Looking for fun ways to spend quality time together as a
family, without spending a lot of money? Start the new year at Morrison-Talbott Library! We offer an exciting variety of free programs and resources for youth of all ages, making it easy to stay entertained, engaged, and on budget.

From storytimes, book clubs, and art programs to open-play, scavenger hunts, and special activities, there is always something happening for kids and teens. Visit the youth page on our website to see upcoming programs, dates, and details.

Have you discovered our Library of Things yet? It’s
one of the library’s best-kept secrets! In addition to books, DVDs, and audiobooks, families can check out educational kits, giant yard games, Launchpad tablets, baking pans, and more, all with an adult Morrison-Talbott Library card.

Our Listen & Play Kits are a favorite for young children and include Tonies, Yoto, or Story Dream bundles that read books aloud for a fun, screen-free experience. For early learners, we also offer Early Literacy Kits and Storytime-to-Go Kits, packed with themed books and hands-on learning toys. Older kids will love our Adventure Kits, STEAM Kits (featuring creative challenges like building a “just right” chair for Goldilocks), and OSMO Kits, which combine interactive tablet games with game pieces for an engaging learning experience.

And the fun doesn’t stop when you leave the building! The
library offers a wide selection of free electronic resources you can enjoy from home, including e-books, e-audiobooks, language-learning tools, kids’ video streaming, and full-curriculum learning resources for PreK–5. Popular options include Libby, cloudLibrary, Little Pim/Mango, Kanopy for
Kids, Educate Station, BookFlix, and Novel Effect (pick up a brochure for steps to gain free access). Access them anytime through the e-resources section of our website and
log-in using your library card barcode and the last four digits of your phone number.

Whether you are looking to save money, encourage learning,
or simply have fun together, Morrison-Talbott Library has something for everyone. Stop by, explore, and make the library part of your family’s 2026 routine! For questions about youth programs or materials, please reach out to me at stephaniet@waterloolibrary.org, I’d be happy to help!

Ms. Stephanie
Youth Services Coordinator

 

 

Email and Text
Notification Delivery Times

MTL pulls our hold request lists twice a day, once in the
morning and again approximately an hour before we close in the evening. If you place a hold on an item that is in-house after we pull the list, then your request would not be processed until the following business day. Our library receives deliveries of requested books daily, Monday through Friday. Phone calls are placed once everything has been unloaded.

For those signed up for text or email notifications, hold
notices from the library service provider are sent out four times throughout the day: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. Please note that your carrier may result in slight delays in receiving these notifications so don’t worry if you don’t get a message exactly on the hour. You can call or respond to email notifications and library staff will do our best to respond in kind. Text messages are automated and not easily responded to.