Free and fun youth programs found at the library

By Susan Braunstein, Programming Library Associate

Where can you find free activities for youth of all ages? The Rapid City Public Library has an abundance of choices year round. Right now the library has a story time promotion going on through the end of the year. If a child attends any of the weekly or evening family story times they can get a punch on a card. When this card has 10 punches it can be turned into the library staff upstairs and the child receives a free book. Their card will also be entered in a grand prize drawing to be held at the end of the year. 

Regular weekly story times are held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the downtown library. During the Tuesday Book Buddies, the stories and activities are geared to preschool children and are held at 9:30 a.m.  On Thursdays you will find Baby Bookworms story times offered at 9:30 and 10 a.m. and the focus is on books for children from birth to three years old.

Family Story Time is an event offered twice a month, the second Tuesday of the month at General Beadle Elementary School and the third Tuesday of the month at the downtown library. Stories start at 6 p.m. and there is also pizza provided.
Throughout the year when public schools are out for in-service or special holidays the library creates educational, entertaining programs called Discovery Days. The last Discovery Day for this school year will be held on Friday, April 30. Those attending can make a May Day basket and learn gardening tips. The take home basket will contain a cup for planting, a packet of flower seeds, a small bag of soil and candy.

We haven’t forgotten the teens. Teens who are interested in helping with programming or other ideas have the opportunity to join one of two Teen Advisory Boards. One is for grades 6-8th grade and the other is for high schools students.  They have a monthly meeting on the third Thursday of every month. Right now they have two book discussions planned. The high school group chose “Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins as it first book. All high school teens are invited to read the book and share their thoughts on March 19 at 6:30 p.m. 

In April the middle school advisory group invites 6th through 8th grade students to join in and visit about the book, “The Silver Child,” by Cliff McNish on April 20 from 3:30- 5 p.m.

Teen are also invited to join in Gaming Days scheduled at both library locations from 3:30-5 p.m. The library has Wii games to play, a Guitar Hero set up and laptops to use to play on-line games. The Gaming Days at the General Beadle locations are held on the first and third Tuesday of the month and downtown on the first and third Wednesday of the month.

For more information or to sign up to be notified about programs, check out the library’s website, www.rapidicitylibrary.org.