Winter activities warming up at Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall

Sweater weather is back, and the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall is warming up for another fabulous winter of activities.

After a patron recently described the library as “a hug around our whole community,” I was reminded that our library is a great place to warm up on a cold day or to warm your heart any given day as you explore our building, interact with our staff, and find a little spark of joy in your day.

Like the Grinch, my heart grows 10 times in size every year at Carnegie Celebrates the Season, our annual kickoff when Santa stops by the library for pictures and the Studio is taken over by holiday crafts, snacks and merriment. We are so happy to work with Carnegie Borough and the Carol Covi’s Children’s Event Committee for this wonderful event again. Join us on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for this fun event for all ages.

The fun doesn’t stop there. A new adventure for children ages 8-14 begins on Dec. 7 at 4 p.m., for our first Dungeons and Dragons (Just for Kids!) meeting. Create a character, master skills and plan to join us each Thursday at 4 o’clock for more fun as we dive deep into the fantastical world of D&D.

Looking for a more casual gaming experience? We have you covered for that, too. While school’s on break, tweens and teens can join us for Teen Gaming Day on Thursday, Dec. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library’s new Nintendo Switch and gaming laptops will make their debut at Teen Gaming Day, plus all of our board games and puzzles will be there, too.

We couldn’t forget our littlest library learners, either. We are very happy to bring back “1, 2, 3 Play with Me” on Saturdays in January. This play-based workshop invites families with children from birth to 3 years old to explore child development in a fun way. While caregivers play with their little ones in a safe environment, each week a different community expert in child development will join to answer questions both one-on-one and for the whole group.

This program is a wonderful space to bond with baby, meet other similar families and get your questions answered. Space is limited, so be sure to register at carnegiecarnegie.org to save your spot.

We have story times every day that we are open. Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. are baby and toddler story times, perfect for babies from birth to age 3. Ages 3 and up can join us for preschool story time at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, and at 1 p.m. on Mondays.

As always, any time you stop by the Library, there is something going on. Adults can explore the Lincoln Gallery and the Espy Post. Teens and tweens can find a new graphic novel or play some Roblox on the computers. Toddlers can play with the trains while elementary students play in the kitchen. Keep an eye out on our website for more events coming in 2024 and beyond. I hope to see you soon at the library!