Kids & Family Programs
Earn prizes by reading books until July 27.
Stop by your local branch library to sign up. Start logging your reading to win prizes at each 4, 8, and 12 hours! Read more for a chance to win even bigger prizes such as a telescope (kids), ASUS Laptop & King’s Island Tickets (teens), and a $50 Walmart Gift Card (adults). While you’re at it, pick up a list of all the fun kids, teen, and adult events being held during the summer at your PCDL branch!
Families: Outer Space Magic Show with Jim Kleefeld
Jim’s new show Outer Space Magic is the most FUN Summer Reading Club program Jim has done in years! Kids will be amazed as they watch Astronaut Andy get rid of ALIEN EGGS, see a wacky Space Crew who mis-assemble their spaceship, and the clever, witty ZORK, the Flying Alien. Jim’s new show is bright and colorful and interactive, so children get to be helpers and participants and help create the magic all along the way! Jim Kleefeld’s Outer Space Magic Show is 45 minutes long, highlights books and reading, is suitable for ages 4-12 and entertaining for parents as well as children.
• July 25,at 5 p.m.: Eldorado Branch
• July 25, at 2 p.m.: Eaton Branch
• July 26, at 10 a.m.: Eaton Branch
Kids: A Universe of Storytimes
July 24, at 1 p.m. at the West Alexandria Branch: Rocket into space, become an astronaut, meet some aliens, learn about the stars. You never know what Miss Kathy has in store for you in her Universe of Stories. Activities may include crafts, stories, snacks, dancing, music — who knows!
Wild Hearts Mobile Zoo
July 24, at 4:30 p.m. at the West Manchester Branch and July 25, at 3 p.m. at the West Elkton Branch: Wild Hearts Mobile Zoo will be visiting two of our libraries to help close out the Summer Reading Program! This 1-hour long program will feature 5-7 live animals varying from birds, mammals, reptiles, arthropods plus touchable furs and artifacts.
Intro to Astronomy with Lori Cutright
July 27, at 1 p.m. at the Eaton Branch: We are closing out Summer Reading with a closer look at space! Join Lori Cutright, Sinclair professor of astronomy and physics, for an all-ages introductory astronomy lesson – terminology, star charts, telescope basics, what you might see in the sky this year, and so forth.
Monthly Family Board Game Night – New Paris Branch
Visit the library on the last Tuesday of each month 5 p.m. to play board games and enjoy a snack!
Summer Pizza Party – West Elkton Branch
Aug. 1, at 4 p.m. at the West Elkton Branch: Kick off August with a pizza party! There will be free food, a craft, and games! Solo kids, parents and small ones welcome! Please register all persons coming by July 25th so we know how much food to purchase. We’d rather have too much than too little!
Back to School Games – New Paris Branch
Aug. 5, at 5 p.m. at the New Paris Branch: Join us at the New Paris Library for some fun games and activities which will get you ready for going back to school. This program, like all PCDL programs, is free to attend. No registration needed.
Summer Book Sale – West Elkton Branch
Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1- 6 p.m. from Aug. 5-15 at the West Elkton Branch: West Elkton is having a summer book sale! Books for sale by donation. Pay what it’s worth to you!
Stuffed Animal Sleepover – Eaton Branch
Aug. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Eaton Branch: It’s that time of year again, when your stuffed animals get free rein of the library for one night! On August 15th at 6:30 p.m., children can hear a story, have a nighttime snack, complete a craft and let their stuffed animal spend the night at the library. The next day, children can pick up their animal and a book of all their friend’s adventures. Children of all ages can come dressed in their pajamas! *Make sure not to bring the animal your child sleeps with, as it will be at the library all night!
PCDL MakerSpace Open Hours – Eaton Branch
Maker Space Open Hours: Every Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eaton Branch: The Maker Space is a room full of new technology with open access to all ages. All equipment and assistance is free. Bring your own consumables, such as fabric and paper. Some materials can be purchased for a fee. Other dates and times available by appointment. Ask questions, or make an appointment by contacting [email protected] or calling 937-456-5478.
LEGO Club
July 29,at 4 p.m. at the Eaton Branch: Join us for LEGO Club at the Eaton Library! School-age children can come in and build, complete challenges, and just have fun! The program will meet on the last Monday of the month from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Children can build with the library’s LEGO collection. If you bring LEGOs from home to build with, please bring them in a container labeled with your child’s name.
Tweens (ages 8-12)
Weekly Tween SpaceCrafts at Eaton Library
July 24, at 2 p.m. at the Eaton Branch: Each week will provide cosmic crafts or space activities to promote the Universe of Stories Summer Reading theme. Some activities include slime making, space games, and more! Come see what stellar things we have planned.
Tween Galactic Glovebox Program at Your Library
Gloveboxes help astronauts study objects while controlling the atmosphere and environment around them. Try your hand at games and activities inside our own mini glovebox to see if you have what it takes! *This program is for ages 8-12. Please register in advance by calling or stopping in at your branch!*
July 25, at 4 p.m.: Camden Branch (452-3142)
Weekly Tween Activities at West Alexandria Library
July 24, at 2 p.m. at the West Alexandria Branch: Hey tweens! Enjoy a program just for you while exploring all types of things in your universe. We will have many types of activities, and, best of all, snacks!
Teens (grades 6-12)
Weekly Teen Programs at the Eaton Library
On Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., teens in grades 6-12 can come to the Eaton Library for a weekly program. Snacks and prizes provided.
• Aug.: Passive Programs
• Aug. 13: Passive Programs
• Aug. 20: Passive Programs
• Aug.27: Passive Programs
Teens – Space Escape
When a space shuttle is set on a dangerous course, do you have the skills to save it? This escape room style program uses riddles, puzzles, and clues to build a one-of-a-kind adventure. You have one hour to complete the challenges, crack the codes, and save the ship… will you make it out alive? *This program is for grades 6-12. Please register in advance at your branch!*
• July 25, at 5:30 p.m.: Camden Library (452-3142)
Teens: It’s YOUR Universe – West Alexandria Library
July 24, at 3 p.m. at the West Alexandria Branch: join us each week at the West Alexandria Library as we explore the universe around us, make some wonderful crafts, and enjoy yummy snacks!
Teen Harry Potter Alliance – Monthly Teen Group
Join our chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance! Preble County Potterwatch is dedicated to teen leadership and fan-based activism. The international community of the Harry Potter Alliance works for equality, literacy, and human rights… all around the globe! Inspired by literature, this group encourages teens in grades 6-12 to take action for important causes through donations, campaigns, and community service. We may not have magic rings, death eaters, or White Witches to face, but there are plenty of opportunities to help improve our community and the world around us! For more information, follow @PreblePotterwatch on instagram, or contact [email protected].
Unity – Monthly Teen Group
Aug. 19, at 4 p.m. at the Eaton Branch: join us for the new LGBTQ+ teen group… Unity! This meeting is a safe space, open to local teens (including allies!) in grades 6-12. Join us for open discussion, as well as resources and information. The group will build objectives and goals, meeting agendas, future programming ideas, and more! For more information, contact [email protected].
Teen Book Club – Monthly Group
Aug. 31, at 1 p.m. at the Eaton Branch: The Teen Book Club selection for the month of August will be Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk! Sign up in advance to receive a free copy of the book to read before the program!
*Teen Book Club takes place once a month, with a meeting to discuss a selected YA book. Ten spaces will be available for each session, allowing book club members to receive their own personal copy free of charge. Registration is open monthly, and only applies to that specific session.*
Please read the book in its entirety before the scheduled meeting. This program is available for grades 6-12, but YA titles may contain mature themes and language, so parental discretion is advised.*
Adults (18+)
Adult Craft: Watercolor Luminaries
Aug. 1,at 6:30 p.m. at the Eaton Library: We will be using watercolor paints and coffee filters to make beautiful luminaries! All supplies provided. *Registration required for this free program. Register in person or call 937-456-4331.*
Adult Class: Beginners’ Publisher
Aug. 8, at 6 p.m. at the Eaton Library: Join us to learn the basics of desktop publishing with Microsoft Publisher. We will cover things like formatting, text boxes, customization and inserting pictures from the computer and the Internet. Some previous computer experience is strongly preferred.
*Registration is required for this free program. Register by stopping in at the library or by calling 937-456-5562. All programs and events hosted by the library are free to attend.
Creative Writers’ Group
Meets every fourth Friday of the month at 3:30 p.m. at the Eaton Branch: If you have a written piece you would like to share, please bring it to the meeting. You will not be expected to share, but you are certainly welcome to do so! Writing activities and prompts will be provided for those who need a little extra inspiration.
Book a Librarian
Every Wednesday (by appointment) from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Eaton Branch: Would you like to learn more about computers? Do you have a new tablet or smartphone you’d like to learn more about? The Reference Librarian is happy to help with tablets/e-readers, computers, Microsoft Office, Internet, resumes and job searching, using the library catalog, and research. Call 937-456-5562, email [email protected], or stop by the library in person to set up an appointment!
