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Photo compilation of the five county libraries

Locations & Hours

 

Library

Youth Programming

Below you'll find the latest information on upcoming programming—you can also follow us on our Facebook page and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date.

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Dig into curiosity, reading, nature, science, and fun with the La Crosse County Library’s "Unearth a Story" Summer Library Program for babies through teens.  

Unearth a Story Reading Program (For babies - entering grade 5)

The reading program runs from June 1 to July 25, and it’s easy to join! Beginning June 1, just grab a reading record at any of our five locations—Bangor, French Island, Holmen, Onalaska, or West Salem.  Thanks to our generous Friends groups, your reading record will include a coupon for a free item at your home location’s book sale. 

Then you’re on your way to setting your OWN reading goals and adventures. When you finish, we’ll help you celebrate with a free new book and a ticket to our Ice Cream Party with games and inflatables. 

READING RECORD DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

 

Teen Reading Raffle (Entering grades 6-12)

Each time you read a book and submit a ticket (available online and in person), your name will be entered into a Grand Prize Pack drawing of your choice. Plus, EVERYONE wins a Reading Raffle Reader prize just for participating and a ticket to the Ice Cream Party.

Grand Prize Packs

  1. Unearth Action Adventure: $50 gift card and t-shirt from The Great Escape of La Crosse; T. Rex Fossils Model Building Set
  2. Unearth Your Creativity: PicassoTab-X11 Standalone Drawing Tablet, writing tips and signed book from local author Christy Wopat
  3. Cash: $100 Target card

SUBMIT A TICKET

 

Free Family Events

Visit throughout the summer for entertaining programs. We’ll have snakes, storytellers, dancers, animatronic dinosaurs, and more! Check out our Summer Library Program Flyer or our Events page for dates and times.

Register for Summer Programs

 

Illustration of Black girl reading a book sitting on a moss-covered branch. Words read

 

The following summer program requires online registration:

    Upcoming Programs

    All of our upcoming events can now be found on our Events page! Filter by location, topic, and/or age group to find what you're looking for, and you can register directly on the program page. Check it out!

    Photo of open notebook with word Events underlined

     

    DRIFTLESS ECO EXPLORERS
    Holmen Library | Mon, July 6 at 11 am
    Great River Landing | Thurs, July 9 at 11 am

    TINY STEAM
    Tues, July 7 | Holmen Library | Drop in 10am-12pm
    Details

    STORYTELLING WITH THE STORY PROSPECTOR
    West Salem Library | July 8 at 12:30 pm
    Bangor Library | July 8 at 3:30 pm
    Onalaska Library | July 8 at 6:30 pm
    Details

    TINY STEAM
    Tues, July 14 | Onalaska Library | Drop in 10am-12pm
    Details

    ANIMATRONIC DINOSAURS
    Onalaska Library | July 15 at 12:30 pm
    Bangor Library | July 15 at 3:30 pm
    Holmen Library | July 15 at 6:30 pm
    Details

    DIGGING DEEP: SOIL EXPLORATION FOR KIDS
    Onalaska Library | July 16 at 2 pm
    Details

    BLUFF COUNTRY TALE SPINNERS
    Onalaska Library | July 18 at 10 am
    Details

    READ WITH BERNICE AND BLUFF COUNTRY SNAKES
    West Salem Library | July 22 at 12:30 pm
    Holmen Library | July 22 at 3:30 pm
    French Island Library | July 22 at 6:30 pm
    Details

    NATURE MUSIC WITH WILL
    Holmen Library | July 29 at 12:30 pm
    French Island Library | July 29 at 3:30 pm
    West Salem Library | July 29 at 6:30 pm

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    TEENS LEADING CHANGE (TLC)

    TLC is our new teen leadership initiative designed to give youth ages 12-18 a greater voice in designing teen spaces and services at the library and a larger role in accelerating positive change. By participating in TLC, you can satisfy community service/volunteer hours, gain leadership and project management experience, and collaborate with other teens who want to make a difference.

    Meetings will be held at 3:30 pm on the last Wednesday of the month at our Onalaska location’s Youth Services Program Room. Bring your friends!

    Next Meeting:

    Onalaska Public Library
    Youth Services Program Room
    Wed, July 29, at 3:30 pm

     

    Teen Movies

    Bring your friends, play games, eat pizza, and watch a movie on the big screen ... for free. For tweens/teens entering grades 6-12; no registration required.

    Mondays at Holmen
    Wednesdays at West Salem
    Thursdays at Onalaska

    5 pm - Hang out, relax
    5:30 pm - Movie begins

    June 29, July 1, July 2 - Jurassic Park (PG-13, 2 hrs, 7 min)

    July 6, 8, 9 - Hoppers (PG, 1 hr, 45 min)

    July 13, 15, 16 - Superman (2025, PG-13, 2 hrs, 2 min)

    July 20, 22, 23 - Freakier Friday (PG, 1 hr, 37 min)

     

    Teen Book Club

    Note: Our Teen Book Club is on hiatus for the summer. When we return, we'll meet the first Wednesday of every month at 3:30pm at the library. No assigned books, just read a book within the selected genre. Spread the word and bring your friends. For grades 6-12.


    Tiny Tales

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    Join us for story times designed for our friends ages 0-36 months (but all ages welcome). We offer 20 minutes of caregiver and baby fun and bonding with books, bounces, songs, and rhymes followed by unstructured play and read time. No registration required.

    June 11 - June 25 and July 9 - July 23

    Holmen Library: Thursdays at 10:15 am

    Library Learners
    Image of tiny children playfully climbing over large books and the words

    Join us for story times full of books, movement, songs, and fun. Story Times last approximately 25 minutes and are geared toward youth ages 3 - entering first grade, but all ages are welcome. Registration is recommended; sign up here.

    June 8 - June 26 and July 6 - July 24

    Bangor Library: Mondays at 10:15 am

    French Island Library: Thursdays at 6:30 pm

    Holmen Library: Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:15 am

    Onalaska Library:
    Mondays at 10 am and 6:30 pm
    Thursdays at 10 am
    Fridays at 10 am

    West Salem Library: 
    Tuesdays at 6:30 pm
    Wednesdays at 10:15 am

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    Learn phrases, sing songs, and baila con amor! This program is geared toward families wanting to learn about Latin American culture, and for those who are missing home. Geared for ages 3 and up; no registration required.

    Aprende frases, canta canciones, y baila con amor. Este programa está dirigido a las familias que quieren aprender sobre la cultura latinoamericana, y para aquellos que echan de menos su hogar. Edades 3 en adelante; no es necesario inscribirse.

    Holmen Library
    Sat, June 20 at 11 am

    Onalaska Library
    Sat, July 18 at 11 am

    1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

    Image of field of wildflowers with text that reads Grow a Reader 1,000 books before Kindergarten

     

    Grow a reader!

    Caregivers, join us in nurturing a love for reading and building a strong learning foundation for kids ages 0 through Pre-K. As little readers make their way through their books, they’ll earn stickers, track their progress on our library display, and choose a FREE book when they finish!

    Swing by any La Crosse County Library location to pick up your FREE book bag and reading log to get started!

    Reader's Advisory

    Image of three young girls looking at a book at the library


    Request Lit Love Bundle

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    Reader's Advisory is a service to assist young people and their families, and those who work with children, in selecting reading materials. Stop by to talk with a youth services librarian at the Library’s youth services desks in Onalaska, Holmen, and West Salem, or before and after youth programs at any of the five County Library branches. They will be happy to recommend books and other materials for children and teens with regard to abilities, age levels, and interests.

    We are pleased to offer a reader’s advisory service at our locations and online as an empowering tool to help connect you with books and resources that meet your needs! As with all of our reader’s advisory initiatives, we understand that you know best what materials will work for you. While we are happy to give suggestions based on our knowledge of our collection, your reading and checkout choices are always in your hands.

    Lit Love Book Bundles

    Curious about creepy crawlies? Robo-motion? How to introduce your preschooler to Hebrew and other languages with Sesame Street?

    Cozy up with some literary love curated just for you by our Youth Services team. Just let us know what you're interested in, and we'll help you find it! Service also available for educators.

    Youth Services Staff travel to each of the five library locations to conduct programs, select and maintain books and other materials, conduct Reader's Advisory, and provide many other services for children, teens, and their families.

    Youth Services has offices in Holmen, Onalaska & West Salem:

    Holmen Public Library
    121 W. Legion St * PO Box 220
    Holmen, WI 54636
    608-399-3385

    Onalaska Public Library
    741 Oak Ave S
    Onalaska, WI 54650
    608-781-9568 ext 3

    West Salem Library
    702 Industrial Drive
    West Salem, WI 54669
    608-786-1505

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