York County Public Library: Youth Services Update: September 2026

School supplies surrounding the word September on a chalkboard background

York County Public Library Youth Services Update

Library Announcements

Library Closures

Tabb and Yorktown Libraries will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, for Labor Day.

Our digital collection is always available, though, so visit our online resources through our website or through OverDrive. See our full list of upcoming closures on our Closing & Holidays web page.

Special Events

Library Card Sign-Up Month!

September is Library Card Sign-up Month—the perfect time for everyone ages 4 and up to get a free library card! A card unlocks ebooks and audiobooks, kid-friendly streaming videos, homework help, literacy activities, and more to help young readers and teens learn, explore, and imagine. Stop by the library today and open the door to a world of discovery with your new card!

Happy Birthday, York County Public Library!

Families

Saturday, September 12

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Yorktown

Registration is not required.

Time to celebrate! 2026 is a big year for York County Public Libraries. Our small system officially became state-certified 50 years ago! Additionally, the original Yorktown Library officially opened its doors 42 years ago in September 1984. Join us for cake and a special library exhibit as we reminisce how far the library has come and look forward to the next decades. All ages welcome. Drop in anytime!

Batman Day

Families

Saturday, September 19

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Tabb

Registration is not required.

Holy family fun, Batman! Calling all Gotham fans to the 6th Annual Batman Day celebration!

Bring the whole crew for a POW!-packed mission featuring a movie and activities in the meeting room, plus crafty capers in Youth Services. Come dressed as your favorite crime-fighter or fiendish villain—cape optional, enthusiasm required! No need to signal Commissioner Gordon or sign up ahead of time. Just swing by between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and join the mission!

For Families

EZ Child ID Digital Fingerprint

Families

Friday, September 11

10:45 a.m.- 12:15 p.m.

Tabb

Registration is required.

The York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office is proud to offer the EZ Child ID Digital Fingerprinting System, a comprehensive service that captures your child's fingerprints, photo, medical information, and a short video.

Parents will receive a printout of the fingerprints along with a flash drive containing all recorded information. Rest assured, this sensitive data is never stored and is immediately deleted from the computer once the flash drive is provided.

Crime Prevention Specialist Kevin Taylor and Deputy First Class Trey Ulintz from the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office will be on site assisting families during the event, and McGruff the Crime Dog will also be there to meet children and help promote safety awareness.

For Our Youngest Patrons

Story Times at Your Library

Story times are offered in four-week sessions, with breaks between sessions. The next session begins the week of September 14.

Registration is required due to limited class size. Register once for the entire session by visiting the Youth Services Desk, calling Tabb Library (757-890-5110) or Yorktown Library (757-890-5294), or registering online through the Events Calendar. If space is available, you may also register after a session has begun.

Story Times:

Baby Bookworms (Birth–16 months) — Tuesdays at Yorktown
Tiny Tales (6–16 months) — Thursdays at Tabb
Toddler Tales (17–30 months) — Wednesdays at Tabb and Thursdays at Yorktown
Preschool Story Time (2½–5 years) — Wednesdays at Yorktown

Deputy Story Time

Families

Friday, September 11

10:15 -10:45 a.m.

Tabb

Registration is required.

Come enjoy a special story time with Crime Prevention Specialist Kevin Taylor from the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office as he shares some of his favorite stories with preschoolers and their families. A special guest, McGruff the Crime Dog, will also be visiting the library to help share important safety messages with children in a fun and engaging way. Registration is required. For questions about Deputy Story Time, please contact Crime Prevention Specialist Kevin Taylor at 757-890-3639.

Open Play

Preschool through Elementary

September 5-6 & 19-21

Fridays and Saturdays: 10 a.m.- 4:45 p.m.

Sundays: 1- 4:45 p.m.

Yorktown

Registration is not required.

Join us for creative and imaginative play at the Yorktown Library. This is an open program for children to drop in with their caregivers and play and socialize with other families in the community.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

Ongoing

Ages birth through Pre-K

Tabb & Yorktown

Pick up your starter materials at either library.

For Elementary School Children

Creation Station
Grades K-5th

Wednesday, September 9

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Tabb

Registration is required.

Get ready for the new school year with three fun and creative back-to-school crafts! In just one hour, you’ll make three different projects to kick off the school year with a little extra creativity. Come craft, create, and have fun!

Paws to Read
Grades 1st-5th

Sunday, September 13

Session 1: 1:30 p.m.

Session 2: 3:00 p.m.

Tabb

Registration is required.

Children in 1st - 5th grade will have an opportunity to read to a therapy dog.

LEGO Club

Preschool-5th grade

Wednesday, September 23

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Tabb

Registration is not required.

Join us for a fun, drop in LEGO time just for kids in PreK–5th grade! We’ve got tons of LEGO bricks, cool pieces, and a new theme each session—build your own way or follow the theme. A creative, hands-on program kids love!

Science Saturday

Grades K-2nd

Saturday, September 26

10:15 - 11:00 a.m.

Yorktown

Registration is required.

Come join us to explore the wonderful world of science! This session we will explore color and make a tie-dye t-shirt. Come prepared to get a little messy.

I Spy

Preschool-5th Grade

Sept. 22- 29

Tabb

Registration is not required.

Estimation Station

Preschool - 5th Grade

Aug. 26- Sept. 2

Yorktown

Registration is not required.

For Middle and High School Students (Grades 6-12)

2026 Teen Program Permission Forms

The Teen Program Permission Form for 2026 now available. All teen volunteers and any teen who would like to participate in any teen programs at the library during the year 2026 will need to complete a new form. One form covers events at both branches. This form is available at the Youth Services desk at each branch and on the YCPL website's Teen Page.

Wind Turbine Workshop

Grades 6-8

Sunday, August 30

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Tabb

Registration is required.

Join Tabb Library's wind turbine engineering workshop to learn the physics and engineering principles behind the blades of wind turbines. Open to middle school students to test their blades in a wind tunnel with teams of 4.

Teen After Hours
Grades 6-12

Friday, September 4

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Yorktown

Registration is required

Spend an evening getting creative with air-dry clay while hanging out with friends! Sculpt your own unique creation, enjoy Avengers Endgame playing in the background, and relax with fellow teens.

Teen Trivia

Grades 6-12

September 14-25

Both Branches

Registration is not required.

First impressions matter! This month's Teen Trivia asks: This or That? Book Cover vs. Movie Poster. Stop by the library and cast your vote!

Teen Anime Club

Grades 6-12

Monday, September 14

6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Tabb
Registration is required.

Join fellow anime fans to watch and discuss anime, enjoy snacks, and do anime themed crafts.

Teen Gaming

Grades 6-12

Tuesdays, September 8 & 22

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Yorktown

Registration is not required.

Hang out and unwind with friends in a relaxing space featuring a Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Wii, and card games!

Teen D & D

Grades 6-12

Saturday, August 29

Session 1: 10:30 a.m.

Session 2: 1:30 p.m.

Tabb

Registration is required.

Dungeons and Dragons for teens is at Tabb Library! If you're in grades 6-12, sign up for one of the two sessions and get ready to dive into epic quests. No need to worry about characters or gear—YCPL has everything covered so you can jump right into the fun. Team up with friends, explore new worlds, and create your own unforgettable stories. Adventure is calling- sign up and start your journey!

Teen D & D - Batman Edition

Grades 6-12

Saturday, September 19

Session 1: 10:30 am

Session 2: 1:30 pm

Tabb

Registration is required.

Calling all heroes in grades 6–12! Join us for a special Batman-themed Dungeons & Dragons event as part of our library-wide celebration of the Dark Knight. Choose one of two sessions and prepare to dive into epic quests inspired by Gotham’s shadows. No need to bring your own character or gear—YCPL has everything you need to jump straight into the adventure. Team up with friends, explore mysterious new worlds, and craft your own legendary story. Justice—and adventure—awaits. Sign up today!

100 Books Before Graduation
Grades 6th-12th

Ongoing

Tabb & Yorktown

Sign up through Beanstack. Don't forget to log your books to get credit!

Featured Resource

A Magical Potter Offer on Libby

A letter from Hogwarts may not arrive by owl, but a magical adventure is waiting in Libby this September. Through Libby, you can enjoy unlimited access to Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone with no waitlists or holds during the month of September. Choose the ebook or audiobook and explore the story in a range of languages, including Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Japanese, and Italian. Reading together, revisiting a favorite, or trying a new language? Libby offers adjustable text, a built-in dictionary, and highlighting tools to make the experience work for every kind of reader. Open Libby this September and let the first trip to Hogwarts begin.

Book cover: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

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