Kids

We offer storytimes and afterschool programs during the school year as well as our annual Summer Reading Program. Click on your local PCPL location below to learn more about what's happening at a library near you!

Current programs and events
- Storytime – Every Wednesday at 10:00am. Storytime is an interactive storytelling program which incorporates elements of music to promote early literacy.
- Popcorn Snack Shop- September 1st, 4:00pm. Learn to pop popcorn without a microwave! Then, add toppings to create a delicious treat. All ages are welcome.
- Hobby Hang Out- September 3rd, 4:00pm. Have a hobby to share? Bring your hobby materials, and let’s work on them together! Ages 6-17.
- Clay Kitten- September 8th, 4:00pm. Learn how to create a cute kitten out of clay.
- Pokemon Trading Kick off Party- September 15th, 4:00pm. Pokemon super fan or just getting into it? Either way, you’re sure to love our new Pokemon card trading program! Partnering with the Gretna Branch Library, we will now have a Pokemon Trading Wall! Join us for a Pokemon themed kick off party and let the trading begin!
- S.T.E.A.M. Wikki Stix Build- September 17th, 4:00pm. Discover the fun of hands-on design as you build, create, and explore simple engineering concepts with Wikki Stix.
- Disc Spinners- September 22nd, All Day. Stop by for a fun STEM Take & Make!
- Wand Making- September 24th, 4:00pm Ages 6+. Design and create a magic wand!
Outreach
- Contact Alyssa, the Brosville/Cascade Youth Services Specialist, at 434-685-1285 to request an outreach visit to your daycare or school.

Current programs and events
- Tot Time – Wednesdays, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10:30-11:30 am
  Toddler storytime includes songs, rhymes, and activities that will get you moving! The books we read will be interactive and engaging. If your little one has graduated from crawling to confident walking, toddler storytime is for you!
- Little U – Thursdays, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22 10:30-11:30 am
  Preschool storytime will focus on more complicated rhymes that play on this age group’s developing sense of humor, and spend more time reading sillier and lengthier stories!
- Lego Club! – Tuesday, September 29^th October 13^th3:45-4:45
  LEGO Club offers build challenges, freeplay, and more! Recommended for ages 4 & up.
- Mad Science Monday: Witch’s Brew – Monday, October 19^th at 3:45 – 4:45 PM
  Double, Bubble, Toil and Trouble! Make some spooky witch’s brew using science! Watch your potions fizz and bubble…if you dare! Recommended for ages 5 & up!
- Spooky Storytime / Costume Dance Party–Thursday, October 29th, 10:30-11:30 am
  Join us for a spooky storytime followed by a Halloween costume dance party! This event is open to all ages, so bring the whole family! Don’t forget to bring your best costume and your dancing shoes!
- The Haunted Library Maze - Wednesday, October 28^th 4-7:00 pm
  Celebrate spooky season with a haunted maze at the library! Enter if you dare! If spooky mazes are not your thing other activities will be available! Recommended for ages 6 & up.
- Chatham Library’s Annual Halloween Costume Contest – Friday, October 30^thDrop by the library dressed in your costumes at any time throughout the day to enter! We’ll take your picture along with your information. Staff will vote on our favorite and the winner gets the pumpkin king trophy. All ages can participate.
Outreach
Contact Allison, the Chatham Youth Services Specialist, at 434-432-3271 to request an outreach visit to your daycare or school.

Kids & Family
- GMS Library Night
  Thursday, October 1 at 4:30 – 6:30 pm
  Gretna Middle Schoolers along with their parents are invited to join us at the library for a fun evening of crafts, a scavenger hunt, door prizes and library information.
- Halloween Haunted House Contest
  Pick up a pre-made cardboard house to decorate beginning on September 28^thReturn decorated houses no later than Saturday, October 10^thPublic Voting begins on October 13^th and ends on October 28^thWinner will be announced on October 29^th at our Halloween Spooktacular
- Halloween Spooktacular
  Thursday, October 29 at 3:30
  Join us for some Halloween fun, crafts and trick or treating.
- Baby Tales
  Tuesdays, October 6, 13 and 27 at 10:30 am – 11:00 am
  *No program on October 20th
  Baby Tales is an interactive literacy program designed for children ages 0-24 months. Children and caregivers are introduced to the basic building blocks of literacy through nursery rhymes, stories, finger plays, and music in a fun and educational environment. Programs may include time for unstructured play and socialization.
- Story Time
  Wednesdays, October 7, 14 and 28th at 10:30 am – 11:00 am
  *No program on October 21st
  Story Time is an interactive literacy program designed for children ages 2-5 years. Children and caregivers are introduced to basic building blocks of literacy through stories, rhymes, and music in a fun and educational environment. Program may end with a brief activity.
- LEGO Challenge
  1st Wednesday of the Month, October 7 at 3:30 – 4:30 pm
  LEGO Challenge is an interactive multi-literacy program that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) concepts aimed at developing innovation, imagination, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. School age children are introduced to the building blocks of one or more S.T.E.A.M learning concepts through exploratory hands-on activities in a fun and educational environment. School age children integrate engineering concepts and their imagination with hands-on building challenges with LEGO bricks.
- Art Explorers
  2nd Wednesday of the Month October 14 at 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
  Art Explorers is an interactive multi-literacy program that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) concepts aimed at developing innovation, imagination, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. School age children will develop self-expression, problem solving skills, and in novation during a period of guided creation with a variety of materials and tools.
- Gametastic
  4th Wednesday of the Month, October 28 at 3:30 – 4:30 pm
  Gametastic is an interactive gaming program designed to maximize play as a means of developing critical thinking skills, social skills, or strategy skills. Children are introduced to various games and gaming techniques through exploratory hands-on activities in a fun and educational environment.
- S.T.E.A.M, 3rd Wednesday of the Month
  Wednesday, September 16 at 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
  S.T.E.A.M. is an interactive multi-literacy program that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) concepts aimed at developing innovation, imagination, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. School age children are introduced to the building blocks of one or more S.T.E.A.M. learning concepts through exploratory hands-on activities in a fun and educational environment.

Outreach
- Contact Cammie, the Gretna Youth Services Specialist, at 434-290-3223 to request an outreach visit to your daycare or school.

Current programs and events
- Mother Goose on the Loose – Wednesdays at 10:30 AM, Ages 0-2
  A fun-filled, interactive early literacy program that uses rhymes, songs, scarves, and more to stimulate the learning process of babies and toddlers!
- Preschool Storytime – Thursdays at 10:30 AM, Ages 3-5
  Help your child get ready to read with this early literacy program including books, music, movement, and more!
- Mini Shadow Boxes, Thursday, Sept. 10, 4 PM, Ages 6+, Registration Required
  Create tiny scenes using provided materials. You are also welcome to bring your own miniature items and trinkets to add.
- Funday Friday, Friday, Sept. 11, 10:30 AM Recommended for 0-5
  A monthly storytime and activity, helping to promote early literacy, fine motor skills and social interaction for young children.
- Sunflower Paper Craft, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 4 PM, Ages 6+
  With paper and provided instruction, make some pretty sunflowers for the season.
- LEGO Lab, Thursday, Sept. 17, 4-7 PM, Ages 5+
  Bring your imagination and try your hand at building challenges. Free-building is always welcome. This is a drop-in program.
- Book BINGO, Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 AM, All Ages
  Play BINGO to win books. No registration is required.
- Foam Clay Locker Magnets, Monday, Sept. 21, 4 PM, Ages 12+
  Design and craft magnets for your locker or fridge using foam clay. This program is first come, first serve.
- Button Maker Art Lab, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 4 PM, Kids & Adults
  Design your own buttons and a library staff member will transform them into pins! No registration is required.
- Handmade Mini Notebooks, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 4 PM, Ages 8+
  We will be making small notebooks from scratch using scrapbook papers, embroidery floss, and buttons. No registration is required.
Outreach
- - Contact Sharon, the Mt. Hermon Youth Services Specialist, at 434-835-0326 to request an outreach visit to your daycare or school.

Online Resources

Access Video: Just for Kids -- Enjoy TV shows like Arthur, Sesame Street, Odd Squad, SciGirls, and much more, including: read-along storybooks and learning videos to explore topics like reading, writing, math, arts and science.

Gale in Context Elementary -- Gale In Context: Elementary meets the research needs of students in Kindergarten through grade 5, with age-appropriate content from magazines, newspapers, and reference materials, covering current events, the arts, science, health, people, government, history, and more.

Homework HelpNow -- Connect LIVE with a certified tutor, seven days a week between 2 and 11 pm, for assistance with assignments and research, including math, reading, writing, science, social studies, and more! Submit your papers to a tutor in the Writing Lab for constructive feedback or take practice exams and create your own flashcards to prepare for tests. Tutoring is available in English and Spanish.

See all Pittsylvania Online Resources

Kids

Online Resources

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