Check our Events Calendar Page for up-to-date event details! Please note, certain events have been affected (reformatted, postponed, or cancelled) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lil’ Tots Story Time – Wednesdays @ 10:00 am
Our youngest patrons and their caregivers are welcomed to enjoy the library with movement, songs, stories, & snacks!
Maker Monday – Mondays from 3:30 – 5:30
Fun for all ages! Create, learn, and explore with a weekly STEAM activity. Drop in anytime between 3:30 and 5:30 on Mondays to get creative with us!
Local Daycare Visits
Once a month we drop by our local daycares for story time and book delivery. To get your daycare on our list, please contact our youth services coordinator at 634-4419.
Summer Library Program
Children’s reading skills are reinforced during June and July. Kids are encouraged to read when they participate in our summer reading events! Special programs and events for teens and adults too!
Annual Holiday Santa Visit
Santa, carols, read-alouds, crafts, cookie decorating – all in anticipation of the holidays! Event held on the first Saturday of December (along with Westby’s White Christmas weekend).
Seasonal Family Events
Early Literacy Resources
School-Aged Resources
Novelist K-8
Children’s fiction recommendation resource with read-alikes, discussion guides, reading lists, and more
Parent Resources
Carissa’s App Picks for Kids | Madison Public Library
High-quality apps you can feel good about.
#LookToLibraries is an initiative from the Association for Library Service to Children that focuses on advocating for the work of children’s librarians.
Parent Resources & Online Safety Tips from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Research Links for Youth & Students
BadgerLink
BadgerLink is Wisconsin’s online library. Here you can find everything from videos to newspapers, author interviews, encyclopedias, and more!
Click here for instructions on how to access BadgerLink at home: https://badgerlink.dpi.wi.gov/sites/bl/files/imce/documents/educator_librarian_guide_accessing_badgerlink_at_school_and_home_v1.pdf
TeachingBooks
Bringing books to life!
- Meet authors and illustrators with exclusive movies and recordings
- Experience 12,204 read-along audiobook performances
- Hear authors pronounce and tell the stories of their names
- Enjoy 1,456 complete book readings
- Explore book trailers, Meet-the-Author recordings, and more
- Support assignments about books and author studies
- Find the right book for you (Reader’s Advisory)
Novelist K-8
Children’s fiction recommendation resource with read-alikes, discussion guides, reading lists, and more
Explora
Encyclopedia entries, videos, images, dictionary entries, and more. Appropriate for researchers of all ages.
BadgerLink (By Grade Level)
Making and STEM Resources
CoBuild At Home
The CoBuild website and Facebook group offers a wealth of online maker activities. All ages.
The Community Science Workshop Network
This resource is low in technology, but high in engagement and reliability. All the projects can be made with low cost or recycled materials. Upper elementary through middle school.
Science Friday
Everything from “The Many Types of Mucus” to a “Fossilize Me” card game is available here. Key vocabulary words are bolded, and the clear instructions are written with students in mind. Upper elementary and up.
MakeCode
Microsoft’s MakeCode program includes both physical computing with the Micro Bit and virtual coding and app development. Easy to use with limitless possibilities, it’s a great block coding interface. It even has Minecraft coding! Upper elementary through middle school.
Scratch
Now in partnership with Harvard Graduate School of Education, the site includes an archive of activities for Scratch that includes 323 math activities, 302 visual arts ones, plus examples and stories to help build classroom community and support curricular content. Elementary through middle school.
Code.org
Learn computer science at home. Limited internet and smart phone options too. Elementary through high school.
Recommended Free Language Learning Resources For Kids
Duolingo ABC (Free for Android/iOS)
Designed by education experts to help your child learn to read English – 100% free!
LearnEnglishKids
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/
This site from the British Council has games, stories, and videos to help native speakers of Chinese, Arabic, Russian, French and Spanish learn English. The site includes resources for parents and teachers.
PBS Kids Wisconsin
https://wisconsin.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/oh-noah/
Oh Noah!, (formerly known as Noah Comprende) is designed to teach Spanish to children ages six to eight through animated videos with embedded games that help build vocabulary. In each video, a misunderstanding launches a comic misadventure.
Cambridge English
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/parents-and-children/