Featured Children's Events

Click Here to see ALL upcoming Young Minds programming!

Find Sam the Stegosaurus

Monday, October 2, 3 pm & Saturday, October 21, 12 pm | Fair Haven

Kids 12 and under: We'll be hiding Sam the Stegosaurus inside our building on different days and times. Be the first to find Sam and then complete a unique learning challenge. If you do, you'll receive a prize donated from Yale Peabody Museum's gift shop. Consolation prizes will be awarded to the next 3 finders too. Watch for our flyers and calendar posts to know the next time Sam will go into hiding.

Makey Makey

Wednesday, October 4, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

It’s first Wednesday Makerspace with Buley Library. We’ll be learning about circuits with Makey Makey.

STEAM Explorers!

Wednesdays, 4-5 pm | Ives
STEAM Explorers is a space for science and technology exploration for kids! Let's explore science with fun, hands-on activities.

October 4: LEGOs

October 11: Outer Space

October 18: Making Music

October 25: Coding with Ozobots!

Hispanic Heritage Storytime and Craft

Wednesday, October 11, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

We’ll read a cool story and make a paper mola craft. This folk art from Panama celebrates color and shapes.

Solar Eclipse Event

Thursday, October 12, 3 pm | Fair Haven

Saturday, October 14, 10-11:30 am | Stetson

Saturday, October 14, 10-11 am | Wilson

Saturday, October 14, 11:30 am | Mitchell

Saturday, October 14, 11:30 am | Ives

Themed story time and craft, plus free, special solar viewing glasses. Fair Haven will offer a take-home craft and solar glasses.

Exploring Artism at Wilson Library

Saturday, October 14 & 28, 11 am-12 pm | Wilson

Explore works of art, practice social skills, and make a no-fail art project with educators from the Yale Center for British Art! A free program for children on the autism spectrum (5–12 years old) and their parents, siblings, and other relatives. Quiet area available with sensory toys and blankets. Please preregister by emailing [email protected] or calling 203-432-2858.

Cantando y Jugando with Elba Llantin

Saturday, October 14, 11 am-12 pm | Fair Haven

All ages can sing and dance with Elba Llantin's Spanish-language songs to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Her interactive program includes bilingual songs and games, to get everyone up and moving. Don't miss it!

LEGO Club

Wednesday, October 18, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

We'll bring the LEGOs, you bring the creativity!

Children's Authors and Illustrators Series:

Nohra Bernal and Rubén Rodríguez Ferreira

Saturday, October 21, 11-11:30 am | Ives

Local author Nohra Bernal and illustrator Rubén Rodríguez Ferreira will do a read-aloud of their children's book The Child and the Tree, published in both English and Spanish.  The book tells the story of the special relationship between a child and a tree.  A group, interactive activity will follow that engages kids to think more about the book and its message.  Event will take place in the Children's Room (2nd floor).

Halloween Movie Screening: A Nightmare Before Christmas

Wednesday, October 25, 4-5:30 pm | Wilson

Get into the Halloween spirit and join us for a screening of "A Nightmare Before Christmas." Rated PG.

Spooky Nail Art Workshop

Wednesday, October 25, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

Learn to create tiny, spooky works of art on your nails, just in time for Halloween. Local nail artist and business owner, Kate Proulx of SickNails, returns to teach us how to be nail artists too.

Lead Prevention Activity

Thursday, October 26, 4-5 pm | Mitchell

A lead prevention activity for children, sponsored by the City of New Haven.

Click Here to see ALL upcoming Young Minds programming!

Featured Teen and Tween Programs

Making Comics + Zines with the Yale Center for British Art

Wednesday, October 4, 11 & 18, 3-5 pm | Ives

Explore comic and zine making with educator/artist James Vanderberg in the NHFPL Teen Center! Create diary comics and zines using fun and easy prompts. All materials provided; no previous experience nor skills necessary.

Queer Youth Game Space

Saturday, October 14, 1-3 pm | Ives

Come join Q+ and NHFPL Teens on the first Saturday of every month for two hours of board game fun in a respectful and inclusive environment. Pizza and snacks will be provided! Open to all teens.

Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016): Horror Movie Series

Tuesday, October 17, 5-7 pm | Wilson

Take-no-prisoners matriarch Madea battles ghouls and ghosts on Halloween night, all while making sure a teenage relative doesn't sneak off to a frat party she's forbidden to attend. Rated PG-13. Open to teens and adults.

Coding Club Powered by Girls Who Code

Wednesday, October 25, 5-6 pm | Ives

Join the NHFPL Teens Coding Club and learn to create a game using Scratch! Open to all New Haven Teens, regardless of gender. Meetings every Wednesday from 5-6 in the Teen Center.

Library Updates

Library Holiday Closures:

The New Haven Free Public Library will close at all locations for Italian Heritage Day & Indigenous People’s Day on Saturday, October 7 and Monday, October 9.

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