Kids, Teens, & Family Newsletter - October 2026

Cardholders with Extended Access are able to use SCL libraries (excluding the Shakopee Library) from 6am to 10pm.

Information on signing up for Extended Access can be found HERE.

Library Hours Update:

Beginning October 5th, all library locations will close at 7pm instead of 8pm. This change better reflects community use patterns while helping us continue to provide consistent, high-quality library services and programming.

Thank you for being part of our library community! We look forward to seeing you during our updated hours.

Reading Through History: America’s 250th Book Bingo

Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday with a special American history themed book bingo! You can pick up bingo sheets beginning on October 1 in all library branches. Read new books about a variety of historical topics/themes, get bingos, and win stickers and entries towards a $25 Amazon gift card.

Open to all ages. Participate individually or as a family

September Teen Fun Programs:

Fun activities specifically for teens! (12-18yo)

Please check the calendar ahead of time as some events require registration.

TeenTober and Teen Tuesdays!!!

All Weekly Teen Events

Spotlight Storytime with Author Cristina Oxtra

Saturday October 10th

10:30-11:15am

Savage Library

Cristina is a Savage resident and will read from WHAT LOLO WANTS - Cristina's debut picture book!

More about the book, "What Lolo Wants" -- Maria loves to spend her days drawing with her grandfather, Lolo. But when Lolo begins to forget things, Maria must come up with a creative way to figure out what Lolo wants.

All ages welcome. Join us in the children's area for stories and fun for kids and families.

To learn more about the author, visit the author's website!

Space still available to register for these programs:

Waggin' Tale Reading Time - Registration Recommended

Kids can spend time practicing reading to a trained therapy dog with a good ear for stories. Best for ages 6-11.

4-5pm

Savage Library

10/6 - Read with Blue the Golden Retriever!

10/13 - Read with Blue the Golden Retriever!

10/20 - Read with Perfect Pitch the Corgi!

10/27 - Read with Blue the Golden Retriever!

No registration required for these programs:

ECFE Play & Learn

Saturdays October 3, 10, 14, 24 and 31

11-11:20am

Parent/Child Activities: Time for you and your child to learn and play together with songs, stories and developmentally appropriate activities!

ECFE Stories and a Song

Fridays October 2, 9, 23 and 30.

1:30-2pm

Join an Early Childhood Family Education staff (ECFE) at the Shakopee Library for a short (15-20 minutes) drop-in Storytime on select Friday afternoons. We will share a few stories and a song or activity together!

Get here early and grab a seat in the Children's area!

Upper Elementary - Book Bingo

For ages 8-11. Play Bingo to win a book.

Wednesday October 7th

3:30-4:30pm

Jordan Library

Stories and a Song

We will share two stories and a song or activity together!

Saturdays October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31.

11:00-11:20am

Shakopee Library

Climb Theatre: The Amazing Linguine play

Best for ages 3 & up. Carly doesn’t know what to do about all the litter at her favorite playground. But then... Pesto, Change-o! The Amazing Linguine appears, to show us all the wonderful ways that reducing, reusing, and recycling can transform our trash into something truly magical. You won’t believe your eyes!

The play is free and registration is not required. Space may be limited, so please arrive early. Join us for this special performance!

Funded by Scott County Environmental Services.

Thursday October 15th

4:30-5:05pm

Prior Lake Library

STEM Inspirations with the Bakken Museum

Best for ages 4-11 and their caregivers. Drop-in anytime and join the Bakken Museum to explore three fun, hands-on science stations. With Inspiration Stations, participants will dig into the wonders of science by trying accessible, engaging activities that bring the inner child out of anyone.

Thursday October 15th

4-6pm

Savage Library

Young at Art

Best for ages 6-11; children 5 and under must have an adult with them. Come explore a variety of crafting styles in this drop-in art program. Play with colors, textures and styles while expressing your creativity!

At Jordan, Belle Plaine and Shakopee!

Crafternoon

This is a drop-in time to make art, make some friends, and try something new!

The library will provide some simple supplies, and you provide the creativity. For ages 8 and up. Siblings welcome.

Every Wednesday

4:30-5:30pm

Savage Library

Prior Lake Library

Ghost-Hunting, the Supernatural, and History of Witchcraft with MN Authors: Natalie Fowler & Jessica Freeburg

Join us to hear local Minnesota authors and paranormal investigators, Natalie Fowler and Jessica Freeburg, talk about their adventures in some of our Nation’s most historic and haunted locations. Learn about how they use those experiences to inspire their craft. They will also discuss their newest release, Witches of New England, that uses a narrative style to tell the historically accurate stories of those accused of (and sometimes killed) for witchcraft in the earliest days of our country’s history.

All 13+ persons welcome.

New Prague Library

Monday October 26th

6-7pm

Fiber Arts Night

Join us the second Wednesday of each month for a night of community and crafting! Bring your own fiber arts project(s) for this drop-in program. Any project from knitting to crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, felting, weaving, and more are welcomed! Ages 15+; all skill levels are welcome at this time for creativity, conversation, encouragement, and shared inspiration.

Shakopee Library

Wednesday October 14th

5:30-6:30pm

Meet your next favorite reading buddy! Check out our upcoming Waggin' Tale Reading Time, where super-cute pups are ready to hear every page.

Please check the calendar ahead of time as some events require registration.

Various Early Literacy Classes:

Children and their parents/caregivers are welcome to join us for our FREE and FUN story- and play-based early literacy classes that use the five important early literacy practices of "Talking, Singing, Reading, Writing & Playing".

Step right up! Step right up! It's book sale time!

Great books, great finds, and a great reason to shop! Every purchase helps support programs and activities at your library.

Savage Friends of the Library Book Sale

This will be a two-day book sale. Friday, October 9 from 10 am to 4:00 pm and Saturday, October 10 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Choose from non-fiction, adult fiction, young adult fiction, kids fiction, and children's books, as well as DVD's and more! No set prices - just a donation to the Friends. Payment may be made by a free-will cash donation or by an online QR code.

New Prague Friends of the Library

Czech out all of the fantastic items at the New Prague Friends of the Library Fall Booksale! Non-fiction, adult fiction, young adult fiction, junior fiction, children's books, DVD's, music CD's, books on CD and more!

Lots of great previously enjoyed items and new items! All money supports programming at the New Prague Library!

Saturday October 10th from 9am-3pm

Jordan Friends of the Library

Free Will Donations accepted. Come pick out some great books and donate what you can!

All proceeds go towards funding library programs and services at the Jordan Library. We will also be accepting food shelf donations!

Saturday, October 24th: 9:00am - 2:00pm

Monday, October 26th: 2:00pm - 7:00pm

Tuesday, October 27th: 10:00am - 3:00pm

Science Time with the Library

Join us at the Family Resource Center on Friday October 16th from 10-11:30am

Visit the Readmobile

Readmobile website

Did you know!

Dinosaurs may be closer than you think—just listen for a cluck! Chickens are descendants of ancient dinosaurs, meaning your backyard bird is basically a tiny, feathered dino.

Click to uncover the feathered family connection!