RIDGWAY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Children's Programs

Ridgway Public Library
​329 Center Street, Ridgway, PA 15853
library_staff@ridgwaylibrary.org

(814) 773-7573

Dinosaur Discovery Program

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Click Here to REGISTER
Join the Ridgway Public Library, in collaboration with the Carnegie Science Center, for our Dinosaur Discovery STEM program on Thursday, July 14th at 12:00 PM. Available for students in grades K-4, the Dinosaur Discovery Program will be lead by Carnegie Science Center instructors and take participants through an interactive learning experience. Learn what dinosaurs ate, the sounds they made, and act as a paleontologist for the day. This program is FREE but space is limited and registration is required. To register, fill out the form below, stop by the library, or call (814) 773-7573.
This program was made possible through a grant from the Stackpole-Hall Foundation.

Upcoming Programs


 2022 Summer Reading Program Information

​Early Registration for Summer Reading begins May 23. Registration Packets can be found in the library lobby!

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The Ridgway Public Library teamed up with Child Hunger Outreach Partners (CHOP) to supply free snacks this year for any child attending library programs. Snacks are free and no paperwork is required!
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Summer Reading Program "Oceans of Possibilities": Every Tuesday at 11:00am from June 14 to August 2. For children in grades preschool through sixth grade.  Registration information can be picked up at the library. All Summer Reading Program sessions will feature a book, a game, and a project or craft.  We will also be offering snacks courtesy of Child Hunger Outreach Partners (CHOP).  All children should be accompanied by an adult during our Summer Reading Program storytimes.

Little Learners: Starting at 10:30am. Ideal for babies and young toddlers from birth through 2 years (and their grownups), our Little Learners program is a 20-30 minute storytime designed to introduce young children to books and promote a lifelong love of reading through sensory exploration, movement, and bright pictures.

Storytime: *Storytime will be replaced by the Summer Reading Program as of 6/14/22!* Perfect for children ages 2-6 (and their grown-ups), Storytime is a 30-40 minute program that features stories, projects, and other early literacy activities designed to promote healthy social-emotional development, expand vocabulary, and grow your imagination! 
​Remember – reading is important at every age and every stage of early childhood development!

*All programs and events at the Ridgway Public Library are FREE unless otherwise noted.
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FAQ - Children's Programs

1. What is the difference between our Little Learners Playgroup and our Storytime program? 
Our Little Learners program is an early literacy-based playgroup. While we will often read books together as a group, the program is more for babies and toddlers to explore books and other early-literacy tools with other children in a play-based setting. Our Children’s Librarian will get down on the floor, read and interact with your child, and chat with you about ways to enhance your reading experience with your child and foster age-appropriate expectations for literacy and cognitive development. 
While our Little Learners group is designed for children under the age of two, whether or not this program is a good fit for your child will ultimately depend on their own unique development. Precocious 17-month-olds may be ready for Storytime or a three-year-old with younger siblings may be more content to explore books in an unstructured way. You know your children best. 
Our Storytime program unfolds in a more traditional story time structure. We’ll discuss active listening, library manners, and read 1-2 books, with some movement and play involved. This program is ideal for children over the age of 2 through preschool, but whether this program is a good fit for your child will ultimately depend on their own unique development. 
Children who attend Storytime should be able to: 
  1. Maintain attention for approximately 10 minutes.
  2. Repeat words or phrases.
  3. Follow simple instructions (“Lift your arms” or “take a deep breath”).
It is okay if your child cannot sit still or has to stand up and walk around. This is developmentally appropriate for children. Children attending Storytime should be able to pay attention, engage with a book, and be working toward speaking when it is their turn. 
Please note: The Summer Reading Story Time will replace our regularly-scheduled storytime in the months of June, July, and August. 

2. What is the role of adults during Storytime or Little Learners Playgroup? 
All grown-ups and caregivers should plan on attending our youth programs with their child, regardless of which program they are attending or their child’s age. Even if your child is comfortable with unsupervised programs, they will benefit from seeing you actively participating with books and other readers in your community. Our youth programs are also designed to help caregivers learn more about fostering early literacy skills and encouraging a love of reading with their children. 

3. What if my child screams (or cries or tantrums, etc.) during a program?
We all have bad days, children included. If you bring your child to a program and they aren’t having a good time or are having trouble staying engaged, feel free to take them outside to calm down or leave early for the day, no apologies or embarrassment necessary. We will always welcome our little readers back when they’re feeling up for a library adventure. 

4. Is there a fee for attending any youth programs?
All our children and family programs are free unless otherwise indicated. 

5. What is the Summer Reading Program?
Our Summer Reading Program is part of a national, collaborative campaign between public libraries designed to encourage reading during the summer months. For school-aged children, in particular, there is a risk of a so-called “summer-slide” in reading comprehension and literacy skills. Our Summer Reading Program is designed to keep children engaged in reading through the non-academic summer months through fun activities, challenges, events, and prizes. 
For younger children and adults, our Summer Reading Program helps foster a love of reading through every stage of life. Further, by participating in a summer reading program as an adult reader, you help model good lifelong habits for younger learners. 

2022 Summer Reading Registration begins Monday, May 23rd. To get started with our Summer Reading Program, first
choose a summer reading goal. You can choose a goal based on the total number of books you would like to read or by total minutes you want to spend daily. Next, keep track of the books you (or your child) have read by completing the “Books I’ve Read” Form. Then, simply return the “Books I’ve Read” form to the Ridgway Public Library. After every 10 books you read, you will receive a prize! Additional copies of forms can be requested at the library and we will keep track of your returned forms. After you have met your summer reading goal, the library staff will complete a drawing form for you to win even more prizes!


​As a part of our Summer Reading Program, we will be hosting weekly story time and activities for children in grades preschool through sixth grade. For summer 2022, the Summer Reading Program story time will be Tuesdays at 11:00 AM, beginning June 14 and concluding August 2. We’ll read a story together, complete some activities or crafts, and share a snack.
Please note: The Summer Reading Story Time will replace our regularly-scheduled storytime in the months of June, July, and August. 

Our Summer Reading Program will conclude Tuesday, August 2 with a Pirate Pizza Party! Young readers of all ages are welcome to join us for a fun final send off to summer reading.
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  • Home
  • Programs & Events
    • Children's Programs
    • Teen/Adult Programs
  • Library Services
    • Databases
    • Memorials
    • Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PAARNG) site Ridgway Training Range
  • About the Library
    • Renovation & Improvement Plans
    • Library Board
    • Employment
  • The Conservatory