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.

Little Art Explorers

Let's get messy, create, and grow together! As little ones explore and create, caregivers will discover how art helps build their child's early learning skills. In December children will explore paint and create their own hand print ornaments. Families will have fun exploring paint and how they can use it to make art. We will also sing songs and hear a story that ties into the art activities that we will be doing. 

6:30 p.m., Thursday Dec. 9
South Garland Branch Library
No registration required

Little Art Explorers is designed for children ages 5 years and under. Remember to wear clothing that is paint and mess friendly! Little Art Explorer activities are while supplies last.

Zoom Cookies and Canvas

Join us from the comfort of your own home for Family Zoom Night! We'll be dreaming of a white holiday season while painting a snow globe design. Register and reserve an art kid (cookies included)! Due to popularity art kits are only available for children while supplies last.

Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom for participants.

Registration opens Tuesday, Dec. 7.

The painting kit will include the following items:
8x10 stretched canvas
Paints (in condiment cups)
2 paint brushes
Stencil
Prepackaged cookies 

Participants will need to provide the following:
Cup of water
Paper plate (for paint mixing)
Paper towels
Scissors
Pencil

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. 

10:30 a.m. Wednesdays  via Zoom. Register online or call us and a link will be emailed to you prior to the date of this program.

11:30 a.m. Saturdays at the South Garland Branch Library

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! 

10:30 a.m. Fridays 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. Saturdays at the South Garland Branch Library

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

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. 

Middle Grade Makers: Candy DNA

Let's learn about your family's character traits during this holiday season.

Students in 4th through 8th grade are invited to join us for some SWEET fun! Middle Grade students will learn about DNA and build a model of a double helix using ...CANDY!!! We will explore family character traits and how they are expressed in our DNA: eye color, hair color, height and more.

2:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4
Walnut Creek Branch Library
THIS CLASS IS FULL

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:
November 10, 2021
December 8, 2021

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

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

Holiday Maker Fest

Happy holidays! Join us at the South Garland Branch Library for an afternoon of #holiday #crafting and make up to four different crafts! This year there will be four stations set up, each with the tools and resources for making one unique item per station.  Instructions will be provided for each station. 

2:30 p.m., Saturday Dec. 11
South Garland Branch Library
Registration required

This is not a class, work at your own pace and make as many crafts as you like. The four crafts are:

• Rustic Christmas tree ornament.
• Frosted glass jar candleholders.
• Mason jar lid holiday ornament.
• Fabric covered holiday ornament.

Registration begins Nov. 27 and is limited to 24 participants. Register online or call 972-205-3932.

DIY Stained Glass

Learn how to make your own faux stained glass art using picture frames, glue, and acrylic paint.

2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18
Central Library
Registration opens Saturday, Dec. 4. 

Call 972-205-2501 to register.

Adult Book Club

Participate in the #GarlandLibrary’s book club by joining a group discussion at the South Garland Branch Library.  Every other month the book club members will choose their own book based on a theme. Suggestions will be provided at the meeting prior to the themed month.

6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month
4845 Broadway Blvd.
Garland, 75043
972-205-3931

2021 Book List:
January 21: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 
February 18: Theme is Love
March 18: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
April 15: Theme is Speculative Fiction
May 20: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
June 17: Theme is Family
July 15: The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett
August 19: Historical Fiction
September 16: News of the World by Paulett Jiles
October 21: Theme is True Crime
November 18: There There by Tommy Orange
December 16: Holiday themed book