We welcome the opportunity to educate young people about the library. Group tours and/or story times may be arranged with the Head of Youth Services, Young Adult Librarian, or Head of Adult Services in person, by phone, or e-mail. Tours are scheduled during times which are least disruptive to the general operation of the library, and during times which the library can provide dual staffing. The youth department conducts four 6-week story time sessions per year. During these sessions we are extremely limited in the number of tours we can accommodate.
As part of your tour experience you may elect for us to provide a story time and craft for your children, discuss books available on a given topic, discuss library careers, or with older children we can provide an introduction to our on-line catalog or the Internet. The agenda for your tour will be discussed when a Youth Supervisor contacts you to confirm your tour date.
All tour groups are required to follow the below rules:
- Please read our Rules of Conduct, and discuss these rules with your group prior to your visit.
- We require one adult for every four children participating in a group tour. We suggest that each adult be assigned to four specific children ahead of time. He/she is subsequently responsible for supervising those children in matters of discipline, observing the rules of the library, respect for the tour leader, staff members, and patrons, and for assistance with coats, snacks, book selection, computer usage, and other activities during your visit.
- On rare occasions, the tour leader may ask a child to be removed from the tour if behavior warrants. Please have an extra adult available to supervise children who are unable to continue with the tour.
- Please provide name tags for all children.
- The library does not provide snacks, however, if you wish to bring snacks you may serve them in the activity room. Food must be eaten in this room only. Your group is responsible for clean-up.
- Children who own library cards must show them to check out books. Those who do not have cards should arrange with their parents to obtain one before or after the visit if they wish to check out books. The Library requires a parent to apply for a minor’s card.
- Hands-on Internet and catalog training is not provided for children under age eight, because of the level of skill required to operate these programs. A library visit can be an enjoyable time for children, their leaders or teachers, and librarians. We look forward to seeing your group in the future.