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Library of Things
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Finding a kit
- Use the lists to the right to browse titles. Click on the title for more information and to see if the kit is currently available.
- You can also search the catalog for “book club kit” in general.
- You can search for a specific title to see if it is available as a book club kit.
- Please Ask Us if you have any questions.
Using a kit
- A kit is checked out to one patron who is responsible for all of the materials.
- The fees for missing books will be charged to the patron who checked out the kit.
- Kits are checked out for six weeks and may only be renewed once.
Getting a kit
- Kits can be found in the Library of Things area or can be requested through in our catalog for Chatham Area residents.
Returning a kit
- Please ensure that all copies of the book are in the kit before returning it.
- Kits must be returned to the Chatham Area Public Library service desk during open hours and cannot be returned in a book drop.
American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
It's All Relative by A. J. Jacobs
The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
The Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict
Kits are checked out for six (6) weeks and may only be renewed once.
Puzzles and Games
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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Self-Compassion / Kristin Neff
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Caring for Autism / Michael Ellis
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The Autism Language Launcher / Kate Wilde
Audio disc
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Elvis : 30 #1 hits
DVDs
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Beginners Meditation & Mindful Stretching
No Dogs on the Beach, Ravensburger Puzzle
Guess Who? The Classic Mystery Face Game
Dice Rolling Yoga Game
Fidget Dodecagon
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Tactile Discs
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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Thriving with Autism / Katie Cook
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The Loving Push / Temple Grandin
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AARP Meditations for Caregivers / Barry Jacobs
DVDs
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Yoga for Kids: Dino-Mite Adventure
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Yoga for Stress Relief
World Map, Ravensburger Puzzle
Gonge Tactile Discs
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Visual and Tactile Learning
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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Apps for Autism / Lois Jean Brady
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Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics / Dan Harris
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Time to Parent / Julie Morgenstern
Audiodiscs
- Progressive Relaxation and Breathing
DVDs
-
Yoga for Kids: Outer Space Blastoff with Jodi Komitor
Q-Bitz Jr.
Teachable Touchables Texture Squares
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Kits are checked out for six (6) weeks and may only be renewed once.
The goal of these kits is to improve the health and emotional literacy of caregivers along with helping them with activities that they can do together.
Companion Cat
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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The 36-hour day / Nancy L. Mace, MA, Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH
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Creating moments of joy along the Alzheirmer's journey / Jolene Brackey
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Affirmations for family caregivers / Harriet Hodgson
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Weeds in Nana's garden / written and illustrated by Kathryn Harrison
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Everyday fashions of the Fifties as pictured in Sears catalogs / edited and with an introduction by Joanne Olian
Audio disc
-
Elvis : 30 #1 hits
DVDs
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America's treasures
-
Sitting tai chi
-
The art of caregiving
Joy For All Companion Cat
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Companion Dog
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers / Joan Lunden
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The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook / Toby Amidor
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AARP Memory Activity Book / Helen Lambert
Audio disc
-
Guided Meditations to Relieve Stress
-
The Beatles # 1
DVDs
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In-Home Dementia Care: Tips & Techniques. Positive Approach to Care
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Chair Yoga
Hand Therapy Ball Kit
Joy For All Companion Dog
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Fidget Muff
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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A dignified life / Virginia Bell and David Troxel
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Caregiving both ways : a guide to balancing it all while caring for a loved one with dementia / Molly Wisniewski
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What's happening to Grandpa? / by Maria Shriver ; illustrated by Sandra Speidel
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The Best Friends book of Alzheimer's activities / Virginia Bell, M.S.W. [and three others]
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Seasons : touching memories from spring, summer, fall, and winter : an interactive book for memory-impaired adults / Matthew Schneider, Deborah Drapac, BSN, RN
Audio disc
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Ultimate Sinatra
DVDs
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Sunday drive : a calming visual experience
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The journey of dementia
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Rodney Yee's complete yoga for beginners
Fidget Muff
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Memory Activities
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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The Caregiver’s Guide to Dementia / Gail Weatherill
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The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer’s Activities / Virginia Bell
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1950s Memory Lane / Hugh Morrison
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Get Crocked Slow Cooker 5 Ingredient Favorites / Jenn Bare
Audio disc
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Pure 60’s: The #1 Hits
DVDs
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Daily Meditation
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Teepa Snow’s Seeing it From the Other Side
Guess Who? The Classic Mystery Face Game
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Reminiscing Activities
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers / Joan Lunden
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The Picture Book of Dogs.
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The Easy 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cookbook / Karen Peterson
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The Caregiver’s Encyclopedia / Muriel Gillick
Audio disc
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The Rest & Relaxation 4 CD Set
DVDs
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Sunday Drive 10: The Arboretum
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Teepa Snow’s It’s All In Your Approach
Q-Bitz Solo Wooden Block Game
Conversation Cards for Adults
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Kits are checked out for six (6) weeks and may only be renewed once.
Foster Care and Adoption
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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The Whole-Brain Child / Daniel J. Siegel
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Confessions of an Adoptive Parent / Mike Berry
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The Connected Child / Karyn B. Purvis
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Wounded Children, Healing Homes / Jayne Schooler
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Using Stories to Build Bridges with Traumtized Children / Kim Golding
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Murphy's Three Homes: a story for children in foster care / Jan Levinson Gilman
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Families Change: a Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights / Julie Nelson
Audio disc
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Meditation for Relaxation
DVDs
-
Everyday Yoga for Stress Release
Mad Dragon: An Anger Control Card Game
Thoughts and Feelings: A Sentence Completion Card Game
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Kits are checked out for six (6) weeks and may only be renewed once.
Knitting
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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Take Back Your Life / Lauren M. Gelberg-Goff
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Writing as a Way of Healing / Louise DeSalvo
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First Time Knitting / Carri Hammett
Audio disc
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An Open Sky: Soothing Guitar and Cello Music for Relaxation, Meditation, and Well-Being / Ryan Judd
DVDs
-
Meditation for Beginners
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I Can’t Believe I’m Knitting!
Knitting Needles
Yarn
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Watercolor
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
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Soul of Caregiving / Edward Smink
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Self-Compassion for Parents / Susan Pollak
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The Caregiver's Toolbox / Carolyn Hartley
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Everyday Watercolor / Jenna Rainey
DVDs
-
Rodney Yee’s Yoga for Energy & Stress Relief
Watercolor Paint Kit
Watercolor Paper
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Yoga
INCLUDED IN THE KIT
DVDs
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Yoga Complete for Beginners 6 DVD Set
Yoga Block Set
Resistance Band Set
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Kits are checked out for two (2) weeks and may NOT be renewed.
Hiking Kit
KIT INCLUDES
- Easy day hikes, Springfield, Illinois / Johnny Molloy
- Binoculars
- Magnifying glass
- Map compass
- Illinois nature set includes 3 laminated folding pocket guides to help identify Illinois trees, wildflowers, birds, and wildlife
Stargazing Kit
KIT INCLUDES
- Stellarscope
- The stellarscope allows the location and identification of stars between 20° and 60° North or South latitude, every day of the year from every region of the world. Planets are not included on the starmap.
- The night sky planisphere
- Red-filtered flashlight
Treasure Hunt Kit
KIT INCLUDES
- Metal detecting for beginners : 101 things I wish I'd known when I started / by M. A. Shafer
- Metal detector
- Information guide provides step-by-step instruction.
- Sand scoop and trowel
Kits are checked out for two (2) weeks and may NOT be renewed.
Essential Oil Diffuser
KIT INCLUDES
- Diffuser
- The Plant Therapy Essentials Gift Set
- six 10 mL (1/3 oz) bottles of essential oils (lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary, and cinnamon) intended for use with the diffuser.
*Always consult your physician or healthcare provider before beginning use of any essential oils. *
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Fit Fusion Disc
KIT INCLUDES
- a 7lb Fit Fusion Disc
- Two workout guides
- Workout DVD
Light Therapy Lam
p
Light therapy is a way to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and certain other conditions by exposure to artificial light. SAD is a type of depression that occurs at a certain time each year, usually in the fall or winter. During light therapy, you sit or work near a device called a light therapy box. The box gives off bright light that mimics natural outdoor light. Light therapy is thought to affect brain chemicals linked to mood and sleep, easing SAD symptoms. Using a light therapy box may also help with other types of depression, sleep disorders and other conditions."--From Mayoclinic.org.
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
White Noise Sound Machine
Let bedtime be the best time for baby and your family. This sleep sound machine has 24 soothing sounds to choose from, including 7 white noise, 7 fan sounds, and 10 nature sounds (Bird, Sea Wave, Brook, Lullaby, Music Box, Cricket, Campfire, Rain, Fetal Tone, and Train sound for soothing your baby).
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM
Kits are checked out for two (2) weeks and may NOT be renewed.
NEW!!!! Telescope 
The Orion StarBlast Astro Reflector Telescope allows you to see the stars in the night sky with an easy to use, compact, and portable design. It is ideal for entry-level and intermediate astronomy enthusiasts. The 4.5" aperture provides bright, detailed views of the moon, planets, and celestial objects like nebulas and star clusters.
NOTE: Patron must be 18 or older and a Chatham Area Public Library District cardholder. Patron must sign the 
Borrowing Agreement to check out this item. Children under age 18 must be supervised by an adult while using the telescope.
CAUTION: Do not look at the sun while using the telescope; doing this can blind the user. The Library is not responsible for any damages related to the use of the telescope.
TELESCOPE INCLUDES
- Altazimuth Reflector Tabletop Telescope
- Instruction Booklet
- Red light Headlamp
- Book - National Geographic Night Sky of North America
Fishing Poles
BORROWING GUIDELINES
- Borrowers must be 13 years or older and have a current library card in good standing or borrower (12 and under) must have a parent sign out the rod & reel.
- Equipment may be checked out for two week with the possible option of one renewal.
- Line and reel must be untangled prior to return otherwise subject to fine.
- Fishing equipment must be returned to the library’s circulation desk during regular business hours. Equipment cannot be returned in a book drop or left outside the library.
- Lost or damaged equipment may be charged as follows:
- Item Cost - Rod/reel $25
FISHING LICENSE INFORMATION
- Anglers ages 16 years and older must have a valid fishing license in order to fish in Illinois.
- Anglers under 16 years do not need a fishing license.
- Purchase a fishing license online at Buy Illinois License Online or in person at places such as Walmart, Kmart, Meijer, or Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Chatham Area Public Library
If you would like to check out, please see the circulation desk for more information.
Giant Yard Dice
GAME INCLUDES
- Yardze/Yarkle Game Board with instructions
- 6 wooden dice
- Bag for dice
- White bucket
- Dry erase pen
Ladder Toss
GAME INCLUDES
- Supports
- Scoring rungs
- Rung screws
- Bolos
- Carrying bag
Pickleball Paddles and Ball
GAME INCLUDES
- Pickleball paddles
- Balls
The pickleball courts in Chatham are located near the tennis courts in Chatham Community Park just south of the library.
Washers
GAME INCLUDES
- Heavy Duty Targets
- Red & Blue Washers
- Carrying Bag
- Instructions.
For two or four players
Kits are checked out for two (2) weeks and may only be renewed once.
NEW!!!! Roku Streaming Stick+
WHAT ARE ROKUS?
Rokus are powerful streaming players that offer various content across hundreds of channels, both free and by subscription. Our library currently offers nine channels, including several popular platforms such as Disney+, ESPN+, Netflix and Hulu. Our Rokus also have digital copies of many of the movies from our physical collection through the Vudu app.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE CASE?
- Roku Stick
- Remote
- Roku's USB Power Cable
- Roku's USB Power Extender Cable
- Power Adaptor
- Chatham Area Public Library Roku Quick Start Guide
CHECKOUT RULES
- Two-week checkout period.
- Rokus can be renewed one time provided there are no holds.
REPLACEMENT COST
If the Roku Streaming Stick comes back with any missing parts, a replacement cost will be charged to the patron’s account.
- Roku Ultra: $50
- Case: $10
Digital Projector
Epson 3LCD VS250 SVGA projector
Get ready for your next presentation with a video projector. Comes with power cord and VGA cable in a carrying case.
HDMI cable is NOT INCLUDED.
This item is NOT requestable nor is it renewable.
If you would like to check out, please see the circulation desk for more information.
FlipPal Mobile Scanner
This handy portable scanner allows you to scan whole album pages, still in the book, or photographs, still in the frame. You “just lay it on your image” and scan. Are you going to visit a relative who doesn’t want to loan out family pictures?
Flip UltraVideo Camcorder
Easy-to-use, pocket-sized camcorder featuring one-touch recording and digital zoom. Captures 120 minutes of full VGA-quality video on 4 GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required. Convenient flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch FlipShare software. Built-in FlipShare software lets you easily email videos, edit individual clips, and upload video to sharing sites like YouTube and MySpace. Large 2-inch color LCD screen to play back and delete videos.
Kill - a - Watt EZ Power Meter
Watt solutions: an easy to use meter that calculates electric usage and cost of household appliances to help you understand and reduce your energy bill.
Slide and Negative Converter
KIT INCLUDES
- Wolverine F2D Film to Digital Converter
- 35 mm slide adapter
- 35 mm negative adapter
- 110 slide adapter
- 110 negative adapter
- 8 mm/Super 8 adapter
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- Source material: negatives or slides of your personal photos
- SD/SDHC card* -- 32GB or smaller (anything larger may cause the device to freeze; no SDXC or MicroSD cards)
- USB drive
An SD/SDHC card is required for the digital converter device to function. As images are converted they are saved to the SD/SDHC card. If your SD/SDHC is larger enough to store all of your images and you have an SD card port on your personal computer, then you will not need the USB.
Borrowing a Wifi Hotspot
Welcome to our Hotspot lending service. To adhere with the Library’s mission to make information accessible to everyone, the Chatham Area Public Library (CAPL) has mobile wi-fi hotspots available for loan. You may borrow the device to access the Internet for free at your home, in your car, or anywhere else!
- You must have an email address on file. If you do not have an email address listed on your library record, please call the library at 217-483-2713 and ask the librarian to add your email address to your account.
- Read through the CAPL Hotspot Agreement and the information below.
- To see if there is an available Hotspot from CAPL, go to the library catalog and use “Mobile Hotspot” as a keyword search to locate it in the catalog, limiting the results to “My Library.” Chatham Hotspots are available for pickup at the Chatham Area Public Library only, cannot be held, and cannot be sent out on loan to other libraries.
When you come to the Library to check out the device, you will be asked to complete the CAPL Hotspot Agreement, acknowledging financial responsibility for lost or damaged equipment.
FAQs
Who can borrow a library hotspot?
To borrow a hotspot, patrons must:
- be any Chatham resident public library card holder 18 years and older
- be in good standing (i.e. library account is not blocked due to unpaid fees or lost materials)
- provide a current photo ID to validate against patron record
The library reserves the right to refuse service to anyone who abuses equipment or is repeatedly late in returning hotspots
How do I use the hotspot?
Follow the instructions inside the cover of the box.
Where do I return the hotspot when I am done?
The hotspot cannot be placed in the bookdrops and must be returned to the checkout desk and handed to a staff member. A designated staff person will do a visual check to ensure that the device and accessories are returned in good condition.
How long can I keep the hotspot?
You can keep it for 14 days.
Can I renew my hotspot?
No. You are not allowed to renew at this time.
Playaway Launchpads, early educational devices, are preloaded with apps, games and books for children ages 3–10+. Launchpads are ad-free, do not require a Wi-Fi connection, and are 100% safe to use.
Launchpads are a great tool to work with your little one's early literacy skills! Explore topics like Math, Language Arts, Critical Thinking, and Creativity in engaging and fun ways. To get the most out of this tool, remember to interact with your child while they use the tablet by asking questions and talking to them about the games they are playing. Check out all the Launchpad early learning tablets available from the Library by browsing our catalog.
To start your learning adventure, request a tablet for hold through our catalog using your library card, available for pickup in the Children's area near the DVDs!
Ages 3-5
- All about it! Critical Thinking
- Numbers & letters with Sesame Street
Ages 5-7
- How'd they build that?
- Big Minds! STEAM
- Monster Word Mash!
- Make! Bake! Create!
Ages 8-10
- Smithsonian: all things animal!
- In the think tank!
- Smithsonian:dino planet
Ages 10+
- I see the science!