Upcoming Events for Children and Families:
Thursday, December 13th, from 5 – 7:30pm
Join Vail Public Library and Santa himself for our annual Family Fireside Holiday Party, starting off in the Fireside Lounge. This fun-filled event is open to children of all ages who wish to visit with Santa Claus. While waiting to meet with Santa, kids are welcome to participate in making arts and crafts. Santa takes his time with each child who visits with him. This event is free and open to the public.
Babies and Toddlers: December 14th, from 11am-12:30pm in the Community Room
Babies and toddlers are welcome to meet with Santa on Fri., Dec. 14th from 11am – 12:30pm in the Community Room. We offer this session for children who are under 3 years old and who may benefit from meeting Santa in a calm, daytime setting. Toys will be available to play with and snacks will be offered so that waiting can be just as enjoyable as meeting Santa. This event is free and open to the public.
Programs Coming in 2019! Friday Feb 8, 4:30 – 8:00 (past the library closing time)
Welcome to Hogwarts at Vail Public Library! Dress up as your favorite character from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Prizes will be awarded to the most magical wizard costumes. Additionally, there will be wand-making, a potions class and even trivia. Butter beer and snacks will be served during the showing of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” in this fun-filled Harry Potter party! Kids and teens are invited.
Ongoing Programming for Children and Families:
Robotics Club
Next session will be Robotics II. We are evaluating the best timing for this! Please reach out to Sandy or Cricket if interested!
Pre-registration is required.
Robotics club is held in two separate sessions: Robotics I and Robotics II. In Robotics, we use Lego Mindstorms EV3 to build, program and complete challenges. Each week, we will learn a new move and put it to test in fun and interactive ways. For more information, contact Sandy Rivera at srivera@vailgov.com or Cricket Pylman at cpylman@vailgov.com to reserve your spot. Children should be in 3rd grade or above in order to participate.
Reading Buddies
Beginning October after Parent -Teacher conferences!
Reading Buddies is a free Vail Public Library program that pairs trained teen volunteers with younger kids for a one-on-one reading experience. Little buddies do not need to be struggling readers to benefit from this program. Reading Buddies offers a chance for friendship while providing another set of attentive ears for our young readers. Little buddies should be in Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade. Big buddies should be 7th through 12th graders.
Contact Cricket Pylman for an application to be either a Big Buddy or a Little Buddy! We are currently recruiting for our Fall session.
Thursday, Oct 11th – Dec 6 – 4:30 – 5:30pm
Please let us know if you are interested so that we can plan the program around your schedules.
Big buddies need to interview and trained. If you are interested, please contact us to be ready for the next session.
kragan@vailgov.com or 970-479-3445
Now recruiting Big Buddies from 7th grade through 12th grades and Little Buddies rising into 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades.
Find and Check out one of our:
Little Free Library! 
Built by the teens in our 2017 Summer Reading Program, Vail Public Library has planted FIVE little free libraries around Vail and Gypsum.
Examples of past events for Children and Families:
El Día de Los Niños/El Día de Los Libros – Saturday, April 14th from 3:30 – 5:00pm
Monday, April 16th, from 3:15 – 5pm: Earth Day Wormery
Trick or Treat Story Time – October 31st @ 1:00pm
Annual Scarecrow Building Contest – Saturday, Oct 28th @ 10:00am
Harry Potter Party – Saturday, Nov. 4 @ 3:30 pm
Family Fireside Holiday Party – Thursday, Dec. 14th 5:00 – 7:30
Babies and Toddlers – Santa Tea Party – Friday. Dec 15 11:00 – 12:30
2017 Hour of Code
Kids in the Kitchen – Saturday, January 20, 2018
Valentine Making – Monday, February 12th
Photos of some of our events:
