Children's Department

The Children's Services Department offers a variety of materials and programming for children and their families.

Crafternoons

Makers ages 12 and younger are welcome to stop by the Dr. James Carlson Library on Mondays or the Northport Branch on Tuesdays to get their craft on! The fun begins at 3 p.m. and keeps going until 4:30 p.m. - join us each week (note that the same project will be done at both locations). No pre-registration required.
Nov. 21 & 22: Turkey Plates
Nov. 28 & 29: Pinecone Fox
Dec. 5 & 6: Pool Noodle Creatures
Dec. 12 & 13: Holiday Picture Frames

Dog Man Unleashed at the Library

Ready to have a supa time bringing Dog Man's adventures to life? Join us at the Main Library on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. for activities, crafts and snacks. It'll be totally pawsome! This event is geared towards Dog Man fans in Kindergarten through 5th grade. No pre-registration is required.

Bermuda Triangle Escape Rooms

Escape the Bermuda Triangle or get lost trying! On Friday, Nov. 25, kids ages 8 to 12 are welcome to try their luck and test their wits to escape the infamous Bermuda Triangle located conveniently in the Main Library. Sessions will take place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Pre-registration is required and opens Nov. 4.

Kindergarten Success! Storytime Series

Get your child ready for Kindergarten by exploring literacy and STEAM topics through music, stories, songs and play. Library staff will share tips you can use to instill a love of reading in your child. These are parent/child storytimes geared for your child's success; therefore, we ask one adult per child to keep the learning to a maximum. This event series will be held at the Main Library and is most appropriate for children ages 3 to 5. Activities will follow each storytime and all children receive a FREE book! No pre-registration required.
Dec. 3 at 10 a.m.

Baby Rhyme Time

Babies ages birth to 18 months are invited to join us for the next sessions of lapsit storytimes taking place at the Main Library on Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m., and at the Dr. James Carlson Library on Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. Baby Rhyme Time is an opportunity for parents to share songs, fingerplays, short books, rhythms and rhymes with baby while introducing books and the library! Each session concludes with open play time. No pre- registration required. One child per grown-up lap please.

Libraries Dance! Storytime and Dance Series

F-M Ballet and Gasper's School of Dance will be at the Main Library each month for movement and fun! These storytimes are interactive with a brief dance lesson, so wear clothes/costumes you can move in! Dance storytimes begin at 6:30 p.m. and are geared toward children ages 3 and up. No pre-registration is necessary.
Dec. 7: Nutcracker Preview

Paws for Reading

Our furry friends from Pet Partners of the Red River Valley have returned for another season of reading fun at the library. Reading therapy pets are available on the second Saturday of each month (September-April) to listen to children practice reading in a relaxed, informal setting. Kids in Kindergarten through 6th grade are invited to register for a 15 minute session with one of our non-judgmental listeners. Our next event will take place on Dec. 10 between 10 and 11 a.m. at the Main Library. Bring your own books to read or choose from a selection of library books. Call 701.241.1495 to register.

Little Squirt Christmas Science

Christmas means candy canes, ornaments, snow...and science! Preschoolers ages 3-5 are invited to join us at our next sessions of Little Squirt Science where we'll explore Christmas science! Sessions will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Dr. James Carlson Library and at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15 at the Main Library. Pre-registration is required and opens on Nov. 26.

Gingerbread House Decorating

Run, run, as fast as you can; it's time to decorate a house for the gingerbread man! So much candy, so much to do - we'll even be using frosting as glue. Kids ages 4-12 are invited to join us at the Northport Branch on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. or at the Main Library on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is required and opens on Dec. 1

Going Places Book Club

We're reading all over the place in the Going Places Book Club! Kids in grades 3-7 are invited to join us monthly at the Main Library at 4 p.m. as we experience each month's featured book through related activities, discussion, snacks and crafts. Pick up your book and register for the current month at the Main Library, or call 701.241.1495.
Dec. 13 - Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson

Family Trivia Nights

Rally your relatives and join us for family trivia night at the Main Library. Each month we'll feature a different theme and see who knows the most! Family trivia night is open to individuals, families, or teams of all ages - trivia works best for kids who are reading independently. Families are invited to pre-register at the beginning of the current month. Prizes for our top winners, and snacks for all!
Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. - Winter Wonderland

Dial-A-Story

If you’ve ever wished you could listen to a story, a poem, or even a joke at any time, day or night, now you can! Call the Library’s Dial-A-Story phone line at 701.298.6927 anytime and choose the children’s option; new recordings are available every Monday. Selections are recorded by Children’s Library staff and are up to 5 minutes in length. Dial-A-Story recordings can be accessed by any phone.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Children's Services Department. We'll be happy to help!

Library Program Evaluation

Attended one of our programs? Tell us about your experience! This is a post-program survey to help us bring more events to our patrons. Your feedback means a great deal to us; thank you for your time in filling out this form.