Featured Children's Events

Click HERE to see ALL upcoming Young Minds programming!

Wonderful Books and Where to Find Them

Saturday, June 3, 11-11:30 am | Ives

The New Haven Free Public Library, in partnership with the Yale Affinity Groups, is excited to bring you this book club for families focusing on topics of social importance! In honor of Pride Month, we’ll be reading The Rainbow Parade by Emily Neilson. Share in the joy of Pride parades, and create a rainbow paper plate bag. Families, caregivers, and children are welcome to attend!

Exploring Artism

Saturday, June 3, 12:30-1:30 pm | Ives

Exploring Artism promotes social play through art among children, ages 5-12, who are on the autism spectrum. Participants view and make art in a supportive environment, and family members are welcome to join. Co-sponsored by the Yale Center for British Art. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

BSBC Pop-Up Bike Repair

Monday, June 5, 12 & 26, 3:30-5:30 pm | Wilson

The folks at Bradley Street Bike Cooperative will swing by Wilson Library every Monday in June, aside from the Juneteenth Holiday, to help the community fix up their bicycles for all ages and answer questions related to bikes.

Ladybug Release Festival!

Monday, June 5, 5:30-7 pm | Mitchell

It’s time for our annual ladybug party and Summer Learning Kickoff! Release live ladybugs into Mitchell’s garden, play outdoor games, eat a popsicle, make some ladybug themed crafts, and more! Co-sponsored by Blockwatch #303.

Xen's Critters and Farm Animal Friends (Summer Reading Kickoff)

Tuesday, June 6, 4:30-6 pm | Wilson

Summer Reading starts at Wilson Library with an animal friendly event that the whole family can enjoy. Join Xen to pet, learn and cuddle with her farm animal friends on the Wilson entrance ramp! Yale Center for British Art will join in the fun with drawing and sculpting art projects around the animals.

Ozobot Adventures

Wednesday, June 7, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

Learn some basic coding skills with our Ozobot robots, and help build a maze for them to explore!

Closeup of hand, drawing color-coded curves for an ozobot to follow

STEAM Explorers!

Wednesdays, 4-5 pm | Ives

STEAM Explorers is a space for science and technology exploration for kids together with their caregivers! Let's explore science with fun, hands-on activities.

Colorful letters spelling STEAM surrounded by thematic clipart

June 7: Fairy Tale Fun!
June 14: LEGOs
June 21: Magic Bubble Painting
June 28: Climb through Paper

Summer Reading Kickoff at Stetson Branch

Wednesday, June 7, 5-7 pm | Stetson

Celebrate with Stetson featuring beloved puppeteer Iyaba Ibo Mandingo. Join us for a spectacular puppet show and crafts.

Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Party: Living Dragons!

Thursday, June 8, 4-5 pm | Fair Haven

No, not real dragons – Lizards! Our friends from Riverside Reptiles return with more animals for you to meet and learn about. You may be able to interact with a variety of lizards and related reptiles like geckos, skinks, legless lizards, a cousin of a Komodo dragon, and a snake. Make some cold-blooded new friends!

The Little Schoolhouse Multicultural Event

Saturday, June 10, 10 am-1 pm | Mitchell

Our neighbors at The Little Schoolhouse are hosting their multicultural day featuring information tables and entertainment.

Whimsical cartoon arrangement of colorful letters, numbers, pencils, crayons, and paper

Summer Learning Challenge Kickoff

Saturday, June 10, 12:30-3 pm | Ives

The Summer Learning Challenge starts at Ives Main Library with indoor mini golf, face painting, a photo booth, arts and crafts with the Yale Center for British Art, and princess story-telling. Children and teens can register for the challenge and receive a booklet with game board for tracking their reading progress. They'll receive fun prizes along their reading journey and when they finish!

Story Time with Read to Grow

Wednesday, June 14, 10:30-11:30 am | Wilson

Stop by for stories, songs, and movement, and stay to learn more about Read to Grow and how they can support you as your child's first teacher (birth-5).

Make Music Day New Haven - Find Your Voice!

Wednesday, June 21, 3:30-5:30 pm | Wilson

Make Music New Haven is a live festival of accessible music performances happening on June 21, the summer solstice. We'll be celebrating our 3rd year with local trumpeter and music teacher at Truman School, Nick Di Maria and a Jazz Quartet. Yale Center for British Art will offer a creative art experience through drawing and sculpting responses to music! Library staff will read Ben’s Trumpet and other music-themed books.

Pride Storytime

Wednesday, June 21, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

Celebrate pride month with stories and a fun rainbow craft!

Author Visit with Stacy Graham!

Wednesday, June 28, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

Join us for a storytime and activities with local author Stacy Graham, author of A Day With My Mom.

Click HERE to see all upcoming Young Minds programming!

Featured Teen and Tween Programs

Piano Lessons at Mitchell Library

Thursday, June 1, 8, 15 & 22, 3:30-6 pm | Mitchell

Free half hour lessons between the hours of 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM for people ages 12 and up. Sign up for a half hour lesson at the circulation desk.

Making Comics + Zines

Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 9, 3-5 pm | Ives

Do you have a story to tell? Explore comic and zine making with educator/artist James Vanderberg of the Yale Center for British Art. Create diary comics and zines using fun and easy prompts. All materials provided; no previous experience nor skills necessary.

Photo Exhibit and reception from Wábi Gallery

Monday, June 12, 6-7:30 pm | Mitchell

Wábi offers a one-year FOCUS Fellowship in Photography based in New Haven, targeting teens and young adults from 14-19 years old who demonstrate a true interest in a career in photography.

ASL Club - Learn the basics of American Sign Language!

Wednesday, June 14, 21 & 28, 5-6 pm | Ives

Join Talia and Tessa as they guide you through the basics of ASL through three sessions this June! Part of this year's summer reading theme Find Your Voice! Registration required.

Diagram of the American Sign Language fingerspelling of the ASL initialism

Library Updates

Library Holiday Closures:

The New Haven Free Public Library will close at all locations for Juneteenth on Saturday, June 17 and Monday, June 19.

For all our 2023 holiday hours, please refer to our Holiday Closings.