Updates from the Library
Summer 2026

See the Library's full calendar of events.

Summer Programs For Children & Teens

The Library's Summer Reading Program runs from June 29 - August 8. All programs but one are drop-in and require no registration: T-Rex Tea Party is the only program requiring registration.

FOR AGES 2-5:
Toddler & Preschool Storytime is held on Wednesdays from 10:30-11 AM in Falkner Park. Join Miss S. for stories and songs perfect for your toddlers and preschoolers. It will be an active romp of reading, singing and learning. When storytime is finished, the splashpad turns on!
Storytime will be held in the park pavilion rain or shine. In case of thunder or lightning, we will hold storytime in the Programming Room of the Youngstown Free Library.
• Wednesday, July 1 from 10:30-11 AM
• Wednesday, July 8 from 10:30-11 AM
• Wednesday, July 15 from 10:30-11 AM
• Wednesday, July 22 from 10:30-11 AM
• Wednesday, July 29 from 10:30-11 AM
• Wednesday, August 5 from 10:30-11 AM

FOR AGES 4-8:
Take & Make Craft Kits are available for pick-up at the Library every Monday starting at 2 PM. There will be 15-20 kits released every week--first come, first served.
• Monday, June 29
• Monday, July 6
• Monday, July 13
• Monday, July 20
• Monday, July 27
• Monday, August 3

Jurassic Readers is held on Wednesdays from 1-1:45 PM in Falkner Park. Let's explore dinosaurs and prehistoric animals! Every week, we'll read books and learn about history. After we finish, we'll have a frozen treat for everyone!
This program will be held in the park pavilion rain or shine. In case of thunder or lightning, we will move it to the Programming Room of the Youngstown Free Library.
• Wednesday, July 1 from 1-1:45 PM
• Wednesday, July 8 from 1-1:45 PM
• Wednesday, July 15 from 1-1:45 PM
• Wednesday, July 22 from 1-1:45 PM
• Wednesday, July 29 from 1-1:45 PM
• Wednesday, August 5 from 1-1:45 PM

FOR AGES 4-10:
T-Rex Tea Party is the grand finale of this summer's programming. Indulge your inner dinosaur with a royally proper tea. We'll play games, enjoy tea, and learn tea etiquette from a special guest. Registration will open in a week or so.
• Saturday, August 8 from 11:30-1 PM

FOR AGES 5-12:
Make Your Own Dinosaur Terrarium is a chance for kids to build their own prehistoric-looking terrarium! Miss Melanie from Nioga will be leading you through designing your plants, figures, and sandy ground so you can go home with your very own terrarium.
• Tuesday, July 7 from 4-5 PM

Make Your Own Reading Journal is a chance for readers to get started tracking the books they read. First, we'll decorate a reading journal. Then we'll talk about different strategies for keeping track of books in their journal.
• Tuesday, July 21 from 4-5 PM

FOR AGES 9+
Take & Make T(w)een Craft Kits are available for pick-up at the Library every other Monday starting at 2 PM. There will be 15-20 kits released every other week--first come, first served.
• Monday, July 6
• Monday, July 20
• Monday, August 3

FOR ALL AGES:
Town of Porter Rec Dept is held on Tuesday mornings in June and July from 10-11 AM at the Youngstown Free Library.
• Tuesday, June 30 from 10-11 AM: Niagara Down Under
• Tuesday, July 7 from 10-11 AM: Brain Dance with scarves, noodles, and stretchy bands!
• Tuesday, July 14 from 10-11 AM: Yoga for Kids with Michelle Drennan
• Tuesday, July 21 from 10-11 AM: Digging for Dinos from the Buffalo Museum of Science
• Tuesday, July 28 from 10-11 AM: Bugology from the Buffalo Museum of Science

Storywalk in the Park is held on Friday evenings in Falkner Park during the free Friday night concerts. Each StoryWalk integrates a children's picture book into stops along a walking path. Families can walk...and read!
• Friday, July 3 from 6-8:30 PM
• Friday, July 10 from 6-8:30 PM
• Friday, July 17 from 6-8:30 PM
• Friday, July 24 from 6-8:30 PM
• Friday, July 31 from 6-8:30 PM
• Friday, August 7 from 6-8:30 PM

Any last-minute updates to programs will be posted to the Library's Facebook page.

Summer Reading challenge

The Library's Summer Reading Challenge will run from June 29 - September 12 (the end of the first week of school). This year, families can track their child's time spent reading two ways:

• Download the READSquared app from the App Store or the Google Play Store and create an account under the Youngstown Free Library OR
• Log in to the READSquared website on your computer to create an account and track time spent reading.

Either way, great prizes await you!
100 minutes: door hanger
200 minutes: pencils & eraser
300 minutes: glow-in-the-dark or sticky dinosaur figurines
400 minutes: dinosaur bracelet
500 minutes: sunglasses
600 minutes: dinosaur slime egg
700 minutes: dinosaur glider
800 minutes: dinosaur squeeze ball
1,000 minutes: rechargeable flashlight
2,000 minutes: aluminum water bottle
• Explore our newest Scavenger Hunt in the Children's Room--it's a riddle about sheep!

Any last-minute updates to programs will be posted to the Library's Facebook page and updated on the Library's calendar.

Summer Programs for Adults

Tech Help with Sonora and Adam and Keith will be held on the first Tuesday of every month at 1:30 PM at the Lewiston Senior Center. It's a one-on-one appointment program to answer your questions about your cell phones, tablets, and laptop computers.
• Tuesday, July 7 from 1:30-3 PM
• Tuesday, August 4 from 1:30-3 PM
Registration is required; please call Melinda at the Senior Center to sign up for a half-hour slot: 716-754-2071.


Tabletop Gaming is held on Tuesday evenings from 6-8 PM. Teens and adults, join us for good gaming and great company! No registration is required.


Evening Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7 PM at the Youngstown Free Library with a simultaneous Zoom option.
• Wednesday, July 8 from 7-8:15 PM: author study of Doris Kearns Goodwin
• Wednesday, August 12 from 7-8:15 PM: Heartwood by Amity Gaige
Here is the list of all the titles we'll be reading and discussing for the next new months, as well as the dates of upcoming Evening Book Club get-togethers.


Afternoon Book Club meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 1:30 PM at the Lewiston Senior Center.
• Tuesday, July 21 from 1:30-3 PM: The Guest List by Lucy Foley
• Tuesday, August 18 from 1:30-3 PM: Rebel Falls by Tim Wendel
Here is the list of all the titles we'll be reading for the next few months, as well as the dates of upcoming Afternoon Book Club get-togethers.


Non-Fiction Book Club meets virtually every other month. If you'd like to receive the Zoom link, please contact Sonora at 745-3555 or smiller@nioga.org.
• Monday, August 10 from 1:30-3 PM: Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway

All are welcome to any of the book clubs! To receive a copy of the book, you can order it here. If you have questions about how to attend, please contact Sonora at 745-3555 or smiller@nioga.org.


Library Board of Trustees meets the fourth Monday of every month at 7 PM at the Youngstown Free Library. No meetings are typically scheduled in August and December.
• Ruby Carey Scholarship Reception: Monday, July 27 at 6:30 PM
• Regular meeting: Monday, July 27 at 7 PM
Meeting reports are available online the weekend before the meeting.

Any last-minute updates to programs will be posted to the Library's Facebook page and updated on the Library's calendar.

Friends of the Library Summer Fundraisers

The Friends of the Youngstown Free Library are holding their Annual Bake Sale during a Friday night concert in Falkner Park. Bring your lawn chairs to enjoy the concert, and support the Friends by purchasing some sweet treats!
• Friday, August 21 from 6 - 8 PM

The Friends are holding a BBQ & Seafood Boil at the end of August. More details to come!

All proceeds go to the Friends of the Youngstown Free Library, a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to support the Youngstown Free Library.