Valentine Public Library

SHHH! We're Reading Book Club
2025-04-28 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Next Book Club: Let’s Discuss Restart by Gordon Korman!
Join us for the next SHHH! We’re Reading Book Club meeting, where we’ll dive into the engaging and thought-provoking novel Restart by Gordon Korman! This book follows the story of Chase Ambrose, a popular middle schooler who has lost his memory after an accident. As he tries to rebuild his life, he must navigate the consequences of his past actions and decide who he wants to be moving forward.
Come ready to discuss Chase’s journey of self-discovery, redemption, and second chances. Whether you’ve read it before or it’s your first time, it’s sure to be a lively conversation!
Grab your copy of Restart and join us for a fun discussion with fellow book lovers! 📚✨

Crafting Hour: DIY Spinners!
2025-04-29 15:45 - 16:45
Kids in grades 3 and up, join us for a fun and creative craft session at the library! This time, we’re making spinners using paper and toothpicks—then decorating them with your own colorful designs.
We’ll provide all the supplies—just bring your creativity and get ready to make a one-of-a-kind spinning masterpiece to take home!
🎟 Free & all materials provided!
Bring a friend and join us for some hands-on fun! 🎨✨

Jr. Robotics
2025-05-01 16:00 - 17:00
🤖✨ Kids in K-4th grade are invited to join us for Jr. Robotics Hour at Valentine Public Library! 🛠️🚀 This hands-on program is perfect for youth from Grace Lutheran, rural schools, homeschoolers, and others not in VES After School.
📅 Dates: May 1, May 6, May 13
🕓 Time: 4:00–5:00 PM
📍 Location: Valentine Public Library
👩‍🏫 Led by: Michelle Garwood
🤝 In partnership with UNL Extension Cherry County
No pre-registration is required—just drop in and explore the exciting world of robotics! See you there! 🚦🔧

Story-Time: Pre-K
2025-05-02 09:30 - 10:00
This Week’s Theme: Giraffes!

Join us for some fun this May at the library! Our story time is designed for Pre-K kids and takes place every Friday morning from 9:30 am to 10:00 am. Each week features a unique theme, including a story and a craft activity that matches the theme.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
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!

Jr Robotics
2025-05-06 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-05-13 16:00 - 17:00

Craft Hour: Suncatcher Wind Chimes! Grades K-5
2025-05-08 15:45 - 16:45
Join us at the library for a colorful Craft Hour filled with creativity and fun! Kids in grades K–5 are invited to make their very own suncatcher wind chimes—a perfect blend of art and sound that will sparkle and jingle in the spring breeze.
We’ll provide all the supplies you need to design a unique creation that reflects your style and shines in the sunlight. Bring your imagination and get ready to craft something magical!
No registration required—just drop in and join the fun!

Story-Time: Pre-K
2025-05-09 09:30 - 10:00
This Week’s Theme: Chickens!

Join us for some fun this May at the library! Our story time is designed for Pre-K kids and takes place every Friday morning from 9:30 am to 10:00 am. Each week features a unique theme, including a story and a craft activity that matches the theme.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
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!

Craft Hour: Q-Tip Flower Bouquets! Grades k-5
2025-05-15 15:45 - 16:45
Get ready to paint a beautiful bouquet—with a twist! Kids in grades K–5 are invited to join us at the library for a fun and creative Craft Hour, where we’ll use Q-tips as paintbrushes to create colorful flower bouquet masterpieces.
This simple and unique technique makes it easy for young artists to explore color and pattern while making something they’ll be proud to take home. All supplies will be provided—just bring your creativity!
No registration required—drop in and let’s paint some petals!

Story-Time: Pre-K
2025-05-16 09:30 - 10:00
This Week’s Theme: Flowers!

Join us for some fun this May at the library! Our story time is designed for Pre-K kids and takes place every Friday morning from 9:30 am to 10:00 am. Each week features a unique theme, including a story and a craft activity that matches the theme.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
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!

LEGO Marble Run Challenge! Grades 3-8
2025-05-20 15:45 - 16:45
Think you’ve got what it takes to build the ultimate marble run? Kids in grades 3-8 are invited to take on our LEGO Marble Run Challenge at the library!
Using only LEGO bricks and your imagination, you’ll design and build a twisting, turning track that sends a marble racing to the finish. Will your run be fast, loopy, or full of surprises? Come find out!
Supplies provided. No registration needed—just drop in and start building!

School's Out! Summer Celebration
2025-05-21 14:00 - 16:00
Join us for a refreshing root beer float and help us kick off summer with a bang at our “School’s Out! Summer Celebration”! Plan on an afternoon of fun and festivities as we bid farewell to the school year and welcome the sunny days ahead.
Get ready to indulge in a classic summer treat – root beer floats! Cool off with a delicious combination of creamy vanilla ice cream and fizzy root beer, served up just the way you like it (donated by Henderson’s IGA). But hurry – supplies are limited, so be sure to get yours before they’re gone!
While you’re sipping on your frosty float, why not challenge your friends and family to some friendly competition? Weather permitting, we’ll have yard games set up outside, including cornhole, giant Jenga, fat penny, ladder ball, and more. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors and celebrate the start of summer vacation!
So grab your sunglasses, gather your crew, and join us for a day of fun in the sun. Whether you’re a kid or just young at heart, there’s something for everyone at our School’s Out for the Summer Celebration!
No RSVP required – just come on down and join the party! We can’t wait to celebrate with you.

Craft Hour: Create Your Own Kaleidoscope! Grades K-5
2025-05-22 15:45 - 16:45
Explore light, color, and creativity at this exciting Craft Hour! Kids in grades K–5 are invited to build their very own kaleidoscopes using simple supplies and their imagination.
We’ll learn how mirrors and angles work together to create dazzling patterns—and then make our own mesmerizing kaleidoscopes to take home. This hands-on craft is both fun and educational, with a little science and a lot of sparkle!
All materials provided—just bring your curiosity! No registration needed.

Story-Time: Pre-K
2025-05-23 09:30 - 10:00
This Week’s Theme: Ice Cream!

Join us for some fun this May at the library! Our story time is designed for Pre-K kids and takes place every Friday morning from 9:30 am to 10:00 am. Each week features a unique theme, including a story and a craft activity that matches the theme.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
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!

Memorial Day Closure Notice
2025-05-26 | Valentine Public Library, 324 N Main ST, Valentine, NE, 69201, United States
We will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025, for Memorial Day. We will reopen on May 27th at 9:00 a.m.
In observance of Memorial Day, our doors will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025. We’ll be taking this time to honor and remember those who have served our country with bravery and sacrifice. Remember, even when our physical doors are closed, the world of books remains wide open. Dive into a new adventure or explore a captivating story right from the comfort of your home with our app, Libby. With just a few taps, you can access a vast collection of ebooks and audiobooks to satisfy your reading cravings.
So while we take this brief pause to pay our respects, don’t hesitate to explore the virtual shelves of Libby for your next literary escape. We’ll see you back at the library soon!

Craft Hour: Scratch Art Surprise! Grades 3-8
2025-05-27 15:45 - 16:45
Get ready to scratch your way to a masterpiece! Kids in grades 3-8 are invited to join us for a fun and artistic Craft Hour where we’ll be making scratch art using round paper plates and paint.
First, we’ll cover our plates in vibrant colors with oil pastels, then paint over them with black paint. Once they’re dry, the real fun begins—use scratching tools to reveal the bright colors underneath and create your own one-of-a-kind design!
All supplies provided—just bring your imagination! No registration needed.

Board Meeting
2025-05-27 16:30 - 17:30
The regular meeting of the Valentine Public Library Board will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 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.

Craft Hour: Ping Pong Ball Tealights! Grades K-5
2025-05-28 15:45 - 2025-05-29 16:45
Let your creativity shine at this Craft Hour! Kids in grades K–5 are invited to make glowing tealight lanterns using ping pong balls and battery-operated lights.
These fun and safe little lights are easy to decorate and perfect for adding a soft glow to any room. We’ll provide all the supplies—just bring your imagination and get ready to craft something that really lights up!
No registration needed—just drop in and join the glow-up fun!

Story-Time: Pre-K
2025-05-30 09:30 - 10:00
This Week’s Theme: Camping!

Join us for some fun this May at the library! Our story time is designed for Pre-K kids and takes place every Friday morning from 9:30 am to 10:00 am. Each week features a unique theme, including a story and a craft activity that matches the theme.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
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!

VPL Summer Program: Grades K-5th
2025-06-04 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-11 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-18 10:00 - 11:00
📚🌈 Get ready for a summer of fun at VPL! Our Summer Reading Program: Reading Colors Our World will take place on Wednesday mornings in June from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
Each week, kids will enjoy stories, activities, and a special guest! 🌟Whether you’re exploring new books, building cool creations, or making colorful crafts, there’s something for everyone this summer at VPL!
Don’t miss out on this exciting and colorful summer adventure! Let’s read, imagine, and create together.
📖 Who can join? Kids completing grades K-5 in the 2024-2025 school year.
For more information, call us at 402-376-3160 or stop by the library.

SHHH! We're Reading Kid's Book Club
2025-06-16 16:00 - 17:00
They got lost. The world got scared. And the mud got fuzzy.
Join us this month as we dive into Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar—a suspenseful and thought-provoking story that blends science, mystery, and friendship.
When fifth grader Tamaya and seventh grader Marshall take a shortcut through the off-limits woods, they end up facing more than just a bully. What they stumble upon could change everything—not just for them, but for the whole world. This discussion will explore the choices we make, the risks of science gone wrong, and just how weird mud can get.
📖 Haven’t finished the book? No problem—come anyway! We’d love to hear your thoughts. Bring your curiosity and your questions!

Sidewalk Stained Glass at the Library: For kids and kids at heart!
2025-06-19 15:45 - 16:45
Get ready to turn our sidewalks into stunning stained glass masterpieces! ✨
Join us for a creative outdoor art activity where we’ll use painter’s tape to design our own “stained glass” patterns and fill them in with bright, colorful chalk. When the tape comes off—voila!—a beautiful mosaic effect that will make the whole library entrance shine!
Whether you’re a little artist or just young at heart, everyone is welcome to join the fun. No artistic experience required—just bring your imagination and a love for color! Chalk and supplies provided
Let’s brighten up the library, one square at a time! 🌈

Story Time: Pre-K
2025-06-20 09:30 - 10:00
This Week’s Theme: Sticks!

June is made for fun—come spend it with us at the library! Our story time is designed for Pre-K kids and takes place every Friday morning from 9:30 am to 10:00 am. Each week features a unique theme, including a story and a craft activity that matches the theme.
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
2025-06-23 16:30 - 17:30
The regular meeting of the Valentine Public Library Board will be held on Monday, June 23, 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.

Pinch & Paint: Part 1- Grades 3 & Up
2025-06-24 15:45 - 16:45
Get your hands messy and your creativity flowing at the library! Join us for Pinch & Paint, a two-part clay craft where young artists will learn how to shape and decorate their own pinch pots.
In Part 1 (today!), we’ll use modeling clay to form small, handmade pots using the pinch pot technique. These pots will be left at the library to dry and harden.
Then come back on Thursday, June 26 for Part 2, where we’ll bring your creations to life with paint! 🎨 We’ll provide all the supplies—just bring your imagination.

VPL Summer Program: Sandhills Leadership team
2025-06-25 10:00 - 11:00
📚🌈 Led by the Sandhills Leadership Team!Join us for the last Wednesday of our Summer Reading Program: Reading Colors Our World as the amazing young adults from the Sandhills Leadership Team take the lead! They’ll guide us through fun, creative activities that celebrate imagination, color, and community spirit.
🕙 Wednesday morning | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | K-5th grade📍 Valentine Public Library
This event is part of our exciting summer series where each week brings stories, hands-on fun, and special guests. Whether you’re painting the sidewalk, exploring new books, or crafting up a storm, there’s something for everyone!

Pinch & Paint: Part 2 – Time to Add Color!
2025-06-26 15:45 - 16:45
Your clay creations are ready! Join us for Part 2 of our Pinch & Paint craft event as we bring those pinch pots to life with color.
If you joined us earlier to make a clay pot, now’s your chance to finish your masterpiece. We’ll have all the paint and supplies you need to decorate your pot and make it uniquely yours.
Let your creativity shine and take home your finished work of art! 🎨

Story Time: Pre-K
2025-06-27 09:30 - 10:00
This Week’s Theme: Chameleons!

June is made for fun—come spend it with us at the library! Our story time is designed for Pre-K kids and takes place every Friday morning from 9:30 am to 10:00 am. Each week features a unique theme, including a story and a craft activity that matches the theme.
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!
