Kids and Teens

Keene Public Library received a three-year National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for Little Makers: Library STEM and Maker Activities for Very Young Learners.

You can sign up for our events and classes online.

We specialize in developing age-appropriate programming that supports the importance of play and healthy parent/child relationships in early childhood development and learning.

We offer regular storytimes where children's librarians share books, stories, rhymes, and songs with you and your child. Storytimes encourage language and pre-reading skill development that help your child grow into a successful reader. Parents are encouraged to participate. Get ready for storytime by reading our storytime tips, and let us know if you and your child require accommodations.

We also offer special celebrations throughout the year. Sign up for email alerts regarding children's activities at the library.

Reading Rockets is a great website to know. Visit the site for tips for struggling readers, a thorough list of award-winning books, reading topics A to Z, and more.

Suggestions are available from knowledgeable library staff both online and in person.

***Summer Reading Suggestions***

Comforting Reads for Difficult Times Booklist (May 2017)

Global Fiction for Middle-Grade Readers    

Graphic Novels for K - Grade 2, Grades 3 -5, and Grades 6-8

Historical Fiction for Kids

Stories of Immigration Booklist

Tough Topics: Inspiring Conversations in Difficult Times (K - Grade 6, combined)

Unity, Kindness, Peace (November 2016)    

We recommend these resources.

We also offer special celebrations throughout the year. 

Some of our favorite school-age programs include family dances and Maker programs but look at our Public Event Caledar to see what might be your favorites.

Sign up for email alerts regarding children's activities at the library.

Our Youth Librarians are the help you'll find on using the library and our resources. You can call us at 603-352-0157 with a question. 

Here are some of the answers to the questions that we are most asked.

Check out a museum pass and experience new adventures at various New England cultural destinations. Reservations can be made in person or by phone, and all passes must be picked up during library hours. The Friends of the Keene Pubilc Library generously provide these Museum Passes for the use of all Keene Public Library cardholders.

The Keene Public is committed to serving all families, including families schooling their children at home.

Visit our Public Event Calendar to see what events and classes are being offered. 

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Homeschooling families can benefit from Interlibrary Loan. ILL allows library customers to request and receive books not owned by the Keene Public Library. Theoretically, you can access the circulating book collections of all university and public libraries throughout the United States with ILL.

Interlibrary Loan is available to Keene Public Library patrons only. If you are not a KPL cardholder, you can request this service through your local library.

There is a limit of 3 active requests per person.

Request a book, video, DVD, audiobook, or sound recording. 

Keene Public Library has an extensive collection of parenting books in the Youth Department,

For suggestions for books to read to a young child or for a child to read independently, please visit either the Early Childhood or School Age Child accordion tab on this page.

For suggestions of books to help parents and others inspire conversations with children going through challenging situations like the death of a loved one, an unexpected move, natural disasters, and more, please visit the resource Tough Topics. Resources for adults are also included.

We also have kits of books on divorce, the death of a family member, and going to the hospital. 

Keene Public Library has a collection of Big Books available for checkout. Put "big books" into the subject heading menu to find these books in Keene-Link. These books have a checkout period of four weeks.

Teachers and care providers can check out a Stories to Go Kit full of materials to share with kids.

Bring your class to the library for a tour, story program, library orientation, and introduction to research. With enough notice, teachers from Keene schools can distribute free cards to students during the visit. Teachers must send home Keene Public Library card applications to their students, and the completed and signed applications must be turned into the library one week before the class visit. For more information, visit our class visit page.

Don't worry if you can't get to the library because now the library can come to you. Call us at (603) 757-1856 and book an outreach visit to your school!

Keene Public Library can support your curricula by developing customized booklists, webliographies, and study guides tailored to the unique needs of your students. Call the Youth Department at (603) 757-1856 if you need book suggestions. 

Keene Public Library cards are free for residents of Keene. And, out-of-town students attending a Keene school full-time are eligible for a free library card. Students and their parents or guardians must bring proof of attendance to receive a card for out-of-town students.

Full-time teachers at any Keene school are eligible for free Keene Public Library cards.

Holders of Keene Public Library cards can borrow materials from Keene State College. The Curriculum Materials Library comprises approximately 16,500 items. These include books, videos, textbook sets, curriculum models, math and science manipulatives, pattern blocks, simple machines, educational games, and puppets. The CML also has two special collections: The Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) and The Safe Schools collections.

You can go to Keene State and check out the materials or have them delivered to the Keene Public Library for pickup.