The Children's Department maintains the children's collections and programs at the Monticello-UnionTownship Public Library. Throughout the year, programs and activities are offered that are educational and entertaining. We are a community partner in supporting children's early language and literacy development.

Programs

Certain ongoing programs are offered all year round. Please check our calendar to confirm dates and times.

• Lego League: Join our LEGO League for families of all ages. . Kids can build and display LEGO creations and we will put them in our display case for the week.We provide the LEGOs; you supply the creativity! Lego League is held on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• S.T.E.M. Club: The Club meets every Tuesday before the 2nd Saturday of the month from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and every second Saturday of the month from 2-4 p.m. Kids are free to explore and invent on their own. We have LittleBits, Dot & Dash Robots, Bloxels and Cardboard Tool Box. For the Littles we have a Code-a-Pillar and Duplo Blocks on the story time rug. We provide lots of cardboard, tape, pom-poms! The kids just need to provide their imaginations.
  •  October 10, November 7 , November 9 & December 5 @ 3 pm.
  • September 9, October 14, & December 9 @ 2 pm
• Children's Arts and Crafts: Children of all ages can join us on the first Saturday of each month at 11 a.m. to create a craft. Check to see if registration is required, as some crafts feature limited supplies.
  •  - October 7 - November 4 - December 2
• Pop Up Craft Days! - Sometimes we have extra craft supplies and projects that we will throw on our tables for the kids to use in whatever art they want. Watch our social media for dates and times!
• Take It Make It - Check at the Children's Circulation Desk for our current Take it Make it. During school breaks such as Fall Break, Christmas & Spring Break, we usually have several that the kids can pick up.
• Library Scavenger Hunts - Who knows what you can find and learn with one of our Children's Room Scavenger Hunts. From learning another language, I Spy or fun animal facts, there is lots of fun and a prize from our treasure book at the end.
• Stories @ the Park  - Join Mr. Duffers at Bluestem Nature Park, (802 S. Main St.) for some fun stories from nature and check out the park's new nature center on the 2nd Friday of the Month @ 9:30 am

• Fall Baby/Toddler Story Time
  • Wednesdays @ 10 am
  • We will have a lovely time of songs, fingerplays, stories and play with our littlest patrons!  It's a great time for parents and care-givers to connect and get ideas for at home!  So much we can learn together! Except for Nov 22. 
    Once again we will meet on Wednesdays in the fall and Tuesdays in the spring! And of course if the weather is nice we will be on the patio!

Up Coming Events

September 23 - Barktober Fest

Mr. Duffers will be at Barktober Fest with Miss Tammy for 3 different story times and a craft time.  The story times will be at 2, 4 & 6 pm and the craft will be at 3. 

September 12th - Beginner Embroidery 3:30 pm

Tween age kids (3rd -6th grade) can register a series of classes to give them the basics of embroidery.   

September 30th - Meet the Authors 2-4 pm

Are you a fan of the graphic Novel Bat Pig? or maybe the book Wink?  Then you are in luck because Rob Harrell the author/illustrator will be at our author conference with a special presention at 2:30.  

October 14 - Halloween Costume Swap - 10- 3 

Bring your clean complete costumes to the library by October 12th and then come and find new costumes for you kids.  

Fall Break Special Activites 

Lego Build Off - Compete in a special build to win prizes!  October 16th 3:30

Pumpkin Decorating - Decorate your own mini pumpkin on October 17th @ 2 pm

STEMTASTIC Day - All the STEM stuff will be out to play and Miss Deb will have some special challenges for you!  October 18th 2-4 pm

BINGO & Game Day - We will have a monsterously fun time with a fall round of Bingo at 2 pm on October 19th.   Or come in with friends and family to play one of our many board games.

POP Up Crafts Day - October 20th 10 am 

We will have lots of leftover crafts out that you can make!  

October 28th Monticello Trunk & Treat

Look for the Library's Mystery Machine spot and pick up some Scooby Snacks! Be one of the first 70 to tell us that "Mr. Duffer is right, Read More Books!" to get a Halloween Slap Bracelet.   

October 31st - Mystery Machine Party 5-7 pm

Join us for some Halloween Night Party with a fun mystery with those crazy kids, Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and their dog!  Plus at 6 the Shake Up's will be in concert!  Lots of family fun for all ages!  

November 6-10th - Children's Book Week

November 29th 4:30-6:30 Interactive Movie Night - Super Mario Brothers 

Let's have a crazy video game movie party!  There will be lots of antics that you can join in to do throughout the movie.   Plus popcorn and snacks! 

Cozy Storytimes - December 26(10), 27(1:30), 28th (10), January 2(10), 3(1:30), 4(10), 5 (1:30)

Come to the Children's Room for 3 seasonal stories.  The 1:30 times will also have an activitiy for the kids.  

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

The Monticello-Union Township Public Library is pleased to present 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, an early literacy reading book club at the library. This program encourages parents/adults to read to children from birth to age 5. Studies have shown that if you read 1,000 books to a child before school, it will mentally prepare them for school. FUN FACT! You don't have to read 1,000 different books in fact the studies show that it is the interaction between you, them and the books that makes the difference. So count that favorite bedtime book with a ditto!

For every 100 books read, kids will recieve a small prize and a keychain charm. If interested, please stop by the children's department to get a reading log or use the Beanstack app to join. Then check out some books and start working your way to 1,000!

For more information, contact the Children's Department at 574-583-2665 ext. 3313 or email