The North Manchester Public Library offers a great mix of in-person and online programming! We provide a range of programming for small children to senior citizens (and everyone in between). Take a look at our calendar to see the literary, culinary, artistic, cultural, and educational activities we have going on each month!
Virtual programs can be accessed live on Facebook or Zoom. Recordings are permanently available on the Library's Facebook page.
Take home kits for many programs are available for free at the front desk and enrich the virtual experience. Attending in person? Supplies for the various activities are made available at each of our in-house programs.
We look forward to getting to know you as we explore the world around us!
Virtual programs can be accessed live on Facebook or Zoom. Recordings are permanently available on the Library's Facebook page.
Take home kits for many programs are available for free at the front desk and enrich the virtual experience. Attending in person? Supplies for the various activities are made available at each of our in-house programs.
We look forward to getting to know you as we explore the world around us!
REGULARLY SCHEDULED IN PERSON PROGRAMS
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STORYTIME
Every Tuesday at 10am Join us for this beloved program... from delightful stories, to silly songs, to cool crafts, Storytime has it all! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None, but recommended for ages 0-5. Registration? None Location: Children's Department |
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BABYTIME
Every Thursday in September at 10am Designed for children from birth to 3 years old and their caregivers, Babytime features books, rhymes, and simple sensory play just right for your little one. Build your baby's foundation for lifelong reading and learning with this engaging program! Families are invited to bring older kids, who can play in the Playroom, craft at the Passive Craft table, or enjoy our computer lab. Caregivers are welcome to stay with the babies, but if you need to choose some books for yourself, or keep an eye on the other kids, your babies will be looked after for you during Babytime! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: 0-3 (and caregivers) Registration: No Location: Picture Book Room |
SPECIAL IN PERSON & ONLINE PROGRAMS
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PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: CUPCAKE WRAPPER SCARECROW
Monday, September 11th - Saturday, September 16th Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration? None Location: Children's Department |
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PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: LEAF GARLAND
Monday, September 18th - Saturday, September 23rd Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration? None Location: Children's Department |
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THE LAB RATS JR.: CODING ROBOTS
Monday, September 18th @ 6pm Lab Rats Jr. will meet monthly for first looks and experimentation with science, technology, engineering, and math activities. At our first meeting we will program screen-free Coding Robots to “talk,” follow a winding road and solve addition problems! This program was made possible with the support of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-Region 4’s Science Kits for Public Libraries grant. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: 5 - 8 years old Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
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SENSORY TIME: COFFEE PLAYDOUGH
Wednesday, September 20th @ 3:45pm Kids will enjoy measuring and mixing, smashing and smooshing their own concoctions that stimulate or calm the senses with color, texture or smell. Join us each week for a new sensory experience! Today's Sensory Play: Coffee Play Dough - the smell of this super-soft playdough is perfect for java lovers everywhere! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: All ages, 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult Registration: No Location: Library lawn (Children’s Department in case of rain) |
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ANIMAL-GRAMS MINI FALL PETTING ZOO
Wednesday, September 20th @ 6pm Come to the library and visit a host of animal friends. There will be a mini horse, rabbits, guinea pigs, mini pigs, mini goat, mini ducks, mini chicken and an adorable mini cow! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: No Location: NMPL Blocher Room and the library lawn |
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THE NIGHT MARKET
Friday, September 22nd from 7pm-9pm Glow in the dark tic-tac-toe. Warm drinks and yummy treats. Paint the World community canvas - night edition. One-of-a-kind handmade gifts. What do all these things have in common? NMPL’s second annual Night Market! Come to the library after hours to enjoy an evening like no other! Local small businesses and artisans will have a variety of wonderful items for sale - jewelry, donuts, home décor, fashion items and more. Vendors include Friends of the Library, The Beverage Buggy, Chillz, Rhinestone & Roses, Beaded Beauty, Farm Girl with Curls, Nordmann's Nook, The Baker’s Daughter, and Macra-made by Kait. Each business is supporting library programming, so come on out and support the people that make our activities possible and our community such a great place to live. You may just find an incredible new treasure while you’re at it! We’ll also have a bunch of free activities for everyone to enjoy! Paint the World is back with a glow in the dark paint version of the community canvas collaboration. We’ll have a glowing slime table for the kids, LED yard games, and more! Additionally, NMPL will have NEW Glow-In-The-Dark Night Market t-shirts for sale, or you can wear your design from last year! It’s going to be a wonderful evening of food, fun, friends and supporting the library. We hope you'll join us! Program Cost: Free to attend, but bring money to shop! Program Age Requirements: NONE! All ages Registration: No Location: Library lawn and NMPL Blocher Community Room |
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PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: DIXIE CUP PUMPKIN
Monday, September 25th - Saturday, September 30th Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration? None Location: Children's Department |
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SENSORY TIME: ORBEEZ STRESS BALLS
Wednesday, September 27th @ 3:45pm Kids will enjoy measuring and mixing, smashing and smooshing their own concoctions that stimulate or calm the senses with color, texture or smell. Join us each week for a new sensory experience! Today's Sensory Play: Orbeez Stress Balls. These stress balls supply all kinds of sensory joy! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: All ages, 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult Registration: No Location: Library lawn (Children’s Department in case of rain) |
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HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE: OPTICAL ILLUSION
Friday, September 29th @ 2pm Our first Homeschool Science of the school year will explore the physics of light, optics, and perception. Today, your body will be part of the experiment! Find your blind spot and watch things disappear. View stunning optical illusions involving shapes, color, depth, and scale. Make a curved line look straight. Turn cardboard transparent. See the world shrink. Make white by mixing red, green, and blue, and see colors in black and white. See firsthand how your eye and brain work together to perceive color, light, depth, perspective, size, shape, and motion. This program was made possible with the support of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-Region 4’s Science Kits for Public Libraries grant. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Ages 8 - High School Registration: https://www.signupgenius.com/.../10C0944A9AB28A7F5CF8... Location: Blocher Community Room |
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PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: HEROES & VILLAINS CLOTHESPINS
Monday, October 2nd - Saturday, October 7th Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration? None Location: Children's Department |
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3D PRINTER CLUB
Tuesday, October 3rd @ 3:30pm NMPL's 3D printer has been a source of endless fascination for many patrons - and it's not hard to see why! Succulent planters, Baby Yoda figurines, hose adapters, credit card wallets, articulated chameleons - these are just a few of the thousands of items you can print on our MakerBot Replicator. Come learn how at our 3D Printer Club! Each participant will be shown how to work the printer, and will receive a coupon to print one small item for free - either during the club or any time after! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Ages 6 and up Registration? None Location: 3D Printer Station near the Adult Department Computer Lab |
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LEGO CLUB: ROYAL CROWNS
Wednesday, October 4th @ 3:45pm Come build with the library's collection of Lego bricks and challenge yourself to exciting new builds each week! This week's challenge: Can you build a Royal Crown out of Legos? This week’s assignment will put your engineering skills to the test. Up the challenge and make one big enough and sturdy enough to fit on your head! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: No Location: Children’s Department |
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NMPL'S HALLOWEEN PARTY! HEROES VS. VILLAINS
Thursday, October 5th from 5pm-7pm NMPL's annual Halloween Party returns! This year's theme is Superheroes vs. Villains and attendees are invited to dress up accordingly - or go completely off script with their own special costumes! The Halloween Party is one of the most popular events on the calendar, and this year will feature returning favorites like a haunted egg hunt, ghostly games, creepy crafts, and fun face painting. New activities will include horse and pony rides, a spooky sensory zone, a Wheel of Fate, and a Superhero Costume decoration station! All activities are free for all ages to enjoy. We'll also hold our annual costume contest, and trophies will be awarded in the following categories:
Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: No Registration: No Location: Library Lawn, Blocher Community Room, Makerspace |
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PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: PAPER PLATE SPIDERS
Monday, October 9th - Saturday, October 14th Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration? None Location: Children's Department |
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THE LAB RATS: ALL ABOUT AIR
Monday, October 9th @ 6pm Join us as we explore Bernoulli’s Principle, set up a Windbag Rocket Launch and more! Who knew it was possible to have so much fun with something you can’t even see? This program was made possible with the support of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-Region 4’s Science Kits for Public Libraries grant. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: 9 and up Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
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LEGO CLUB: PLAYGROUND
Wednesday, October 11th @ 3:45pm Come build with the library's collection of Lego bricks and challenge yourself to exciting new builds each week! If you could design your own personal Playground, what would it have? A side-by-side slide for races with friends? A giant seesaw? This is your chance to design the playground of your dreams! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: No Location: Children’s Department |
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HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE: ECLIPSES
Friday, October 13th @ 2pm With the Annular Solar Eclipse happening this month, it’s the perfect time to explore eclipses! Come learn about the superstitions and the science behind the different types of eclipses, get a crash course in the right way to use eclipse glasses, and make a UV Kid to test out the effectiveness of various methods of protection from the sun. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Ages 8 - high school Registration: https://www.signupgenius.com/.../10C0944A9AB28A7F5CF8... Location: Blocher Community Room |
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ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING PARTY
Saturday, October 14th @ 12:30pm A partial eclipse of the Sun will be visible in all parts of North America today. The Moon will pass in front of the Sun, producing a "ring of fire" effect. Thanks to the generosity of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the North Manchester Public Library has obtained solar eclipse viewing glasses and will be distributing them for free at our viewing event on the library lawn while supplies last. Northeastern Indiana will experience a partial eclipse with 40% coverage of the sun for a duration of 2 hours and 44 minutes. The partial eclipse will begin at 11:41am, reach its peak at 1:02pm, and end at 2:26pm. NMPL staff recommend arriving at the library no later than 12:30pm to be ready for the best view but will be on hand beginning at 11:30pm for those who want to watch the entirety of the event. A live stream from other parts of the country will be set up in the Blocher Community Room in case of cloudy weather and/or for those who prefer to watch on the big screen. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: No Registration: No Location: Library Lawn |
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PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: BAT STRAWS
Monday, October 16th - Saturday, October 21st Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration? None Location: Children's Department |
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THE LAB RATS JR.: ALL ABOUT AIR
Monday, October 16th @ 6pm Participate in the Amazing Blow Up. Successfully complete Operation Air Lift. Build an Air Structure. Who knew it was possible to have so much fun with something you can’t even see? This program was made possible with the support of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-Region 4’s Science Kits for Public Libraries grant. Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: 5 - 8 years old Registration: No Location: Blocher Community Room |
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THERAPY DOG CUDDLE SESSION
Tuesday, October 17th @ 3:30pm Research has shown that simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol, while the social interaction between people and dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin... which is just a fancy way to say, Ace and a few of his buddies will be returning to NMPL for another cuddle session! Ace: a 5 year old Newfoundland who loves nothing more than a good belly rub and bringing a smile to someone’s face. He’s been a certified therapy dog for over a year now and loves his visits to places like nursing homes, schools, libraries and ARC of Wabash County. Bryn: a 2 year old English Shepherd rescue. She lives on a farm where she interacts with cattle, horses, chickens, and cats. She goes to ‘work’ everyday with her dad at the bair ship on the farm. She greets everyone with a tail wag and loves to get all the pets. She enjoys going for rides, playing tag with her brother, Mickey, and chewing on bones. Finn: He is a 4 year old rottweiler who loves everyone he meets. He would rather have pets and hugs than treats and he thinks he is a tiny lap dog. He loves to sit on your lap when you sit on the floor and will give you tons of kisses. He has been a therapy dog for 15 months. These furry friends LOVE a good cuddle, belly rub, and lots of attention, so plan to enjoy us for this fun, stress-decreasing event! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: No Location: Blocher Room |
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INTERACTIVE MOVIE EXTRAVAGANZA! GARFIELD'S HALLOWEEN ADVENTURE, PUMPKIN PAINTING, & TRICK OR TREATING
Wednesday, October 18th @ 11am It’s an Interactive Movie Extravaganza! First up, join us in the warm autumnal sunlight as we paint miniature and wooden pumpkins to take home. Then we'll head to the Blocher Room for a special showing of "Garfield's Halloween Adventure", featuring fun interactions like putting on pirate eye patches, eating chocolate gold coins, singing pirate songs, and more! But the fun doesn't stop there... after the movie, participants will get to trick-or-treating around the whole library to collect candy at various stations. YUM! Attendees are encouraged to come in costume for this special event. We promise, you've never watched this movie like THIS before! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration? None Location: Blocher Community Room |
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LEGO CLUB: LONGEST SNAKE
Wednesday, October 18th @ 3:45pm Come build with the library's collection of Lego bricks and challenge yourself to exciting new builds each week! This week’s challenge is a community build - we’re going to work together to make the Longest Snake we possibly can out of Legos!' Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: No Location: Children’s Department |
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HOMESCHOOL ART CLASS: MINIATURES
Friday, October 20th @ 2pm Miniatures have been delighting people for centuries. In this month’s homeschool art we’ll delve into some of the history behind these tiny reproductions from the “baby houses” of 16th century Europe to the set of the Star Trek TV series. Then we’ll spend time making and decorating our own miniature furniture pieces! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: Elementary - High School Registration: Required. Click to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/.../10C0944A9AB28A7F5CF8... Location: Blocher Community Room |
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PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: PUFFY GHOSTS
Monday, October 23rd- Saturday, October 28th Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration? None Location: Children's Department |
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ADULTING 101: LIVING CLUTTER FREE (3 PART SERIES)
Tuesday, October 24th, Tuesday, October 31st, Tuesday, November 7th @ 3:30pm Constantly being in a cluttered room, office, or car can be stressful. But where to you begin to start getting organized? What do you get rid of? What do you keep? Learning how to organize and care for your personal possessions is a skill that you'll use your entire life, and Mindy Mayes of Purdue Extension is here to teach us how to live a clutter-free life! At this 3 part session of our popular Adulting 101 series, teens and pre-teens will learn valuable life skills to help them successfully navigate some of the adulting struggles they'll face later on in life. Classes are helpful, interactive, and open for anyone who wants to come and learn improve their adulting prowess! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None (but geared for pre-teen and up) Registration: No Location: Conference Room |
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LEGO CLUB: BRIDGE
Wednesday, October 25th @ 3:45pm Come build with the library's collection of Lego bricks and challenge yourself to exciting new builds each week! Making a Bridge out of Legos may not seem that difficult, but can you construct one that will hold the weight of a stack of books? Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration: No Location: Children’s Department |
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FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY FALL BOOKSALE
Thursday, October 26th from 9am-7pm; Friday, October 27th-Saturday, October 28th from 9am-5pm The Friends of the Library book sale is held the last Thursday-Saturday of October each year. The FOL book sale has become a popular shopping spot for both recreational book buyers and book sellers in the area! Purchasing books from the semi-annual book sale is an excellent way of supporting our library. The book sale is a significant fundraiser for FOL, and in turn, supports library programs and updates each year. Find gently used books, DVDs, children's materials, audios, yearbooks and more! You just never know what great book adventure awaits you at the FOL Booksale! |
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PASSIVE CRAFT OF THE WEEK: PAPER PLATE SKULLS
Monday, October 30th- Saturday, November 4th @ 5pm Do you love the different NMPL crafts, but can't fit another thing into your schedule? Do you want to get creative with the kiddos, but don't want to deal with the mess afterwards? Passive Crafts are the solution for you! Each week, a new fun, simple and engaging craft will be set up at the Passive Craft Table in the Children's Department. Stop by ANY time the library is open and spend time crafting at your leisure! No specific times to memorize... no clean up after... just good creative fun! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None Registration? None Location: Children's Department |
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COSTUME STORYTIME
Tuesday, October 31st @ 10am Join us the morning of Halloween for a spooky, fun Storytime! Wear your Halloween costume and participate in a costume parade around the library, hear a Halloween-themed story, and make a cute festive craft! Program Cost: Free Program Age Requirements: None, but recommended for ages 0-5. Registration? None Location: Children's Department |