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Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Registration begins March 22 at 9AM.

Grades K-6

Kit Pickup: April 12-16

YouTube video available: April 16

Since we can't go to the circus, have a circus at home with clowning tricks and circus crafts. 

Get your boarding passes ready! In this storytime, we will be travelling all around the world to learn about differnet languages, food and customs. Mini kits will be available at the Youth Service desk for pickup ( first come, first served) beginning on the video release date. 

February- Netherlands

March- Ukraine

April- Italy

May- Mexico 

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Registration begins March 22 at 9AM

Ages 3-6

Kit pickup: April 19-23

Crafts, stories, activites about our favorite elephant and pig... throw a party and share your best projects/costumes for a chance to win some Elephant and Piggie books!

Registration begins March 22 at 9AM

Grades K- 3

Kit Pickup- April 19- 23

Learn how to make seed balls and shapes from recycled paper. These can be planted this spring!

Create a custom pendant using a Scrabble tile. Cut out a picture of your own choice and use the supplies to create a one of a kind piece to wear.

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY. APRIL 19.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

Join us on Zoom to learn about the symbolism and hidden meaning of still life paintings, and create your own drawing with artist Lindsay Budzynski. Supplies needed: paper, pencils/erasers, ruler. Tracing paper, markers, or colored pencils optional. Computer, tablet, or phone is required to attend via Zoom, and the Zoom meeting link will be emailed to you the week of the event. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants, teens are welcome to register.  

Join us on our YouTube channel for a special storytime from Youth Services staff. Each week we will read you stories, sing songs, and perform fingerplays so you can enjoy storytime from your own home. 

This program will be available on our YouTube channel. See all of our Storytime videos on our YouTube Storytime playlist.

Genealogy Club is moving to online meetings via Zoom. Learn about internet and archival genealogy and research support. Computer, tablet, or phone is required to attend via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link by email 3 days before and the day of the event. If you don't receive the link, please check your spam/junk folder.

Instructor: Charlie

Further exploring the LibreOffice software this class will cover the basics of the PowerPoint equivalents Impress, teaching students to create simple slideshows.

This class will be posted on our YouTube channel. See all of our Computer Class videos on our YouTube Computer Classes playlist.

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Registration begins March 22 at 9 AM. 

Grades 3-8 

Kit Pickup: April 26- 30

YouTube video available: April 26 and May 10

Zoom meeting: May 24th at 5 p.m.

Learn to crochet along with Miss Carol. Intro kit includes crochet hook and yarn. Video 1 will show you how to hold your hook and yarn and how to crochet a chain- the foundation of most crochet projects. Video 2 will show you how to use your skills to make a simple dishrag. Then, come to our May Zoom meeting to show off your creations. 

Registration begins March 22 at 9AM.

All Ages

Kit Pickup: April 26- 30

Includes material to make fun all new sensory activities.

Zoom Webinar

Celebrate Oscar season by spending time with all the fabulous performers, filmmakers, and movies that NEVER WON AN OSCAR! Film enthusiast and retired teacher, Steven Frenzel is back to take us on a journey of great films and performances that didn't win the big prize.

*The Oscars will be televised on Sunday, April 25th on ABC

Join us on our YouTube channel for a special storytime from Youth Services staff. Each week we will read you stories, sing songs, and perform fingerplays so you can enjoy storytime from your own home. 

This program will be available on our YouTube channel. See all of our Storytime videos on our YouTube Storytime playlist.

Instructor: Sal

Discuss the difference between Chrome, Firefox and Edge while exploring the options available and learning how to use browser extensions.

This class will be posted on our YouTube channel. See all of our Computer Class videos on our YouTube Computer Classes playlist.

Stressing about taking the SAT? Take a full-length practice test to ward off test day jitters and see how you may score on the big test. Experience first-hand what test day will be like! A representative from C2 Education will provide a virtual practice test and contact you with scores and analyzed results.

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Registration begins March 22 at 9am.

Grades K-6

Kit Pickup: May 3-8

Design and create a Mother's Day card and flowers to put into your real vase included in your kit.

Registration begins March 22 at 9 AM.

Grades K- 6

Kit pickup: May 3- May 7

YouTube Video available: May 7

Take an imaginary trip to Hawaii to learn about their volcanoes, culture and traditions. maek a lei craft and your own volcano! watch accompanying storytime to learn even more about our 50th state!

May the Fourth Be With You! Celebrate Star Wars day by picking up craft supplies to make your very own Star Wars tote that you can travel the galaxy with. All supplies will be provided, just choose your decal.  

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY, MAY 3.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

         Stormtrooper                         Baby Yoda                     Galactic Empire                  Rebel Alliance                       Mandalorian

Have you ever seen a garden that just took your breath away? You visit again, two months later, and the garden is again in full glory. How do people do this? How do you design a garden that offers visual interest through the seasons? This lesson will walk you through the design process step-by-step, You will learn how to plan a garden that will offer you visual interest spring through fall with a few winter accents as well.

Hosted by Nancy Bell, a Master Gardener with the University of Illinois Extension.

Instructor: Sean

This class will thoroughly discuss cloud storage options, from solutions designed for quick transfer or sharing of files, to those intended as long term backup. Cost, convenience, and security will all be covered.

This class will be posted on our YouTube channel. See all of our Computer Class videos on our YouTube Computer Classes playlist.

Join us on our YouTube channel for a special storytime from Youth Services staff. Each week we will read you stories, sing songs, and perform fingerplays so you can enjoy storytime from your own home. 

This program will be available on our YouTube channel. See all of our Storytime videos on our YouTube Storytime playlist.

All emotions are good emotions. Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children acquire knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions. Learn about social and emotional learning in this interactive storytime. Mini kits are available at the youth service desk ( first come, first served) beginning on the day of the video release. 

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Virtual

(Grades 3-6)

Week of May 9-15 

Learn how to film and edit your own videos then upload them to YouTube. 

Registration begins March 22 at 9 AM.

Grades 4-6 with an adult

Book Pickup: as soon as you register 

Zoom Book Discussion: May 10 at 5 PM

Tangle of Knots explores families, self-esteem, peanut butter, a little bit of magic and lots of cake. Read the book together with an adult and then join our Zoom discussion. If you'd like, try one of the cake recipes in the book to share at home during the discussion. 

Instructor: Sean

Email account getting out of control? Have a few thousand messages in your inbox demanding attention? This class might be right for you. We will cover how to organize and filter your email, as well as the basics of use and more advanced options provided. Demonstrations will be done with Gmail but most lessons are applicable for other email services as well.

This class will be posted on our YouTube channel. See all of our Computer Class videos on our YouTube Computer Classes playlist.

Registration begins March 22 at 9AM.

Grades K-2

Kit Pickup: May 10- 14

Pick up supplies and instructions to make your own art while learning about famous artists. 

Zoom Webinar

Hosted by art historian, Jeff Mishur. Mishur is the owner of Art Excursions, a business providing lectures, private guiding, small group tours and travel consulting.

Join us on our YouTube channel for a special storytime from Youth Services staff. Each week we will read you stories, sing songs, and perform fingerplays so you can enjoy storytime from your own home. 

This program will be available on our YouTube channel. See all of our Storytime videos on our YouTube Storytime playlist.

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Registration begins March 22 at 9 AM.

Ages 2-6

Kit Pickup: May 17- 21

Calling all Paw Patrol fans, join Ryder, Chase, Marshall, and the rest of the Paw Patrol gang for a Pawty Adventure! Take home program includes: crafts, games, and loads of fun!

Be prepared for anything by making your very own survival bracelet. Paracord is a useful item to have on an adventure-- even everyday adventures. Learn this weaving technique and create your very own useful paracord bracelet following simple step-by-step instructions. Limited to 15 teens.

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY. MAY 17.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

Instructor: Sean

Macros allow you to automate tasks in Microsoft Office programs. This class will demonstrate how to create and manage macros using both the record and program features.

This class will be posted on our YouTube channel. See all of our Computer Class videos on our YouTube Computer Classes playlist.

Join us on Zoom to learn how to draw animals with unique bodies and textures, and create your own drawing with artist Lindsay Budzynski. Supplies needed: paper, pencils/erasers, ruler. Tracing paper, markers, or colored pencils optional. Computer, tablet, or phone is required to attend via Zoom, and the Zoom meeting link will be emailed to you the week of the event. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants, teens are welcome to register.  

Join us on our YouTube channel for a special storytime from Youth Services staff. Each week we will read you stories, sing songs, and perform fingerplays so you can enjoy storytime from your own home. 

This program will be available on our YouTube channel. See all of our Storytime videos on our YouTube Storytime playlist.

Genealogy Club is moving to online meetings via Zoom. Learn about internet and archival genealogy and research support. Computer, tablet, or phone is required to attend via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link by email 3 days before and the day of the event. If you don't receive the link, please check your spam/junk folder.

Get your boarding passes ready! In this storytime, we will be travelling all around the world to learn about differnet languages, food and customs. Mini kits will be available at the Youth Service desk for pickup ( first come, first served) beginning on the video release date. 

February- Netherlands

March- Ukraine

April- Italy

May- Mexico 

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Registration begins March 22 at 9AM

Grades K-2

Kit Pick-up: May 24-28

Learn about Austrialian culture and the 2021 American Girl doll who is from this exciting place. 

Who says sprinkles are just for dessert? Brighten up your day with a candle full of sprinkles and celebrate all year long by making your very own tasty-looking funfetti candle! 

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY. MAY 3.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

This one-hour presentation follows travel enthusiast Gene Flynn's April 2019 river cruise, which begins in Amsterdam and visits five different areas of the Netherlands and Belgium. Gene starts by looking at the geography and history of these low countries and goes on to explore windmills, past and present, the world’s largest tulip festival, the art of Rubens and Rembrandt, and wonderful chocolate vendors.

Instructor: Sean

New to Office 365 and looking to explore some of the apps beyond Outlook and OneDrive? In this class we’ll take a look at the organizational tools available in some of the lesser known applications. Time will be spent on Calendar, Project, To Do, Planner, and Power Automate. These can be effective working on your own and even more powerful when used as part of a team.

This class will be posted on our YouTube channel. See all of our Computer Class videos on our YouTube Computer Classes playlist.

Join us on our YouTube channel for a special storytime from Youth Services staff. Each week we will read you stories, sing songs, and perform fingerplays so you can enjoy storytime from your own home. 

This program will be available on our YouTube channel. See all of our Storytime videos on our YouTube Storytime playlist.

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Looking for a way to show off some LGBTQ+ pride? Celebrate Pride month by creating a beaded pride flag pin using safety pins. Wear it all month or all year to show your support!

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY. JUNE 7.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

It's been 41 years since The Blues Brothers debuted in June 1980 and Dr. Kelli Marshall of Chicago Movie Tours is here to share the movie's backstories, explain its mix of Hollywood genres, and discuss the impact it had on Chicago-based filmmaking. 

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Unicorns, clouds, and rainbows oh my! Make your own delicious, fun gummy shapes using a gelatin mixture: Pour it into the included mold and concoct a spectrum of flavors and colors to personalize your unicorn, cloud, and rainbow-shaped gummy creations. You can even add citric acid to make sour gummies.

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY. JUNE 14.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

Genealogy Club is moving to online meetings via Zoom. Learn about internet and archival genealogy and research support. Computer, tablet, or phone is required to attend via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link by email 3 days before and the day of the event. If you don't receive the link, please check your spam/junk folder.

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Get ready for Independence Day by making a festive pin. Celebrate the Fourth of July by creating a beaded USA flag pin using safety pins and seed beads. Wear it all month or all year to show your support!

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY. JUNE 28.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

Zoom Webinar

Hosted by art historian, Jeff Mishur. Mishur is the owner of Art Excursions, a business providing lectures, private guiding, small group tours and travel consulting.

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Can't take a road trip this year? Travel back in time instead to explore the history of the "mother road" that linked Chicago to LA from 1926 to 1985.

This slide lecture is presented by actor and historian, Leslie Goddard.

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Don't lose your place in the book you're reading! Pick up your supplies to create a cute fox bookmark to hold your place.

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY. JULY 12.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

There are currently 5 U.S. spacecraft either on or orbiting Mars right now and NASA has already begun receiving reports and images from Perseverance Rover, which landed on February 22nd of this year. What have we learned about the Red Planet with decades of robotic visitors? Plenty! We’ll cover the past, present, and future of Martian exploration.

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Choose between the Blinky POV or Tap-Tempo Metronome kit.

Pick up your Blinky POV kit and program a fun message to display. Blinky POV is a reprogrammable LED kit that uses persistence of vision to create the illusion of text or a small picture floating in the air. One you're done assembling it, visit the Blinky Programmer to write your message! * Soldering iron required for this craft *

The Tap-Tempo Metronome is a tap-controlled or tap-tempo metronome and “beat looper.” You tap the piezo speaker to set the rhythm. The display shows the beats per minute, and the two buttons adjust the speed. You can tap patterns into it, currently up to 12 beats long. As long as you tap the pattern in three times, it jumps in and continues beeping in that rhythm.

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY. JULY 12.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

Genealogy Club is moving to online meetings via Zoom. Learn about internet and archival genealogy and research support. Computer, tablet, or phone is required to attend via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link by email 3 days before and the day of the event. If you don't receive the link, please check your spam/junk folder.

Take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for a chance to win an e-gift card. Winners will be announced when the scavenger hunt closes. One entry per teen. 

Promote random acts of kindness! One nice message can change a person's entire outlook on life. Pick up your kit to make some kindness rocks and help make the world a kinder place.

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY, JULY 26.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

Come laugh along with one of the funniest and bravest women in television and movie history. We'll see fascinating clips from Lucy's early movie career as well as watch some of the most famous I Love Lucy scenes of all time. Watch as she transforms from a nervous and timid Lucille Ball into the great and fearless Lucy!

Presented by retired teacher and film enthusiast, Steven Frenzel of Marquee Film Talks. 

Pick up your kit to construct your dream catcher to basish those bad dreams. Nightmares pass through the holes and out of the window while good dreams are trapped in the web, then slide down the feathers to the sleeping person. 

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY, AUGUST 9.  Please email Katie Yager at kyager@mybpl.org if you're interested in this craft project. 

Zoom Webinar

William Hazelgrove's new narrative non-fiction book is out now! 

160 Minutes The Race to Save the Titanic is a knight’s mission in the dead of a freezing night on the icy Atlantic. It is two men huddled in the transmitting room sending out their plea for assistance with distant ships snatching the meaning and interpreting those dots and dashes in a myriad of different ways relaying it on to a shocked world. It is the actions in Britain and New York and the ships steaming toward the stricken ship of dreams with the only thought to reach her before people succumbed to the twenty-five-degree water. The natural drama of Titanic’s short-lived death throes is juxtaposed against this race against time by the other ships who could affect the outcome and the tragic consequences of the missed opportunities where the fifteen hundred might have been saved.

The race to save the largest ship in the word would begin at 11:40 PM on April 14 when the iceberg was struck and would end at 2:20 am March 15 when her lights blinked out and left 1500 people thrashing in 25-degree water. Although the race to save Titanic survivors would stretch on beyond this, most people in the water would die, but the amazing thing is that of the 2229 people, 710 did not and this was the success of the Titanic rescue effort.

Genealogy Club is moving to online meetings via Zoom. Learn about internet and archival genealogy and research support. Computer, tablet, or phone is required to attend via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link by email 3 days before and the day of the event. If you don't receive the link, please check your spam/junk folder.

Zoom Webinar

Join local travel enthusiast and retired librarian, Nancy McCully, and explore Canada’s Atlantic Coast with this visit to its national parks, historic forts, and Anne of Green Gables sites. See the legendary tides of the Bay of Fundy and watch for whales along the rocky coast. 

In 1898 the US declared war against Spain to expel that country from the Americas and begin its exploitation of Cuba. Learn how American business interests dominated US-Cuba relations until the Cuban Revolution of 1956-59 when subsequent land reform injured American business and political pride, resulting in political and economic sanctions that continue to this day.

Genealogy Club is moving to online meetings via Zoom. Learn about internet and archival genealogy and research support. Computer, tablet, or phone is required to attend via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link by email 3 days before and the day of the event. If you don't receive the link, please check your spam/junk folder.

2021 marks the 150th Anniversary of the fire! It started in a barn and, two days of flaming hell later, nearly destroyed a city. In The Essential Great Chicago Fire, William Pack weaves together technical details of the fire with vivid firsthand accounts from those who lived through the conflagration of 1871, bringing alive all the excitement and terror in a multi-media storytelling event that will not soon be forgotten.

Genealogy Club is moving to online meetings via Zoom. Learn about internet and archival genealogy and research support. Computer, tablet, or phone is required to attend via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link by email 3 days before and the day of the event. If you don't receive the link, please check your spam/junk folder.

Genealogy Club is moving to online meetings via Zoom. Learn about internet and archival genealogy and research support. Computer, tablet, or phone is required to attend via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link by email 3 days before and the day of the event. If you don't receive the link, please check your spam/junk folder.