The Houston Public Library will be turning 20 this February! To celebrate, we’ve got a month of special activities lined up, including a FREE THEMED BASKET RAFFLE for our patrons. Every time you stop by and use any library service during the month of February, you can enter your name (or the name of someone you love) into a drawing for one of our ten themed baskets. Take a brief look below at other events taking place during February. Call 896-READ, stop by the library, or visit our Facebook page for more details!

Monday, February 1st: It’s a FINE FREE FUTURE! We’ll no longer charge fines for overdue items for items checked out from our library, only for lost or damaged materials. We’ll also be waiving fines that have accumulated on your account.

Thursday, February 3rd: Our 9 week introductory class on the ukulele starts up, from 6 to 7 pm! We’ll be learning fundamental chords, along with beginning strumming patterns. This class is geared towards tweens, teens, and adults. Registration is required, as are masks for all participants. Ukuleles provided. Call 896-READ if you are interested in registering. Classes are limited to 10 participants.

Saturday, February 5th: Our first of four Storytime at Home Kit will be available for pick-up in our front entryway beginning at 10 am. This week’s kit, entitled “B is for Books and Birthdays,” contains letter and number recognition worksheets, crafts, and STEM activities based on the letter B. Thanks to HelpMeGrowMN, each kit also contains a board book for your young child to keep.

Monday, February 7th: Join us at the library at 7 pm for a slideshow presentation based on the book, “The Libraries of Minnesota.” Published by the Minnesota Historical Society, this book features our little library on the cover! Author, photographer, and historian Doug Ohman will be here to show us the beautiful, unusual, and intriguing libraries of our state. Masks required.

Thursday, February 10th: Beginning Ukulele continues from 6-7 pm.

Saturday, February 12th: Our Storytime at Home Kit this week is called “L is for Libraries and Love,” to celebrate the library’s birthday and Valentine’s Day. Stop by while supplies last, beginning at 10 am, to pick up a kit for your young child. We’ll be including a new picture book in each kit for kids to keep! That’s how much we love our young patrons.

Monday, February 14th: It’s our 6th Annual Valentine’s Day Quilt Raffle at 7 pm. Tickets are $2 each with all proceeds going to support our 2022 Summer Reading Program. Need not be present to win. This year’s quilt is currently on display at the library, is hand-made by Janelle Kelleher, measures 60 x 77 inches, and features the pattern “Farmhouse by Moda: Double Slice Cake.”

Thursday, February 17th: Now that we all know about Maker Spaces, it’s time for our first BREAKER SPACE from 5 to 7 pm for young scientists and their families. Stop by and take apart common household appliances. We provide the appliances, tools, and work tables. Families may come and go anytime during the two hour session. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Masks required.

Thursday, February 17th: Uke class tonight will run from 7-8 pm to accommodate our Breaker Space event. Registered participants only!

Saturday, February 19th: Our third Storytime at Home Kit is entitled “R is for Reading,” featuring crafts, STEM activities, and early literacy worksheets for beginning readers. All kits are available in our front entryway beginning at 10 am, while supplies last.

Saturday, February 19th: We’ll be hosting a second BREAKER SPACE event from 10am to noon. Once again, young scientists can take apart common household appliances. We provide the appliances, tools, and work tables. Families may come and go anytime during the two hour session. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Masks required.

Thursday, February 24th: Intro the Ukulele continues for registered participants from 6-7 pm.

Saturday, February 26th: Our fourth and final Storytime At Home Kit is entitled “S is for Stories.” Kits geared towards emergng readers contain letter and number recognition worksheets, crafts, and STEM activities based on the letter S this week!

Monday, February 28th: Our FREE BASKET RAFFLE takes place at 7 pm, our birthday present to our patrons as we celebrate turning 20. Every time you stop by and use any library service during our birthday month of February, you can put your name (or the name of someone you love) into one of our ten themed basket raffles. Need not be present to win!

The Houston Public Library will be closed on Monday, January 17th in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Our regular hours of operation resume on Tuesday, January 18th. We hope to see you then. Have a safe and happy holiday, everyone.

The Houston Public Library will be CLOSED for the holidays on Saturday, December 25, 2021 and Saturday, January 1, 2022. Have a safe and happy holiday season, everyone!

The Houston Public Library will be CLOSED on Thursday, November 11th in observance of Veterans’ Day. We will return to our regular hours of operation on Saturday. Have a safe and happy holiday, everyone.

The Houston Public Library will be CLOSED on Monday, October 11th in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We’ll be back to our regular hours of operation on Tuesday and hope to see you then. Questions? Call 896-READ!

The Houston Public Library will be CLOSED on Monday, September 6th in observance of Labor Day. Have a happy and, above all, safe holiday, everyone! We’ll be back on Tuesday and hope to see you then.

Saturday Morning Storytimes are back! This summer our storytimes will take place outside in our adjacent greenspace, weather permitting, from 10 to 11 am. Our theme will be “Tails & Tales,” so get ready for some special animal guest stars! Kids will go home with materials to make a craft as well! Questions? Give us a call at 896-READ. Here is a list of upcoming storytime dates and guest stars:

Saturday, June 19: Therapy Dogs

Saturday, June 26: Draft Horses

Saturday, July 3: Rabbits

Saturday, July 10: Donkeys

Saturday, July 17: Mini-horses

Saturday, July 24: Fish

Saturday, July 31: Sheep

Saturday, August 7: Ducks

Saturday, August 14: Goats

Saturday, August 21: Leopard Gecko

Saturday, August 28: Robotic Mice

Learn about music, dance, metal detecting, robots, eagles, and more during the Houston Public Library’s 2021 Summer Reading events.

• All events take place outside at the city park, unless otherwise indicated. 
• In case of inclement weather, outside performances will take place over at the NEW Houston Community Center at 109 West Cedar.
• We will follow all state COVID guidelines and regulations that apply at the time of the event.
• Please bring your own blankets/ lawn chairs to make your viewing experience more comfortable, as we will NOT be providing seating. 
• Don’t forget that our Wednesday partners, Meet Up & Eat Up, will be distributing free bagged lunches to local kids ages 18 and under at the city park just after our events.  Show up for the fun from 10-11 am, stay for lunch, which is available from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm, while supplies last.  For the record, our STEM Kits will be handed out during Meet Up & Eat Up lunch times.  See details below.
• All event times, locations, and pandemic protocols subject to change.  Give us a call at 896-READ if you have any questions! 

Wednesday, June 16th from 10 to 11 am:  LAND OF 10,000 TUNES with Nate Hance at the city park!

Come on a journey through the best of Minnesota’s musical landscape.  We’ll explore iconic works by Minnesota artists and experience the state’s heritage through polkas, waltzes, and marches, shining a light on Minnesota’s musical diversity through the past 60 years.  You’re invited to an exciting hour of Minnesota music filled with variety, fun, and even a few virtuosic tricks thanks to professional musician, Nate Hance!

Wednesday, June 23rd from 10 am-11am: FAMILY YOGA FUN with Katie Kabat at the city park!

Licensed yoga instructor, Katie Kabat, will take us all through an hour of fun yoga poses that encourage flexibility and strength during this all-ages family-friendly event.  Bring a blanket or yoga mat to make your experience more comfortable!

Wednesday, June 30th from 10-11 am: NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER at NEW Houston Community Center, 109 West Cedar!

Join us as the National Eagle Center provides the opportunity to learn all about eagle biology, ecology, natural history, and cultural connections in an engaging and entertaining presentation by one of their naturalist interpreters.  This program features a live eagle ambassador!

Wednesday, July 7th from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm:   THINGS THAT FLY KIT at the city park!

Does something have to be an airplane to fly? What about flying cups and tumblewings?  You can make a paper airplane launcher and then improve it or have a distance contest with a friend.  This bag offers many opportunities to investigate unique flying objects.

Wednesday, July 14th from 10-11 am:  THE MAGIC OF CELTIC MUSIC with Laura MacKenzie at the city park!

Enjoy this opportunity to experience the magic of Celtic music!  Professional musician, Laura MacKenzie, will play an extraordinary variety of traditional wind-powered instruments, including a special collection of wooden flutes, whistles, a concertina, an array of different bagpipes, a gemshorn or two, and, of course, her voice.  In this intriguing program, we’ll learn how air is transformed into music.

Wednesday, July 21st from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm:  NATURE AROUND TOWN KIT at the city park!

Scavenger hunts, figuring out the age of a tree, and experimenting with sunlight are just a few of the activities in this STEM bag.  Our “Nature Around Town” kit will get you outside to look at the clouds and start a collection.  You might even do a craft with samaras.

Wednesday, July 28^th  from 11:15 am-12:15 pm:  ROBOT KIT at the city park!

Who doesn’t like robots?  In this STEM bag, you will balance robots, craft a robot or two, and learn about coding.  Our Robot Bag also includes a Bot-in-a-Box  —  a dancing, bouncing robot you can make at home.

Wednesday, August 4th from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm:  SCIENCE OR MAGIC KIT at the city park!

In our last STEM bag of the summer, you will learn how to do several magic tricks, along with the science behind them.  A magician never reveals their secrets, but a scientist does!  You may even be able to put on a magic show for your family.

Wednesday, August 11^th  from  10 to 11 am:  SIAMA’S MUSIC FROM THE CONGO at the city park!

On this very special musical journey to Africa, Siama plays the guitar and fascinating traditional instruments like mbiri and balafon, while Dallas Johnson encourages everyone to sing along to happy songs in Kikongo, Lingala, and English and shares stories that bring Siama’s rural homeland to life.  Kids will have a chance to play shakers and participate in a fun dance party.  Come ready to have a great time.

Wednesday, August 18^th from 10-11 am:  SEARCHING FOR HIDDEN TREASURE with Doug Ohman at the city park!

Join us as we search for buried treasure over at our city park with Doug Ohman, Minnesota author, speaker, and historian.  Doug will be bringing his metal detector to use, along with interesting artifacts he has found over the years for kids to examine.  Nothing brings local history to life faster for kids than actual relics from the past found in our present! 

Wednesday, August 25^th from 10- 11 am:  WORLD DANCE VACATION with Christopher Yaeger at the city park!

At our last event of the summer, we’ll be celebrating music and movement as we journey through different world cultures and communities, featuring family-friendly dances that can be easily learned and enjoyed with or without partners.  Get up, get moving, and dance with professional dance instructor, Christopher Yaeger.

FYI:  Beginning on June 19^th we’ll begin hosting our weekly Saturday Morning Storytimes again, weather permitting, outside in our adjacent green space from 10-11 am.  Our theme this summer will be “Tails & Tales,” so get ready for some special animal guest stars!  Bring your own blanket or lawn chair.

The Houston Public Library’s 2021 Summer Reading Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Houston Public Library, SELCO Legacy grants from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Sub-Zero Pizza and Ice Cream, and generous donations from the public. A big shout-out to Friend of the Library, Ann Markegard, for creating this year’s STEM kits, as well as to our Wednesday partners, the Meet Up & Eat Lunch Lunch Ladies!  It takes a village!

Our favorite pandemic project is quickly coming to an end: only three more weeks of providing our youngest patrons with “Storytime At Home” kits! This 18 week program began in January 2021 and was funded by the Houston Area Community Foundation, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the Friends of the Library, and the Houston United Campaign. Our goal was to bring the fun of our Saturday Morning Storytimes directly to the safety of your home, offering kids 2-8 years of age crafts, STEM activities, letter/number recognition worksheets, songs, and games which promote the development of early literacy skills.

We’ll be taking a break for a few weeks then relaunching storytimes at the library in-person. Starting on Saturday, June 19th at 10 am, storytimes will be held in our outside adjacent greenspace, weather permitting. Our summer theme will be “Tails & Tales,” so we’ll be focusing on different farm animals each week, with animal guest stars as often as possible. Hope you will join us. We’ve missed our weekly fun and are looking forward to a return to normalcy. Masks and social distancing will be required for the safety of our staff and patrons. Questions? Give us a call at 896-READ. In the meantime, don’t forget to pick up the remaining three “Storytime at Home” Kits over the next three weeks. Our themes, in case you are interested are worms (5/8), bees (5/15), and butterflies (5/22)!