Winter & Spring 2023 Flyer

For our 2023 youth programming, we're bringing back kid favorites like LEGO at the Library, Messy Kids Art, and Wild Child Nature Explorers—and introducing a new "All Hands on Tech" scavenger hunt! Download the flyer to learn more!

Baby Bop Story Time

Join us Mondays or Saturdays at noon for indoor story times designed for our friends ages 0-23 months. We offer 20 minutes of caregiver and baby fun and bonding with books, bounces, songs, and rhymes followed by 15 minutes of unstructured play and read time.

March 13-April 29

Registration is required for Baby Bop Story Times. If you registered for our Fall session, your registration carries over to Winter/Spring. 

Onalaska:
Mondays at 12 pm
NEW! Saturdays at 12 pm

For Caregivers: Baby Bop Songs & Rhymes

Tales for Twos Story Time

Join us for indoor story times full of books, movement, songs, and fun. Tales for Twos story times are designed for our friends who are age two with lots of caregiver participation. Tales for Twos Story Times last approximately 20 minutes.

March 13-April 27

Registration is required for Tales for Twos Story Times. If you registered for our Fall session, your registration carries over to Winter/Spring.

Holmen: Thursdays at 10:15 am
Onalaska: Mondays at 10 am

For Caregivers: Tales for Twos Songs and Rhymes

Library Learners Preschool Story Time

Join us for indoor story times full of books, movement, songs, and fun. Story Times last approximately 30 minutes and are geared toward youth ages 3-5.

March 13-April 28

Registration is recommended for Library Learners. If you registered for our Fall session, your registration carries over to Winter/Spring.

Bangor: Mondays at 10:15 am
Campbell: Thursdays at 6:30 pm
Holmen: Tuesdays at 6:30 pm and Wednesdays at 10:15 am
Onalaska: Mondays at 6:30 pm and Fridays at 10 am
West Salem: Tuesdays at 6:30 pm and Wednesdays at 10:15 am

March Memoirs

A memoir is a story of your life—or some part of it—told in words or pictures. Visit the library in March to pick up an official MARCH MEMOIR entry form. Draw or write your story, bring it back to the library, and we'll post it on the library display wall all month. One winner from each location will be randomly selected to receive a Creatapalooza Prize Basket filled with writing and art supplies.

LEGO® at the Library

Kids of all ages (children under 8 accompanied by an adult) are welcome at our Lego brick building events! Have fun free-building, or be inspired by our suggested theme. No registration required.

All events run from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.

Monday, March 6 - Bangor & Campbell

Monday, March 13 - Onalaska

Monday, March 20 - West Salem

Monday, March 27 - Holmen

Teen Time

Teens in grades 6-12 ... Looking for a place to recharge? Do some homework? Enjoy some snacks? If you're into hands-on projects, music, new teen books, or just chilling out, drop in for Teen Time. Sign up for a door prize while you're there! No registration required.

Friday, March 24
Holmen Public Library: 3pm to 4:30pm
Onalaska Public Library: 2:30pm to 4pm

Messy Kids Art

Join us for drippy, colorful fun at the library! Kids who register can drop in anything during the program time and create their own terra cotta drip paint pot. Great for all youth. Registration is required and begins Monday, March 13.

Monday, April 10
4:30pm to 5:30pm in Holmen (FULL), Onalaska (FULL), & West Salem

Wednesday, April 12
4:30pm to 5:30pm in Bangor (FULL) and Campbell

Winged Wonders

Presented by Raptor Education Group Inc.

Have you ever met a hawk face to face? What about a falcon? Join REGI’s Wildlife Educator and their avian ambassadors when they visit the Onalaska Library all the way from Antigo, WI. Meet some of our state's common, but rarely encountered birds. Discover what a raptor is, hear their stories and learn what you can do to ensure they remain a significant part of the ecosystem. Geared for ages four - adult.

Funding for this program was provided by the Ben and Floyde Sias Library Trust Fund in partnership with La Crosse County Library.

Saturday, April 15, 12 p.m.
Onalaska Public Library

Wild Child Nature Explorers

Explore the wildlife of the Driftless Region with hands-on activities, stories, and STEM challenges. Nora from the environmental education group Happy Dancing Turtle returns to the library with a hop-tastic program all about frogs. Kids will learn about the frog lifecycle, discover how they differ from toads, make party blower frog masks, and more! Designed for ages 6-10 (children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult). Registration is required and begins Monday, March 20.

Tuesday, April 18
4:30-5:30pm - Onalaska

Wednesday, April 19
6:30-7:30pm - Holmen

Thursday, April 20
4:30-5:30pm - Campbell

Monday, April 24
4-5pm - Bangor

Wednesday, April 26
6:30-7:30pm - West Salem

Story Time with the Coulee Region Humane Society

Join us for special Story Times presented by the Coulee Region Humane Society. These events will feature stories and activities about wildlife babies. No registration required. Geared toward ages 3-7.

May 8 - Bangor at 10:15am and Onalaska at 6:30pm
May 9 - Holmen at 6:30pm
May 10 - Holmen at 10:15am
May 11 - Campbell at 6:30pm
May 12 - Onalaska at 10am
May 17 - West Salem at 10:15am

Lit Love Book Bundles

Curious about creepy crawlies? Robo-motion? How to introduce your preschooler to Hebrew and other languages with Sesame Street?

Cozy up for winter with some literary love curated just for you by our Youth Services team. Just let us know what you're interested in, and we'll help you find it! Service also available for educators.

Booklists & Reader's Advisory

Booklists
Booklists are suggested reading in various categories provided by our Youth Services Librarians, New York Times Best-sellers list, etc.

Reader's Advisory
Reader's Advisory is a service to assist young people and their families, and those who work with children, in selecting reading materials. Stop by to talk with a youth services librarian at the Library’s youth services desks in Onalaska, Holmen, and West Salem, or before and after youth programs at any of the five County Library branches. They will be happy to recommend books and other materials for children and teens with regard to abilities, age levels, and interests.

Youth Services Staff travel to each of the five library locations to conduct programs, select and maintain books and other materials, conduct Reader's Advisory, and provide many other services for children, teens, and their families.

Youth Services has offices in Holmen, Onalaska & West Salem:

Holmen Public Library
121 W. Legion St * PO Box 220
Holmen, WI 54636
608-399-3385

Onalaska Public Library
741 Oak Ave S
Onalaska, WI 54650
608-781-9568 ext 3

West Salem Library
702 Industrial Drive
West Salem, WI 54669
608-786-1505