• Books
  • From board books for babies to tomes for tweens, our vast collection of print resources offers both fiction and nonfiction for children from birth through grade 6.
• Audiobooks
  • Children’s audiobooks are available for loan in both CD and Playaway format. We also offer Playaway bookpacks (which include a mini-collection of titles in both audio and print format), Playaway View all-in-one video players, Playaway Launchpad pre-loaded tablets, and Wonderbooks.
• Music
  • From Laurie Berkner to Raffi, our children’s music collection includes CDs by all your favorite children’s musical artists.
• Unique Items to Check Out
  • The children’s room maintains a collection of themed cake pans, all available to loan. The children’s room also loans out a collection of toys and puppets, including American Girl dolls and STEAM-to-Go kits.

Looking for that perfect book? Ask one of our Children’s Librarians, or grab one of our many themed booklists.

The library welcomes teachers and their classes for library tours. Contact the children’s room at (309) 343-6118 during library hours for further information or to schedule a classroom tour.

Our “Make It, Take It” table in the Children’s Room is available any time the library is open, offering self-serve craft supplies and projects for children and their accompanying grown-ups.

Located in the Children’s Room, this collection contains books and audio visual materials focusing on the autism spectrum of disorders and other related issues, and is intended to provide information for individuals and families who live and work with autism. All books and audio visual materials in the collection are available for loan to Galesburg Public Library cardholders.

Are you in need of of noise-cancelling headphones or a fidget to use while in the library? The Children’s Room maintains a self-serve sensory kit for in-house use. Ask at the Children’s Room desk for more information.

This is my Library social story Patrons with ASD are invited to download and use this free social story designed to introduce people to Galesburg Public Library’s services, procedures, rules, staff, and more.

To browse our physical library collection of books, audiobooks, DVDs, and more, or to request library materials to borrow via curbside checkout, visit our Library Catalog. To borrow e-books and audiobooks, visit any of our e-book libraries:

• Alliance Digital Media Library — uses Libby app
• eRead Illinois — uses Axis 360 app

Not sure what to read next? Visit our Readers Advisory page. Here you’ll find themed book lists for readers of all ages, links to our book review blogs for kids and adults, and resources for hosting your own book club. Want a more personalized recommendation? Fill out a Reader’s Advisory Request and a librarian will hand-select books based on your interests and preferences. Want a bunch of new books to try? Request a Grab & Go bag! Each Grab & Go bag contains up to ten books and fun library surprise for you to keep. You can specify a topic or genre, or just let us surprise you. For a kids’ Grab & Go bag, contact the Children’s Room to get started. For adults or teens, contact the Reference Department.

Galesburg Public Library hosts ongoing reading challenges for youth of all ages. Parents with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers may sign up for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, while youth in grades K-12 may choose one of our Illinois Reader’s Choice Challenges. Whichever one you pick, our challenges allow you to read you way toward earning a free book to keep! Sign up today on our Beanstack page. Prefer to do the challenge screen-free? Paper forms are available by request.

Galesburg Public Library’s Children’s Department offers a number of kids’ kits, available to borrow with your library card. From early literacy to STEAM, these kits are so much fun you won’t even realize you’re learning! For a list of current available kits, click here.

Your library card is your ticket to use subscription databases, most of which are available to use from your own home.

Toddler storytime is intended for children ages 18 – 36 months and their caregivers. Come enjoy interactive stories, songs, and movement, all designed to encourage toddlers’ emerging language skills and point them towards a lifelong love of reading! Toddler storytimes take place Wednesdays at 10:00 AM in the Hiler Room and last approximately 20-30 minutes.

Kids of all ages, together with their caregivers, are invited to come read and play at Family Storytime. Each Family Storytime session offers stories, crafts, and activities, all centered around a different theme. Family Storytime sessions are offered on Monday evenings, when in session, and last approximately 45 minutes.

• All storytimes are free and open to the public. No registration is required.
• Storytimes start promptly. Please allow extra time for parking and getting your child settled.
• Refrain from bringing food or beverages into storytimes.
• Turn off or place on vibrate electronic devices including cell phones.
• If children in your care become disruptive, please remove the child until they are comfortable and ready to listen.