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All Scott County libraries are closed Jan 1 & 2 for New Year and

Mon Jan 16 for Martin Luther King Jr Day.

Read & Play with the Winter Warmup Challenge!

Winter Warmup Challenge for ages birth-18


Starting Tue 12/27, visit your library and pick up a Winter Warmup Challenge starter kit for your kids, with reading log, activities, and a project.


Track reading during January & February and return your completed reading record to pick up a springy craft prize!


More information

graphic of a red-eyed tree frog handing you a book

Read and Learn about Martin Luther King Jr

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr with Beanstack, January 1-30.


Families and kids of all ages can join this online reading challenge through Beanstack, our reading app that you can use on a computer or device.


Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired our nation as a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Each January, we honor his life and legacy of working tirelessly for justice and equality. Celebrate MLK Jr. Day by reading and learning about his life and log your reading to earn badges all month long.

Visit Beanstack
Graphic of Martin Luther King Jr beanstack challenge

Winter Early Literacy

graphic of the five early literacy practices-read,sing,play,write,talk

Early Literacy Classes and Storytimes


All our locations welcome children and families to in-person group early literacy classes and storytimes this fall! All classes and storytimes are free and registration is not required. To see our current schedule of both group early literacy classes/storytimes and Story Stations by appointment, click here.


Winter Early Literacy Class Schedule:

  • Belle Plaine: alternating Fridays at 10:30am beginning 1/6
  • Elko New Market: Mondays at 10:30am, 1/23-3/20
  • Jordan: alternating Saturdays at 11:00am beginning 1/7
  • New Prague: Tuesdays at 10:30am beginning 1/10
  • Prior Lake: Thursdays at 10:30am beginning 1/5
  • Savage:
  • Stories & a Song: Saturdays at 10:30am beginning 1/7
  • Marvelous Mondays: Mondays at 10:30am beginning 1/23
  • Shakopee: 
  • Family Early Literacy Class: alternating Thursdays at 10:30am beginning 1/12
  • Stories & a Song: Saturdays at 10:30am beginning 2/4


Special Storytimes and Classes:

  • New Prague: Winter Stories, Mon 1/23, 6:30pm

Story Stations

Age ranges are suggested - all ages and abilities are welcome. Engage your child with self-directed learning stations that develop the five early literacy practices of Read, Write, Sing, Play, & Talk, plus kindergarten readiness skills. After the program, pick up your take home packet with more activities! 25-minute walk-in or online appointments are available 30 days in advance and are limited to just your household or group.


NEW: Our three winter themes will each have "appointment-free" days when families can visit without an appointment and enjoy the Story Stations activities with other families! (Prefer to have the room to yourself? There will also still be "by appointment" days.)

All Story Stations programs

Story Stations Early Learning activities logo with train

Read Together with Frozen II

Best for ages 3-8. This is an encore story station updated with three new Frozen-based stations: Snowball Fight with Sven, Matching Game with Elsa, and a Sensory Corner for littles or anyone who needs a break from the action. And you can still enjoy old favorites: a story stroll with the book Olaf Loves to Read, a pretend library checkout desk, book building blocks, Olaf's feelings activity, and more! After the program, pick up your updated take home packet with winter scratch art and other activities.


  • ELKO NEW MARKET:
  • By appointment: Tue 12/27
  • Appointment-free day: Wed 12/28
  • NEW PRAGUE:
  • By appointment: Wed 1/4, Thu 1/5
  • Appointment-free day: Sat 1/7
  • BELLE PLAINE:
  • By appointment: Wed 1/25, Thu 1/26
  • Appointment-free day: Fri 1/27

ALL Frozen Story Stations events

cover of the book Olaf Loves to Read

Bilingual Baby Shark Sea Adventures (English /Español)

Best for ages birth-5. Enjoy sea adventures in this self-directed program based on Baby Shark and his family. Play a shark feeding game, go fishing, “swim” through an obstacle course, and more. After the program, pick up your take home packet with playdough, shark headband craft, baby shark puzzle, and other learning activities.


  • SHAKOPEE:
  • By appointment: Wed 12/28, Thu 12/29, Fri 12/30
  • Appointment-free day: Sat 12/31
  • SAVAGE:
  • Appointment-free days: Sat 1/7 & Mon 1/9
  • By appointment: Tue 1/10, Wed 1/11
  • ELKO NEW MARKET:
  • By appointment: Tue 1/24
  • Appointment-free day: Wed 1/25

ALL Baby Shark Story Stations events

cover of the book Baby Shark - Bebe Tiburon

Bluey's Playtime

Best for ages 2-6. Wackadoo! It’s Bluey-based fun for everyone. Race to pool, play charades, create some stamp art, recreate Bluey’s Hammerbarn cart, solve problems (puzzles), and more! After the program, pick up your take home packet with more activities inspired by some of our favorite episodes.


  • BELLE PLAINE:
  • By appointment: Wed 12/28, Thu 12/29
  • Appointment-free day: Fri 12/30
  • JORDAN:
  • Appointment-free day: Sat 1/14
  • By appointment: Tue 1/17
  • SHAKOPEE:
  • By appointment: Wed 1/25, Thu 1/26, Fri 1/27
  • Appointment-free day: Sat 1/28

ALL Bluey's Playtime Story Stations events

cover of the book Bluey - At Home with the Heelers

Game On!

Games by the Fire, Prior Lake Library

Join us each week to learn and play games, help complete a puzzle, and/or enjoy some warm drinks! We will have a collection of games available and game play will be self-led by participants.  

All ages are welcome! 

Mondays, 5:30-7:30pm 


Game Night, Savage Library

Join us each week to learn and play games, help complete a puzzle, and/or enjoy some warm drinks! We will have a collection of games available and game play will be self-led by participants.  

All ages are welcome! 

Thursdays, 5:30-7:30pm


photo of various board games

Read with a Therapy Dog

Waggin' Tales at Prior Lake & Savage Libraries

 

School-age kids can practice reading to a trained therapy dog with a good ear for stories. Bring your own books, or pick one of ours. Call the library to sign up for a date and time.

 

Waggin' Tales schedules

jokey photo of dog holding books

Readmobile

The Readmobile continues limited visits this winter, weather permitting! If there is inclement weather, the Readmobile may not be able to visit. For current information and schedule, visit  www.scottlib.org/readmobile.

Readmobile sponsor logos