Fun filled October Children’s Events

Saturday October 23rd

The Big Truck Roundup at the Archibald Library. 11am Family Storytime fun followed by a special big truck petting zoo in the library’s parking lot. Learn about and see some awesome big trucks! No tickets required – families welcome!

Saturday, October 30th 

Early Halloween fun at Family Storytime programs - 11am at the Archibald Library and 2pm and 3pm at the Paul A. Biane Library. Families are invited to celebrate this special time of year with spooktacular stories, ghoulish games and feverish fun! Costumes are encouraged! Walk-ins welcome!

Super Duper September

September was an exciting month with everyone back in school. The library offers many great programs that children and families can enjoy after school including Discovery Club, Pajama Storytime, and Family Saturday. Let us fill you in on a few of the great programs we had.

This past month Discovery Club let kids explore folklore and superstitions, celebrate “Comic Book Day”, and even learn how to be a storyteller. Join us next month for Mad Libs Poetry Slam and our Halloween program “Goodnight Goon”.

If you can’t find time during the week, every Saturday is Family Saturday and fun for the whole family. This past month we celebrated the “Marvelous Mo Willems” and even “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” Keep an eye out for our Annual Big Truck Round up at our Archibald Library and “Nightmare Before Christmas” at the Biane Library.

For information about upcoming events, check out our online events calendar.

Superhero Saturday


It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superhero Saturday!!! Superhero Saturday will be happening on August 28th at 2pm and 3pm at the Paul A Biane Library. The event will feature superhero-related storytimes, crafts, activities and the chance to meet some of your favorite costumed characters. No tickets are required for the event. Admittance will be on a first come, first served basis. So grab your favorite cape and we will see you there!

2010 Children’s Summer Reading Program – Make a Splash! Read!



The 2010 Summer Reading Program starts on June 10th and ends on July 24th. Kids are encouraged to read, explore their creativity and have fun at the library during the summer! Weekly prizes and special performances round out this 6 week program.

Summer Reading Program Kickoff - June 10th!
Sign ups begin at both libraries on June 10th. We’re kicking off our program with special musical guests - Heebie & Jeebie. They’ll “Keep our Planet Cool” at 1pm at the Archibald Library and 3pm at the Paul A. Biane library. Free tickets for the event will be available on June 3rd.


We have a great lineup of performers who will be at each library on the following Thursdays. Please contact the library for more information about free tickets to the following perfomances:

June 17th - Ken Frawley “Stories and Songs dripping with Fun!”

June 24th – Swazzle puppet show “River Otter Circus”


July 1st – Annie Banannie “Balloon Stories”


July 8th –David Skale “Magic with Captain Little Beard”


July 15th – Party Puppets “Splash Time Follies”


July 22th – Pacific Animal Productions “Make a Splash!”


(Programs subject to change)

Children who complete the program will earn tickets to our July 30th Summer Reading Program Finale featuring One World Rhythm and John Abrams Animal Magic.


We're looking forward to a fun-filled Summer! Remember visit your library and Make a Splash - READ!




Please call the children’s department at Archibald 909-477-2720 ext. 5025 or Paul A. Biane Library 909-477-2720 ext. 5075 for further information.

Coming to a library not so far, far away…STAR WARS DAY!


Calling all Jedis! Star Wars Day lands at the Paul A Biane Library on Saturday, May 29th from 1pm - 4pm.

The event is a family-themed celebration of the Star Wars universe that will include a costume contest, official Star Wars artists Randy Martinez and Denise Vasquez giving tips on how to draw your favorite Star wars characters, the art of Lawrence Noble (Star Wars Empire Strikes Back 10th anniversary poster artist) Star Wars related crafts, games, and storytimes, as well as a chance to mingle with some of your favorite Star Wars characters.

Be sure not to miss out on this immensely popular event. May the Force Be With You!

This is a FREE NON-TICKETED EVENT. For more info call 909-477-2720 ext 5076.

Little Read!

This year's Big Read program will be having the Little Read - children's programs featuring themes related to Mark Twain throughout April! The Big Read program encourages a community wide celebration of Mark Twain’s classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Big Read Kickoff on Saturday, April 10th

Join us from 2pm – 4:30pm at the Paul A. Biane Library for our Big Read Kickoff events. The Big Read kickoff is a fun, old fashioned, family Saturday for all ages. The kickoff event will include, an official ribbon-cutting by Mayor Don Kurth, M.D., entertainment, music, activities, crafts and games. Featuring storyteller Kurt Sutton as Mark Twain, Craig Newton’s “Historical Journey Through America’s Music,” the Guinness Book of World Records Tallest Cat, the Super Reader bookmobile, and more! No tickets are required.

“Music Born in America” by Sandii Castleberry at 4pm on Wednesday, April 14th at the Paul A. Biane Library (tickets available on April 7th) and Thursday, April 15th (tickets available on April 8th) at the Archibald Library. Free Tickets are required for this event.

Children’s Movie Showings

Monday,April 19th at the Paul A. Biane Library, “Wishbone – A Tail in Twain” from 6pm - 8pm. No tickets required - walk ins welcome!

Thursday, April 22 at the Archibald Library, the animated version of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” from 6pm - 8pm. No tickets required – walk ins welcome!

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Play!

Wednesday, April 21st at Paul A. Biane Library in Celebration Hall (tickets available on April 14th.) A special theatrical production by Los Angeles theater ensemble, Will and Company on April 21st for ages 6 – 11. Free Tickets required. 

Please call the Children's Services department for further information 909-477-2720 ext. 5025 or 5075.

Welcome to Play in the Library

How do you provide babies and young children with access to early learning, literacy, and library services? The Rancho Cucamonga Libraries have spent the past several years working on the answers and solutions.

Over the past few years, the libraries have received federally funded grants administered by the California State Library to research the learning needs of the youngest members of our community. It was through this research, including needs assessments, surveys, focus groups, and training, that the answer was discovered … play.

Play stimulates an infant’s brain to develop connections, promotes intellectual capacity, and develops the mind and body with skills for early literacy. Play is how babies and young children learn and is their source for information about the world.

The library can make a difference in children’s lives by offering opportunities for children to play and learn – building skills for learning and literacy through life. The Rancho Cucamonga Libraries are proud to welcome play and learning in the library.

Find a PAL at the Library

 To build on this research, the RC libraries secured another grant to bring play and learning to the youngest members of our community. This grant allowed the library to build on the research to create specialized stations for infants, young children, and their families to play and learn.

These play stations, or Play and Learn Islands (PALS for short), have been designed to incorporate the critical types of educational play in a library space.

The community feedback from surveys, intercepts, and focus groups guided the inspiration for the themes of the four PALS that have been created:


“Discovery Dig”, “Make it Move”, “Big Build”, and “IlluminArt”.

Each PAL has a variety of hands-on activities encouraging different types of educational play allowing a range of ages to encourage the family to play and learn together. At these stations children will imagine, discover, create, and bring learning to life.

PALS will be spotted in the library, at library events, and we hope will visit local schools. Join us for their debut during National Library Week beginning April 11 and find a PAL at the library!

The Play and Learn Workshop

Family Place Libraries is a national movement that is helping to educate families and libraries on the importance of play in early childhood development and early literacy. Libraries are a place where everyone is welcome and the Family Place Initiative is helping libraries to become a space for the whole family.

The Rancho Cucamonga libraries are the proud recipient of a Family Place Library grant, the first of its kind in California, which will help the library implement the important foundations of early learning. Many of the important fundamentals are already in place at our libraries: a welcoming library space for all, programs and services for young children and families, a collection of resources for young children and parents.

The RC Libraries are proud to present the final piece of a family place library, a special workshop for parents and children. This parent & child program, The Play and Learn Workshop, will be offered in a series of sessions at the Paul A. Biane Library this April, with registration beginning March 24th at 10 am. The goal of this workshop is to bring the family together through play, with a focus on children ages 1 to 3.

The workshop allow parents a chance to meet one on one with child development professionals, meet other parents, pick up parenting tips, learn about child development and how play can help your child, and best of all, kids get to play.

Part of the Family Place model is that learning and play should expand beyond the workshop. The educational manipulatives used in these workshops will be available on the public floor for families to play and learn during their library visits. We hope you’ll visit us to play and learn!

February is a month for fun, learning and family togetherness at the library!

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."

— Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"

This month we have a number of activites geared for children of all ages. Come join us for some crafts, games and reading at the library. All of these events including registration for the upcoming storytime sessions makes for a busy month at your library. Check out the upcoming events below.

Storytime Registrations

Registrations begin at 10am:

Bouncing Baby Storytime - Registration on Thursday, 18th for the Archibald Library session and Monday, February 8th for the Biane Library session (library will be closed on the 15th in observance of President's Day.)

Toddler Time – Registration on the Thursday,18th for the Archibald Library session, and Friday, February 19th for the Biane Library session.

Preschool Storytime - Registration on Tuesday, 16th for the Biane Library session and Wednesday, 17th for Archibald Library session.

Biane Library Family Storytime – Friday, February 19th at the Biane Library.

Cupid’s Workshop open to the Public! (ages 2-11)
Come join us for Cupid’s workshop where children will hear stories and make crafts that are fun for both boys and girls. This event will be held in Celebration Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 10th @ 4pm and again at the Archibald Library on Thursday, Feb. 11th (4pm). Tickets for the Archibald event are available at the Archibald Children’s desk don’t miss out!


Tickets for the Biane event will be available on Wednesday, Feb. 3rd at the Biane Children’s desk.


If you can’t make it to either event we will be continuing the love on Saturday, Feb. 13th at our family storytimes located at both libraries – Archibald Library 11am and Biane Library 2pm and 3pm


Black History Month (ages 6-11)
Cultural Arts Night
Travel back in time and visit the Underground Railroad where children will learn about the hardships of traveling between the vast network of people who helped slaves make their way to freedom. Join us for a special night featuring artists, musicians and a special guest speaker.

Where: Biane Library
When: Friday, February 19th 7 – 9 PM

Tickets will be available at the library information desks starting Feb. 8th

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! (ages 2-11)
Come hear one of our favorite children’s books Green Eggs and Ham and celebrate the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel famous cartoonists and children’s author. This year we are celebrating carnival style with games such as One fish, two fish, red fish, throw fish a Green eggs race and a Fox in Socks poetry jam.

This event will be at Celebration Hall (next to the Biane Library) on Wednesday, March 3rd @ 4pm and again at the Archibald Library on Thursday, March 4th in the children’s storytime theatre. Tickets are limited so be sure to hop on this opportunity!

Tickets available one week prior to this event @ the respective children’s information desks.

We hope to see you soon!
If you have any questions please call the children's department at 477-2720 ext. 5075 or ext. 5025.

January is Art Month at Discovery Club

Have you heard about the amazing activities happening at the after school Discovery Club? Why not come and check it out! Discovery Club is for kids ages 6-11, and it meets Wednesdays at 4:00 pm at the Paul A. Biane Library, and Thursdays at 4:00 pm at the Archibald Library.

January is art month, and kids ages 6-11 will be exploring various art techniques throughout the month. Projects will be displayed at the Archibald library during the month of January. There is no registration required for the regular weekly programs – just drop in when you can!

Also, on Wednesday, January 27th at the Biane Library and Thursday, January 28th at the Archibald Library, kids attending Discovery Club will have the opportunity to celebrate Chinese New Year and learn about Chinese culture. Activities will include playing games, listening to stories, learning dances, and creating the scales for awesome paper dragons that will be used to decorate the children’s areas of both libraries. Because this is a special program, tickets will be required. The tickets are free and will be available beginning Wednesday, January 20th at the Biane information desk, and beginning Thursday, January 21st at the Archibald children's information desk. We hope to see you there!

Holiday Happenings!

The winter season is here and the Rancho Cucamonga libraries have some special children’s and family programs lined up for the season.

On Saturday December 19th the Paul A Biane library will be celebrating Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire Peanuts gang with “A Charlie Brown Holiday celebration” at 2 and 3pm. The program will feature Peanuts related games, crafts and readings of some classic winter-themed Charlie Brown strips. This program is aimed at ages 2-12.

The December 19th family Saturday at Archibald will be at 11am and will feature creative and festive holiday crafts for children 2-8 years old. Join us for holiday stories and make a glittering pinecone craft! Walk ins are welcome!

The following Saturday, December 26th, the Family Saturday program at both libraries will feature “great games”. The Great Games program will include both video games and traditional board games for the entire family. Whether you’re a Chutes and Ladders fan or a Wii enthusiast there will be a game for everyone. Be sure to bring your best game-face. Great Games at Archibald will be at 11am for children 2-8 and the program at Paul A Biane library will at 2 and 3pm for children between 2-12 year olds.

Walk-ins are welcome at both libraries for all family Saturday programs.

Both libraries will end the year on a wintery note by offering a make and take snowflake craft for kids 2-8 on Tuesday December 29th from 2-4pm.

Happy holidays to you and your family from the entire Rancho Cucamonga Public Library. Please call the 909-477-2720 ext. 5075 or ext. 5025 for further information.

Fall Fun at the library!

Happy Birthday Hello Kitty!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
2-4pm
Paul A. Biane Library Children’s Room
Join the library in celebrating the birthday of this cute feline. Activities, crafts, stories and a visit from our friends at RC Pets! Come learn about cats, cat care and have a lot of fun with Hello Kitty! Walk-ins are welcome!

Founder’s Day: California Dreamin’
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Parade Starts at 9:30am
Come and celebrate the founding of wonderful City of Rancho Cucamonga! Come to see the parade and enjoy the fun and games at the festival. Be sure to visit the library booth for all of our fun activities. Hope to see you there!

Click on the link for further information:

http://www.rcpark.com/events/Founders2009.htm

Fun-Filled October Children’s Events!

October offers plenty of programs and activities for the entire family.

Everyone Loves a Cookie!
What's your favorite cookie? Did you know that October is National Cookie Month? Families with children ages 2 - 12 are invited to celebrate National Cookie Month on Saturday, October 3rd at the Paul A. Biane Library at 2pm and 3pm with fun and games featuring If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Walk ins welcome!



Big Truck Roundup
Saturday, October 10th at 11am at the Archibald Library. Family storytime fun followed by a special big truck petting zoo in the library’s parking lot. Explore some awesome big trucks! Tickets available on October 1st.

Discovery Club’s Spooky stories!
Like to get scared? Let's see how you handle the spine chilling stories on Wednesday, October 28th at the Paul A. Biane Library and 4pm on Thursday, October 29th at the Archibald Library. Ages 6 – 11 only.

Groovy Ghoulies Halloween Party. Saturday October 31st at 11am at the Archibald Library. Children ages 2 - 8 and their families are invited to celebrate Halloween with games, stories and crafts. Walk ins welcome! Costumes encouraged!

For further information please call the Children's Information desk at the Paul A. Biane Library at 477-2720 ext. 5075 or the Archibald Library at 477-2720 ext. 5025

National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15th through October 15th

Hispanic Heritage Month allows our nation a chance to reflect on the contributions to history, science, and culture from the Hispanic community.

Stop by the library and enjoy some of our Hispanic Heritage displays of notable and famous figures in history, collections of art and mementos, and great books all about history and culture.

Don't miss our special library celebration that will be fun for the whole family!
Friday, September 18th - 7 pm
Join us for an evening of music, dance, stories, and crafts!

Pirate Paradise

It's time for one of our favorite holidays here at the library ...
International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Everyone loves a pirate!
The whole family is welcome to come on down the library for an afternoon of pirate fun.
Don't miss crafts, games, stories, and a real treasure hunt!

We're celebrating this official holiday a bit early this year.
Saturday, September 12
Archibald Library - 11 am
Paul A. Biane Library -2 pm and 3 pm

Arrrgghhh ... We hopes to be seeing ya mateys at the library soon!

Discovery Club Starts Today!

School is back in session for most Rancho Cucamonga children, so that means it’s time for afterschool storytimes. We have a new program called Discovery Club, which is a hands-on enrichment program that meets once a week at 4:00 pm. At the Biane Library, Discovery Club meets on Wednesday afternoons, and at the Archibald Library, it meets on Thursdays. This is a program for kids ages 6-12, and no prior registration is necessary. Parents are asked to wait in the library while their children enjoy the program.

Coming programs include:

August 19th (Biane) and 20th (Archibald) -- Luau at the Library
August 26th (Biane) and 27th (Archibald) -- Amazing Mistakes

We hope to see you there!

Storytime Registration is Coming Soon




Registration for the next storytime sessions will take place the week of August 3-7, 2009.

Monday, August 3rd @ the Paul A. Biane Library
Bouncing Babies registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, August 4th @ the Paul A. Biane Library
Preschool Storytime registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, August 5th @ the Archibald Library
Preschool Storytime registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, August 6th @ the Archibald Library
Bouncing Babies registration begins at 10:00 a.m.
Toddler Time registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Friday, August 7th @ the Paul A. Biane Library
Toddler Time registration begins at 10:00 a.m.
Family Storytime registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

There will be no storytimes the week of August 10-14, and the new storytime sessions will begin the week of August 17-21.

Also, don't forget that both libraries also offer weekly storytimes that do not require registration:

At the Paul A. Biane library:
Pajama Storytime is Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Family Saturdays is Saturday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

At the Archibald library:
Family Storytime is Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m.

Summer Reading Program - final week!

Don't forget that Saturday, July 25th is the last day for kids to turn in their reports and finish this years Summer Reading Program - Be Creative @ Your Library. Over 2200 children registered for this year’s Summer Reading Program! Kids of all ages enjoyed creative activities and wonderful performances this summer at the Archibald and Paul A. Biane Libraries.
Programs featuring music, magic, dance and marionettes created festive afternoons in our libraries.

Summer Reading Club – Be Creative @ Your Library
The 2009 Summer Reading Program - Be Creative @ Your Library starts on June 20th and ends on July 25th. Kids are encouraged to read, explore their creativity and have fun at the library during the summer! Weekly prizes and special performances round out this 5 week program. Kids who complete the program are invited to our fun-filled end of program finale on July 30th.

Summer Reading Program Kickoff - June 20th!
We're kicking off our program with a fabulous magical show featuring Allen Oshiro at 11am at the Archibald Library and 3pm at the Paul A. Biane Library. Free tickets for the event will be available on June 13th.

We have a great lineup of performers who will be at each library:
June 25 Aloha Islanders (tickets available on Sat. June 20th)
July 2 Hullabaloo
July 9 Franklin Haynes Marionettes
July 23 Learning Safari by Pacific Animal Productions
Free tickets for the events are available one week before the performance.

On Wednesday July 15th we’ll have a special “Night at the Theater” event at the Lewis Family Playhouse at 7pm. Families will enjoy this magical night of music!

Afternoon workshops just for the Summer

Interested in dance art,or song? Kids ages 6 – 11 are invited to take part is a series of art related workshops called Terrific Tuesdays at the Archibald Library and Wonderful Wednesdays at the Paul A. Biane Library. Kids will enjoy drawing, painting, dance and sculpture!

Please call the children’s department at Archibald 909-477-2720 ext. 5025 or Paul A. Biane Library 909-477-2720 ext. 5075 for further information.