The 2020 Summer Reading Program starts June 1st. All ages can register online or at the Library. Be sure to check out our reading program page for all the information.
We will also have digital performers this year. Check our performers page to enjoy these incredible shows that will kick your imagination in gear!
This summer you can still access digital storytimes and other events right from home! Try these YouTube Playlists:
Preschool Storytime Online - Episodes posted every Monday at 10:00 a.m.
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes and more for our online version of preschool storytime. Storytimes consist of stories and follow-along activities designed for preschool-aged children 3 to 5 years old.
Tales for Tots Online - Episodes posted every Thursday at 10:00 a.m.
Listen to stories, move to music, recite action rhymes, and learn fingerplays with our online Tales for Tots program. This program is made for ages birth to 3 years old and their caregivers.
Creation Studio: Grab-and-Go - Episodes posted every Monday at 8:00 a.m.
Pick up a bag of supplies full of materials to make cool crafts every Monday. Learn how to make each craft project with a quick video we will post online or use the printed instructions inside the bag. You can pick up the current and upcoming weeks’ bags on Mondays in the Children’s area of the library.
Magic with Ms. Christine – Episodes posted every other Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
Learn how to do some simple magic tricks with Librarian, Ms. Christine. Most of the tricks are done using materials you will likely have around the house.
Lego Club Online: Imagine It, Build It - Challenges posted Fridays at 10:00 a.m.
Check out our Facebook page on Fridays for a Lego challenge from Mr. Andy. He will create his own castle, dragon, ship, or or other fairy tale related object. Then, it will be your turn to create your own. You can ask your caregiver to share your creation by tagging your creation #BettLib.
Imagine Your Story – Stories posted throughout the Summer Reading Program
Submit your own story to the Bettendorf Public Library. We will choose as many stories as we can, animate them, and post them online for other library friends to hear and see! You can submit your own artwork along with your story for us to use as inspiration, or you can leave it for us to create. Submit your story to storytime@bettendorf.org.
Check out Chesskid.com! We have created a team for Bettendorf Public Library.
Members will need to create a ChessKid account and join the team for scheduled online matches. For more information on ChessKid's safety measures, and to see if the site is a fit for your needs, please visit https://www.chesskid.com/legal.
Virtual Programs from Special Performers
Don't forget we still have special performers for this year's summer reading program!
Mr. Andy Makes a Mess: Science for Kids
Watch Mr. Andy and his helpers make a mess while creating slime, playdough, and more! Learn the science behind the mess, and see if you and an adult can recreate the experiment.
Kids Crafts with Ms. Christine
Love to make crafts? You can learn how to do a new craft with School Liaison Librarian, Ms. Christine. Most of the crafts include materials you might already have at home. Unleash your creativity and banish boredom with crafting! This program can be enjoyed by all ages.
Creation Studio: Remote Edition
Learn quick and easy crafts with Librarian, April, that will keep you busy and creating from home. This program is intended for crafters of all ages!
During social distancing, the Library is offering programs for you to enjoy at home!
Try these YouTube Playlists:
Get CREATIVE with Young Adult Librarian John G as he helps you unlock your inner crafting skills.
Check out this playlist of book recommendations from Young Adult Librarian John G.
The story times listed below are offered continually, with recesses occurring in December, May and August. All sessions will be held in the Junior League Program Room on the first floor. No registration is required. For specific dates, refer to our calendar of events.
Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 10:00 a.m.
Children ages three through five are invited to attend Preschool Storytimes. The 30-minute sessions consist of stories and activities for the preschooler. The same theme is shared throughout the week and stories are repeated from day to day.
Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.
We also offer Child's Play on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This is a weekly opportunity for kids to explore their creative side. Rotating programs may include components of traditional storytimes, active movement and rhythm with music and dance, and simple crafts. The program is best-suited for preschool-age children, but we will happily welcome all who wish to join us.
Mondays at 10:00 a.m.
Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
Children birth to age three and a caregiver are invited to come to the library for sessions filled with simple exercises, stories, songs, rhymes, parenting tips and more.
Many additional programs are offered throughout the year for children of all ages. Repeated programs are listed below. Please check the Calendar of Events for specific dates and times. No registration is required unless indicated.
1st Thursday of the month from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Children have the opportunity to read aloud to dogs from Quad City Canines. This is great practice for kids and helps them build their vocabulary and build self-confidence.
Early-Out Wednesdays during the school year from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
This program will alternate between making crafts, doing science experiments, playing games, and learning new skills. Drop in any time between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm to create, have fun, or explore something new! This event is best-suited for children 5 years old and older.
Come enjoy free-building with the library’s Lego blocks. Build something using directions or create something using your own imagination.
Book Club for grades 4 and above
Book Explorers is a youth book discussion group that meets over 3 sessions to discuss a selected book. Check at the Youth Services Desk or the calendar of events for the upcoming session’s title. Participants will be given the book on the first meeting date and then progressively discuss it over the following weeks. Attendance at all sessions is encouraged, but not required. Registration is required.
Book Club for grades 2 through 4
Book Discussion group for those in grades 2 - 4. Pick the book up at the Youth Services Desk and read it before the book discussion. Discuss and do activities based on the book at the meeting. Check at the Youth Services Desk or the calendar of events for the upcoming session’s title. Attendance at all sessions is encouraged, but not required. Registration is required.
Seasonal reading programs are offered for children from birth through 6th grade. A Read-To-Me Program is provided for children not yet reading on their own and a Readers program is also provided for independent readers. Participants must meet the required reading goals set by the Library to receive a reading certificate and awards. Each reading program is based on a theme which is carried throughout the materials, awards and displays.
Research shows that children are never too young to be read a story. With that in mind, toddlers and preschoolers (up to 5 years old, not yet in kindergarten) are invited to take part in a special reading program just for them! The toddler/preschool reading program is held during the month of October and is similar to the programs offered for older children. We have designed the handouts and awards so they are suitable for young listeners.
The Summer Reading Program is offered for 8 - 10 weeks beginning the end of May and continuing through the end of July. This is a reading program for all ages. We also offer many special programs throughout the summer for children.
A competition between Quad City Area Libraries during the month of October.
A Winter Reading Program is provided for 4 - 6 weeks in January and February. This is a reading program for all ages, including a Read-To-Me Program provided for children not yet reading. We also offer special programs during this time that go along with the reading program's theme.
