Storytime – Winter 2024-2025
December 17 – February 22
View the Winter Storytime Schedule!
500 by Five
Help your child read 500 books by age five! Reading with your child helps them get read for school, increase their vocabulary, improve logical thinking, and more. See more information about 500 by Five and get started!
Earn an Honorary MLS!
We’re offering an opportunity for aspiring librarians to learn more about what we do and earn an honorary MLS (Mini Library Science) certificate! See more information and schedule an appointment!
Virtual Storytime and Activities
Watch virtual storytimes, get ideas for playtime with your little one, and more!
If you need special accommodations for any Library event or program, please submit our Accommodations Request form as soon as possible. Join us for stories, songs, and activities at Piney Point Lighthouse Park and Museum, then stay to enjoy the free holiday open house with activities and refreshments all day! Admission fees are waived for this special event. No registration needed. More information about the Holiday Open House: https://www.facebook.com/events/471177805680209 Our friends from SPICE Studio will teach a stroller fitness class, followed by a storytime presented by the library! SPICE Studio will provide a 30-min workout incorporating power walking, jogging, and/or running with functional interval training to help you build endurance, strength, and core. Caregivers are led through movements that train their bodies for mom (or dad, or other caregiver) life. Suitable for all levels of fitness, no matter where you are in your fitness journey. Babies are there with you the entire time and entertained with whatever it takes to help you get in your workout for the day. Q: What do I need to bring? Q: What should I wear? What should my baby wear? Q: Do I need a jogging stroller? Q: What time should I arrive? Q: Can my child get out of the stroller and walk with me? Q: What if it rains or if the weather is inclement? Make your season warm and cozy at this very special evening storytime event! Enjoy a hot cup of cocoa complete with stories of cozy winter nights for friends and families of all ages! Register with your email address and select the "add more people" button to bring family members and friends for an evening of heartwarming stories! Allergy Warning: Be advised that some refreshments may contain dairy and wheat product. Non-dairy options are available! Teens and tweens are invited to come vibe with us for weekly-themed hangouts! Games, art, music and more in store. No registration required! Stay a little or awhile. Snacks, activities, and good vibes provided. Tween session (Ages 8-12): 3-4 PM Teen session (Ages 13-18): 4-5 PM Week 1: Crafts/Art Week 2: Video Games Week 3: STEM Hangout Week 4: Board Games Writing can be a lonely hobby, so why not attend the writing club to connect with other writers your age? Join us for our bi-monthly writing club, intended for teens! During the club meetings, you'll be able to share your writing, meet new writers, learn about new genres, and have your writing critiqued by your peers! The club will be held virtually every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. The annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has been held for well over a century and is conducted by National Audubon Society with help from thousands of volunteers. Molly Moore, President of the Southern Maryland Audubon Society, Charles County Master Gardener, and MD Master Naturalist will teach participants how to contribute to the data collected between December 14 and January 5 for this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations, and to help guide conservation actions. Audubon's 124th Christmas Bird Count! It's gaming day! It’s time to game on! Swing by the library for an afternoon packed with fun and games. Dive into video game showdowns on the Nintendo Switch, conquer the competition in board games, or just chill with friends in a laid-back, game-filled vibe. Whether you're a gaming pro or just here for the snacks, there’s something for everyone. Perfect for teens ages 13-18. Drop in and let the good times roll! Teens and tweens are invited to come vibe with us for weekly-themed hangouts! Games, art, music and more in store. No registration required! Stay a little or awhile. Snacks, activities, and good vibes provided. Tween session (Ages 8-12): 3-4 PM Teen session (Ages 13-18): 4-5 PM Week 1: Crafts/Art Week 2: Video Games Week 3: STEM Hangout Week 4: Board Games Do you know what to do when a tornado sweeps into your neighborhood or floodwater reaches your doorstep? Join St. Mary's County Emergency Services Department to learn what can be done now to reduce the impact of disaster later. This workshop will include an interactive educational lecture on how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe in the event of a disaster, a discussion on the area's unique and most common threats, and the opportunity to create your own disaster supply kit with the essentials: food, water, first-aid, tools, and more! Kits are limited to one per family group. Space is limited; register to reserve your spot. If attending as a family group, please register just one member of the group. This year's One Maryland One Book selection, What Storm, What Thunder by Myriam J. A. Chancy, shines a harsh light on the reality of natural disasters. It brings into question what one should do as an individual, as a family, and as a community, and what we owe to others in the face of catastrophe. While disasters on this scale are impossible to fully prepare for, communities across the world should know what to do when the unthinkable threatens to upend daily life. One Maryland One Book is a program of Maryland Humanities. Join us for learning-based crafts, games, and activities as we play our way to developing valuable school readiness skills such as fine motor control, following directions, and group participation. Activities are designed with preschoolers in mind and vary week to week. No registration required. That WIP you said you'd finish would love to come to the Maker Space! It's a Teen Takeover in the Maker Space! From 5:30-7 pm on 12/18, 1/22, and 2/19, the Maker Space will be open for teens to hang out, make art, and vibe! You can work on your own project or make a zine, a tiny painting, or just chill for a bit. Bring your own materials or utilize the Maker Space for your art. No registration required. Walk-ins welcome! Teens and tweens are invited to come vibe with us for weekly-themed hangouts! Games, art, music and more in store. No registration required! Stay a little or awhile. Snacks, activities, and good vibes provided. Tween session (Ages 8-12): 3-4 PM Teen session (Ages 13-18): 4-5 PM Week 1: Crafts/Art Week 2: Video Games Week 3: STEM Hangout Week 4: Board Games Writing can be a lonely hobby, so why not attend the writing club to connect with other writers your age? Join us for our bi-monthly writing club, intended for teens! During the club meetings, you'll be able to share your writing, meet new writers, learn about new genres, and have your writing critiqued by your peers! The club will be held virtually every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. Teens and tweens are invited to come vibe with us for weekly-themed hangouts! Games, art, music and more in store. No registration required! Stay a little or awhile. Snacks, activities, and good vibes provided. Tween session (Ages 8-12): 3-4 PM Teen session (Ages 13-18): 4-5 PM Week 1: Crafts/Art Week 2: Video Games Week 3: STEM Hangout Week 4: Board Games Let's be scientists & investigate color mixing! Predict, observe, test, collect data, & have lots of fun as we learn about primary colors & secondary colors and how they combine. Recommended for preschoolers and young elementary students. Please register each child. We supply the “bricks,” you bring the imagination. Come build something amazing with our LEGO and Duplo pieces! Calling all young engineers! You are invited to design a train track, stack some magnets, and explore the joys of building at the library! Drop in for a little or stay for awhile during a morning of hands on, interactive play recommended for preschool to elementary ages! Register with your email address to get your build on! Click on "add more people" button to bring special guests! Learn basic sewing skills like blanket stitch and whip stitch as you sew a small plushie inspired by Dr. Seuss's classic character, The Grinch! All materials provided. This program is intended for upper elementary aged children--please register each child participating. All the fun of a New Year's Eve party for our young friends with early bedtimes! Countdown to a Happy NOON Year with silly songs, creative crafts, and awesome activities. Visit the library to make a craft with our 3D Pens. This program is intended for upper elementary aged children and tweens. Please register every member of your family that is attending. Due to library policies, children under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult to use the equipment. Because of this, we ask that both parents and children register themselves for this program and that parents assist their children with the 3D pens. All the fun of a New Year's Eve party for our young friends with early bedtimes! Countdown to a Happy NOON Year with silly songs, creative crafts, and awesome activities. Register once per family group to receive a reminder email. Walk-ins welcome! All the fun of a New Year's Eve party for our young friends with early bedtimes! Countdown to a Happy NOON Year with silly songs, creative crafts, and awesome activities. No registration required. Dream it, see it, believe it! Come join us at Charlotte Hall to create your own vision board and put a concrete image to those big dreams of yours! All supplies will be available through the library, you only need to bring your imagination. Join us for learning-based crafts, games, and activities as we play our way to developing valuable school readiness skills such as fine motor control, following directions, and group participation. Activities are designed with preschoolers in mind and vary week to week. No registration required.
Storytime at Piney Point Lighthouse: Holiday Open House
Stroller Squad Fitness Storytime
A: Your stroller, your little(s), a yoga mat for core work, water for you and your baby, a towel if you get sweaty. Sunscreen, bug spray, and hats are also recommended.
A: Dress in athletic attire and running shoes. Also dress for the weather and in layers that you can remove as the workout progresses. Please also dress your baby for the weather – blankets, hats, etc.
A: Jogging strollers are not required. Most walking, jogging, or running will be on sidewalks or roads. Make sure your stroller is sturdy and also has a working brake as strollers will be parked at stations.
A: Try to arrive a few minutes before class begins to give you time to set up your stroller and get your baby settled. Warm-up will begin right at 9:30am.
A: For safety reasons, all babies and children must be buckled into their strollers from warm-up to cool down. This also allows YOU to focus on your workout. While some kiddos may fuss and cry at first, we promise they will adjust and we are there to help you every step of the way with whatever it takes to keep them entertained to allow you to focus on you.
A: Depending on the level of the rain at class-time, we will have an indoor option available.Cocoa Cozy Storytime!
Tween/Teen Thursday
Teen Writing Club
SOMD Audubon Society: The Christmas Bird Count: Citizen Science
For more information about Citizen Science, please visit our Citizen Science page. Also you may place requests for a Citizen Science Kit to collect data for Citizen Science projects about birds on SciStarter.orgGaming In the Library
Tween/Teen Thursday
Disaster Preparedness for Teens & Families: A One Maryland One Book Program
Purposeful Play: Serious Fun for Preschoolers
After School Art Club
Tween/Teen Thursday
Teen Writing Club
Tween/Teen Thursday
Preschool STEAM Fun: Color Mixing
Lego Mania
Tracks & Stacks: Build-a-Thon!
Sew Your Own Grouchy Buddy
Noon Year's Eve at Leonardtown Library
Crafternoon : Fun With 3D Pens
Noon Years Eve at Charlotte Hall Library
Noon Years Eve at Lexington Park Library
Visualize Your Goals: Vision Board Program
Purposeful Play: Serious Fun For Preschoolers
Please note that library staff may be taking photos of any or all events to use for future library publications. Event participants’ photos may be used without notification or compensation. If you do not feel comfortable having your photo taken, please inform library staff when you arrive to an event.