Library Events & Programming

Every Child Ready to Read^©

Every Child Ready to Read^© is a program designed to help parents and caregivers help their children be ready to read. These pre-literacy activities are designed for ages 0 through 5 years and will change weekly. These simple activities encourage a child's ability to learn and form both spoken and written words. Teaching parents and other caregivers how to support the early literacy development of their children is the basis of Every Child Ready to Read^© at the Garland Libraries. 

1 of the 5 Every Child Ready to Read^© Practices will be highlighted during each week’s activity:
1. Talking: Talking with children helps them learn oral language, one of the most critical early literacy skills. Children learn about language by listening to parents talk and joining in the conversation.
2. Singing: Singing develops language skills. Slows down language so children can hear the different sounds in words. Helps children learn new words and information.
3. Reading: Reading together develops vocabulary and comprehension, nurtures a love for reading, and motivates children to want to learn to read.
4. Writing: Children become aware that printed letters stand for spoken words as they see print used in their daily lives.
5. Playing: Play is one of the best ways for children to learn language and literacy skills. They learn about language through playing as the activities help them put thoughts into words and talk about what they are doing.

Each week will feature 1 of 4 subjects:
Reading 
Science 
Math 
Art

Each of the Garland Libraries will provide pre-literacy activities that can be accessed by parents and/or caregivers and their children anytime the libraries are open.  Every location within the Garland Library system will be presenting the same subject and practice for one week before moving on to the next subject and practice.

Connect with your Garland Library and like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GarlandLibraryTX.
Storytime videos stay in Facebook for 24 hours.

Programs and events geared to elementary school age children plus toddlers and babies.

Zoom into Kindergarten

Learn, play, and grow with Miss Dorothy & Abner the Owl! Read, sing, and explore colors, letters, numbers and more every Wednesday to help your preschooler Zoom into Kindergarten! Ages 3-5 and their caregivers. 

This event will take place via Zoom. Register online or call us and a link will be emailed to you prior to the date of this program.

10:30 a.m. Wednesdays through December 8

Questions? Give us a call at 972-205-3934.

Literacy in Motion

Get moving with Miss Morgan!  Children ages 18 months – 3 years, along with their caregivers, are invited to dance, read, and rhyme while building the motor and early literacy skills needed to learn, play, and grow! 

This event will take place via Zoom. Register online or call us and a link will be emailed to you prior to the date of this program. 

10:30 a.m. Fridays through December 10

Questions? Give us a call at 972-205-3934. 

STEAM Lab Saturday

Love to build to design and to build? Join us via Zoom for STEAM Lab Saturday! Follow the engineering process from brainstorming to construction to build pull-toys utilizing simple machines. Pick up a the project materials starting September 11.

11-12:30 Saturday. Sept 18

This event will take place via Zoom. Register online or call us beginning September 11 and a link will be emailed to you prior to the date of this program.  

Questions? Give us a call at 972-205-2804.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is an initiative from the 1000 Books Foundation that encourages children to read or be read ONE THOUSAND books before beginning Kindergarten.  In as little as 15 minutes a day, families can work toward this goal and help their children to build the skills needed for future school and life success.  Babies, Toddler, and Preschoolers ages 0 to 6 are welcome to participate in this ongoing program.

How it works
Register for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten in person at your local Garland Library, or register online using Beanstack: https://nmls.beanstack.org/reader365
    Already have a Beanstack account?  Just sign in to get started!

Come in and pick up a log, or use one of our printable reading logs below:
    1,000 Books Log 1-100
    1,000 Books Log 101-200
    1,000 Books Log 201-300
    1,000 Books Log 301-400
    1,000 Books Log 401-500
    1,000 Books Log 501-600
    1,000 Books Log 601-700
    1,000 Books Log 701-800
    1,000 Books Log 801-900
    1,000 Books Log 901-1,000

Once your child has completed a log, bring it to the Children’s Desk at any of our libraries to receive a prize and the next reading log. 

Programs and events for junior high and high school age kids.  Regular events include gaming parties.

Teen Volunteer Opportunity - Litter pickup

Teens will get the opportunity to help keep Garland beautiful by picking up liter around the Central Library building and Downtown Garland. The teens and library staff will walk around the library building and downtown in a group to pick up any liter they can find. This is an opportunity for teens to earn volunteer hours! 

 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25

Register by calling 972-205-2516

Middle Grade Makers: Modify the modern bicycle

4th through 8th graders will explore STEAM concepts using creative prompts. Students will attempt to build a better bicycle using straws and plastic connector pieces.  

This event will take place via Zoom. Register online or call us at 972-205-2585 beginning September 11. We will email you a zoom link and let you know when your supplies are ready for pickup.

3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25
Registration opens on September 11

For more information, please call 972-205-2585.

Teen Advisory Board

Teens ages 13 to 17 can make a difference in their community by joining the Garland Library Teen Advisory Board. Teens will discuss how the library can serve their age group in terms of events, materials, and services. Participants will receive volunteer hours for attending.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m., 2nd Wednesday of the month
Zoom meeting
972-205-2516

Please call and register to receive the Zoom invite.  In addition to helping improve library service to teens, serving on the Advisory Board allows teens to socialize with their peers. Teens who apply for board membership need parental consent and must attend two consecutive meetings and a total of eight meetings per year to officially serve as members.

The Teen Advisory Board meeting dates for 2021:
October 14, 2021
November 10, 2021
December 8, 2021

Until the pandemic has ended this will be done over Zoom.

Painted Bookends

To celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month [September] and Garland's upcoming Big Art Day [September 18] tweens and teens in  6 - 12th grades can pick up a Take & Make kit to paint a bookend at home beginning September 8. They can use their favorite book or fandom for inspiration. Take & Make Kits will be available for pick up at at any of the Garland Libraries. Tweens and teens can register via a Google Form or by calling 972-205-3934. If the bookend is returned by September 30, participants can earn 2 hours community service. 

 Take & Make Kits Contents:
- Bookend
- Paints
- Paint Brush
- Instructions Handout
- Submission Form 

Rules:
- Bookends designs must be of an appropriate nature or they will not be used in the library. 

Questions? Give us a call at 972-205-3934.

Interviewing 101   https://my.nicheacademy.com/nmls/course/20438

DIY Friendship Bracelets   https://my.nicheacademy.com/nmls/course/20346

College and Financial Aid 101    https://my.nicheacademy.com/nmls/course/19174

Adulting 101: Digital Citizenship and Online Safety    https://my.nicheacademy.com/nmls/course/17829

Teen Self-Portraits   https://my.nicheacademy.com/nmls/course/18320

Adulting 101: Resumes and Applications  https://my.nicheacademy.com/nmls/course/18316

Art 101  https://my.nicheacademy.com/nmls/course/18285

Adult Craft Workshop: Boho Wall Hanging

Bohemian (boho) decor is full of vibrant colors, bold patterns, diverse textures, and vivid prints. The boho color palette includes jewel tones, metallics, and earthy colors layered with mixed patterns and textures from all ages. Basic kits (loom, dowel, yarn) can be picked up and will be available for the first 24 participants. Feel free to add your own embellishments to your wall art. Register online or call us at 972-205-3931. We will email you a zoom link and let you know when your supplies are ready for pickup.

2:30 P.M., Saturday, Sept. 25
Zoom event

Sock It To Me! Adult Craft Workshop

Learn how to create your own microwaveable heating pad using a sock and rice through this virtual program!  You can reserve a take and make kit to craft along with us by calling 972-205-2533 beginning Sept. 10. 

Kit includes:
a knee sock
a bag of rice
twine
a paper towel roll to use as a funnel
an instruction sheet

Kits are available while supplies last.  Click https://my.nicheacademy.com/nmls/course/36082 for access to this virtual event.

Adult Book Club

Participate in the #GarlandLibrary’s book club by joining a live discussion online.

6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month

Be sure to register for this Zoom event in advance: http://ow.ly/c8Ad50ALJVm.

2021 Book List:
January Book: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 
February: Theme (Love)
March Book: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
April: Theme (Speculative Fiction)
May Book: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
June: Theme (Family)
July Book: The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett
August: Historical Fiction
September: News of the World by Paulett Jiles
October: Theme is True Crime (suggestions will be provided)
November: There There by Tommy Orange
December: Holiday themed book (Suggestions will be provided)