Winter at Galesburg Public Library brings cozy books, all the holiday DVDs you can carry, and the Children’s Department’s annual gingerbread house decorating extravaganza. Each December, the upstairs meeting room is transformed into a sugary studio where families gather to create works of gingerbread art.
Missing the thrill of the Summer Reading already? Don’t fret! There are three different reading challenges kids in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade can participate in.
It’s summer, and that means it’s road trip time!
This year’s Summer Reading theme is ‘Read Beyond the Beaten Path’, and fits in just perfectly with road trips and other vacations. No matter how far you’re going, the Children’s Room can make sure you’ve got plenty to listen to and do in the car. We’ve got audiobooks. We’ve got Playaway Views. We’ve got Launchpads. We’ve got books on car games, national parks, camping, atlases so you don’t get lost, and so much more.
Galesburg Public Library’s Summer Reading program for all ages kicks off on Monday, June 6 and lasts for six weeks, ending on Friday, July 15. This year’s theme is “Read Beyond the Beaten Path.” We’ve got programs, prizes, and more for everyone from babies to adults, and participants can choose to join in the fun virtually or in person (or both!).
Did you know that the Galesburg Public Library has a summer reading program for adults? We do! Get a free book just for signing up. You can participate by using a paper log or online. Complete the reading goals and receive a prize and raffle tickets to win gift baskets. Receive extra raffle tickets for attending adult programs.
Teens aged 13 through 18 (or those entering 8th grade and up) are also invited to participate in this year’s teen summer reading program! Get a free book just for signing up…
So, let’s talk about the birds and the bees. And the butterflies. And the bats. And the…lemurs? It’s time to talk about pollinators!
These animals are incredibly important. By transferring pollen from one flower to another, they keep the natural world in good working order, and help us grow our crops. About every third bite of food we eat is thanks to pollinators. Plants that rely on insects and other animals include bat-pollinated agave (where tequila comes from), alfalfa (what cows eat), bananas, chocolate, grapes, pumpkins, tomatoes, vanilla, and so many more! Many of us are familiar with butterflies and European honey bees (who also provide us with honey and wax), but what about other bees?
North America has over 4,000 species of native bees! As a whole, they’re better…
Spend your Spring Break at Galesburg Public Library!
Students in Galesburg School District 205 will be enjoying Spring Break the week of April 11-15. Looking for activities to fill up your kiddos’ days that won’t break the bank? Give one of these free library programs a try.
Maker Madness: Kids in grades K-6 are invited to drop in for free crafting time every weekday morning between 10:00 and noon during Galesburg D205’s Spring Break. Each day we’ll provide a different collection of arts and crafts supplies. Your only limit is your imagination! No registration required; just drop in and see where your creativity takes you…
Spring is in sight, so that must mean it’s time for March Mammal Madness!
Inspired by (but not associated with) the college basketball tournament, MMM is a tournament of simulated combat encounters run by Dr. Katie Hinde at Arizona State University. Now in its tenth year, MMM is a fantastically fun learning opportunity, and is reaching almost half a million learners in classrooms and libraries across the country. Participants learn about zoology, ecology, and conservation, in addition to getting those sweet, sweet bragging rights if their contestant wins…
February is Black History Month, and to celebrate we’re highlighting a little-known but fascinating true story in our Standish Park Storywalk.
Fearless Mary, written by Tami Charles and illustrated by Claire Almon, tells the story of Mary Fields, one of the unsung, trailblazing African American women who helped settle the American West. A former slave, Fields became the first African American woman stagecoach driver in 1895, when, in her 60s, she beat out all the cowboys applying for the job by being the fastest to hitch a team of six horses. She won the dangerous and challenging job, and for many years traveled the badlands with her pet eagle, protecting the mail from outlaws and wild animals, never losing a single horse or package. Fields…
November is Native American Heritage Month. Galesburg Public Library is celebrating by featuring displays of books in both the adult section and here in the Children’s Room. Below, you’ll find some of our favorite children’s books by Indigenous authors and illustrators, including a brand new collection of spooky stories.
We’ve got lots more to recommend, so be sure to ask a librarian for suggestions! Did you know that you can also access our dozens of genre lists online? Just head over to our Readers Advisory page! There you can find our “Native Stories by Native Writers” and “Native American Voices, Native American Lives” lists, among many others…