Youth Services & Programs Provided by Fort Scott Public Library
In the interest of serving the needs of our community whilst making every effort to ensure the safety of our patrons, FSPL is offering the following programs and services through either curbside pickup, virtual programming, or a combination of both. Please call the library at (620)223-2882 or email Miss Val at [email protected]for more information or to sign up.
Storytime: Miss Val films and uploads a pre-recorded video of herself reading two – four books, along with singing a welcome song and demonstrating a craft, each week for a themed storytime. Virtual storytime videos designed for kids of all ages are made available on YouTube (unlisted – email [email protected] for the link) or within the private Facebook group for local Storytime families. The library provides a weekly snack and craft (available through curbside pickup) to go along with each storytime, and one – two months’ worth of kits are created at a time for the convenience of storytime families. Upcoming themes are: Easter, Spring Babies, Gardens, Rain, and Butterflies & Caterpillars. Email Miss Val to sign up.
Program for 6th – 12th Graders: The Dragon’s Nest Library Teen & Tween Group meets virtually, weekly on Wednesdays, from 4:20 – 5 pm. Miss Val hosts the meetings and provides participants with snacks, including both food and beverages, along with any supplies they’ll need for each week’s meeting, through curbside pickup. Activities include: Virtual games such as Pictionary or trivia, book discussions, crafts (such as painting canvases, clay pots, and pumpkins; decorating coffee mugs, or weaving hats with jumbo yarn), parties, and solving virtual escape rooms. Upcoming activities are: Game Night, Making Marshmallow Catapults, Virtual Escape Rooms, Making Ever-Spinning Tops, and playing Codenames & Catchphrase. To sign up for the program and receive the secure meeting link, email Miss Val at [email protected] or call and ask to speak with Miss Val.
Book Bags: Miss Val compiles book bags on popular topics for easy curbside checkout. Each bag contains ten books, plus some stickers and/or a bookmark. The drawstring bag, bookmarks, and stickers are free for the patron to keep, while books check out for three weeks. You must be a card-holder in SeknFind with an unrestricted account in order to check out a book bag. There is no limit on how many bags you may check out at one time. Current topics are as follows
For ages Birth – 1st Grade: Boys’ General Interest, Girls’ General Interest, Careers & Local Heroes, Character Building, Construction, Cozy Books, Early Readers Level 1, Early Readers Level 2, Fantasy, LEGO, Preschool Science, Princesses & Queens, Real Heroes, Silly Stories, Space, Spring, and World Travel.
For Grades 2nd – 5th: Early Readers Level 3, Fantasy, Real Heroes, Space, Tech & Games, and World Travel. Call to order yours!
Maker Kits: Make something cool with Miss Val.
To order & participate:
1. Choose which maker kit you’d like. Currently you may select from:
Kit #1: Paper Weaving (Easy/Preschool)
Kit #2: Yarn Bowls (Intermediate/Elementary)
Kit #3: Paper Cup Towers (Easy STEM)
Kit #4: Straw Structures (Intermediate STEM)
Kit #5: Pipe Cleaner Challenge (Intermediate STEM)
Kit #6: Garden in a Cup (Easy/Preschool)
2. Contact the library to order yours by calling (620) 223-2882 or email [email protected].
3. You may order 1 kit PER CHILD at a time. Once you have finished with the kit, order the same one again or a different one. Available while supplies last. Caution: Some kit items are not safe for young children. Parental supervision is strongly advised for children ages 3 and under.
4. Go to the Maker Kits Playlist on YouTubeto watch the accompanying video so your child can use the items in their kits right along with Miss Val.
1. Choose which maker kit you’d like. Currently you may select from:
Kit #1: Paper Weaving (Easy/Preschool)
Kit #2: Yarn Bowls (Intermediate/Elementary)
Kit #3: Paper Cup Towers (Easy STEM)
Kit #4: Straw Structures (Intermediate STEM)
Kit #5: Pipe Cleaner Challenge (Intermediate STEM)
Kit #6: Garden in a Cup (Easy/Preschool)
2. Contact the library to order yours by calling (620) 223-2882 or email [email protected].
3. You may order 1 kit PER CHILD at a time. Once you have finished with the kit, order the same one again or a different one. Available while supplies last. Caution: Some kit items are not safe for young children. Parental supervision is strongly advised for children ages 3 and under.
4. Go to the Maker Kits Playlist on YouTubeto watch the accompanying video so your child can use the items in their kits right along with Miss Val.
1,000 
Books Before Kindergarten: The Library offers a free early literacy program called 1,000 Books Before Kindergartenfor children from birth through kindergarten. Each complete reading of a book that the child hears counts toward their 1,000 books, and participants receive rewards for reaching each 100-book milestone. Currently, you may choose to track your child’s readingthrough the 1,000 Booksor the Reader Zone app (contact us for the code), on regular paper, or whatever works for you. Email Miss Val or message the library on Facebook with each 100-book milestone you reach, along with a photo of your child holding a printed or handwritten sign showing the milestone and/or a book, for the library to share your child’s success on their Facebook page (optional). If you choose the photo option, we will post it in our program’s Facebook album and print a photo for you to keep. Either way, we will also give them the sticker for that milestone and a free book of choice from a reward book list (you may get them through our curbside pickup). We do allow children below kindergarten age to continue on beyond 1,000 books for additional rewards. Visit this link: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Signup Form to sign your child up online, or email Miss Val at [email protected].
Books Before Kindergarten: The Library offers a free early literacy program called 1,000 Books Before Kindergartenfor children from birth through kindergarten. Each complete reading of a book that the child hears counts toward their 1,000 books, and participants receive rewards for reaching each 100-book milestone. Currently, you may choose to track your child’s readingthrough the 1,000 Booksor the Reader Zone app (contact us for the code), on regular paper, or whatever works for you. Email Miss Val or message the library on Facebook with each 100-book milestone you reach, along with a photo of your child holding a printed or handwritten sign showing the milestone and/or a book, for the library to share your child’s success on their Facebook page (optional). If you choose the photo option, we will post it in our program’s Facebook album and print a photo for you to keep. Either way, we will also give them the sticker for that milestone and a free book of choice from a reward book list (you may get them through our curbside pickup). We do allow children below kindergarten age to continue on beyond 1,000 books for additional rewards. Visit this link: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Signup Form to sign your child up online, or email Miss Val at [email protected].
Summer Reading 2021: From June 1 – August 17, join the library online for the Tails and Tales Summer Reading Program! We will have events and challenges for all ages, including:
Weekly, themed story programs live on Zoom or Google Meet for Preschool and Elementary age groups. We will also do weekly craft demonstrations to go along with the story themes. You may choose instead to watch the pre-recorded versions of the story videos on YouTube or Facebook. Crafts and activities that correspond with the program videos will be available for curbside pickup. Most story programs and craft videos will feature special guests from our community, and stay tuned for animal friends to join in, too!
Weekly programs for 6th – 12th graders live on Zoom or Google Meet – similar to the library’s year-round teen program. Corresponding supplies and snacks will be available through curbside pickup.
Important Note: Grade level is determined by what grade your child will enter in the fall.
Virtual Performances by Magician Jeff Quinn (a customized, pre-recorded video will air for a limited time), Musician Thad Beach ( a customized, pre-recorded video will air for a limited time), and the Flint Hills Discovery Center will present Live Reptile Encounters online on June 16 for Preschoolers from 10 – 10:30 am and Elementary students from 11 – 11:30 am.
Reading and Participation Challenges – Read a set number of pages, books, minutes, or chapters weekly to earn awesome prizes! You may also complete a series of weekly, monthly, or summer-long challenges to earn additional rewards, such as age-appropriate books, toys, art supplies, household items, vanity items, games, and food coupons. Each prize is selected by Miss Val with the individual child in mind. Participants may choose between tracking their reading and challenge completion through the Reader Zone app, Google Forms, or on a paper log.
To register for the 2021 Youth Summer Reading Program, visit this link: 2021 Youth Summer Reading Signup Form or look for paper forms at the library in Mid-April. We need volunteers to read and craft for us, or to record or go live with their amazing animals all summer long! If you would like to volunteer, sign up here: 2021 Summer Reading Volunteer Form.
We will hand out physical welcome packets to participants beginning in late May.
Stay tuned to the library’s website, Google calendar, or social media (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) for more information and the latest library news. You may also find us on TikTok, Pinterest, Flickr, Tumblr, or Reddit. You may also add Miss Val on Snapchat as FS Librarian Valetta C ( or awakenedvc).