Blog

FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES

Hora de cuentos en el hogar: Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente

Es fácil seguir leyendo y aprendiendo con sus hijos. ¡Vamos a divertirnos con el medio ambiente!

Rise & Shine Storytime: My Spring Robin

Ms. Mary shares the book My Spring Robin by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Harlow Rockwell, in this spring-themed storytime.

Storytime at Home: World Environment Day

You and your child can enjoy storytime at home. This storytime sheet includes books, songs, and more exploring the theme of World Environment Day, which is June 5, 2020.

Be the Artist: Paper Pattern Art

Make a cheery piece of artwork using simple supplies you may have around the house.

Music Time with Ms. Meleesa

Ms. Meleesa is here to share two songs great for storytime--or any time! Learn the songs "One-Two-Three" and "Popcorn Kernels."

Rise & Shine Storytime: Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

Ms. Mary shares the book Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, by Sherri Duskey Rinker and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld, in this storytime perfect for bedtime or any time.

Storytime at Home: Bugs

You and your child can enjoy storytime at home. This storytime sheet includes books, songs, and more exploring the theme of our insect friends.

How to Make a Pop-Up Card for Father’s Day

Gather some paper, glue, scissors, pencil, and coloring tools to create your own pop-up card along with Sue, the library's staff artist, in this video.

Rise & Shine Storytime: Corduroy

What's in the Rise & Shine Storytime magic box today? Join Ms. Mary to find out as she shares a story about her stuffed bear friend.

Storytime at Home: Opposites

You and your child can enjoy storytime at home. This storytime sheet includes books, songs, and more exploring the theme of opposites.

Storytime with Ms. Meleesa: Nanette’s Baguette

Nanette is incredibly excited that she finally has the responsibility of getting the family baguette from the bakery. Can she handle it? Find out as Ms. Meleesa reads Mo Willems’s Nanette’s Baguette.

Be the Artist: Spider Web Art

Gather branches and other natural materials on your next walk to create a spider web with string. Get instructions and inspiration.

Rise & Shine Storytime: Where Is the Green Sheep?

What's in the Rise & Shine Storytime magic box today? Join Ms. Mary to find out as she shares a story about the search for a green sheep in a rainbow of sheep engaging in all sorts of fun.

Storytime at Home: Garden

Storytime at home is easy and fun and helps your little ones practice skills that will get them ready to learn to read. Make your own storytime with a garden theme.

Storytime with Ms. Meleesa - Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo

Enjoy this silly rhyming story about what strange things may happen if you go to a concert at the zoo. Join Ms. Meleesa as she reads John Lithgow’s Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo.

You can also find resources and recommendations from our staff.

FOR TEENS

Anime Recommendations

Specialists Neil, Penny, and Perry recommend two anime series perfect for entertainment and binge-watching. Hear them discuss the series in this video, and read a summary of their recommendations here.

FOR ADULTS

Book Chat: Kind of Magical & Books in Boston

Allyson, Vanessa, Chris, and Becca are sharing their recent reads, including what they've found so great about their book choices. Hear them discuss their suggested titles in this video.

Nachos with Nick

Nick Kindelsperger, a Chicago food and dining reporter, shares the history behind one of the most popular snacks in the United States, as well as tips for at-home nachos, in this excerpt from Skokie Public Library's online event May 14, 2020.

Backyard Birding: Red Bird Day

Staff member Martha is back with another peek at the birds visiting her backyard. In this video, we catch a glimpse of a variety of red birds on a particular day in May.

Explore the Vinyl Cutter and Silhouette Studio

Jimmy provides an introduction to the Silhouette Studio/Cameo vinyl cutters and the corresponding Silhouette Studio software.

Recipes from Mary Anne Mohanraj

Mary Anne, author of A Feast of Serendib: Recipes from Sri Lanka, has shared two of her recipes with us in advance of her upcoming library event on Zoom: ginger-garlic chicken and kale sambol. Join us for the event on June 11.

Book Chat: Stillness, Charming Politics, & Charming Children

Allyson, Paul, Denise, and Becca share what they're reading, including why they love these books so much. What's on your reading list?

Food Science for the Win: Scrambled Eggs Resource Guide

The kitchen is an ideal lab for experimenting and being curious while embracing your inner scientist. Explore the science of cooking scrambled eggs using this guide, and attend our live event on June 17.

Making a Resume Using Google Docs

Learn tips and tricks for creating or updating your resume online using the free Google Docs word processing app on any internet-connected device. Check out this video how-to featuring library staff, as well as this handout outlining the steps to getting your resume ready.

Food Science for the Win: Scrambled Eggs

Join Amy H. for a video tutorial on how to make excellent scrambled eggs with the help of science.

FOR ALL AGES

Make a Grabber

Frannie demonstrates in this video how to make a grabber using materials you probably have at home.

PERFORMANCES

Tiny Dance Film Festival 

Explore this retrospective of short (less than 10 minutes) dance films from around the globe.

Straight No Chaser

This superb (and funny!) a cappella ensemble that originated at Indiana University is presenting a new song each Wednesday on its YouTube channel. The latest video posted is a lovely version of “On the Road Again/I Play the Road.” Subscribe to SNC’s Quarantine Sessions.

Lincoln Center at Home

Lincoln Center has an at-home portal you can use to find performances and classes of all types. 

Streaming Music Performances from NPR Music

NPR Music is compiling a list of live audio and video streams from around the world, categorized by date and type of music, with links to streaming platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Most are free, often with digital tip jars and opportunities to directly support artists by buying music and merchandise.

Classical MPR

Minnesota Public Radio has assembled an ongoing collection of free, streaming classical music performances.

Streaming Dance Performances

Time Out New York lists dance performances available for streaming.