Upcoming Classes & Events
In addition to our regular programming throughout the year, the Children’s Department hosts a number of free events for children of all ages. These entertaining and educational programs are designed to appeal to different age groups, are often educational, and encourage a love of books and reading, and are also a lot of fun!
View our calendar to see upcoming events.
Story Time Classes are a good way to introduce children to the library. At story times, our librarians and other specially trained staff present stories, songs, and games in the library’s Little Theater. Story Time Classes teach social skills, listening comprehension and early literacy skills or the foundations of reading through letters, numbers, and vocabulary.
Although each story time is presented by a different storyteller, a common plan is shared throughout. During the 30-45 minute class, 3-4 stories are shared. Songs, fingerplays, such as the Itsy Bitsy Spider, and counting exercises are spaced around the stories. The use of puppets, musical instruments and flannel boards are often incorporated into story time. The children’s department offers six-week classes, four times a year.
Check out the event calendar for the most up-to-date story time dates and times!
What is a Family Place Library?
The first three years of a child’s life lay the foundation for learning. Get the tools and resources you need to give your child the best possible start. A Family Place Library is a center for early childhood information, parent education, emergent literacy, socialization and family support. Family Place builds on the knowledge that good health, early learning, parent involvement and supportive communities play a critical role in young children’s growth and development.
Key Features of a Family Place Library:
Each Family Place Library features the following core elements:
Parent/Child Workshops
The core program at each Family Place Library, this multi-week series brings together toddlers (ages one to three) and parents in an informal, interactive setting with professionals from local agencies to support the role of parents as first teachers, facilitate early intervention, and teach strategies to promote healthy child development and literacy.
Parent/Child Workshops run for multi-week series during the year. Check the Upper Merion Township Library’s Event Calendar for more information.
Why Read 1,000 Books?
Parents can help even very young children learn the five early literacy skills which reading research has determined children must know before they can learn to read. These essential skills needed for school success are:
How Does It Work?
What Books Count?
How Long Does It Take To Reach 1,000 Books?
1,000 Book Log
For every title you read to your child, mark off one star! Print out 10 of these reading logs to create your entire packet, or stop by the library for your folder (with logs already printed!)
READING BUDDIES is a program to assist young readers by pairing them with older students for weekly reading practice at the library.
BIG BUDDIES are good students in grades 5th – 12th who love books and want to volunteer to help read one-on-one with a Little Buddy for 30 minutes weekly at the library. Great leadership, service and mentoring experience for teens!
LITTLE BUDDIES are young readers in Kindergarten – 2nd grade who are paired with a Big Buddy to practice their reading skills and gain confidence. Read for 30 minutes weekly and have fun working on pronunciation and comprehension skills.
If you’re interested in participating, you can print this form at home, fill it out and drop it off in the Children’s Department or stop by the library and pick up a form to fill out in the library.
What is Junior Friends?
Students in 5th – 8th grades who are interested in community service projects can join the Junior Friends of the Library.
The Junior Friends:
Volunteers may pick and choose to help with one or all of these tasks. This is a great group for students to join who are interested in fulfilling community service requirements in a fun and meaningful way.
If you would like to join the Junior Friends of the Library, please stop in the Children’s Department to sign up. If you have any questions, please call the library at (610) 265-4806.
Do you dream of becoming a writer? Here is your chance to get published! Enter Upper Merion Township Library’s 44th Annual Write & Illustrate Your Own Book Contest! All entries are due by 9pm on Wednesday, January 23.
Make sure to follow all contest rules.
Before Kindergarten
Elementary School Age
Middle School
Art & Artists
Find a fictional title that sparks your creativity or learn more about artists and their styles with a nonfiction book with this list about art and artists for all ages!
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Historical Fiction
Find a historical fiction title set during a specific time period or browse the list for an interesting title, mainly geared toward middle school readers!
Picture Books
Perfect for any age! Don’t forget that once your child starts reading on their own that you can still enjoy reading picture books together!
Sports
STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math titles for ages 4-6 – everything from picture book biographies of famous scientists to DIY experiments and picture books explaining basic science concepts!
Theater, Music, and Dance
Titles for actors and actresses of all ages with characters that enjoy theater, music, and/or dance!
Book Discussion Sets
Check out the children’s book discussion sets we have available to check out for teachers, book clubs, families and more.
Summer Reading
The 2018 Summer Reading Lists provided by the Upper Merion School District. These titles are suggested, not required. We suggest that you place a hold on any titles that interest you as there are limited copies available and placing a hold is the easiest way to get a copy!