Tag Archives: free

More fun online literacy stuff

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I’m sure many of you are sharing your space with antsy kids.  Here are some suggestions of activities that are fun and sneak in some learning.

Lots of great children’s authors are hosting online storytimes.  This article has a list with links.  Search for #OperationStoryTime on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to find more.

Storyline Online features celebrities reading picture books.  Many are perfect for kindergarten through third grade.

We can’t get out to the Minnesota Zoo, but they do have some excellent learning resources to use online and download.

How about concerts from children’s musicians?  This website has an updated list of dates and times.  Many are free, but some request donations and others may require a small fee.

Math can be fun!  Cool Math 4 Kids has games to make practicing grade school math entertaining.

You may remember Highlights magazine from your childhood, since they’ve been around since 1946.  Their website has games, learning, real world activity suggestions and more for ages 6-12.

What to do when you’re stuck at home

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Hello friends,

I hope you’re all staying safe during these tough times.  I expect a lot of you are stuck at home, with or without kids.  What can you do to keep entertained and enlightened?  Here are some resources that may help.

Read ebooks:

As I hope you already know, you can use your library card to check out ebooks and e-audiobooks from our collection.  Use the free Libby app to download.  Want to get started with electronic content?  Check out this user guide that will talk you through the process on your type of device.

You can find more free content on Ebooks Minnesota, a collection of books from Minnesota’s independent publishers.  Get started by browsing by category.

Classics are available to download or read online from Project Gutenberg.

Desperate for wifi?  Our network is still up and available.  You should be able to pull up your vehicle and use it from the parking lot.

Physical books and more:

We have carts in the entryway of the library loaded with books, puzzles and activity sheets.  They are all free for the taking.  There is also a little free library downtown by the Veterans’ Memorial.

Online learning and entertainment for kids and adults:

Scholastic Learn At Home has lots of free projects by grade level.

Junior Library Guild has opened access to their ebooks for kids and young adults.

Educational publisher Abdo has provided free access to all of their ebooks and databases through June to keep kids reading.  Find books for PreK-8 and 5-12.  Also, check out the Zoom research database for beginning readers.

Nickelodeon has a site with activities including Spongebob’s handwashing lesson.

Why not take a virtual tour of the world’s great museums?

If you’re feeling ambitious, you can start a free online course from an Ivy League University.

Lots of streaming services are offering special content.    Amazon Prime is offering free kids content even to non-subscribers.  Other services are extending their free trials to 30 days.  Explore this list from Slate.

This NPR article lists more, including theater, learning and workout sites.

Family Matinee

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Our family matinee is fun for the whole family the third Saturday of every month at 11:00.  For no money at all, you can come into the library and watch a G or PG movie on our big screen.  We will even throw in some free popcorn!  Everyone is welcome, no pre-registration required.

March 21: Frozen II (PG) EVENT CANCELLED

Your favorite characters from Frozen are back!  When she hears a mysterious voice calling to her Queen Elsa embarks on a journey to the Enchanted Forest to discover the source of her magical powers and save the kingdom of Arendelle.  And, of course she couldn’t undertake the journey without the help of  her sister Anna and their friends ice harvester Kristoff, snowman Olaf and reindeer Sven.

 

 

 

 

April 18: The Princess Diaries (G)

Mia is a regular, somewhat awkward high school student living with her mother in San Francisco when she gets the shocking  news that she’s the heir to the throne of the European country of Genovia.  Her newly-discovered grandmother Clarisse gives Mia a makeover and etiquette lessons designed to turn her into someone new.  Can Mia become a princess while still remaining true to herself?

 

 

 

May 16: Sonic the Hedgehog (PG)

Based on the popular video game character, Sonic is an alien blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds.  He comes to Earth to hide out from the bad guys, but when he causes an accident he draws dangerous attention.  He must escape Doctor Robotnik with the help of his new friend, Sheriff Tom Wachowski.

Classic Movie Afternoon

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Did you know that we show a classic movie on the first Monday of every month?  If you’re hanging around the house looking for something fun to do, come on down.  We will even have free popcorn!

What: Classic Movie Monday
When: Monday at 1:00 pm
Where: Lonsdale Public Library meeting room

March 2: Harvey

James Stewart stars as Elwood P. Dowd, a mild-mannered man who just happens to have a six-foot tall invisible rabbit as his best friend.   (1950, 1 hour and 44 minutes)

 

 

 

 

 

April 6: Easter Parade   

Fred Astaire and Judy Garland star in this charming musical with music by Irving Berlin.  (1948, 1 hour and 43 minutes)

 

May 4: You Can’t Take It With You

Have a laugh with this Frank Capra classic.  A wealthy young man gets engaged to a woman with a decidedly eccentric family.  (1938, 2 hours and 6 minutes)

 

 

 

Book Group

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The next book group book is The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland.  Our next meeting will be March 18th.

The public book group meets every month on the third Wednesday at 1:00 pm.  Everyone is  always welcome!  (And we have treats.)

Chocolate Tasting

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Chocolate Tasting
Tuesday, February 11
6:00 PM

Join us for an evening of chocolate tasting as part of our adult reading program, Chill Out with a Hot Book.  We will do a blind taste test of six different types of milk chocolate.  Are expensive brands better than the cheap stuff?  Let’s find out!  We will also sample some exotic flavors…

TV Trivia Night

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TV Trivia: The Decades, 1960s-2000s
Tuesday, January 28th, 6:00-7:30

Our trivia night will feature 10 questions per decade about the iconic shows that have made us laugh, cry and think.  It’s the perfect activity to share across generations.  Put together your own team of up to five or come alone and we’ll hook you up.  Every member of the winning team will get to choose a prize from our fabulous selection.  You do not have to be registered for the winter reading program or even 18 to play.

Chill Out with a Hot Book

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Chill Out with a Hot Book

January 13 — February 22

It’s time again for our annual reading program for adults, Chill Out with a Hot Book.  The program is open to anyone 18 or older in the greater Lonsdale area with a library card.  Don’t have a card?  We would be glad to sign you up for one.

We will be playing book bingo: Read books in the right categories, cross them off, finish a bingo, and collect a fun giveaway like tea or a mini candy bar. Plus, each bingo gets you another entry in our grand prize drawing. At the end of the program, one participant will win a gift basket full of cool bookish stuff!

We’ll also be offering fun events to fill those long winter evenings.  Everything is always free!

SPECIAL EVENTS
Every Tuesday at 6:00 pm

You do not have to be registered for the winter reading program to participate in events.

January 14: Bingo: Join us for some classic bingo with fun prizes.

January 21: Craft:  Guest artist Terinee Stangler will help you create your own beaded bracelet.  All supplies provided; donations welcome.  Recommended for ages 13+. (8-12 okay with parent.)  Limit of 20 participants.  Please pre-register; just call the library.

January 28: TV Trivia: The Decades:  Create a team or come alone and join one.  We will cover the 1960s through the 2000s, so bring the whole family!  Fun prizes!  Pre-registration encouraged.

February 4: Adult Coloring: We will provide some cool coloring sheets, markers and colored pencils and free refreshments.  Bring your friends for a nice, relaxing night.

February 11: Chocolate Tasting: Expand your palate with a blind tasting of a variety of chocolate treats.

February 18: Harry Potter Escape Room: Try out an escape room without paying big bucks.  This room, set in the Harry Potter universe, will be suitable for teens through adults. We will run multiple sessions at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.  Pre-registration required.  Maximum of six people per session.