the people, projects, and scientific outcomes made possible through public participation in scientific research. In 2026, SciStarter is working toward a shared goal of 2.50 Million Acts of Science, marking America’s 250th anniversary through collective discovery, service, and impact.
CITIZEN SCIENCE: DO NASA SCIENCE LIVE Wed | Apr 29 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | RM Do NASA Science LIVE is a fun, hands-on event that invites everyone to help NASA do real science. CITIZEN SCIENCE: EARTH DAY ANIMAL SPOT-A-THON Wed | Apr 22 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | RM Wed | Apr 22 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | MN Wed | Apr 22 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | GW Celebrate Earth Day by helping scientists monitor wildlife! You’ll explore trail camera photos and help classify the animals you see. This NASA-supported research project tracks changes in wildlife distributions and abundances over time—critical data that informs wildlife management and conservation decisions. CITIZEN SCIENCE: GAME NIGHT FOR SCIENCE Thurs | Apr 16 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | MN Play Stall Catchers, a research-based online game that helps scientists identify blocked blood vessels in the brain. These classifications support ongoing Alzheimer’s disease research.
Tickets are handed out 30 min prior to program start.
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Prerequisite Must be comfortable using a mouse and a keyboard.
⚙ THINKspot program
Make and create in our THINKspot makerspace. To learn more about equipment and training visit: mesalibrary.org/thinkspot
Need a library card? Scan this code to apply online!
🌞 Outdoor program
Some events, including most at Mesa Express Library are held outdoors; please come prepared for the elements.
America 250 program Mesa celebrates America’s 250th anniversary! Learn more at mesaaz.gov/america250
Library Card Application mesalibrary.org/getacard
CITIZEN SCIENCE: TRANSCRIPTION MISSION Fri | Apr 10 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | MN Research and transcribe the historical Freedmen's Bureau Papers with others, in real time. Smithsonian experts will kick things off by explaining the research, goals, and historical importance of the Freedmen’s Bureau records. You’ll receive step-by-step instructions, then be guided to an easyto-use website to transcribe handwritten documents into searchable text. Your work will help preserve and unlock records documenting the lives of formerly enslaved individuals during Reconstruction. Please bring your smart phone, laptop, or tablet. A limited number of laptops will be provided. CITIZEN SCIENCE: WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE ON MARS? Thurs | Apr 2 | 11:00am – 1:00pm | GW Step into a new kind of space mission by looking at a set of NASA online images for signs of clouds above Mars. Every cloud you spot helps scientists understand daily and seasonal weather patterns. Your questions will be answered in real-time, too! All you need is a computer, iPad, or smartphone with Wi-Fi...and your curiosity!