Karen Horner

There is no better way to celebrate the New Year than by visiting the Park County Libraries. Powell Library has fun activities to celebrate January, so stop by and then check out some books and movies as the winter weather settles in.

Starting Jan. 18, Park County Libraries will be offering a countywide Winter Reading Program. This is open to all ages. Every time you read a book, fill out an entry slip online or in person; you can enter for every book you read, and the more you read, the more chances you have to win. Winter Reading runs till Feb. 28.

Park County Libraries are celebrating the beginning of our wonderful Wyoming winters, as we have a Day of Hygge (Day of Cozy). Join us on Saturday, Jan. 22, as we embrace the Danish concept of hygge, which is all about being cozy and comfortable; there is no better place to find comfort than at the library. Come to the Powell Library from 9 a.m. to noon, where we will have a cocoa and tea bar, card making stations and plenty of cozy reads to curl up with or check out and take home.

Kids and teens, come join the Powell Library as we celebrate the New Year on Monday, Jan. 3, from 2-3pm. There will be yummy root beer floats, activity stations, cup stacking, Lego building and water color painting.

Powell Library is offering an afternoon book discussion group on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. and will be discussing “A Land More Kind Than Home.” Stop by the library to pick up a copy of the book.

Craft time will be Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. Come to the Powell Library and make a sock snowman craft, with all supplies provided. Just call or come by to sign up.

Author Melissa Cook will be at the Powell Library on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. to discuss her book, “The Call of the Last Frontier: The True Story of a Woman’s Twenty-Year Alaska Adventure.” Melissa will share stories from her time in remote Alaska.

For the kids, join Ms. Renee at Baby and Toddler Time every Monday and Thursday from 10:30-11 a.m. Bring the little ones, for nursery rhymes, songs, play and early literacy activities. Ms. Renee does a fabulous Storytime every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:30-11 a.m. Stop by for wonderful stories, movement, craft and fun.

Kids can sign up for a time on Thursday, Jan. 13 and on Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m. for Read to a Dog. This is a wonderful chance for kids to practice reading to the best kind of listener. 

Kids from first to fifth grade are invited to sign up to join our Wild and Free Book Club. The first meeting will be Friday, Jan. 28, from 10-11 a.m. as we read “Owls in the Family.” This book club will embrace the fun of adventure and freedom in learning for the next five weeks.

Powell Library is hiring. We are looking for a part time Library Assistant to mainly assist with our middle school and teen activities. If interested please visit https://parkcountylibrary.org/about-us/employment/ for more information.

This month, stop by on Saturday, Jan. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and every Thursday from 1-3 p.m. for the Friends Book Sale. 

Remember all Park County Libraries will be closed Friday, Dec. 31 and Saturday, Jan. 1 for the New Year’s Holiday, as well as Monday, Jan. 17.

(Karen Horner is the executive director of the Park County Library System.)