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Welcome to the Kids' Page
Youth Services is one of the liveliest departments we have to offer. Children and families make use of a wide range of services including storytime sessions, crafting days, movie showings, programs & events, an amazing print & digital collection of reading materials, and much more. Materials circulated in our system for juvenile readers are the highest each year, showing families are vital for the success of a library. Learn more about our youth department.
Weekly Storytime Descriptions for Families
- BABY STEPS (AGES 0-1): For infants from birth to age 1 and their caregivers designed for interactive discovery and play including stories, activities, and stimuli of all kinds.
- Tuesdays at 10:30AM | South Branch Library
- MOTHER GOOSE ON THE LOOSE (AGES 0-3): Award-winning literacy program utilizing a variety of activities such as rhymes, puppets, and songs.
- Thursdays at 11:00AM | Main Library
- PLAY & LEARN (AGES 0-3): Engage in one of the latest library trends in a program offering sensory play for children to help develop and refine the use of their senses.
- Mondays at 9:30AM | Mockingbird Branch Library
- HISTORIAS EN ESPAÑOL & INGLÉS (AÑOS 3-6): Venga a disfrutar historias, música y más en inglés y español en esta hora de cuentos bilingue! Con la lectora invitada especial Isabel Trujillo.
- Miércoles at 10:15AM | Mockingbird Branch Library
- PRESCHOOL STORYTIME (AGES 3-6): Listen to stories, join in fingerplays, sing, and watch puppets and other visual presentations.
- Wednesdays at 11:00AM | South Branch Library
- TODDLER TIME (AGES 2-3): For children ready for longer stories to prepare them for all regular programming.
- Mondays at 10:00AM | Mockingbird Branch Library
- Wednesdays at 11:00AM | Main Library
- Thursdays at 11:00AM | South Branch Library
- WIGGLES & GIGGLES (AGES 1-3): Join us for a fun and educational program combining music, dance, and rhythm with structured learning. Children will develop confidence, coordination, and social skills while expressing themselves in a relaxed environment.
- Tuesdays at 11:00AM | South Branch Library
About the Youth Department
Ellene Cudd, Youth Librarian
Randall Minnick, Youth Services
This area of the Main Library is located on the first floor and houses all of our children's books from beginning readers through middle school. Here you will find knowledgeable staff ready to answer any of your questions.
This area houses children's computers, accessible by patrons with a valid library card, as well as AWE Early Literacy stations equipped with educational gaming for youth. Additional items available to keep youth entertained includes games, quick activities, and puzzles.
Although not a primary space for programming, craft activities are sometimes conducted in this area. You will also find our storyroom, which is where the majority of storytimes and youth programs are hosted. This room is filled with wall-to-wall murals to promote children's literature and is a great space for kids, parents, and staff to interact together in events.
Andrea Compton, Youth Librarian
This is one of the bustling areas of the South Branch Library for patrons and staff. This area is used for most storytime programming conducted by staff, as well as some special events hosted by outside groups that don't need to be contained within a room. When not in use for programming, this is a great seating area for patrons and guests. Comfortable lounge furniture can be found around the outside perimeter and youth can be seen sitting in the open space reading books, playing with busy bag activities, having fun on our light board, putting puzzles together, and playing on our AWE Early Literacy stations that offer educational gaming opportunities across a variety of subjects.
This area is not available to be rented out for outside groups, but appears as a facility listing as it's a place in the library that is utilized for library programs. It's surrounded by the children's collection at the library, housing materials for beginner readers through middle school. It's also located in view of the children's play area located inside the Mall of Abilene, so parents are able to monitor their children whether they're inside the library or at the play area.
Amanda Sasser, Youth Librarian
The Children's Area of the Mockingbird Branch Library is the primary area where kids and families spend time in the library. This area is used for some library programming and storytimes when not conducted inside the Activity Room. This means the children's area is not available for renting by the public. In this area you'll find great seating for the family, access to puzzles, activity bags, and AWE Early Literacy stations providing access to educational gaming across a variety of subject areas.
This area houses the a great collection of reading materials for this age group with materials for beginning readers to middle school. The Mockingbird Branch is also the only location that separates out its juvenile audiovisual collection of DVDs and audiobooks on CD so they too are housed in the children's area of the library.
Colorful walls and decorations helps to make this area of the library inviting, and while located in the front of the facility by the windows, shades are provided to protect you from the sun during certain times of the day. Feel free to come attend a program or storytime in our children's area and see what this branch location has to offer for families.
Also Ask Us About
All library branches offers a regular lineup of programming for youth up to 12 years of age.
Visit out Events Page for our program offerings.
Library Tours
Tours are available for any group wishing to obtain a better understanding of the library's services. These tours will introduce groups to how the library functions, the services offered to them, and more. For youth and local student tours, sessions may also include incorporating storytimes and/or other activities to engage youth. Call to setup a time, or for more information.
- Main Library: 325-677-2474
- South Branch: 325-698-7565
- Mockingbird Branch: 325-437-7323
Literacy Kits
All branch locations offer access to a selection of literacy and activity kits for local youth. Each comes with a variety of interactive materials, which may include books, CDs, and activity binder, and additional content. Available kits are for those that promote literacy, homeschool education, phonics, and more. They remain in popular demand at all locations so feel free to take advantage of them.
School Presentations
Youth staff at each branch not only put on great activities inside the library, we're also available to visit your school to tell your students about the programs we offer. Give us a call and see how we can assist you and schedule a time for a visit.