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 or temporarily on our Online Programming Archive Page.  Take home kits for many programs are available for free at the front desk and enrich the virtual experience.  In-person programming is held outdoors or indoors with social distancing requirements closely followed (masks are required).  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!

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING EVENTS

STORYTIME
Thursdays @ 11am at the library
Join us at the library for songs, crafts and stories! This program will be held outside, either on the Flat Playground or at the Thomas Marshall house next to the library parking lot! (Just follow the flags!) Storytime will be moved to the Blocher Room in case of bad weather.
We will be practicing social distancing to keep everyone happy and healthy! Please bring a blanket or camping chairs for comfy seating.
NMPL SUMMER READING PROGRAM
June 1st - July 23rd
We can't wait for another summer of reading, fun, programs and sunshine! This year, we want to celebrate North Manchester and all the wonderful places that make this town home! Many summer reading events will take place at some of the popular places around town, and several of the prizes are donated by or purchased from some of our favorite local businesses! We ❤ this town, and we want to spend the summer celebrating it... with YOU!
Click the following links for more information on any of our Summer Reading Programs:
​CRAZY 8'S MATH CLUB: CRAZY 8'S RACE
​Monday, July 19th @ 6pm for 3rd - 5th Grade at the library
Thursday, July 22nd @ 3:45pm for K-2nd Grade at the library
Ready to go on an amazing math adventure? Then Crazy 8’s is the club for you! We’re running a 5 week long summer session of this popular club. Call the front desk to register for this awesome program!
Week Two: Teams will race their cars to the finish line in this fun board game!
DIRTY DIGGERS CLUB: WHY DO WE NEED POLLINATORS?
Tuesday, July 20th @ 6pm at the library
July is all about Pollinators! Kids all ages are invited to join us at 6 pm each Tuesday to enjoy gardening, harvesting, and learning about nature!
Why Do We Need Pollinators? Tonight we’ll snack on some delicious fruits and vegetables, classify seeds, and make connections between pollinators and the things we eat.
SLIME SPECTACULAR!
Wednesday, July 21st from 1pm to 2pm on the library lawn
Join us on the NMPL lawn for the first ever SLIME SPECTACULAR! NMPL will have all sorts of slimey and sticky experiments for kids of all ages as well as yard games, a sprinkler and a slip n' slide! Bring a change of clothes and a towel if you plan on going inside the library after the event. Outdoor changing tents will be available.
GLOOP GROUP: SILKY DOUGH & SHAVING CREAM BALLOONS
Friday, July 23rd @ 3:30pm at the library
​It’s back! Messes + Slime + Water Games = Gloop Group. We’re so excited to offer 4 sessions of Gloop Group on Friday afternoons at 3:30. There is no cost for participating and we recommend bringing a change of clothes and a towel.
Kids of all ages are invited to register. Spaces fill up fast so call the library right away to get your name on the list for one or more of these programs!
​
Silky Dough & Shaving Cream Balloons: ​Silky Dough feels so good and Shaving Cream Balloons are an awesome twist on a water balloon fight! Don’t worry about the mess - we’ll wash it all down playing water games.
CRAZY 8'S MATH CLUB: FUNKY FRACTALS
​Monday, July 26th @ 6pm for 3rd - 5th Grade at the library
Thursday, July 29th @ 3:45pm for K-2nd Grade at the library
Ready to go on an amazing math adventure? Then Crazy 8’s is the club for you! We’re running a 5 week long summer session of this popular club. Call the front desk to register for this awesome program!
Week Three: Funky Fractals. Bendy wax sticks turn into fractals (repeating patterns) and mazes in this week’s challenge!
DIRTY DIGGERS: HOW CAN WE PROTECT POLLINATORS?
Tuesday, July 27th @ 6pm at the library
July is all about Pollinators! Kids all ages are invited to join us at 6pm each Tuesday to enjoy gardening, harvesting, and learning about nature!
How Can We Protect Pollinators? It’s our final Dirty Diggers meeting of the year! We’ll play Bee games, design a Pollinator Garden, and talk about ways to spread the word to protect our pollinator friends!
THE LITTLE BOOKSHOP ON MARKET STREET
​Friday, July 30th from 10am-3pm at the library
Saturday, July 31st from 10am-2pm at the library
The Library is excited to host the Little Bookshop on Market this summer! Browse a wide selection of gently used books under the sun dappled tables along our front walk. We've have titles for children, teen and adult readers all available for $1 a piece! (Funds will go towards supporting library programming)
Summer Reading Program participants of all ages will also be able to earn NMPL bucks for hours read and exchange them at the shop for new-to-them books for their home libraries! ​
​LEGO CLUB
​Friday, July 30th from 10am-3pm at the library
Saturday, July 31st from 10am-2pm at the library
​Head outside for a fun time to build with Legos. We'll have tables of Legos set up for creators of all ages to enjoy. We can't wait to see what you build! 
PAPIER-MÂCHÉ WORKSHOP: RAINBOW VASE (PART 1 & 2)
Monday, August 2nd @ 2pm and Tuesday, August 3rd @ 2pm
Join us in the Makerspace for a fun and useful papier-mâché project for all ages! (Anyone under 10 must be accompanied by an adult) We'll use newspaper, glue, recyclables and paint to create a unique bud vase. Part 1 of the workshop will include sculpting the rainbow structure out of cardboard and papier-mâché . In Part 2 of the workshop we will paint our vases and add any finishing touches!
This is a free event. You must register for this event by phone or at the main desk. Space is limited. 
CRAZY 8'S MATH CLUB: SUPER CUBE SHUFFLE 
​Monday, August 2nd @ 6pm for 3rd - 5th Grade at the library
Thursday, August 5th  @ 3:45pm for K-2nd Grade at the library
Ready to go on an amazing math adventure? Then Crazy 8’s is the club for you! We’re running a 5 week long summer session of this popular club. Call the front desk to register for this awesome program!
Week Four: This week you'll take cubes colored half red, half white and use them to make all sorts of designs. First, you'll create your own designs. Then you'll try to copy different designs one after the other ‒ soon, you'll be a Super-Cube pro! ​
MORNING AT THE MOVIES: LUCA
Wednesday, August 4th @ 10am
Join us at the library for fresh hot popcorn and a showing of the new movie, Luca! Seating will be provided, but feel free to bring your own bean bags, pillows, and blankets!
"Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water's surface."
RATING: PG
LENGTH: 1 hour 36 minutes
​LEGO CLUB: WILL IT FLOAT?
Friday, August 6th @ 11am
Join us for a special, end-of-summer Lego Club! We’re going to explore the properties of corks and see how many different builds we can float in the pool. Will you make a Lego houseboat? A sandwich? A horse? How many corks do you need to attach to keep it from sinking? Bring your best ideas and all your creativity - you’re going to need every bit of it for this club!
CRAZY 8'S MATH CLUB: UFO LANDING
​Monday, August 9th @ 6pm for 3rd - 5th Grade at the library
Thursday, August 12th  @ 3:45pm for K-2nd Grade at the library
Ready to go on an amazing math adventure? Then Crazy 8’s is the club for you! We’re running a 5 week long summer session of this popular club. Call the front desk to register for this awesome program!
Week Five: Have you ever made a paper airplane? This week you're going to build something even better: a giant flying 4-point origami star. We'll do the math not just to make them, but also to see how they fly compared to their tinier cousins!
​SATURDAY STORYTIME
Saturday, August 14th @ 11am at the library
Join Miss Heidi on the flat playground for stories, songs and activities! (Rain location: Blocher Room)
PAPIER-MÂCHÉ WORKSHOP: PRESSED FLOWER LANTERNS
​Monday, August 16th @ 2pm and Tuesday, August 17th @ 2pm at the library
Join us in the Makerspace for a fun and useful paper mache project for all ages! (Anyone under 10 must be accompanied by an adult) We’ll use newspaper, glue, botanicals and recyclables to create a beautiful hanging lantern. Part 1 of the workshop will include sculpting the lantern structure using a latex balloon and paper mache. In part 2 of the workshop we will add flowers and other finishing touches.
This is a free event. You must register for this event by phone or at the main desk. Space is limited.​
CRAZY 8'S MATH CLUB: EPIC AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
​Monday, August 16th @ 6pm for 3rd - 5th Grade at the library
Thursday, August 19th  @ 3:45pm for K-2nd Grade at the library
This week we'll build our own mini-airplanes and runways. We'll use math to fly the planes - and figure out which numbers keep them from crashing at the crossing!
PAPIER-MÂCHÉ WORKSHOP: BIRD
Monday, August 23rd @ 2pm at the library
​Join us in the Makerspace for a fun and useful papier-mâché project for all ages! (Anyone under 10 must be accompanied by an adult).
This is a free event. You must register for this event by phone or at the main desk. Space is limited.
NO SEW TIE DYE PILLOW
​Monday, August 23rd @ 2pm and Tuesday, August 24th @ 2pm at the library
​Join us for two evenings in a row as we tie dye XL t-shirts (Monday) and turn them into comfy, colorful pillows (Tuesday) - no sewing required! All materials will be provided free of charge.
CITIZEN SCIENCE - TEST THE WATERS: WATER FOR LIFE & TEST THE INTESTINES
Friday, August 27th @ 5pm on Facebook
The North Manchester Public Library is one of 500 libraries to receive an exciting new citizen science resource from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM). The Test the Waters Family Exploration Kit is a fun, accessible, loanable kit which includes four family friendly activities, and all the instructions and materials needed (audio file guides are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, Spanish and Vietnamese). By knowing the facts and becoming aware of the role and importance of water to our lives, users will have the information and resources to keep their family safe and healthy.
The North Manchester Public Library will post a series of virtual programs demonstrating each activity in the kit. The kit will be made available for checkout shortly thereafter.
The first session will cover Water for Life and Test the Intestines. Complete with a Velcro body apron, we’ll discover just how much water our bodies are made of. Water helps our bodies stay cool, helps the organs of our body, breaks down food so our bodies can use it for energy and keeps our bodies working well. Next, we’ll explore the journey of food through the intestines and imagine how water helps this process.
We’re excited to share this incredible resource with our patrons and hope you’ll enjoy watching and learning along with us!