Shannon

Summer at the Library 2026: Week 1

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It’s time for SUMMER AT THE LIBRARY! We are all geared up for fun at the Eau Claire library this summer, and there are lots of free events ahead! Just follow the link, and find out about upcoming programs like Pebble Friends on Wednesday, June 10 , Folk Music with Will Branch on Thursday, June 11 (no tickets needed), and Hack Your Oreo on Thursday, June 11 for teens! Find the full list right here. We’ll see you soon at the library!

Here’s a quick peek at what we’ve been up to:

Kelly K

Get Gross, Get Curious with our Waist-Deep in Learning Series!

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Join us for the grossest, goofiest, most giggle-filled science series of the season!
From owl puke to sticky slime to history’s ickiest jobs, you’ll discover that learning isn’t always neat, and that’s exactly what makes it fun.

Waist-Deep in Learning: Whoooo Ate What!?

Friday, October 17 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Riverview Room

Ready to dig into something truly wild? Join us for an event where science meets “eww!” in the best possible way. Join Beaver Creek Reserve who will be bringing in a real live Barred Owl! You’ll get to find out exactly what this feathered friend has been eating. How? By dissecting owl pellets, of course!

This hands-on, slightly icky, totally unforgettable adventure is perfect for curious kids ages 6–11 and their grown-ups. Come ready to laugh, learn, and get your hands dirty as we explore nature’s food chain in the most memorable way possible.

Registration is required (one per child), and spots will go fast, sign up now before this one fills up!

Can’t Get Enough Gross Science? We’ve Got You Covered!

This event is part of our Waist-Deep in Learning series — a celebration of all things sticky, slimy, and weirdly wonderful leading up to this year’s Chippewa Valley Book Festival!

Waist-Deep in Learning: Grossology
Monday, October 20 | 1–2:30 p.m. | Youth Program Room
Mix, mush, and experiment with the world’s grossest (and most fascinating!) science. Perfect for grades K–6 and their families. No registration needed.

Christine Virnig Presents: Eww!! The Grossest Jobs Throughout History
Wednesday, October 22 | 5–6 p.m. | Riverview Room
Ever wonder who cleaned the castle latrines? Or who handled the royal leeches? Author Christine Virnig will make you laugh, cringe, and maybe gag just a little as she explores the stinkiest jobs from history, complete with hands-on activities and questionable snacks inspired by her book Waist-Deep in Dung! No registration needed.

We hope to see you there!

Youth Services Staff

Kelly K

Introducing the Young Writer’s Gallery!

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We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Young Writer’s Gallery, a brand-new space dedicated to celebrating the voices of young authors ages 0-18 in our community. Each month, three new writers will be chosen by lottery to share their original writing with the community.

Starting October 1st, you can explore the Gallery and “meet” our very first three featured writers! We invite you to stop by, read their stories, and leave a comment of encouragement.

The Young Writer’s Gallery is made possible through a partnership between the L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library and the Chippewa Valley Book Festival. Together, we’re working to inspire the next generation of storytellers and give them a platform to share their creativity with the community.

Your feedback plays an important role, every kind word helps these young writers build confidence and excitement for their craft. Whether you’re a fellow writer, a parent, or simply someone who loves stories, we encourage you to join us in celebrating their achievements.

To become the newest young writer, submit your name for the Young Writer’s Gallery here.

Come explore, be inspired, and help us cheer on Eau Claire’s newest authors!

Alisha

Introducing…Tonies and Yotos!

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We’re excited to announce the addition of two new audio player formats to the library’s collection!

Tonies are toy-like figurines that activate songs and stories when placed on a Toniebox audio player. Kids can easily adjust volume, fast forward, rewind and change stories on their own. Our four Tonie Kits each come with a Toniebox and approximately five Tonies.

Similarly, Yoto Players are an easy-to-use audio player that plays children’s stories. The audiobook is activated simply by inserting a Yoto Card into the player. Each kit comes with a Yoto Player and approximately five story cards.

All Tonies and Yoto Cards have been pre-loaded onto the Tonieboxes and Yoto Players, respectively, making them available to play with or without a Wi-Fi signal. Both the Tonie kits and Yoto Kits are located in the Library of Things collection.

Julia

Get Creative with Afterschool ARTmobile!

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The library is an important place for having hands-on, creative experiences like making art. For this reason, we are so excited to partner with our friends from the Pablo Center for a brand-new Afterschool ARTmobile drop-in art program, open to young artists of all ages and their grown-ups! Afterschool ARTmobile will run the First Tuesday of the month February-May (2/4, 3/4, 4/1, 5/6), 4:30-5:30 pm, in the Youth Program Room. You can also catch ARTmobile at the library after Family Storytime on Saturdays.

Our ARTmobile friends, Hannah, Morgan, and Allison, are inspired by their work with young artists. “Kids are so full of possibility and energy,” Hannah explains, adding that children are able to find infinite potential in the materials and their imagination. She notes that she loves to hear the stories that kids share about their art. Allison also shares that “art is this wonderful part of being human where you observe and process the outside world, or your inner world, and transmute your thoughts and feelings about it into a creation that other people can interact with. It’s kind of magical!”

According to Hannah, ARTmobile provides free art education to the community. All projects include an educational component, with lessons about science, culture, music, and more incorporated into the creative experience.

“Families can expect to have the opportunity to engage in different types of art and projects,” explains Morgan. ARTmobile has offered many different types of projects over the years, such as hanging mobiles with leaves, crowns, drums (made from balloons and cups), and more. Kids are welcome to follow their own inspiration, though, and may use supplies freely. Allison shares, “often projects can be customized and have wiggle room to be as simple or complex as people desire. Sometimes kids take the projects we provide to an imaginative unexpected place, and we love to see that!”

ARTmobile strives to make their projects accessible to children with all abilities, offering tools like ergonomic scissors if needed.

Learn more about the Pablo Center ARTmobile and find fun projects to try at home at their website: https://www.pablocenter.org/learn/artmobile.

Shannon

Winter Break Week!

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Winter Break is almost upon us, which means it’s time to head to the library for tons of extra fun! Kids, Teens, and their families are invited to join us during Winter Break Week  (December 23-31) for a flurry of seasonal activities.    

When you visit the library, you’ll find scavenger hunts, craft activities, and games all week long–just stop by the Youth Services desk (Level 1) for details. While you are there, ask about our Winter Library Program (December 21–February 28)! You can sign up for our Family or Teen program to earn a prize! Click here for full info.

Of course, we also have some special events happening throughout the week. On Monday, December 23, join us for a Squishmallow Painting Party! Join us to create your own Squishmallow portrait on canvas, while supplies last. No registration needed. Details here!

Teens will have a chance to get cozy at the library during Winter Break Week. Youth in grades 7-12 are invited to join us in the teen lounge for Cozy Vibes Only on Thursday, December 26. We will provide a hot cocoa station, a cozy reading room, a stitching corner, a variety of puzzles and games, and snacks! Registration is recommended, but not required. Click here for full information. 

Teens are also invited to get crafty with us at Do You Wanna Build a Snow Globe? On Friday, December 27. Teens in grades 7-12 can make their very own weird or wonderful miniature snowscape. Registration is required by clicking here. 

Have you ever wanted to visit the library after we close? Then Family Fort Night is for you! On Friday, December 27, families are invited to join us after hours to build a cozy fort to read in, and to enjoy stories, snacks, crafts, and games. Registration and details here! (This event is not related to the online game Fortnite.) 

Families are invited to return to the library on Saturday, December 28 for New Year’s Crafternoon. Drop in to create fun crafts to celebrate the new year. No registration needed. Details are here! 

If video games are your thing, join us on Monday, December 30 as we break out the Nintendo Switch games! Youth grades K-6 can attend Mario Kart @ the Library from 10-12, and then we turn it over to the teens (grades 7-12) from 1:30-3:30 for an Ultimate Nintendo Switch Tournament. No registration is required for either session.

Finally, on Tuesday, December 31, families can visit the library to ring in the new year at our Noon Year’s Eve Party. Join us for dancing, crafts, face painting, snacks, and a countdown to a balloon drop at noon! No registration required. Click here for details. 

And, of course, we always offer books, movies, video games, maker kits, and so much more, so stock-up for chilly weather and family time. Be sure to stop in – we’re always happy to see you! 

 

Kelly K

Reserve a study room!

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Reserve a Study Room for Your School-Age Kids or Teens!

Need a quiet spot for your child or teen to focus on schoolwork? Our library offers study rooms specifically designed for school-age kids, teens, and their caregivers! Whether it’s solo work, tutoring sessions, or group projects we have the perfect space for productive study sessions.

For school-age kids:

 For teens:

How to Reserve:

  1. Visit our Room Reservation page.
  2. Select a room based on availability.
  3. Fill out the reservation form.

For more details, visit the library’s Study Room Policy.

Ensure your child or teen has the ideal space for focused learning today!

Girl playing with robots
Julia

Spark Your Curiosity at Preschool STEM!

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Adult and child playing with Dash and Dot robots.

It’s Friday morning at the library. Robots are whizzing around the Youth Program room, scarves are flying through a wind tunnel, and one young scientist is dripping water through mounds of tie-dyed shaving cream. As I stand taking in the excitement, I hear one young scientist proudly proclaim:

“Dad! Look at…The Science!”

This fall, we are spending the first Friday of the month exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) during our Preschool STEM program. STEM activities spark curiosity, and encourage children to make observations and predictions, ask questions, and experiment. Each monthly session offers different hands-on activities for kids and caregivers to explore together.

We hope that you’ll join us at our next Preschool STEM on Friday, December 6, 2024, 10-11 am in the Youth Program Room! Until then, stay curious!

Adult and child playing with scarves in a wind tunnel.

Psst: Need a reminder for this or other awesome library events? Check out this blog post on how to use the event calendar to email yourself event reminders!

Sadie

Youth Services Glow Up

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If you have visited Youth Services in the past month, you have probably noticed some changes; most notably, a visit from the Carpet Fairy and some furniture rearranging!

The Carpet Fairy brought in new carpet and extended it all the way around Play ‘n Learn to enlarge the space for more activities and fun! To keep the carpet for play, the Youth Services Desk was moved onto the floor across from the Picture Book section.

Some of our collections moved, too! We are constantly adding new books and we wanted to highlight them. Now you will see a shelf of new materials right when you walk into Youth Services. Other collections such as Holiday, Early Readers and Read-Alongs have moved too; please ask a staff member to help find your favorites.

 

We hope you like our new set up and the expanded Play ‘n Learn! Please stop on in, try it out, and tell us what you think.

Cheers!

A woman of Native American descent with black hair and a round face, wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
Kelly K

Celebrate Culture and Courage with Jessie Taken Alive-Rencountre

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Join us on Saturday, November 2, at 10:30 a.m. in the Riverview Room for a special One Book, One Community event – Storytelling with Jessie Taken Alive-Rencountre: A Journey in Pride, Culture, and Courage . Author Jessie Taken Alive-Rencountre, a Hunkpapa Lakota from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, will share her powerful children’s book, Thunder’s Hair. This inspiring story explores the significance of long hair in Lakota culture and encourages children to embrace their heritage and take pride in who they are.

During the event, Jessie will read from Thunder’s Hair, share the inspiration behind the story, and dive into important cultural teachings woven into the book. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of Lakota history, the importance of long hair, and a sense of pride and empowerment to be “modern-day warriors” in their own lives by helping those around them.

 This event is recommended for children and their families, but all are welcome! Registration is required, so be sure to reserve your spot today.

For more information or to register, visit www.ecpubliclibrary.info/onebook or call 715-839-5007.

Jessie Taken Alive-Rencountre has spent 15 years as a school counselor, and she uses her experiences in education and her Lakota heritage to inform her writing. She was awarded the Great Plains Emerging Tribal Writer’s Award for her first children’s book, Pet’a Shows Misun the Light. To date, Jessie has written seven children’s books, with more in progress. Her passion lies in helping people recognize their value and use their unique talents to create stronger communities for future generations.

This event is co-sponsored by: Wisconsin Humanities, Mayo Clinic Health System, Friends of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, and Chippewa Valley Museum.