Teen Services
Ongoing Programs
Find your next great read! First Reader’s Club
TeenTober Bookmark Contest
Teens ages 12-18 are invited to create a bookmark
highlighting reading or the Willmar Public Library
and the activities you enjoy doing here. Stop by
the library after October 1st to pick up an entry form.
The deadline for all entries is Oct. 23 by 5:00 p.m.
Bookmarks will be on display (with no names showing)
the week of Oct. 26 and patrons will vote for the winner.
The winner will be announced on Monday, Nov. 2,
and a gift card prize will be awarded. The winning
design will be used to make Willmar Public Library
bookmarks for patrons.
*This event is made possible with a TeenTober grant
from Prairielands Library System.
Teen Event:
Read & Relax Book Club
Monday, October 26 | 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Join us in the multipurpose room to meet new friends,
enjoy treats while you read, and talk about what you’ve
read. If you’d prefer not to discuss what you’ve read,
there is no pressure to participate – you are welcome to
just listen. Bring a blanket and/or pillow to help you be
comfy. Stop in to read with us and unwind for a while at
the library. You may stop in or leave at any time
as your schedule allows.
*Teen Event:
Bad Art Night
Tuesday, October 27 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Give us your worst! No masterpieces allowed!
Don’t even try to be perfect, but have a ton of fun!
Come to the library and use our craft and art supplies
to create the “worst” piece of art you can imagine.
Check out the work of others and vote for the creation
you think is the most awful. The winner gets a
trophy and the honor of being the most awful
artist of the day. This program is made possible
with a grant from Prairielands Library Exchange.
*Registration required.
*Teen Tuesday in the Makerspace:
Junk Journal
Tuesday, November 3 | 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
This month we will be learning how to start a
junk journal using notebooks provided by
the library with fun paper and embellishments.
All materials will be provided, but feel free to
bring your own if you wish.
*Registration is required.
Adventures in Anime
Wednesday, November 4 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
We have revamped Boba and Anime to Adventures in Anime!
There will be a few changes to the program including that it will now be a multi-age program
for 13 to 30 year olds. We will be watching the first few episodes of The Apothecary Diaries.
Please keep in mind that there are a few mature themes in this anime
and it might be better suited to those ages 14 and up.
There will also be snacks and a themed craft!
No registration required.
First Chapter Friday
Tween Book Club & Craft
Friday, November 13 | 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Here is a book club just for tweens!
Meet up with friends and learn about some new
books especially for readers ages 8 – 11.
We will read the first chapters of great books
and also have time for a small craft.
Homeschool Hangout
Tuesday, November 17 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
All ages event for families in the area who homeschool.
Hangout at the library and use one of the various
activity kits we offer. Stop in and have some fun!
Teen Movie Night
Wednesday, November 18 | 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Hang out with us at the library and enjoy a
free movie with your friends! We will be watching
the live action Moana (PG). Popcorn and
refreshments will be provided. This program is
for teens 13 – 18 only. No registration is required
but please arrive on time out of respect
for everyone watching the movie.
Chess & Checkers Cafe
Saturday, November 21 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
New event at the library! All ages of players are
welcome to come out and play! Enjoy a cup of
coffee or some juice and learn a new or classic
move! We will provide the games and
refreshments, but feel free to
bring your own if you wish.
*Tweens and Teens:
Learn Kinusaiga with
Visiting Artist Meredith Semel
Monday, November 23 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Tweens and teens (ages 9 – 18) are invited to the
library to learn the Japanese art of Kinusaiga
from visiting artist, Meredith Semel. You will
learn how to create a unique Northern Lights
scene pushing colorful fabric into foamboard.
This program is funded in part or in whole with
money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural
Heritage fund.
*Registration is required due to limited supplies.
*Teen Event:
Doodling & Dirty Sodas
Tuesday, November 24 | 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
This is a new event that we hope to offer monthly.
Spend time with friends here at the library
doodling and drawing just for fun. We will also
have some diamond art crafts available to make.
No pressure to be perfect, just enjoy the unstructured
time. We will have sodas and mix-ins so you
can create your own custom dirty soda drink to
enjoy while you draw and doodle.
This is for teens ages 12 – 18.
*Registration required.
Tweens and Teens:
No School Game Day
Friday, November 27 | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Need some time away from all the family during
Thanksgiving break? Bring some friends to the
library and play board games and video games.
We will have classics such as Clue, Life and Boggle;
and new games including Catan, Codenames,
and Throw Throw Burrito. We will also have
Nintendo Switch consoles and XBox. No
registration is needed. Snacks will be provided.
This is a drop in event, so you may arrive and leave
at any time between 2 and 3:30 p.m. Open to ages 9 – 18.
Teen Event:
Read & Relax Book Club
Monday, November 30 | 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Join us in the multipurpose room to meet new friends,
enjoy treats while you read, and talk about what you’ve
read. If you’d prefer not to discuss what you’ve read,
there is no pressure to participate – you are welcome to
just listen. Bring a blanket and/or pillow to help you be
comfy. Stop in to read with us and unwind for a while at
the library. You may stop in or leave at any time
as your schedule allows.
Ongoing Programs
Find your next great read!
Are you a teen stuck in a reading rut? Not sure what to read
next? Team up with the Teen Librarian to find your next
great read! Teens are invited to reserve a time to meet with
Melissa to talk about books you might enjoy reading next.
For ages 12 – 18.
How does this work?
- Fill out the questionnaire about your reading interests and appointment availability
- Melissa will contact you to set up an appointment at the library.
- Meet in person for 20 – 30 minutes to talk about the books she thinks you might enjoy based on your answers to the survey. During that time you can talk about what you think of those suggestions and even read the first few pages or so of each book. If they aren’t grabbing your attention, take this time to browse the shelves together to find something different you might like even better.
- Pick some books to take home and read. Remember to bring your library card along so you can check things out on the day of your meeting.
First Reader’s Club
Teens ages 13 and up are invited to join our First Reader’s Club
at Willmar Public Library.
To participate in this new club, you will read the newest books we’ve
added to our Young Adult (YA) section, and then do a short review
of the book when you are done. These reviews will then be on display
at the library so other teens can use them to decide if they would also
enjoy the book. (Only your first name and age will be included on the review.)
You may do one review per month, and you will receive a small thank
you gift after every 4th review you submit. Participants will also be
invited to meet in person at the library every couple of
months to discuss books with other teens.
To participate, take a look at the list of new books and see what
grabs your attention. Each book listed is linked to our online catalog
where you can see a picture of the cover and a summary that might
help you make a decision. (Due to the content of some YA books,
please be sure to check the age range listed for the book
you select to ensure it is a good fit for you.)
After you’ve chosen the book you’d like to read for the month,
email Melissa and she will put the book on hold for you. When you
pick up the book, you’ll also get your review sheet to fill out when
you are finished reading. When you return the book, please return
the review sheet directly to a library staff member to be sure
it gets to Melissa so you get credit for the review.
Still have questions? Contact Melissa and she will be happy to help.
