It’s no secret that we LOVE libraries here at Out and About Mom. From play areas to programs, our public libraries offer tons of FREE fun for the whole family. And that’s why we get so excited about this annual event aimed at inspiring folks to check out their local library!
Source: www.ctlibrarians.org
On Saturday, February 3, 2018, public libraries throughout Connecticut and beyond will celebrate the seventh annual Take Your Child to the Library Day with free events and activities for children and families.
Since it began in Connecticut in 2012, Take Your Child to the Library Day has grown to be an international celebration with nearly 1,000 participating libraries from 49 states and 5 countries! For the 2018 event, there are dozens of CT towns participating in this fun event for families:
Source: www.ctlibrarians.org
According to the Connecticut Library Consortium (www.ctlibrarians.org), here are just a few of the unique activities you’ll find going on at libraries across the state for Take Your Child to the Library Day:
- Wild Things @ The Library! The Stratford Library has a host of “wild” activities throughout the day, including Monster Music Time, Monster Masks, Ancient Reptiles and an I-Spy game. There will be a “read-in” all day – read for 15 minutes and receive a goody bag. All children who visit will receive a free book to take home.
- Chill Out and Read! The Woodbury Library kicks off their Winter Read program, and anyone who registers will get a book bag. Stay for Stories with Bailey, a golden retriever therapy dog registered with Pet Partners. Bailey will do a few tricks including playing baseball. Children will each make a dog craft to take home.
- I Love the Library events at Hartford Public Library and branches include a library scavenger hunt, photo booth, and crafts to decorate and personalize bookmarks and tote bags to carry their library books.
- Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton invite families for a talk by local authors Stephanie Robinson and Jessica Haight authors of the popular “Fairday Morrow” series for children. Then at 3:00pm, see “Critter Caravan,” an interactive animal program that will have children learn using all of their senses while being up close to a variety of interesting creatures in a gentle and inclusive environment.
- Burlington Public Library will offer reading and signing with local author Jenna Grodzicki. At 1:00. “Real Good Play” will bring their oversized foam blocks to provide creative play, building skills and teamwork.
- Wallingford Public Library offers something for everyone, including a fuzzy friend storytime, chess club, sensory storytime, and a Garden Club hibernation program.
- Brookfield Library will host a full day of events, including a teddy bear sleepover, “Donuts with Dad,” “Bird Brains” program by Horizon Wings, and more.
- Guilford Library celebrates with drop-in engineering activities throughout the day.
- Activities at the Bloomfield Libraries include storyteller Deidre Murtha, local author visits by Marion Dodd and Talia Aikins-Nunez, a magic show with Chris Lengyl, and “knitting” with straws for charity.
- Deep River Library will be hosting ABC Amigos for a Spanish music and movement program perfect for the preschool set.
So be sure to check with your local library to see what special festivities might be planned on Saturday, February 3rd. Or, perhaps challenge yourself to visit a new-to-you library in a neighboring town. Libraries are really one of our greatest resources for family fun and an important part of the lives of both parents and children! To find a library near you, visit ctlibrarians.org/findmylibrary.
Can’t make it out on the 3rd? No worries. Many libraries have a wide range of monthly or even weekly events and activities to discover, so just a little time spent perusing a library’s website can yield tons of great outing ideas!
We’ve had a lot of fun at our local libraries over the years! We started taking our kids there when they were just babies. Check out some of our favorite library adventures:
- Avon Free Public Library – 2012 visit and 2014 visit (Avon, CT)
- Bishops Corner Library (West Hartford, CT)
- Cragin Memorial Library (Colchester, CT)
- Enfield Public Library – Vehicle Day (Enfield, CT)
- Farmington Main Library and Tots and Tunes Class (Farmington, CT)
- Faxon Branch Library (West Hartford, CT)
- Hartford Public Library, Downtown Branch (Hartford, CT)
- Noah Webster Library – Baby Play Area and Baby Time Class (West Hartford, CT)
- Ridgefield Library (Ridgefield, CT)
- Rocky Hill Library (Rocky Hill, CT)
- Russell Library First Saturdays Story and Craft Time (Middletown, CT)
- Simsbury Library (Simsbury, CT)
- Welles-Turner Memorial Library – Children’s Section, One is W-One-derful class and Tinkerlab (Glastonbury, CT)
- South Windsor Public Library (South Windsor, CT)
- Wethersfield Library (Wethersfield, CT)
- Windsor Public Library Second Saturdays Playgroup (Windsor, CT)
And if you have a fantastic library near you that we haven’t explored, we’d love to know about it! Please leave us a comment on this post or email us at outandaboutmom@gmail.com with more information.
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