El Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead

The sugar skulls and frosting have been prepared...







The papel picado has been strung...










It's time for Children's Services annual celebration of El Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead!!  Join us and learn about this joyful Mexican holiday that celebrates the lives of the departed. 

Decorate your own sugar skull to take home, add your memories to the community memory board, taste bread of the dead, make marigolds and masks, and bring your camera along to have your picture taken in our holiday photo booth.   To learn more about Day of the Dead, check out this booklist!

Saturday, November 5th, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 6th, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Getting Ready for Day of the Dead

Preparing for programs in Children's Services can be sweet work. Seriously!

In preparation for our upcoming Day of the Dead Program, Children's Services staff created hundreds of sugar skulls. These will be available for families to decorate in memory of loved ones who have died. We hope you will join us for our Day of the Dead Open House on Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6 from 2:00 to 4:00.

Come learn about this joyful Mexican holiday that celebrates the lives of the departed.In addition to decorating your own sugar skull to take home, you can add your memories to the community memory board, make marigolds & masks, taste bread of the dead and more!  We hope to see you!

Tie-Dye on the Plaza!

Come downtown to the Main Library on Saturday, August 6 for Tie-Dye on the Plaza.

Bring your own white t-shirt or pillowcase; we'll be outside on the grass in front of the Library Plaza Stage with everything you need to create your own tie-dyed masterpiece.

Tie-Dye on the Plaza
Saturday, August 6
1:00-2:30 p.m.

Spring Break Smorgasbord!

Looking for something fun to do during Spring Break? Check out the Spring Break Smorgasbord events in Children's Services. We'll have a different activity each day from 2 to 4pm. Don't forget our Art Room is available for you to use anytime the library is open - this Spring Break stop by to create a fantastic collage.

Monday, April 4th 2 to 4pm - Letterboxing at the Library
Tuesday, April 5th 2 to 4pm - Do You Like Legos?
Wednesday, April 6th 2 to 4pm - Games Plugged and Unplugged
Thursday, April 7th 2 to 4pm - Art Room Extended
Friday, April 8th 2 to 4pm - Swashbucklin' Search

We hope that you will spend some of your Spring Break with us!

Carnival of the Animals!

Families: Don't miss this special performance

presented by the
Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company!

Carnival of the AnimalsSaturday, March 5, 2011
11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Main Library Theater
Doors will open 15 minutes before each performance.

Special Storytime Guests!

Please join us tomorrow for a special storytime with the Fort Wayne Youtheatre!

9:30am storytime for groups (please register by calling 421-1220)

10:30am storytime for families

After storytime, be sure to visit the Early Learning Center, where we will be celebrating Letter T Day!

2010: Living in the Future

While looking for books for the staff favorites display, we found a GREAT book: 2010: Living in the Future by Geoffrey Hoyle. It was written in 1973 and is full of predictions about the year 2010. It is fun to look through to see what did and didn't become reality.

Now would be a wonderful time to sit down with your family and create a time capsule. Draw pictures, write stories, print up photos and make predictions about your life and the world 35 years from now. Seal it up and put it somewhere safe, then remember to open it in 2046!

More Fun All Week!

This stand up snowperson was made by a child during last week's table top craft event. There will be a new craft every day this week, stop by to create something awesome!

Don't forget, all locations of the ACPL will be closed this Friday, December 31st and Saturday, January 1st. The main library will reopen on Sunday, January 2nd at 12pm.

Winter Break Crafts

Stop by the main library today through Thursday to make a wonderful winter craft.

Today - Glittery Snowflakes
Monday - Colorful Penguins
Tuesday - Handprint Reindeer
Wednesday - Cotton Tipped Snowflakes
Thursday - Delightful Dragons

See you at the library!

More Letterboxes!

Letterboxing is a hobby that will exercise your treasure hunting and artistic abilities. This fun and exciting activity can be enjoyed by the whole family. Letterboxes are hidden all over the world and each one contains a unique stamp. Find letterboxes and collect stamps in your personal journal and leave your personal stamp in the letterbox's visitor book.

We have several letterboxes hidden in the Children's Services department, making this a perfect cold weather activity for your family. Most of our boxes contain beautiful hand carved stamps and if you aren't careful you might learn something about how to find books in the library while you solve the clues. Our trail name is ACPL Kids, click here to find the clues. You can also ask at the Ask Here desk in Children's Services for a folder with EVEN MORE clues!

Welcome to the Art Room

This lovely family is enjoying the new Art Room in Children's Services. You are welcome to stop by any time the library is open to create art, too!

Right now you can check out the Flowers in Art theme and practice drawing and using colored pencils. View the famous art work on display and be inspired to create a great work of your own!

Day of the Dead

Visit Children's Services this Saturday and Sunday between 2 and 4pm for the

Day of the Dead Open House

Learn about this joyful Mexican holiday that celebrates the lives of the departed. Decorate your own sugar skull to take home, add your memories to the community memory board, make marigolds & masks, taste bread of the dead and more!

Scenes from a self checkout...

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus!

Saturday, October 2nd @ 10 a.m.

Meet David & Cherie, the Advanced Ambassadors of Laughter from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Dave & Cherie would like to read to you from their favorite Dr. Seuss book and teach you all about laughter and silliness. Don't miss this chance to meet two delightful clowns in person.

Johnny Appleseed Festival!

You still have time to get to the Johnny Appleseed Festival if you are in the Fort Wayne area -- festival hours are from 10:00am to 5:00pm today.

Whether you made it to the festival or not, come to the library and learn more about this legendary figure! Start out with some of the books on our Johnny Appleseed booklist.

Tie Dye TODAY 1:00 - 2:30 on the plaza

Bring a white t-shirt and your creativity
we provide the dye and the clean up!
This is fun-filled, family friendly event!
Please join us today at 1:00!

Animals at the Library?!? WHAT?!?

Tonight is our Stuffed Animal Sleepover!

Friday, August 27 5:00 pm

Wear your pajamas, bring your stuffed friend and listen to a bedtime story at 5:00 pm tonight.

After our story time, you will tuck your stuffed animal into "bed" and wish her sweet dreams. While you return home to your own snuggly beds, your stuffed pal will get to have fun in the library overnight! Who knows what they will do ~ where they will go...

Come back on Saturday morning at 9:00 am to pick up your friend and "hear" about all the mischief they got into after hours at the library!

All stuffed participants will take home a photo memory book of their overnight adventures in the library.

TIE DYE ON THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY PLAZA

Please join us on the Library Plaza
downtown at 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Saturday, August 28th
Bring your white t-shirt and creativity~
we will provide the dye!
This event is for all ages!

Second Annual Tie Dye SATURDAY!!

Please join us on the Library Plaza
downtown at 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Saturday, August 28th
Bring your white t-shirt and creativity~
we will provide the dye!
This event is for all ages!

Tie Dye on the Plaza CANCELLED!

Second Annual Tie Dye on the Plaza
is cancelled due to the weather!

We will host this awesome family event

Saturday, August 28

1 - 2:30 pm