Fairfield library continues winter reading tradition

Fairfield Public Library invites young people and families to participate in this year’s annual Youth Winter Reading Challenge starting Dec. 21, 2023 and concluding Jan. 20, 2024.

Participants can sign up for the reading challenge using the Beanstack app, a free app similar to Goodreads that allows readers to record their reading and keep a history of all the books they have read. Parents and caregivers may use this app to track reading fro younger children. The free app can be downloaded from an app store. In the Library’s 2023 Beanstack Winter Reading Challenge, participants will find fun family activities that promote literacy and making sweet memories that encourage the whole family to read. The Challenge starts on Dec. 21, but you can preregister in Beanstack at any time.

In addition to the reading challenge in Beanstack, our community will find all kinds of winter-themed events and activities on the Library’s events calendar. These activities start with an all-ages Winter Solstice Craft event on Dec. 21 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the FPL meeting room. Crafts supplies will be available for patrons to work through the provided activities at their own pace. The week after Christmas, includes the Free Kids Movie on Tuesday the 26th at 3 p.m., and a Gnome Storytime on Wednesday the 27th at 3 p.m.

After storytime, there will be snacks, crafts and games, including a gnome-themed scavenger hunt through the Youth Services Department. The scavenger hunt will be available through the end of the Winter Reading Challenge. First Chapter Night, a special literature and game night for tweets, will take place Thursday, the 28th at 4 p.m.

For participants in 2nd through 5th grade, there will be a Nutcracker project-based learning program together with the ISU Extension Office on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. Please sign up for this event by calling the library. Saturday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. join us for “Spindlewood” performed by the Singing Cedars Puppet performers.

For teens, there will be two Anime Watch Parties on Thursday, Jan. 4 and 11th at 4 p.m. with snacks in the FPL meeting room. Finally, on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 12:30 p.m. in the FPL meeting room, we will wrap up the Winter Reading Challenge with Board Games and BINGO! This will be followed by a drawing for reading prizes.

In addition to the Winter Reading Challenge, now through the end of the winter holidays, visitors may use free wrapping paper, ribbons, gift tags and other decorations for wrapping holiday gifts at the library’s free Holiday Wrapping Station. Visitors may wrap up to three gifts each day. Donations of wrapping materials by community members are welcome.

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