Craft Hour: Wooden Bead Christmas Wreath Ornament
2025-12-16 15:45 - 16:45 (America/Chicago)
Kids in grades 3 and up are invited to join us for a fun and festive Craft Hour as we make an adorable wooden bead Christmas wreath ornament! These simple little wreaths are perfect for hanging on the tree, decorating a bedroom door, or giving as a sweet, handmade gift for someone special.
All supplies are provided—just come ready to create some holiday cheer!

Artist Reception: Pat Schemmer
2025-12-17 16:00 - 17:30
Celebrate local art at an artist reception hosted by the Sand Painters Art Club, featuring Artist of the Month, Pat Schemmer. Enjoy light refreshments, explore her work, and visit with Pat as she shares the story and techniques behind her pieces.

Create & Play Hour: Grades K–5
2025-12-18 15:45 - 16:45
Beat the boredom blues at the library during our Create & Play Hour! We’re cleaning out the craft closet and putting all our odds and ends, leftover supplies, and mystery materials out for kids to get crafty and creative. Build, glue, design—anything goes! We’ll also have Legos and Magna-Tiles out for extra building fun. All supplies are provided—just come ready to imagine, create, and play!

Story Time (Pre-K): Reindeer
2025-12-19 09:30 - 10:00
Join us for Story Time—designed especially for Pre-K kids and their grown-ups!Each Friday from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., we explore a fun new theme through stories and hands-on crafts that spark creativity and learning.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
Music & Motion: Join the music fun with rhythm sticks, egg shakers, and more—perfect for wiggling and giggling!
Craft Activity: Create a fun craft related to the story’s theme.

Bring your little ones for an enjoyable and creative start to their day! And don’t rush off after story time—stay for some “Fun with Friends” time in the kid’s corner. The kids can play while their caregivers connect and socialize. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and build community bonds.
Who: all toddlers and preschool-aged children accompanied by an adult are welcome!
Date and Time: Every Friday, 9:30 am – 10:00 am
We look forward to seeing you and your little ones here!

Board Meeting
2025-12-22 16:30 - 17:30
The regular meeting of the Valentine Public Library Board will be held on Monday, December 22, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. in the Library Meeting room to conduct any business that may properly come before them. A current agenda will be on file at the public library.

Holiday Movie Afternoon (ages 6 & up): The Polar Express
2025-12-23 15:00 - 17:00
All aboard! Kids ages 6 & up are invited to join us for a cozy holiday movie afternoon at the library as we watch The Polar Express. We’ll have hot chocolate and popcorn ready, and everyone can pile onto the floor together for a fun, comfy viewing. Feel free to bring your own pillow to sit on—let’s kick off the holiday season with a little movie magic!

Polar Express Movie Matinee
2025-12-23 15:00 - 17:00
All aboard! Join us at the Valentine Public Library for a cozy showing of The Polar Express. We’ll be serving hot chocolate and popcorn, so come ready to sip, snack, and settle in for this holiday favorite. You are welcome to bring a warm throw and pillow to be extra comfy!
The movie is rated G and all ages are welcome; children 6 and under are invited to attend with an adult. Make it a new holiday tradition and share the magic of the season at VPL! 🚂✨

Holiday Hours: Closed for Christmas
2025-12-25 - 2025-12-26
The Valentine Public Library will be closed for Christmas on December 25th & 26th and will reopen on Monday, December 29, 2025.

📚 Don’t worry—reading never stops! Cozy up at home and check out ebooks & audiobooks with the Libby app (https://nebraska.overdrive.com). ✨📖

We’re so thankful for our amazing patrons 💛 Your support makes our library shine all year long! Wishing you a holiday full of joy, warmth, and plenty of good books! 🎁🎅

Stem Project (Grades 3 & up): Hot Chocolate Science
2025-12-30 15:45 - 16:45
Warm up with a little winter science! During Hot Chocolate Science, kids will explore how temperature affects the rate at which hot chocolate dissolves. Using simple materials (and real cocoa!), we’ll run an easy experiment that teaches the scientific method in a fun, tasty way.
Who wouldn’t love a science lesson that ends with a cozy cup of hot chocolate? Come learn, discover, and sip!

Closed New Year's Day
2026-01-01 | Valentine Public Library, 324 N Main ST, Valentine, NE, 69201, United States
Valentine Public Library will be closed on January 1st for New Year’s Day.

As we approach the new year, we want to express our gratitude for your continued support. In observance of the holiday, our physical library will be closed on January 1st and will reopen on January 2nd. While our doors may be closed, the world of books remains wide open! Don’t forget, you can always dive into a good read with our 24/7 online branch via the Libby app. Explore a vast collection of e-books and audiobooks anytime, anywhere. Learn more at https://nebraska.overdrive.com/.

Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with joy, warmth, and delightful reading adventures!

Story Time (Pre-K): Whales
2026-01-02 09:30 - 10:00

STEAM Activity: Doodling Shake Bots (Grades 3 & Up)
2026-01-06 15:45 - 16:45
Get ready for a hands-on STEAM adventure! Kids in grades 3 and up are invited to build their very own doodling shake bots—simple little robots that wiggle, shake, and create awesome designs all on their own.
We’ll explore creativity, problem-solving, and a bit of science and engineering while having tons of fun. Kids will build, test, tweak, and watch their bots come to life as they doodle across the page. Join us for a high-energy, creative STEAM challenge!

Bingo at the Library!
2026-01-08 15:45 - 16:45
Ready to shout BINGO!? Join us at the Valentine Public Library for an all-ages Bingo hour filled with laughter, a little friendly competition, and fun prizes!
This time slot is usually our craft hour for kids in grades K and up, but today we’re mixing things up and inviting everyone to play… the more the merrier! Bring your best Bingo luck and get ready for a great time at the library!

Story Time (Pre-K): Snowman
2026-01-09 09:30 - 10:00

STEAM with 4-H: Potato & Lemon Power! (Grades 3 & Up)
2026-01-13 15:45 - 16:45
Join us and Blair Speck, 4-H Educator, for an exciting hands-on STEAM adventure! We’ll discover how everyday items like potatoes and lemons can make electricity. Kids will learn a little science, do a little experimenting, and have a whole lot of fun as we explore how energy works.
Come get curious, get creative, and see science spark to life at the library!

Craft Hour (Grades K-5): Chalk Pastel Snowglobes
2026-01-15 15:45 - 16:45
Kids in grades K–5 are invited to join us for a magical winter-themed craft hour! This week, we’re creating chalk pastel snowglobe pictures—bright, colorful, and full of snowy fun.
We’ll provide all the supplies and guidance, so kids can let their creativity shine and take home a cozy winter scene they’ll be proud of. Come make art, make friends, and make a little winter magic at the library!

Story Time (Pre-K): Appreciate a Dragon Day!
2026-01-16 09:30 - 10:00
Join us for Story Time—designed especially for Pre-K kids and their grown-ups! This week is ‘Appreciate a Dragon Day’ and we will have guest reader, Dana Miller, here to help us celebrate!Each Friday from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., we explore a fun new theme through stories and hands-on crafts that spark creativity and learning.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
Music & Motion: Join the music fun with rhythm sticks, egg shakers, and more—perfect for wiggling and giggling!
Craft Activity: Create a fun craft related to the story’s theme.

Bring your little ones for an enjoyable and creative start to their day! And don’t rush off after story time—stay for some “Fun with Friends” time in the kid’s corner. The kids can play while their caregivers connect and socialize. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and build community bonds.
Who: all toddlers and preschool-aged children accompanied by an adult are welcome!
Date and Time: Every Friday, 9:30 am – 10:00 am
We look forward to seeing you and your little ones here!

Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament
2026-01-17 09:00 - 11:30 | Valentine Public Library, 324 N Main ST, Valentine, NE, 69201, United States
Do you love puzzles? Then this is the event for you! Join us for an afternoon of fun, camaraderie, and a bit of friendly competition at the Friends of the Library Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament. Embrace the challenge as we bring together puzzle enthusiasts from our community for an exciting event.

Limited to twelve 2-person pre-registered teams.
$25 entry fee per team. Creative team names are encouraged!
Each team will be gifted the same 500-piece puzzle to complete.
The round is 2 hours long; if there is no declared winner by the end of the time limit, the winner is chosen by their remaining number of loose pieces.

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your puzzle-solving prowess, support the library, and connect with fellow community members. Reserve your spot now for a memorable day of friendly competition!
For registration and inquiries, call the library at 402-376-3160.

SHHH!… We’re Reading Book Club
2026-01-19 16:00 - 17:00
Calling all tween and teen readers! Join us for this month’s SHHH!… We’re Reading Book Club as we dive into From the Desk of Zoey Washington. We’ll enjoy snacks, great conversation, and a relaxed space to share thoughts, ideas, and favorite moments from the book.
Whether you love to talk about what you read or just want to listen in, you’re welcome here. Come hang out, connect with other readers, and be part of a fun, thoughtful book discussion!

Snowman Coaster Craft (Grades 3 & up)
2026-01-20 15:45 - 16:45
Add a little winter cheer to your hot cocoa spot! Kids in grades 3 & up are invited to paint adorable snowman coasters using small wooden discs. We’ll paint frosty faces, bright scarves, rosy cheeks, and fun winter details to create a cute and useful keepsake.
It’s creative, cozy, and perfect for winter crafting—come make something you’ll be proud to take home!

Craft Hour (Grades K-5): Snow Dough Snowman
2026-01-22 15:45 - 16:45
Let it snow… indoors! Kids in grades K–5 are invited to join us for a super fun craft hour where we’ll be making our very own snow dough snowmen. This squishy, moldable “snow” is perfect for shaping, decorating, and bringing a frosty friend to life—without getting cold!
We’ll roll, stack, and add cute details to make each snowman unique. It’s creative, hands-on, and guaranteed to bring lots of smiles. Come build a snowman with us at the library!

Story Time (Pre-K): Hats (Wearing your favorite hat encouraged!)
2026-01-23 09:30 - 10:00
Join us for Story Time—designed especially for Pre-K kids and their grown-ups! We encourage everyone to wear their favorite hat today!Each Friday from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., we explore a fun new theme through stories and hands-on crafts that spark creativity and learning.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
Music & Motion: Join the music fun with rhythm sticks, egg shakers, and more—perfect for wiggling and giggling!
Craft Activity: Create a fun craft related to the story’s theme.

Bring your little ones for an enjoyable and creative start to their day! And don’t rush off after story time—stay for some “Fun with Friends” time in the kid’s corner. The kids can play while their caregivers connect and socialize. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and build community bonds.
Who: all toddlers and preschool-aged children accompanied by an adult are welcome!
Date and Time: Every Friday, 9:30 am – 10:00 am
We look forward to seeing you and your little ones here!

Board Meeting
2026-01-26 16:30 - 17:30
The Valentine Public Library Board will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 4:30 pm at the Valentine Public Library. This meeting is open to the public, and an agenda is available for public inspection during regular business hours at the office of the Valentine Library Director.

Loom Bracelet Craft (Grades 3 & Up)
2026-01-27 15:45 - 16:45
Get ready to create something colorful and awesome! Kids in grades 3 and up are invited to join us for a hands-on craft hour making loom bracelets. We’ll twist, loop, and design our own wearable creations using bright bands and lots of creativity.
It’s fun, relaxing, and the perfect chance to make something to keep or share with a friend. Come craft with us!

Craft Hour (Grades K-5): Snowflake Bookmark
2026-01-29 15:45 - 16:45
Warm up with a cool craft! Kids in grades K–5 are invited to make their very own snowflake bookmarks using a fun foam craft kit. Each bookmark will be unique, colorful, and perfect for saving a place in their favorite winter reads.
It’s easy, creative, and a great way to add a little winter magic to reading time. Come craft with us and make something you’ll love using again and again!

Story Time (Pre-K): Snowflakes
2026-01-30 09:30 - 10:00

February Reading Challenge: Go For the Gold
2026-02-01 - 2026-03-01
🏅 The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics will be held February 6–22, and we’re getting into the Olympic spirit! In celebration, we’re hosting an Olympic-themed winter reading challenge—and tweens, teens, and adults are invited to compete.
📚 Go For the Gold! On your marks… get set… READ! Before you worry—no actual skiing, skating, or snowboarding required. The only sport involved is reading (and in our book, that definitely counts). Readers will “qualify” by completing winter-sport–named events, each tied to a different genre or type of book.
🏅 Medal Goals:
🥉 Bronze – Complete 3 events
🥈 Silver – Complete 4 events
🥇 Gold – Complete 5 or more events
Pick up a reading log at the library and start training today—comfy clothes encouraged.
🏁 Finish strong! Turn in your completed log by March 1 to claim your prize. Let’s see who will take home the reading gold! 🥇📖❄️

Try-It Tuesdays (Grades 3-8)
2026-02-03 15:45 - 16:45
‘Try-It Tuesdays’ invites kids in grades 3–8 to stop by the library each Tuesday from 3:45–4:45 pm and dive into something new. Each week brings a different activity, from creative crafts and games to STEM projects and experiments. There’s no cost to attend and all supplies are provided.
Come solo or bring a friend—no registration needed, just curiosity and a willingness to try it!

Junior Explorers (Grades K-5)
2026-02-05 15:45 - 16:45
Join us at the library every Thursday for an hour of creativity and exploration just for kids in grades K–5. Each week features a different activity, with options ranging from crafts and games to simple science and STEM experiments.
All supplies are provided, there is no cost to attend, and no registration is required—just come ready to have fun and try something new.

Story Time (Pre-K): Winter Olympics
2026-02-06 09:30 - 10:00
