Winter Programs for Children

PROGRAMS:

CREATE A CARD AT THE LIBRARY
We're Delivering Valentines to local Veterans!

All Library Locations
January 17 - February 8

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All Springfield City Library branches are stocked with colored paper, crayons and glue for you and your children to create a Valentine card. Your homemade creation will send heartfelt appreciation and warmest wishes to veterans at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home. Stop in during our open hours January 17 through February 8, or you may drop off a card that you made at home. You'll feel good about sending greetings and those receiving cards are sure to welcome your mail! If you have any questions please call Tricia at the East Springfield Branch Library at (413) 263-6840, or Janet at the Central Library at (413) 263-6828, ext. 422.

Central Library

Download our Winter flyer!

Preschoolers and Toddlers!

TODDLER STORYTIMES: Thursdays, 10 a.m., January 12 - February 16, for ages 12-36 months, siblings welcome.
Join us in the Central Library Children’s Program Room for stories, songs, and movement! Pre-registration required if bringing more than 4 children.

Baby Storytime! 10:30 a.m., Saturdays, January 21, February 11, March 3 & 24
Join us in the Central Library Children's Program Room for stories, songs, and movement! For children birth to 12 months. To sign up please stop into the Central Library Children's Room or register online.

School Age

LEGO Club
Children in grades 1-5 will have the opportunity to learn about architecture and create Lego masterpieces at the Library!
5:30-6:30 pm, Mondays, November 21 - February 27.
Meets in the Children’s Program Room – drop in and build some fun!
Special thanks to LEGO Charity for their generous gift of LEGO and DUPLO bricks.

SCAVENGER HUNTS:
Come to the Children’s Room and pick up your clue sheet. Read the clues and find the answers hidden around the Children’s Room. Return your sheet to the reference desk and claim your prize! Drop-in anytime during open hours to participate. For children ages 5-12.
Join us December 27 through 29 and February 21 through 24.

Everyone!

SATURDAY STORYTIMES
1:30 p.m., 2nd-5th Saturdays of the month. Ages 3-8, siblings welcome.
No registration required, but do give us your name if you'd like a reminder call. Held in the Children's Program Room.

FAMILIES READ!
First Saturday of every month!
Drop in to the Children's Room anytime between 1:15 and 2:30 p.m. to participate. Family members sign in, then share a book (or a book chapter) together. Once you're done, come into the Program Room to play the board game of your choice and enjoy a small snack! For adults and children 12 and under.

Branches

Preschool Storytimes

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It’s never too soon to start reading to your child! Bring your little one to our special storytimes and instill in them the joy of reading and the magic of books! Register now.

Mondays at 10:30 a.m., Indian Orchard Branch, 44 Oak Street
Wee Ones! Beginning January 23, appropriate for ages 1-2 years

Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., East Springfield Branch, 21 Osborne Terrace
Beginning January 18, appropriate for ages 3-8; just drop in!

Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., Central Library, 220 State Street
January 12-February 16, for ages 12-36 months, siblings welcome. Stories, songs, and movement in the Children’s Program Room! Pre-registration required if bringing more than 4 children.

Thursdays at 10 a.m., Sixteen Acres Branch, 1187 Parker Street
Beginning January 19, appropriate for ages 3 1/2 - 5

Fridays at 10:15 a.m., East Forest Park Branch, 122 Island Pond Road
Music and Movement, appropriate for ages 2-5, beginning January 20.

MASON SQUARE BRANCH PROGRAMS

DR. SEUSS'S BIRTHDAY!

February 29 - March 2.

Imagine! He'd be 108 years old this year! Help us celebrate by rearranging some giant Seuss words to make your own story. Drop into the Children's area during open hours to participate. For ages 5-12. February 29 through March 2.

SCAVENGER HUNTS

February 22 - 24

It's a scavenger hunt! Come to the Children's Room and pick up your clue sheet. Read the clues and find the answers hidden around the Children's Room. Return your sheet to the reference desk and claim your prize! Drop-in anytime during open hours to participate. For ages 5-12. Join us February 22 through 24.

CABIN FEVER!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Thursday, March 22, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Have you got Cabin Fever? Do you love The Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Join us in the Children's area and participate in DWK activities to help shake off those Doldrums! Ages 6-12.

“DOGGY STORYTIME” AT THE LIBRARY
Read to Apple the Akita at the Forest Park Branch

Thursdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29, 4-5:30 pm

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Families are invited to hear some doggy stories including The Doggy Who Belonged to No One and Martha and Skits , plus doggy rhymes, songs and activities at Springfield City Library's Forest Park Branch. As a special treat, Apple (who is “sweet to the core”), a real Akita dog, will join us and you can read to her if you'd like. Bring a book or choose a story from the library collection that you'd like to read to Apple. Participants will receive a free book!

Join the fun at “Doggy Storytime” on Thursday, March 8, 15, 22, 29, from 4-5:30 p.m. Judith Kelly and her Akita dog, Apple, will join us at 5 p.m. and will stay as long as there are kids that want to read to her! Space is limited so please pre-register by calling the branch, 380 Belmont Avenue, at (413) 263-6843 or registering online. This program is recommended for children in grades K-3.

Funding for this program is provided through the generosity of the Friends of the Springfield Library, Martha Speaks books have been donated by WGBY, Public Television for Western New England.

American Girls Club at East Springfield Branch
Third Wednesday of the month
3:45 - 5 pm

Every month fans of the American Girls books and dolls get together to discuss the books and learn about historical events featured in the books by playing games, making crafts, having a snack, and seeing other library materials related to the era portrayed in the book. Girls aged 7 to 12 are welcome to join the club.

Copies of the books will be available to check out. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required! Call Tricia at 263-6840 or stop by the branch to sign up.

Drop-in Crafts

Children and families are invited to complete a craft project when they visit the library. All activities are free, and no registration is necessary. The schedule for drop-in crafts activities is:

Brightwood Branch: Thursdays, 3:30-5 pm.

East Springfield Branch: Wednesdays, 3-4:30pm

Indian Orchard Branch: Wednesdays, 3:30 - 5 pm.

Liberty Branch: Tuesdays, 3-4:30 pm.

Pine Point Branch: Fridays, 10 am - 5 pm

Sixteen Acres Branch: Saturdays, 11 am-3 pm.
PLUS a special origami drop-in activity from 12-2 on the third Saturday of the month.

School and childcare groups:

All library locations welcome group visits; please call your neighborhood branch to book a visit for stories or library activities. Contact the branch hosting the storytime you’d like to sign up for and they will get you registered.

For more information about Children's Programs at the Springfield City Library, call the Children's Desk at 263-6828 ext 201.