Library Highlights from July and August 2015

ConnectED Library Challenge

Saint Paul Public Library has signed on to President Obama's ConnectED Library Challenge. Both Mayor Coleman and Superintendent Silva have committed to ensuring every child in Saint Paul receives a library card in the 2016-2017 school year.

Research shows that children who visit the library during kindergarten have higher achievement scores in reading and science in third grade, particularly for children in households with low income and low parental education. Along with formal education, libraries provide valuable out of school time learning and bridge the digital divide among students of all ages. Learn more...

Bookmobile Tuesdays with HealthPartners

Bookmobile teamed up with our sponsor, HealthPartners, to visit four HealthPartners clinics around Saint Paul this summer. Customers stopped by to see the newly designed Bookmobile, enjoy storytimes, check out books, and learn more about the library. Learn more...

Nature Backpacks at Sun Ray Library

Want to learn more about frogs? Or weather? Or other things found outside? Check out a nature backpack from the Sun Ray Library. Each one is designed and labeled for a specific age group to make the experience as fun and educational as possible.

Sun Ray Library is also the third library location to install a pollinator garden. The other two gardens are at Riverview Library and Hamline Midway Library.

 Check out a Nature Backpack...

Summer Spark

Kids of all ages this year could indulge their interests by learning, completing fun activities, and earning prizes through Summer Spark, our newly-revamped Summer Reading Program. Youth participated in activities including writing memoirs, drawing, engaging with local political representatives, and, of course, reading! Learn more... 

ARTful Expressions

The library partnered with COMPAS and Saint Anthony Park Area Seniors to offer art classes for older adults in the Saint Anthony Park neighborhood. The series began in July and continues into the fall. All reserved spots in these art classes were full almost immediately—evidence that this program series is filling a need for creative programming for older adults—and the feedback from attendees is very positive.  Learn more...

Tinker Tuesdays

Taking our mission of connecting people to the joy of learning a step further, we started offering Tinker Tuesdays in July to engage adults in hands-on maker workshops at Highland Park Library. These popular workshops—which include solar hacking, circuit bending, metal stamping, and more—are continuing into the fall. 

Learn more...