March at Capital Area District Libraries 🌈☘️

While February may boast the fewest days, it certainly doesn’t lack exciting events at Capital Area District Libraries (CADL). CADL is thrilled to present its younger members with the chance to embrace the month of love through heartfelt, homemade crafting events. For its adult members, select branches have an exciting Valentine’s Day addition – a “Blind Date with a Book” program. In addition to this unique experience, CADL is offering a variety of education sessions and engaging author events. Keep reading to learn more!

Valentine’s Day Events

Embrace the spirit of love with CADL’s crafting events and discover the joy of a mystery read with its Valentine’s Day programs.

• Blind Date with a Book – Take a chance on literary love at CADL’s Mason, Stockbridge and Williamston branches! Check out a gift-wrapped book from their displays and be entered to win a prize.
  
• Valentine’s Ornaments (Holt-Delhi) – Create heart ornaments using air-dry clay. Make one for yourself or give one to a special someone.
• Drop-in STEAM Activities (Dansville) – Join us every Thursday afternoon for a different activity. On one of the upcoming Thursdays, they’ll be making Valentine’s Day cards. 
  
• Conversation Rocks (Holt-Delhi) – Paint a rock with a Valentine’s Day message, then gift it or leave it in the community to spread the love.
  
• Valentine’s Day Drawing Workshop (Okemos) – Draw Valentine’s hearts and other seasonal decorations, then learn to draw an anatomically correct human heart.
  
• Valentine’s Day Storytime (Stockbridge) – Join us for a special storytime celebrating the holiday of love and friendship with stories, songs and a craft.
  
• Kids Crafternoon (Holt-Delhi) – Ready to freshen up your home for Valentine’s Day? Make a sweet DIY paper heart wreath to get you started!
  
• Valentine’s Cookie Decorating (Haslett) – Decorate a Valentine-themed cookie to give to someone you care about or enjoy yourself.
  
• Coloring Contest (Okemos) – Pick up a coloring page and return it by Feb. 29 for the chance to win a prize.

Adult Programming

From intriguing author events delving into Michigan history to topical educational sessions, join CADL for these enriching programs. 

• Artificial Intelligence: An Explainer (Downtown Lansing) – Are you curious about AI’s daily impact? Learn about the technology trend shaping our lives with Dr. Parisa Kordjamshidi, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at MSU.
  
• Library Resources for Grades Pre-K-3 (Virtual) – Join CADL staff members for an overview of its free resources for younger students, including Literacy Backpacks, BookFlix and more. One SCECH for attending is available!
  
• Book Talk with Mitch Lutzke (Webberville) – Local author and Williamston Depot Museum Director Mitch Lutzke will discuss his new book, “Stories from Williamston’s Past 2.” Join us for a fascinating evening of a candid history of both Webberville and Williamston.
  
• LWV Town Hall: New Voting Rights Under Proposal 2 (Williamston) – Volunteers from the League of Women Voters will share insights on the recent improvements to the voting process following the passage of Proposal 2. 
  
• Virtual Michigan Tales – “Detroit Style Pizza: A Doughtown History” by Karen Dybis – Discover the mouthwatering allure of Detroit-style pizza with author Karen Dybis. From its humble origins to the innovative spins by renowned chefs, follow the journey of this Motor City delicacy. 
  
• Born Free & Equal: Michigan’s Colored Regiment (Okemos, held off-site) – Join Michigan Historian and co-founder of the Jackson County Michigan Historical Society Maurice Imhoff to hear the story of the First Michigan Colored Regiment, the 102nd United States Colored Troop. This event will be held at the Village Chapel at the Meridian Historical Village.

In case you missed it – Join CADL for a tad of reading, a dab of science and tons of fun during its Tadpole Storytime* series at Impression 5 Science Center. Enjoy a preschool storytime and science activity hour, led by CADL librarians and I5 staff. Admission is free with your library card or I5 membership card.

*Please note that space is limited to 12 children with caregivers per session. First come, first served admittance. Families unable to gain admittance will receive free access to the museum for the remainder of the day. 

The weather outside may be frightful, but Capital Area District Libraries (CADL) has designed the perfect escape to keep you warm and provide refuge from the cold.

Cuddle up with a good book and embark on a cozy reading adventure by participating in CADL’s Winter Reading Challenge (WRC), taking place Jan. 16-Feb. 29. Log your reading minutes and complete fun activities to win exciting prizes, including bookmarks, candy bars and more. It’s free to participate and everyone is welcome to join the fun. Learn more about the challenge below!

Where to Start

Sign up and keep track of your reading time and activities on CADL’s Beanstack website, or make it even more convenient by downloading the Beanstack app. Or pick up a WRC bookmark at any of CADL’s 13 branches that doubles as a reading and activity log.

Claiming Prizes

Whenever you reach a prize level, go to your local branch to pick it up. The last day to pick up prizes is Friday, March 15.

Navigating the Start of Your Winter Reading Journey

CADL’s here to help guide you through the start of your winter reading quest! Check out some of the ways you can earn activity points by using your library card:

Read a book with the words “WINTER,” “ICE,” or “SNOW” in the title + Read any book that takes place in the summer.

If you’re searching for the perfect read to kick off the challenge, explore their curated ice, snow & winter booklist and a summer dreaming booklist. Dive into these specially selected titles and transport yourself to colder and warmer worlds.

Play a board game + Do something outside.

If you don’t have a board game at home, check one out from their Library of Things (LOT) collection. In addition to board games, their collection includes Ingham County Park Passes and various recreation items to encourage outdoor activities. Don’t let the cold deter you from getting outside and having fun!

Watch a movie with someone + Play or borrow an audiobook.

Explore a world of entertainment with CADL’s digital collections! Your library card gives you access to streaming services such as hoopla and Kanopy, offering a wide range of movies for your viewing pleasure. Additionally, dive into their catalog to borrow physical copies of movies.

Delve into the realm of audiobooks through their two services: Libby and hoopla. Whether you prefer digital downloads or the tangible enjoyment of a physical copy, CADL has something for every audiobook enthusiast. Start exploring their digital collections at cadl.org/digital.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make your winter days cozier and more enchanting. Participate in the 2024 Winter Reading Challenge and let the adventure begin!

Celebrate the Season at Capital Area District Library!

Flip through the CADL digital Celebrate the Season guide and learn about our holiday celebrations, crafting events and ways to give back this holiday season!

From Yuletide Readings to Holiday Take & Makes and Family Fun Holiday Crafts the CADL digital guide has something for everyone this holiday season!

Also check out the best books from 2023 (list includes novels to non-fiction and are based on CADL staff picks for the year).

Either tap on the image above or scroll through the digital Celebrate the Season guide below!

The holidays are upon us, and Capital Area District Libraries (CADL) has planned a bountiful month of events. When you’re not curled up in a comfy chair reading a good book, consider heading to one of CADL’s 13 branches for holiday festivities, special storytimes and creative crafting events that can help you get into the spirit of the season.

Holiday Celebrations
The start of November signals the beginning of the holiday season, and with that, the start of CADL’s festive programs. Don’t worry, holiday activities are also scheduled in December!

• Alpaca & Chickens for the Holidays – Special guests from Great Valley Longnecks Farm will be visiting select branches to celebrate the season. These events are designed to provide an engaging learning experience for attendees of all ages, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of these wonderful animals.
• Holiday Open House (Holt/Delhi) – Join us for crafts, live music and snacks in the library as we celebrate the holiday season.
• Holiday Hootenanny (Webberville) – Celebrate the kickoff of the holiday season with a celebration, featuring crafts, cookies and a special guest: a unicorn!

Storytimes
In addition to weekly storytime events, CADL’s branches host storytimes with special themes. From Cookie Monster to musical instruments, there’s a theme that everyone can enjoy. Storytimes engage children through talking, signing and playing and are designed to help children develop important early literacy skills so they are ready to read.

• Giving Thanks Storytime (Stockbridge) – Join us for stories, songs, crafts and activities with a thankful theme.
• Cookie Monster Storytime (Webberville) – Join us for a special storytime to celebrate Cookie Monster and, of course, cookies!
• A Musical Alphabet Storytime (Holt/Delhi) – For every letter of the alphabet, learn about a musical instrument! Join us for stories and instrument demonstrations and discover musical concepts.
• Donuts & Storytime (Dansville) – Bring the kids to the library for stories and activities and the whole family can enjoy donuts and juice! This month’s themes include Thanksgiving, hibernation and imagination.

Visit cadl.org/events for a full list of storytime programs.

Little cute girl and young beautiful woman cut snowflakes from white paper. Gingerbread and cocoa with marshmallows. The concept of preparation for the New Year and Christmas.

Crafting Events

We provide the supplies, and you bring the creativity! Members of all ages can get crafty at the library with our wide range of events.

• Decorate Lunch Bags – Stop in the CADL Williamston from Nov. 1-14 to decorate paper lunch bags with uplifting messages for the at-risk and homeless in Ingham County. Punks with Lunch Lansing will use the bags at their food distribution events.
• Family Night: Stickers – Join us at CADL Aurelius for fun with stickers. Plus, use our sticker maker to design your own sticker creation!
• Greeting Card Decorating – Visit CADL Holt/Delhi to decorate a card for someone special.
• Day of Giving: No-sew Blankets – Join us at CADL Haslett this Day of Giving as we make no-sew fleece blankets to donate to a local community organization. All supplies, including apple cider and donuts, will be provided (while supplies last).
• Beaded Ornament – Join us at CADL Okemos to create an easy, sparkly holiday craft! Make your own beaded ornaments to hang wherever you like.
• Origami with Ming – Learn how to make origami with Ming the Magnificent at CADL Foster

Colorful many origami paper cranes on wooden background

Put on your walking shoes, pack a picnic basket and dust off your fishing poles and enjoy more than 1,200 acres of parklands throughout Ingham County with your Capital Area District Libraries (CADL) card. We’re talking about Ingham County Park Passes, which are now available in CADL’s Library of Things (LOT) collection.

Visit any of CADL’s 13 branches to check out a pass for one week with adult or youth library cards. Your household can enter and park at any Ingham County Park with a pass. Also, their passes come with exclusive access to experience additional recreational activities at select parks.

With your pass, visit Hawk Island Park and Burchfield Park, where you and three others can enjoy leisurely exploration with a one-hour paddle boat rental*. You can also use a pass to rent equipment for up to four people and play one round of disc golf at Burchfield Park and Lake Lansing North.

But the fun doesn’t end with paddle boats and disc golf! There are plenty of things to do at Ingham County Parks, including playing volleyball, walking trails, canoeing and more. Most Ingham County Parks are open year-round, and some parks offer winter activities, including sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

If you’re ready to have a play day at an Ingham County Park, check out a pass. You can view a list of park locations and recreational activities offered at each Ingham County Park at pk.ingham.org.

*Paddle boats are available between Memorial Day and Labor Day (when staff are available).

More Passes to Check Out
In addition to Ingham County Park Passes, Potter Park Zoo and Lansing Makers Network passes are available to CADL members. They also offer two types of CATA bus passes: a rural service 10-ride pass and a 31-day bus pass. Explore our passes and the entire LOT collection at cadl.org/things.

The Fun Continues at CADL
If the weather isn’t cooperating, head to the library and try one of CADL’s storytimes. They offer storytimes for children of all ages, including babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Storytimes are a great way for children to develop important literacy and pre-reading skills as well as imagination, comprehension and attention skills.

Several of their branches offer storytimes with different themes, and with the spooky season fast approaching, select branches are hosting Halloween storytimes. Keep reading to learn about CADL’s special storytime events:

• A Musical Alphabet Storytime  – Learn about a musical instrument for every letter of the alphabet. Enjoy stories and instrument demonstrations and discover musical concepts.
  

• Storytime at Rayner Park – Join us at Rayner Park in Mason to enjoy songs, rhymes and stories with Miss Lindsay.
  

• Donuts & Storytime – Bring the kids to the library for stories and activities and the whole family can enjoy donuts and juice! Each week we’ll celebrate a different theme.

• Pumpkin Painting Storytime – Join us for a special pumpkin storytime followed by painting your very own little pumpkin.
  

• Little Boo Bash – Grab your Halloween costume and come to the library for a non-too-scary- Halloween party with stories, activities and games.
  

• Halloween Storytime – Wear your Halloween costume and join us for themed stories, crafts and activities to build early literacy skills.

Browse CADL’s events calendar for a full list of storytime events. And make sure to browse their Halloween Digital Guide to learn about our other frightfully fun activities taking place this month.