Events for Children & Families
Does your child want to join a book club? Are they a budding actor? A future scientist or programmer? We have events to satisfy their curiosity! MCDL also has events for children and families with special needs.
Browse and register for Kids and Tween events.
Browse and register for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) events.
Storytimes for Babies & Children
Storytimes are a fun way to enrich your child with reading skills, rhymes, and songs, all delivered by familiar library faces. Sessions are held throughout the year.
Browse and register for Storytimes.
Learn more and watch a News Channel 5 feature about storytimes at MCDL.
Summer Reading Game
For children birth through fifth grade, the Summer Reading Game is a great way to encourage reading, maintain skills while school is out, and earn prizes along the way.
Activities & More
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Accept the challenge to read 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. This fun and exciting program helps guide your child on the path to success. Spend time reading with your child, develop early literacy skills, and practice counting your growing list of books. Pick up a packet at any MCDL location or download printable game boards.
Making the trek to 1000 Books doesn't have to be difficult:
- Read one book each night - that's 365 books in one year!
- Read books over and over again. It counts each time AND helps your child build on language skills.
- Sign up for Storytimes and count those books, too!
- Find great reading recommendations on the Get Ready for Kindergarten Book List.
Redeem each completed list of 100 books for a sticker at your library, or show us your app activity. Apps available here: iPhone app Google Play
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Any child from birth to age five can be enrolled to receive a free, new book from the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library every month. Sign up today! Click here to enroll.
Community partners and child-centered entities, download a poster for your location. New! Bilingual books are now available upon registration.
Made possible through funding from United Way of Summit & Medina and the State of Ohio.
Get Ready to Read Newsletter
This monthly flyer features fingerplays and songs, book recommendations, and a calendar of early literacy activities to do with your child:
October 2024, November 2024, December 2024
Kindergarten Kits
MCDL created these kits to prepare Medina County preschoolers for kindergarten. They have activities and information addressing the various educational domains of kindergarten readiness. Available at all MCDL locations in Spring and Fall.
Download printable activities sheets.
Caregiver Kits
MCDL Caregiver Kits are meant for parents/caregivers of new babies and include materials to support early childhood development, literacy, & community resources. They are partially funded by Medina Sunrise Rotary Club. Books were donated by Ohio Early Intervention.
Caregiver kits debuted in Feb. 2023 and were almost all dispersed within the first month. Due to their popularity, the number of kits was doubled in 2024 and will again in 2025. If you or your business would like to donate or sponsor the project go to mcdl.info/Give or email sabol@mcdl.info.
StoryWalk®
StoryWalk® promotes literacy, physical activity, and spending time together as a family. It is a partnership between MCDL and:
- Medina County Park District, Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park, 4985 Windfall Rd., Medina
- Medina City Schools, Northrop Elementary, 950 E. Reagan Pkwy., Medina
Each season brings a new story to these locations. Check the Library Live newsletter for the title.
Explore Our Collection
From board books for babies to picture books for toddlers and series books for budding readers, MCDL has a popular collection to fit your child’s needs and interests. School-age children have the world at their fingertips with popular and classic chapter books, nonfiction for reading or research, music, movies, and even video games.
eMedia for Children
Find a curated lists of downloadable books, audiobooks, and videos for kids.
Get started with downloadable and streaming apps.
Adapted Toy Packs
Adapted Toy Packs include five themed books and an interactive toy equipped with an external button.
These inclusive toys are for children of all abilities.
Kit themes include construction, music, vehicles, favorite TV and movie characters and more. Made possible through a partnership with RePlay for Kids. Available at all MCDL locations; limit one per library card.
Watch the Channel 5 News segment on Adapted Toy Packs.
Discovery Packs
Discovery Packs include five themed books, a DVD, and a toy for preschool through early elementary aged children. Nature versions encourage outdoor fun. Available at all MCDL locations; limit one per library card.
Early Literacy Kits
Share the joys of life-long reading and learning with children with MCDL's Early Literacy Kits. They're great to use with children at home or in the classroom. Every kit centers around a topic of interest to young children and contains books, activities, and puppets or toys related to that theme.
View themes and reserve kits.
Sensory Kits
Geared toward youth and adults with autism or sensory challenges, these kits include items that facilitate a calming effect. Available at all MCDL locations for in-library use only.
Learn more about Sensory Kits.
Grief Kits
Grief Kits contain books, activities, and resources to support children as young as toddlers to school age, and their caregivers in their grieving journey. They are brought to you in collaboration with Waite & Son Funeral Homes, in memory of Noah Elliot Taylor. For more information, contact Catie Taylor at taylor@mcdl.info. Available in the Parenting section at all MCDL locations.
The Gazette: Library, funeral home partner on children's grief materials.
Watch the Channel 5 News segment on Grief Kits.
Additional Resources for Grieving Families:
- Grief books for children and adults
- Waite & Son Funeral Homes
- The Dougy Center
- Sesame Street, Helping Kids Grieve
- National Alliance for Children's Grief
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- The Compassionate Friends (Supporting families after a child dies)
- Grief Share
- What's Your Grief?
Mamava Lactation Pod
Medina Children's Department now has a Mamava Lactation Pod for breast feeding parents. Download the Mamava app from the App Store or Google Play to learn if the pod is in use and to access the pod. The Library's location makes this lactation space convenient for library patrons and the thousands of visitors to Medina's Square who attend the many events held there year-round. The Pod was made possible through grant funding from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Public Computers
Public computers are available at all MCDL locations and feature:
ABCmouse Home Access is an award-winning early learning program with 10,000+ educational activities and 850+ complete lessons along the Step-by-Step Learning Path, all expertly designed to help prepare young learners for kindergarten and beyond.
Early Literacy Stations are educational computers designed for kids ages 2-8, featuring over 60 educational programs, covering Math, Science, Reading, Writing, Art, Music, History and more!
Online Learning
Find resources for homework help on the Research & Learning page, then select the Students & Homework category.
Is Your Child Ready to Learn?
The path to success in school begins before the first day of kindergarten. Help your child get on track with these skills and they will be ready to learn. Can your child:
- Identify UPPER and lowercase letters
- Point out individual letters in words
- Recognize beginning sound matches (bat, book, bus)
- Produce rhyming words (bat, cat, hat)
- Recognize the title of a book
- Read left to right and top to bottom
- Name and find common shapes
- Retell stories (beginning, middle, end)
- Use descriptive language (soft, loud, sweet)
- Count to 20
- Read environmental words (exit, stop, open)
- Recite at least 8 nursery rhymes
