Upcoming Events

Featured Events

summer reading

2025 Summer Reading Club for All Ages- Level Up @ Your Library!

All Day 5/27 - 7/19
Both Libraries

Program Type:

Special Event

Age Group:

Everyone
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Level Up @ Your Library!

2025 Summer Reading Club

Children, teens, and adults can participate in the annual Summer Reading Club. Track your reading, WIN prizes, and do fun activities.

brian holt magic

The Magic of Brian Holt at Anderson Japanese Gardens- Garden Explorers

Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 9:00am - 10:00am
Both Libraries

Program Type:

Story Time, Special Event

Age Group:

Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween, Teens, Adults, Everyone
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween, Teens, Adults, Everyone
Program Type: Story Time, Special Event
Event Details:

Join us offsite at Anderson Japanese Gardens as we host, The Magic of Brian Holt. Listen to stories read by Rockford Fire Chief, Michele Pankow, then sit back and enjoy the magic show.

Pool Party

NSLD Pool Party at Sand Park Pool

Friday, July 18, 2025 at 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Off Site

Program Type:

Special Event

Age Group:

Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween, Teens, Adults, Everyone
Library Branch: Off Site
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween, Teens, Adults, Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Enjoy some time to take a dip, swim and play, courtesy of NSLD!

Wings and Wheels Museum

Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum

Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 10:00am - 4:00pm
Off Site

Age Group:

Everyone
Library Branch: Off Site
Age Group: Everyone
Event Details:

Come to a 1937 Waukesha hanger and visit a museum dedicated to vehicles that drive and fly. 

Family Creek Walk

Severson Dells: Family Creek Walk

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Off Site

Program Type:

Special Event

Age Group:

Everyone
Library Branch: Off Site
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Step into Hall Creek and journey back in time! Creek Hikes at Severson Dells Nature Center follow the 458 million year old natural rock formations called Dells.

Scribble monster

ScribbleMonster at Anderson Japanese Gardens- Garden Explorers

Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 9:00am - 10:00am
Both Libraries

Program Type:

Story Time, Special Event

Age Group:

Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween, Teens, Adults, Everyone
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween, Teens, Adults, Everyone
Program Type: Story Time, Special Event
Event Details:

Join us offsite at Anderson Japanese Gardens to enjoy ScribbleMonster- Kindie Rock music!  Stories for the day will be read by Anderson Garden's CEO, John Gleason.  

Y

NSLD Night at the YMCA

Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Both Libraries

Program Type:

Special Event

Age Group:

Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween, Teens, Adults, Everyone
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween, Teens, Adults, Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

NSLD End of Summer Bash- NSLD Night at the Y

All Ages Welcome! Swim all night: No sign in for pool time necessary!

Join NSLD at the YMCA for swimming and basketball. 

Filters
Age Group

That 'Jazz Stuff': African American Brass Bands at Camp Grant During WWI

All Day 4/7–8/17
Adults
Virtual
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Virtual
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Watch this pre-event virtual presentation in honor of Midway Village's new Camp Grant exhibit. Presented by Richard Birkemeier, a professor of music and professional brass musician.

Home Energy Savings

All Day 5/5–7/31
Adults
Virtual
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Virtual
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Learn about what energy choices available to you, along with ways to save money on your utility bills.

Program presented by the Citizens Utility Board.

Where's Dewey?

All Day 5/27–7/18
Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween
Both Libraries
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

 Little Dewey will be hiding in a new place every week during Summer Reading Club! 

Come to Children’s Services throughout the summer to read the weekly riddles and find Dewey's hiding places!

2025 Summer Reading Club for All Ages- Level Up @ Your Library!

All Day 5/27–7/19
Everyone
Both Libraries
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Level Up @ Your Library!

2025 Summer Reading Club

Children, teens, and adults can participate in the annual Summer Reading Club. Track your reading, WIN prizes, and do fun activities.

Virtual Mini Story Time: Check NSLD's Facebook page to watch!

All Day 6/2–7/25
Children, Preschool
Virtual
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Virtual
Age Group: Children, Preschool
Program Type: Story Time
Event Details:

Virtual Story Time*

NSLD offers mini Story Time videos on the NSLD Facebook page. Preschool Story Time is for children ages 3 through 5.   

Virtual Mini Wiggle-Giggle-Grow: Check NSLD's Facebook page to watch.

All Day 6/2–7/25
Children, Toddler
Virtual
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Virtual
Age Group: Children, Toddler
Program Type: Story Time
Event Details:

Virtual Story Time*

Intro to Game Design

All Day 6/4–7/16
Tween, Teens, Adults
Virtual
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Virtual
Age Group: Tween, Teens, Adults
Event Details:

In this virtual presentation, learn about the behind-the-scenes of game design. 

Level Up Your Genealogy: Beyond the Basics

All Day 6/9–9/1
Teens, Adults
Virtual
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Virtual
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Technology Class
Event Details:

Learn more about the next steps in your genealogy research and how to find more resources. Presented by NSLD's Local History Librarian, Joanna Mladic.

Summer Break-In Bags

All Day 6/11–8/23
Tween, Teens
Both Libraries
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Tween, Teens
Event Details:

Check out a Break-In Bag to do in the library at Reference Services! This activity is done in the library and requires a valid library card.

Special Take & Make plus Virtual: Shisima

All Day 6/29–7/12
Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween
Virtual
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Virtual
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

A Special Take & Make project for Level Up @ Your Library SRC 2025

Watch these videos to discover, Shisima- known as “game of water bugs” in its home country of Kenya.  

"Get Outside" Photo Contest

All Day 7/2–8/2
Tween, Teens
Both Libraries
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Tween, Teens
Event Details:

Snap your best nature photo and submit it to the library! All entries will be displayed in an exhibit and top photos in three categories will win a prize. Pick up an entry form at Reference Services with more details.

Grab & Go Tween Book Club

All Day 7/7–7/31
Tween
Both Libraries
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Tween
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

Get your free Tween Grab & Go book and activity guide in Children's Services.

Featured Title: Who Was the Greatest?: Muhammad Ali, by Gabriele Soria

Level Up Your Home: Decarbonizing 101

All Day 7/7–10/6
Adults
Virtual
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Virtual
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Dive into ways renters and homeowners can access energy efficiency and cost savings programs.

Program presented by Citizens Utility Board.

Fortnite Slurp Juice

All Day 7/9–7/23
Tween, Teens
Both Libraries
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Tween, Teens
Event Details:

Make inedible slime made to look like "slurp" juice in the game "Fortnite." Available at Reference Services while supplies last. 

Special Take & Make plus Virtual: Creeper and Pig Minecraft Bookmarks

All Day 7/13–8/9
Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween
Virtual
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Virtual
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

A Special Take & Make project for Level Up @ Your Library SRC 2025

Minecraft fan?

In Person Story Time

6:00pm–7:00pm
Preschool
NSLD/Loves Park
Library Branch: NSLD/Loves Park
Room: Fun Place
Age Group: Preschool
Event Details:

Children ages 3-5 years old enjoy stories, music, movement, fingerplays and a craft with their caregiver.  

In Person Wiggle-Giggle-Grow Toddler Time

9:30am–10:15am
Children, Toddler, Preschool
NSLD/Roscoe
Library Branch: NSLD/Roscoe
Room: Large Meeting Room - R
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool
Event Details:

Fun program for children ages 9-36 months with a parent or caregiver (one caregiver per every 2 children).  Join us for fun stories, music and movement.  Stay and explore age appropriate learning stations while socializing with other par

In Person Story Time- Special Tuesday Sessions: June-July Only!

10:00am–11:00am
Preschool
NSLD/Loves Park
Library Branch: NSLD/Loves Park
Room: Fun Place
Age Group: Preschool
Program Type: Story Time
Event Details:

Due to increased attendance during June and July, we have added a special 10am Tuesday session to our NSLD/Loves Park Story Times.  

Tuesday sessions will only be available through June and July.  

In Person Wiggle-Giggle-Grow Toddler Time

10:30am–11:15am
Children, Toddler, Preschool
NSLD/Roscoe
Library Branch: NSLD/Roscoe
Room: Large Meeting Room - R
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool
Program Type: Story Time
Event Details:

Fun program for children ages 9-36 months with a parent or caregiver (one caregiver per every 2 children).  Join us for fun stories, music and movement.  Stay and explore age appropriate learning stations while socializing with other par

All About Scholarships

All Day 7/16–8/16
Teens, Adults
Virtual
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Virtual
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Event Details:

This virtual presentation goes over how to search for college scholarships, along with how to write a good scholarship application. 

In Person Story Time

10:00am–11:00am
Preschool
NSLD/Loves Park
Library Branch: NSLD/Loves Park
Room: Fun Place
Age Group: Preschool
Program Type: Story Time
Event Details:

Children ages 3-5 years old enjoy stories, music, movement, fingerplays and a craft with their caregiver.  

In-Person Story Time

10:00am–11:00am
Children, Preschool
NSLD/Roscoe
Library Branch: NSLD/Roscoe
Room: Large Meeting Room - R
Age Group: Children, Preschool
Program Type: Story Time
Event Details:

Children ages 3-5 years old enjoy stories, music, movement, fingerplays and a craft with their caregiver.  

The Magic of Brian Holt at Anderson Japanese Gardens- Garden Explorers

9:00am–10:00am
Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween, Teens, Adults, Everyone
Both Libraries
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Both Libraries
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool, Tween, Teens, Adults, Everyone
Program Type: Story Time, Special Event
Event Details:

Join us offsite at Anderson Japanese Gardens as we host, The Magic of Brian Holt. Listen to stories read by Rockford Fire Chief, Michele Pankow, then sit back and enjoy the magic show.

In Person Wiggle-Giggle-Grow Toddler Time

9:30am–10:15am
Children, Toddler, Preschool
NSLD/Loves Park
Library Branch: NSLD/Loves Park
Room: Fun Place
Age Group: Children, Toddler, Preschool
Program Type: Story Time
Event Details:

Fun program for children ages 9-36 months with a parent or caregiver (one caregiver per every 2 children).  Join us for fun stories, music and movement.  Stay and explore age appropriate learning stations while socializing with other par