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Activities

1000 Books Before Kindergarten (Youth)

The goal is to read 1,000 books before your child starts kindergarten. Visit the youth area anytime to pick up a booklet and get started. This is a work at your own pace program. Prizes will be awarded when you reach 500 and 1,000 books.
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Alphabet Adventures (Youth)

Enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, and more featuring the letter of the week in this new interactive program. You are welcome to bring an item starting with the week’s special letter!
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Arts & Crafts for Adults (Adult)

Explore your creative side each month with a different craft project. Bring your imagination and we will supply the rest. We are offering both in-person and take-home sessions for this program — so choose the right option for you when you register!
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Author James Kimble (Teen, Adult)

What did Henry Doorly, Cornhusker football, & the patriotic spirit of Nebraskans have to do with the Allied victory in WWII? Find out as James J. Kimble goes behind the scenes of his research for "Prairie Forge," the 2021 One Book One Nebraska title.
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Banned Books Week (Adult)

Celebrate your freedom to read and check out a challenged book from our display — all month long! This event highlights books that have been challenged in libraries around the world.
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Blue Gold Community/Campus Showcase (Adult, Family)

Visit our booth at the annual Blue & Gold Showcase at UNK. This festival has over 200 area businesses and campus organizations to welcome students to the Kearney community.
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Book Club Open House (Adult)

Stop by to find out what our new fall book club bag titles are, pick up a new book bag brochure, have a snack, and enter to win some prizes! Come anytime and stay as long as you wish!
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Brown Bag History Series (Adult)

You are invited to the continuing "Brown Bag" series, hosted by the library, in partnership with the UNK History Department. Feel free to bring your lunch with you. Snacks and beverages are provided.
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Build, Connect, Create (Youth)

Let your imagination run wild as you build with our collection of STEM toys, including KEVA Planks, Straws & Connectors, Snap Circuits, Magna-Tiles, and much more!
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Card Crafting: To Go (Adult)

Make your own greeting cards with the library! Each month we’ll have a special project all ready to go. Packets may be picked up at the front desk and a how-to video will be shared on Facebook and our website. Registration is required.
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Crafternoon (Youth)

Listen to Miss Shawna read a story and then learn how to create a craft based on the book. We are offering both in-person and take-home sessions for this program - so choose the right option for you when you register!
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Explore the Makerspace (Adult)

Come explore the Makerspace! Each month we will have a new introductory project that highlights the creative possibilities of different machines in the space. One staff-led demonstration session will introduce each project.
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Fabulous Falcons (Youth, Teen, Adult, Family)

See real falcons at the library! Learn about the “fighter jets” of the bird world: falcons! Participants will also learn about raptors in general. Be sure to have questions ready as you will get the chance to talk to a professional falconer.
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Feather Wand Cat Toy (Teen, Adult)

Make a fun wand toy to enjoy with your cat, or create and donate a toy to the Kearney Area Animal Shelter! All supplies will be provided. Please register in advance for this free event.
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Food for Fines (Youth, Teen, Adult, Family)

Pay your overdue fees and help your community at the same time! For each non-perishable food item you bring in, we waive $1.00 in library fines from your account.
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Genealogy Quest: Zoom Edition (Adult)

This is a drop-in meeting for people needing genealogical assistance or advice and for those wanting to share new discoveries they've made. We'd love to help you in your quest.
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Get Crafty: Bats! (Youth)

We’re just batty about Halloween! Create two fun bat crafts to prepare for Halloween. We will be making paper straw bats and a tiny bat using a mini candy bar.
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Intro to Financial Ratings Series Database (Adult)

Paige Grillo from Weiss Financial Ratings will provide an overview, teach us how to create an account, set up a watchlist for your bank, insurance company, stocks and mutual funds, how to create research tools (screeners), and run a Medigap report.
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Intro to Medigap Buyer's Guide (Adult)

Choosing the right Medicare Supplement Insurance plan can be frustrating, confusing...and expensive if you choose the wrong plan. This program will give you the helpful guidance you need to navigate your Medicare supplement options.
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Jay & Leslie: Juggling & Other Nonsense (Youth, Teen, Family)

Enjoy nifty tricks and hare-brained stories with Jay and Leslie! There will be juggling, animal-themed stories, and lots of laughs. There are five 5-minute shows and two 30 minute shows that you can register for.
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Knot Just Knitting (Youth, Teen, Adult)

Love to knit, crochet, cross-stitch, or create other fiber arts? This is the group for you! Drop-in for fun, friends, and fiber! Registration is not required.
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Legos at the Library (Youth)

Come for some brick-snappin' fun! Design and build your own creations. The library will supply the legos.
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Library Card Sign-up Month (Youth, Teen, Adult, Family)

Share with your friends and family the many benefits of having a library card! It's the perfect time for them to get one too! We'll have a display and activities during this month.
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Library Lunch & Learn (Teen, Adult)

Join your librarians on Zoom at lunchtime for a brief highlight of various library services. Bring questions and feel free to eat! Attendees will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card to a local restaurant. Registration is required.
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Magician, Jeff Quinn! (Youth, Teen, Adult, Family)

Jeff Quinn’s "Reading Safari" virtual magic show will be the highlight of your summer! The show, performed by Nebraska-based magician Jeff Quinn, features wildlife-themed tricks and routines that will entertain.
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Open Book Club (Adult)

The "Open Book Club" is library-sponsored and open to anyone ages 18+. Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday each month starting at 6:30 pm. We meet via Zoom until in-person meetings resume in September. We welcome everyone who is interested!
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Paint-a-Dot (Youth, Teen)

Easy as brushing on the water – the paint's in the paper! Create a colorful parrot, gecko, and snake. Fill the tree with animals and leaves, and stand it up using the self-adhesive easel.
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Paws to Read (Youth)

Youth ages 3-13 can practice their reading by reading aloud to a dog! Registered Therapy Animals and their handlers will be listening to youth read. Read five books/chapters to the team and earn a prize!
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Pub Quiz Online Edition (Adult)

Join us online to play a quiz game!
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Scratch Art (Youth, Teen, Adult)

Scratch your way to a beautiful piece of multicolored art! Adults and teens will receive scratch-off mandala designs; the youth will receive blank scratch art pages to create designs of their choice. All materials are provided in this free event.
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Studio KPL (Adult)

Sign up today for a creative art workshop featuring an in-depth special project. Class size is limited to 20 participants age 18+. The session has a $10.00 fee. Registration required.
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Program Fee$10.00

Summer Reading Challenge (Youth, Teen, Adult)

Looking for something to do this summer? Try our Summer Reading Challenge! Created for people of all ages and stages to have fun and win prizes! Forms are available by the front desk, in the Youth and Teen departments, or can be found on our website.
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Teen DIY: Colorful Jute Coasters (Teen)

You are going to absolutely LOVE these colorful jute coasters. Add a little pizazz to your room! We are offering both in-person and take-home sessions for this program - so choose the right option for you when you register. For ages 12-18.
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Teen: Halloween Break-In Bags (Teen)

Think “escape room” except instead of trying to break out, you’re trying to break in! Solve three puzzles to find the numeric code that will open the lock on your bag so you can enjoy the Halloween treats locked inside!
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Teen: Worst Candy Taste Test! (Teen)

Today we are going to taste test some of the worst candy! Like…black licorice. Or…circus peanuts! Ick! Does anyone really like this stuff? Come give it a try! Maybe, just maybe, you will find a new favorite candy! (food allergy warning)
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Tinker Tots (Youth)

Join us for a hands-on STEM program designed especially for you and your preschooler. Help your child develop important math, science, and learning readiness skills while having fun! An adult caregiver must remain with the participating child.
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Trick or Treat on the Bricks (Youth, Teen, Family)

Make the library a stop on your downtown trick or treating route and take home a treat! Register to win a Halloween book and take a chance at our guessing jar. The closest guess wins the contents! Then try our toss game for a treat!
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Virtual Storytime (Youth)

Join us for storytime! Every Thursday at 10:30 am we will release a new virtual storytime with Miss Shawna and her library friends. You can watch whenever you want on our webpage, Facebook, or on our YouTube channel. Get ready for fun!
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Watercolor Wednesdays (Adult)

Get your creative juices flowing in this watercolor class. Each month we'll brush up on our watercolor skills working with different themes. Registration required.
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Writer's Block Online (Adult)

An informal writing group that meets twice a month via Zoom. No experience necessary. For more information contact Christine Walsh.
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Writing Workshop: Anne Hillerman (Adult)

Anne Hillerman, a New York Times Bestselling author, will lead a writing workshop for aspiring writers and fans of her work. Here is your opportunity to spend the afternoon with a master storyteller on the art of writing.
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Workshop Fee$20.00

Your Magic Library (Youth, Teen, Adult, Family)

Learn magic and circus skills! "Your Magic Library" is an online adventure with your hosts Cody Landstrom and Wolfe Bowart. Both educational and entertaining, "Your Magic Library" is a complete 6-class beginning magic course for all ages!
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