Kids
Hands-on Learning Kits return this fall
Due to changing community conditions and our responsibility to follow guidelines from the health department, ImagineIF Libraries is not able to provide a safe environment to staff presenting indoor programs to youth. Therefore, we are planning a hybrid outdoor and take-home kit program. Find out more on at our Take & Make Kits page>
Read Ellie Newell’s (our Youth Services Librarian) letter about fall programs for children and teens HERE>
Fall Outdoor Early Literacy Classes
Join us for Early Literacy Classes in the fresh air! We’ll read books, sing songs, and develop pre-reading skills in parks in Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Bigfork. Especially for children 0-5 and their grown-ups. Please dress for the weather and bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. See schedule below.
Kalispell – Tuesdays, 11am at Lawrence Park Pavilion
Bigfork – Wednesdays, 11am at Lake Baked Bakery & Cafe Pavilion, 1919 Mill Street
Columbia Falls – Thursdays, 10:30am at Marantette Park Pavilion
Classes begin after Labor Day and run through the end of November. Programs will be canceled if the temperature falls below 32 degrees F.
Check out online events calendar for dates, times and locations.
Wired Wednesday Program Suspended Starting Fall 2021
ImagineIF created Wired Wednesdays in 2017 in response to the high numbers of youth flooding the library afterschool. Wired has been a safe learning environment for tweens and teens ages 9-14 on early-out days. The program has also stretched the limits of our spaces, staff time, and relationship with the City of Columbia Falls. We have a responsibility to serve patrons of all ages, and that requires providing tweens and teens with rich, hands-on learning opportunities and safe, supportive spaces.
However, we do not have enough staff hours or sufficient space to be an afterschool drop-off center for Columbia Falls youth, and it would be irresponsible for us to continue Wired Wednesdays with our current resource constraints.
We remain committed to providing access to the following:
- learning interactives,
- games,
- books,
- computers,
- and a rotating set of educational toys that appeal to tweens and teens
This fall we will also offer hands-on learning kits for youth to take home.
Read Ellie Newell’s (our Youth Services Librarian) letter about Wired Wednesday HERE>
ONLINE RESOURCES FOR KIDS
Virtual Early Literacy Classes & STEAM Activities
Check out our Facebook and YouTube pages for weekly virtual Early Literacy classes and STEAM activities. Watch your favorite library staff in videos featuring stories, songs, art projects, and science you can do at home. (ages 0-5)
ImagineIF Facebook: www.facebook.com/imagineiflibraries
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ImagineIFyoutube
Social Media
Families are encouraged to stay tuned to ImagineIF’s Facebook and Instagram pages for online early literacy and youth programming. Our children’s librarians will offer play, art, sensory and STEAM ideas for families to do at home. Stay tuned for special online editions of storytimes with your favorite ImagineIF librarians!
Creativebug
Creativebug.com has more than 1,000 award-winning art & craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists. Get unlimited access by creating an account today! Just enter your library card number and email address.
Hoopla
Instantly borrow digital movies, music, eBooks and more, 24/7 with your library card.
TumbleBook Library
Animated, talking picture books that teach young children the joys of reading in a format they’ll love. Use your library card to log in.
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