Youth Beanstack Reading Challenges
The Buchanan District Library wants to encourage everyone to be life-long readers, and to that end we're posting more Beanstack Challenges throughout the year. Visit our Beanstack Challenges page for details on our current challenges, including Reading Dragons, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, and more!
Coming soon- Summer Reading 2025! Register starting June first, and start logging your reading and activities June 6. See our Summer Reading page for more info!
YOUTH PROGRAMMING
TEEN SCENE
Wednesdays at 2:30pm
January 8 through June 11*
Come hang out with Ms. Jen and fellow teens at the library. Play games, do crafts, and just chillax!
*No Teen Scene April 2
CANCELED DUE TO POWER OUTAGE
BUILD A BEE HOTEL
Thursday, May 22 at 6pm
A bee hotel is a great way to help your local bees and other pollinators! These shelters will benefit mostly mason bees, who are solitary, unlike the honey bee who lives in hives with other bees. They construct individual nests in hollow reeds or other plant stems, pre-existing cavities, or burrows found in dead wood. With help from Grace from Chikaming Open Lands, you can build a bee hotel for your house! Space is limited. One bee hotel per family. Call the library 269-695-3681 to register.
STORYTIME IN THE PARK
Tuesdays at 2:00pm
June 17 through August 5
Join us each week for a story and activities at one of Buchanan's parks! These events are in partnership with the Buchanan Area Recreation Board.
June 17 | Victory Park
June 24 | Kathryn Park MOVED TO LIBRARY DUE TO HEAT ADVISORY
July 1 | McCoy Creek Recreation Area
July 8 | Garden Club Gazebo (Old City Hall Park)
July 15 | Ravish Park
July 22 | Walton Road Park (Corner of Walton & Riverside)
July 29 | Firehouse Park
August 5 | Schirmer Parkway McCoy's Creek Trail Overlook
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME
Wednesdays at 11:00am
June 11 through August 6
Join Ms. Julie for Preschool Storytime to sing, dance, make crafts, and of course, hear stories! Recommended for ages 2–6, but families with children of all ages are welcome. When the weather is nice, look for Storytime out on the Common.
MESSY SCIENCE
Wednesdays at 2:00pm
June 25 through July 16
Have so much fun you’ll forget you’re learning! Join us for hands on science experiments and activities. For ages 7-12, registration required. Call the library at 269.695.3681 to register. Registration opens after June 1.
STOP, LUNCH, & LISTEN
Thursdays at 12:00pm
June 12 through August 7
Bring a picnic and enjoy the show each week at the Common Stage (weather permitting)! Thank you to the City of Buchanan for partnering with us on these events!
June 12 | Rainbow Circus
June 19 | Spray Day with the Buchanan Fire Department (Bring a towel instead of lunch!)
June 26 | Science Heroes
July 3 | *no event, Happy Independence Day!*
July 10 | Mark's Ark Animals
July 17 | Magic with Cameron Zvara
July 24 | The Music Lady
July 31 | Big City Truck Day with Buchanan Public Services
August 7 | Summer Reading Carnival & Awards- Join us for prizes, bounce houses, free snow cones, & more!
MARKET STORYTIME
Saturdays at 11:00am
June 21, July 12, August 2
Look for us at the Buchanan Farmer’s Market! Join us for stories, songs, & dancing. Recommended for ages 2–6 but families with children of all ages are welcome.
FUN WITH ORIGAMI
Friday, June 13 at 11:00am
Origami is a widely practiced paper craft that originated in Japan. Transform simple sheets of paper into an animal or flower.
CREATIVE WRITING
with Cultural Arts Everywhere
Wednesday, June 18
Ages 10–13, 9–10:15am
Ages 14–18, 10:30–11:45 am
Learn about different writing styles from Mr. Rogers, Head of the Creative Writing Department at The Chicago High School for the Arts.
Registration Required. Call the library at 269-695-3681 to register. Registration opens after June 1.
ROCK PAINTING
Friday, June 20 at 11:00am
Join us at the library to paint one of your own small rocks, or paint one of ours. Afterwards, keep your rock or leave it somewhere to make someone smile!
POLYMER CLAY CREATIONS
Tuesday, June 24 at 11:00am
Learn how to craft adorable tiny figures using polymer clay. After they bake, turn them into a charm for keychain, zipper pull, bracelet, or necklace. No experience necessary. All supplies provided.
SING SING SING!
with Cultural Arts Everywhere
June 24 through June 26
Ages 7—10 , 9–10am
Ages 11–14, 10–11am
Join Dr. Greta Pope for a fun three-day singing class, culminating in a concert for family and friends on Thursday, June 26 at 6pm. Registration is required, call the library at 269-695-3681 to register. Registration will open after June 1.
MEET THE AUTHOR: KRISTEN DOBSON
Friday, June 27 at 11:00am
Come meet author of Lolly and the 'Tudes, Kristen Dobson, for a reading of her book, followed by a discussion about how authors get their ideas, and a chance for participants to stretch their own creative muscles with some writing exercises.
MEET THE AUTHOR: KIM OCLON
Saturday, June 28 at 2:00pm
Kim Oclon is a former high school teacher and co-founder of the school's inaugural GSA. She is an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and PFLAG. Kim's first novel, Man Up, was published in 2020. Her second novel, The War on All Fronts, hit shelves in May, 2022. Kim's first literary love was a series of Care Bear books. She now considers The Things They Carried to be her favorite book. She lives in East Dundee, IL with her husband, daughter, son, and a little dog named Zero.
Join Kim as she discusses the inspiration for her novels, changes she's seen in the publishing industry, and answers questions about her writing journey. No registration is required and light refreshments will be served.
This program is for teens and adults.
PONY BEAD PARTY
Tuesday, July 1 at 11:00am
Make a retro beaded lizard, a friendship bracelet, or something of your own creation! No experience necessary. All supplies provided. Just bring your creativity and imagination!
PERLER PALOOZA
Tuesday, July 8 at 11:00am
Join Jen to get creative with perler beads! Perler beads are plastic fuse beads that you place on a grid and melt together. Use a pattern provided or design something of your own creation! No experience necessary. All supplies provided. Just bring your creativity and imagination!
SWIPE PAINTING
Friday, July 11 at 11:00am
Learn a new art technique using dots of paint and a scraper tool. No experience necessary. All supplies provided. Just bring your creativity and imagination!
SAND-TASTIC SAND ART
Tuesday, July 15 at 11:00am
Create beautiful art with sand while learning about color blending! Choose a bracelet or a bottle to fill with sand. No experience necessary. All supplies provided. Just bring your creativity and imagination!
STYROFOAM PRINTMAKING
Friday, July 18 at 11:00am
Join Jen to learn how to make prints by carving a design into styrofoam. No experience necessary. All supplies provided. Just bring your creativity and imagination! Registration required. Call the library at 269-695-3681 to sign up. Registration opens after June 1.
SEW A PLUSH
Tuesday, July 22 at 11:00am
Learn some beginner sewing skills from Jen to make yourself a new friend out of felt! No experience necessary. All supplies provided. Just bring your creativity and imagination!
AIR DRY CLAY CREATIONS
Fridays, July 25 & August 1 at 11:00am
Come work with air dry clay! Create a cute pinch pot, a one handed book holder, or something else small from your imagination. Take your item home or leave it at the library to paint the following week! No experience necessary. All supplies provided.
BUTTON MAKING
Tuesday, July 29 at 11:00am
Make two different kinds of buttons with Ms. Jen! Use the library's button maker to turn a drawing into a button, and then try painting on a wooden disc to make another. No experience necessary. All supplies provided. Just bring your creativity and imagination!
SMARTPHONE FILMMAKING
with Cultural Arts Everywhere
July 29 through July 31
10:00am–12:00pm
For kids ages 10–14, join a professional filmmaker for this three day class to learn how to make movies using your smartphone! Collaborate to create a 5-minute short film. Registration required, call the library to register. Registration opens after June 1.
STRAW WEAVING
Tuesday, August 5 at 11:00am
Learn how to create a loom using three drinking straws and then use it to weave a beautiful bracelet or bookmark from colorful yarn. No experience necessary. All supplies provided. Just bring your creativity and imagination!
Other ways to enjoy your Library!
StoryWalk on the Preserves
Join Chikaming Open Lands and local libraries for a StoryWalk on the Preserves! Each featured preserve will have a different children's book displayed along a designated trail from Friday, March 21st - Monday, May 26th. Buchanan's StoryWalk is located at the Myron Perlman Nature Preserve, which is on Wolkins Road a few miles northwest of the City of Buchanan.
From downtown Buchanan, travel north on Main St. for about 3 miles, then take a left onto Miller Rd. Travel west on Miller Rd. for one mile, then turn right onto Wolkins Rd. (do not be deterred by the dead-end sign) and travel about half a mile. The entrance is located on the left-hand side of Wolkins Rd.
StoryWalk on the Common
Check out BDL's StoryWalk on the Buchanan Common! The story is routinely updated throughout the year, and starts near the Farmer's Market and the creek.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
This program promotes early literacy skills for children from birth to age five and encourages parent and child bonding through reading. Sign your child up and receive your welcome packet, which includes a new book, a reading list, and information on early child development and reading. After each 100 book milestone, your child receives a sticker. When your child reads 1000 books, his or her photo and name will be proudly displayed in the Desenberg Children's Corner and they will receive a book. One book a day is 365 books read in 1 year! See a staff member or sign up on Beanstack to get started today!
Lexile Books
The library has reorganized its LEVEL collection by Lexile Measurement. For more information, go to our Lexile page.
Online Resources
Checkout the online resources available for kids and teens:
Online Resources for Kids
Online Resources for Teens
Youth Digital Access Cards
Buchanan Middle and High School students or juvenile residents age 10 to 17 years without a standard library card may be issued a Youth Digital Access Card. The Youth Digital Access Card grants the cardholder access to the library’s digital media collection, including eBooks and audiobooks through Libby . It does not grant access to library computers or checking out circulating items. Those wishing to apply for a Youth Digital Access Card must present a Buchanan School ID, driver’s license, or other ID.
*Photo & Video Disclaimer*
Photos and videos that appear on the Buchanan District Library’s website and promotional materials may be gathered from public programs, events, and library spaces. Attendance at Buchanan District Library programs, events, or library spaces constitutes consent to be photographed for use in print and/or electronic publicity for the Buchanan District Library. Photos, images, and videos submitted by users for online galleries or contests may also be used by the Library for promotional purposes. To ensure the privacy of individuals and children, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the photographed subject, parent, or legal guardian. If you do not want us to use a photo or video of you or your child, please tell the Library staff member coordinating the event PRIOR to the program.