Library Blog

It’s getting to be that time of year in New England… The weather outside might be frightful, but the Ames Free Library is here to keep you entertained throughout winter 2022. One way we’re bringing some fun your way is with Winter BINGO! From January 3 through March 21, readers of all ages can join…

November is flying by, but there’s still fun to be had from Youth Services! Zoom storytimes with Miss Jess continue weekly through November. No advance registration is required. All storytimes start at 10:30 AM. Learn more about each storytime.  Tuesdays: Wiggleworms for toddlers Wednesdays:…

Election Day is just a week away, and we hope you’re all planning to get out to the polls (if you haven’t already voted early!). Your voice counts – be heard! Find out more about voting in Easton here. But there’s another voting opportunity you don’t want to miss – our Fall Festivities Photo…

Halloween is a hugely social celebration; many people participate by trick or treating in their neighborhoods, pumpkin patch hayrides, or visiting haunted houses. Whether you’re celebrating Halloween, looking forward to the winter holidays, or planning something else, the big question is: how do…

Things feel a little like they’re getting back to normal… until you realize that it’s now “normal” to do everything on your screen! It’s been a big adjustment for everyone – including us at the library!  We’re rolling out some fresh storytimes for the fall (have you seen S’more Stories yet? And…

Now that school is back in session it’s time to bring back TAB! Our first meeting will be Wednesday, October 21st at 4pm. Join us on Zoom here: https://zoom.us/j/98314449561?pwd=S0crTUp6SlVkREZKandPYzQzS0didz09 By joining the AFL Teen Advisory Board, teens can: Help plan events and programs at the…

If you haven’t caught an episode of S’more Stories with Miss Alyisha yet – tune in today! There’s a new episode every Friday, but you can catch them any day online under the Storytimes & Events column at https://amesfreelibrary.org/kids-homepage.  These gently creepy fall stories are perfect…

Many of us are still deciding what Halloween might look like for our families this year, but one thing never changes: kids love to dress up! Without the multitude of parties, parades, and celebrations this year, we want to give your kids a place to show off their costumes. This October, our Fall…

It’s getting dark earlier… perfect for stories and snuggles under a blanket, or if you’re feeling brave… slight scares around a campfire! Starting tonight, throughout the month of October, check our website for new storytimes with Miss Alyisha! These gently creepy fall stories are perfect for…

School has finally started – congratulations and good luck to all our brand new Kindergartners!  For those of you whose little ones haven’t yet started Kindergarten, there’s still time to read 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten! It sounds like a challenge, but reading 1,000 books is easier than you…

Many homeschool families have started their learning journey already, and hopefully you have an idea of what your first few months will look like, but it’s always nice to have support! Similar to remote learning families, you’ll want to be sure you have a few things in place as you get into the…

Summer Reading is now officially over, but if you were reading right up to the end and haven’t collected your beads yet, you still have a few days! You can buy beads in the ReadSquared Prize Store through Saturday, September 19. When you log in to ReadSquared, you will see a note that no programs…

Whatever model of schooling you’ve chosen for this academic year, your student will be spending at least some time learning from home. While it doesn’t sound exactly like “fun,” there are some things you can do together to prepare your space for this to happen. Outline a daily schedule. It’s easier…

Hey teens, have you ever wanted to compete against others in your favorite game?!  Well… on Saturday, September 5th, the Ames Free Library will host its first Fortnite Tournament! You and up to 99 other people will drop into the now flooded island and will compete for the #1 Victory Royale. There…

In case you missed it: the library is now open for limited browsing! You’re welcome to come into the library for short visits to find and check out materials. This also means that if you’ve earned beads for your Summer Reading necklace over the summer, you can come right up to the Youth Services…

Come out for a socially distant, IN-PERSON event! Find HodgePodge (he’s a friendly monster!) – he’ll be hiding in plain sight somewhere in Easton (hint: not too far from the library!). Once you spot him, you can park (somewhere legal and safe, please!) to say hello and get a photo with him. Find…

Join us for the FINALE of our summer Family Entertainment series on Zoom tonight, Monday, August 17, at 6:00 PM! The Toe Jam Puppet Band returns to help us end the summer on a high note! Their variety show features interactive songs, stories and puppets, and lots of silly voices. You’re sure to be…

We are moving right along with our summer reading program, and a lot of you have been busy, busy readers! However, not many people have collected any beads yet, so we wanted to share a brief instruction on using the Prize Store.  Under your child’s account in ReadSquared, go to the Prize Store tab…

Watch Rosalita’s Puppets presentation of a Sea Story on Zoom tonight, Monday, August 3, at 6:00 PM! In this puppet show, Miranda the mermaid saves a pirate! Rosalita’s Puppet show features beautiful marionettes in an original story that is appropriate for all ages. This story is sure to be full of…

The Teen Video Challenge, sponsored by the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), is an annual national video contest open to all teens. The challenge is for teens to create a public service announcement-type video that shows their unique interpretation of the 2020 CSLP slogan “Imagine Your…

It’s hard to imagine, but we are now halfway through our summer reading program – Imagine Your Story! (If you haven’t joined the Read & Bead program or want to know more about it, check here!) We have been imagining – or perhaps, reimagining – our weekly storytimes to go along with the summer…

Watch Ed the Wizard’s Reading is Magic! show on Zoom tonight, Monday, July 20, at 6:00 PM! Ed the Wizard will present a fun, energetic magic program - with a focus on reading! Ed ot into magic in part by using books to learn some tricks! For this show, he’ll join us live and share with you some of…

Every Tuesday, Youth Services hosts an interactive kids’ program on Zoom. We’re featuring STEM activities, crafts, and a few movement programs too! Find out more about each program on the Kids’ Events page. Each program requires registration ahead of time (click here), after which you will receive…

Watch DinoMan’s DINOSAURS show on Zoom tonight, Monday, July 6, at 6:00 PM! Fossils, magic, and science are blended into a fun 35- to 40-minute program. You’ll be taken on a trip through the Mesozoic era to learn about which dinosaurs lived at that time, and what kind of fossil record they left…

Looking for a different kind of family activity? Check out our virtual quizzes and escape rooms based on our summer Imagine Your Story theme!  Every other Monday, there will be a new quiz focused on some imaginative theme, and the following week there will be a virtual escape room to explore based…