Welcome to the Medicine Hat Public Library
Welcome to the Medicine Hat Public Library
Thanks to generous funding by the Kinsmen Club of Medicine Hat, the Kinsmen Children's Library opened in 1992. For nearly thirty years, the Children’s Library has been a beloved destination for children, parents, and caregivers. The floors have absorbed thousands of tiny footprints and the walls have heard countless stories of fantasy, mystery, and intrigue. In 2020, the Kinsmen Club renewed their commitment to enhancing literacy in our community by donating $159,000 over two years to fund a much-needed renovation of our well-loved space.
With their generous funding, we have been able to replace the flooring, paint the walls, create a new service desk, hang acoustic baffles, and commission artwork. With the second round of funding we received in 2021, we will replace our worn, rusted shelving and put some finishing touches on the space.
If you haven’t been in awhile, now is the time to rediscover your library! Stop by to pick up books, movies, music, video games, and more. If your children are preschool age they will love our Co-op Community Developmental Play Space, click here for more information about that space. Check out our program booklet to find upcoming programs for all ages.
If you have questions about Children’s Services, programs, collections, or memberships please phone 403-502-8526.
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Children’s library borrowing cards are available free of charge. We require that a parent or legal guardian sign as a guarantor for patrons under the age of 13. Visit us to sign-up.
The Children’s Library has materials at various levels to meet the needs of children from infancy through the tween years (ages 10 - 12).
Our non-fiction collection contains information items for both popular browsing and homework support. We carry a variety of popular children’s magazines and have a large selection of children’s audio visual materials.
Our fiction collection contains board books, picture books, beginning readers, beginning chapter books, and novels for children. We also have a collection of totes which are thematic kits containing a combination of books, CDs, toys, and/or puzzles which can be checked out just like a book.
Loan periods are 3 weeks for most items with some exceptions. Reference items may only be used in the Library.
In addition to our physical collection we have a number of electronic resources for eBooks, eAudiobooks, comics, magazines, and even online study help. Try the following resources:
We host events for all ages, most of which are free of charge. To see what’s coming up take a look at our events calendar. Please note that age limits for our programs are based on developmental and social targets appropriate to the age group. In order to participate, a child must be within the posted age limit by the day of the program. We do not grant exceptions to our age limits as this could be seen as discriminatory to those who have not been admitted into a program. Thank you for your cooperation.
Note: Many of these programs are currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Babies and Ones Storytime
Tuesdays at 10:30 am
*Registration is required; 30 minutes.
The Babies and Ones Storytime program is for ages 4 - 18 months with a parent or other adult caregiver. Each program is run as a series of 6 sessions on Tuesday mornings from September through May. Participants must register for each session separately. During the program babies and their parent(s)/caregiver(s) will enjoy songs, rhymes, tickles, and knee bounces.
Toddler Time
Thursdays at 10:30 am
*Registration is required; 30 minutes.
The Toddler Time program is for ages 18 - 36 months with a parent or other adult caregiver. Each program is run as a series of 6 sessions on Thursday mornings from September through May. Participants must register for each session separately. During the program toddlers and their parent(s)/caregiver(s) will enjoy many of the same rhymes and songs as the Baby program but also more advanced action verses and some books.
Preschool Storytime
Fridays at 10:30 am
Drop-in; 30 minutes.
Preschoolers ages 3 - 6 will enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes on various themes each Friday morning. This program runs year round with a two week break at the end of December / beginning of January.
Evening Family Storytime
Tuesdays, 6:00 pm
*Registration is required; 30 minutes.
Evening Family Storytime offers a chance for those who can’t make our morning programs to enjoy stories and songs for the whole family. Pajamas and teddy bears are welcome. Check the Let’s Play program booklet to see the upcoming dates.
Seasonal Storycrafts
Children’s Services offers seasonal storycraft programs on Saturday mornings 4 or more times per year. Check the Let’s Play program booklet for our current offerings.
Each month there will be a special evening program just for tweens. Programs are usually held on a Monday from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Please see the Hang Out program booklet for current information. During the summer months we offer additional tween evening programs as well as two-weeks of tween afternoons as part of our Summer Reading Program.
On the second Saturday of each month at 2:00 pm Children’s Services offers a family-friendly film in the Library’s theatre. View the Movie Time program booklet for current offerings.
Since 2006 we have offered a week of movies during Spring Break at 2:00 pm each day in the Library theatre; watch the Movie Time program booklet for listings.
During July and August Children’s Services offers a variety of programs in conjunction with the national TD Summer Reading Club program. Children can participate in Monoporead, a fun reading game, as well as a variety of crafts and activities based on the TD Summer Reading Club theme. Registration for Summer Programs begins in mid-June with programs running through July and August.
Throughout December a Mitten Tree will be located in the Children’s Library accepting donations of new hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves which will be distributed to children in need.
In addition to our regular program line-up, Children’s Services may also host special programs such as authors’ visits, singers, and storytellers. Special events are advertised in our program booklets and on our online events calendar, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.
Children’s Services staff members may be available to attend various community events. Please contact Carol Ann Cross-Roen, Head of Children’s Services, regarding outreach opportunities.
Teachers: if you would like to bring your class to the Library please phone or e-mail Carol Ann to book your class visit. Class visits can include a storytime program, research help/instruction, and/or a tour of the Library.
Since 2009 the Medicine Hat Public Library and the Sunrise Rotary Club of Medicine Hat have co-sponsored the ‘Sunrise Rotary Ride the Road to Reading’ contest for Medicine Hat students in grade 4. During the program Grade 4 teachers in Medicine Hat are sent invitations to have a Library Ambassador visit their classroom. The Library Ambassador will bring a suitcase full of materials from the Library’s collection to generate interest and awareness of our resources. The Ambassador will do several book talks and inform students about our free children’s memberships, services, and programs. At the end of the visit each child receives a passport card and a letter for his/her parent(s) describing the program and encouraging them to help their child participate. These passport cards may be traded at the Library for library cards and will then be entered in the Sunrise Rotary Ride the Road to Reading contest. If a child has an old or existing membership with fines or fees owing, these will be waived. Contest prizes have included bikes, skateboards, and Coles’ gift cards.
For general information, renewals, holds, etc., please call 403-502-8526.
For all other children and youth services inquiries, please contact Carol Ann Cross-Roen, Head of Children’s Services at 403-502-8532 or by email.
The Medicine Hat Sunrise Rotary Club has been a generous sponsor of our Ride the Road to Reading initiative for the past eleven years. They make it possible for us to visit fourth grade classrooms to tell the students all about the benefits of being a lifelong library user. We offer fourth graders a tour of the Library, waive their fines/fees, and enter them into a draw for GREAT prizes like bikes, iPads, Medicine Hat Mall gift cards, and more!
THANK YOU to the Medicine Hat Sunrise Rotary Club for their continued support of literacy initiatives in our community!
Grade 4 teachers: Give Carol Ann a call to schedule a visit from one of our library ambassadors in April or May. 403-502-8532
