Buckeye Library | Free things to do with kids
The Buckeye Library (Coyote Branch), located off the of 10 freeway, is a quaint library that seems to be dedicated to enriching its community! There is something for everyone at this library!
This summer (2021) the Buckeye library is offering something unique to other libraries. They have put together "Tails and Tales Summer Reading, Grab and Go Kits,” as a way to enhance their summer reading program and they are awesome!
These kits are made for babies, toddlers, and early readers. They have everything you need for 8 weeks worth of crafts and education for your children, packaged beautifully in a gallon ziplock bag.
For example, one of the activities in the bag from the Buckeye library is assembling a bird’s nest from popsicle sticks, twine, and glue.
This bird's nest activity is the “week seven activity,” but we jumped ahead because the seeds in the bag caught the kid’s attention, and that was the first activity they wanted to do!
Each activity comes with instructions, materials, and fun facts related to the craft. For example, did you know that birds are more closely related to reptiles than mammals?! 😄
There is also suggested reading to pair with the activity to enrich the activity more.
Each craft finished counts as points towards Buckeye Library's summer reading program. The summer reading program outlines various ways your child can earn points over the summer to earn them prizes at the end of the summer.
You can read more about their reading program here. https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/residents/library/summer-reading
In addition to the fun Grab and Go kits, the library offers STEAM bags for you to check out.
If you're not familliar with STEAM it is an acronym that stands for:
Science
Technology
Engineering
Art
Math
All things that really activate, engage, and encourage those active, curious little minds!
For teens and young adults, the Buckeye Library offers entrepreneurial classes and book packs.
The Buckeye library is beginning again with their in-person meet-ups to discuss entrepreneurialism with the youth.
"The Buckeye Public Library System, in partnership with Arizona State University and Economic Development, has created the Entrepreneurship Outreach Network (EON) dedicated to “Linking Today’s Innovative People with Today’s Growing Buckeye”.
• Meet-Ups: Roundtable discussions between entrepreneurs looking to start or already have a business to discuss, brainstorm, share ideas and get feedback
• Workshops: Hands-on and engaging workshops that include guest speakers, specific topic-related content and activities and steps for entrepreneurs to take to keep moving forward
• Resources: Links to several useful business-related support throughout the state and country, business books, and online articles highlighting current trends and business information"
Cultural Passes.
Every library has these and I think they are freaking fantastic!
A cultural pass is something you check out from the library that gives you two free tickets per pass to culturally enriching activities across the valley. The current tickets include passes to Scottsdale Contemporary Art Museum, Arcosanti – Cordes Junction (this is a home with neat architecture), the heard museum, and the botanical garden.
The tickets included in the cultural pass change from time to time. Here is a link to which cultural passes are available right now.
To get a cultural pass, head to the front desk and ask where you can pick it up. The cultural passes are on a first-come, first-serve basis, so not all of the above activities may be available at any given time.
Story Time & Computers
Storytime at the Buckeye library has started back up. You are welcome to go to in-person classes or attend online!
They are even doing in-person and online Oragami Classes!
Here is a link to their events calendar: https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/residents/library/classes-programs-and-info
Computers are fully accessible again too. My kids loved the fun library computer games, and I trust they can play on there without accidentally getting into online things they shouldn’t.
Adult Computers are open again too!
One last thing 😄
Take a Virtual Tour of 16 different habitats and museums from across the world!
For example, take a tour of the San Diego Zoo, visit Mount Rushmore, the Smithsonian museum or take a tour of all the rides at Disneyland from the Buckeye library resource.
Here is the link (it's on page 6) https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/10148/637581454279800000
Taking these virtual tours, also counts as points earned towards prizes for the summer reading program!
For being a small library the Buckeye Main library is full of charm and genuinely cares for the community! We found our visit to be very enriching and fun!
When you visit or participate in these activities, let me know! I wanna see! Tag me on IG: @shanelle.westvalley
📍Hours Vary from 9am opening to 10am
⏰ 21699 W. Yuma Rd. Suite 116
Buckeye, AZ 85326
