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Edwardsville Public Library Youth Events & Programs – April 2025
Sign-Up for programs requiring registration begins April 1.
Tuesdays, April 1 – April 29
Teen Game Night
6:00 – 7:30 PM. For grades 6-12. Go on a quest with fellow players in the classic fantasy role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons, or drop in with friends to play one of our tabletop games.
Tuesday, April 2
Lego Club
4:30 – 5:30 PM. For ages 5-12 years. Just bring your imagination – we’ll supply the Legos!
Friday, April 4
Teen Anime Watch Party
4:00 – 5:30 PM. Registration Required. For grades 6-12. Calling all teen anime enthusiasts! Unite at this welcoming space for both die-hard fans and those just getting started to explore a variety of genres, engage in lively discussions, and make new friends who love anime as much as you do.
Sunday, April 6 – Saturday, April 12
National Library Week
at the Edwardsville Public Library. What draws you in to the library? Whatever it may be, the library has something for everyone! Show the library some love and stop in to celebrate with us.
Sunday, April 6 – Wednesday, April 30
Keepsake Bookmark Contest
at the Edwardsville Public Library. Kids ages 5-11 are invited to enter our Keepsake Bookmark Contest to share what “DRAWS” them to the library. Entries accepted through April 30. The winning design will be professionally printed and available at the circulation desks. Details on our website.
Tuesday, April 8
Books for Babies Lapsit
10:00 – 10:30 AM. For ages 0-23 months. Stories, songs, and bouncing babies! Read and rhyme with your little one, and connect with other caregivers.
Wednesday, April 9
Spring Stories
10:00 – 10:30 AM. For children of all ages. Enjoy stories, songs, and bubbles with your little one and story time friends! Craft activity included.
Wednesday, April 9
Read to a Dog
4:00 – 5:00 PM. Registration Required. A therapy dog will be visiting the library and wants to listen to you read! Each young reader will have 15 minutes with the dog-on-duty.
Thursday, April 10
Keychain Craft Class
6:00 – 7:30 PM. Registration Required. For grades 6-12. Sign up to make a new keychain! Dig into a bag of pony beads and learn the art of brickstitch (a Native American beading technique) to begin your beading journey.
Friday, April 11
Drop-In Play Time
10:00 – 11:00 AM. For families with children ages 1-5 years. Enjoy engaging sensory activities! All Families are welcome to join. This open play is especially great for kids with multi-sensory needs.
Friday, April 11 – Saturday, April 12
Stuffed Animal Sleepover
at the Edwardsville Public Library. Send your favorite stuffed animal on an overnight at the library! Drop off your stuffie by 6pm on Friday night, then join us the next morning at 10am for a light breakfast and photo slideshow of all the fun they had!
Monday, April 14
Teen Crochet Club
3:30 – 5:00 PM. Registration Required. For grades 6-12. Whether you’re new to crochet or a seasoned stitcher, come join us to learn new techniques, share tips, and connect with other crocheters. If you have your own supplies and project, bring it along. Basic supplies available.
Tuesday, April 15
Perler Bead Brigade
3:30 – 5:30 PM. Registration Required. For grades 6-12. Pixelate your world! Create cool designs using perler beads during the session. Materials and some ideas will be available, but feel free to bring your own designs.
Tuesday, April 15
JewelRide Books for Bikes Spring Reading Challenge Ends
at the Edwardsville Public Library. For grades K-8. Spring into Summer with a new bike! Read & log books to earn up to 20 entries to the raffle. Turn in your paper logs at the Youth Desk or log your books on Beanstack by 8pm on April 15. Then join us upstairs in the rotunda for the raffle on Saturday, April 26 at 10am. While we hope to have an audience to cheer on the lucky readers, you do not need to be present to win. See our website for more details!
Thursday, April 17
Toadstool Tales
4:30 – 6:00 PM. For children of all ages. Explore the lore of spores, fables of fungi, and the power of puffballs at this magical story time, with special guest, the Mushroom Fairy! Young foragers will learn about mushroom identification, life cycles, behaviors, and more through fun, learning activities.
Saturday, April 19
Read to a Dog
10:00 – 11:00 AM. Registration Required. A therapy dog will be visiting the library and wants to listen to you read! Each young reader will have 15 minutes with the dog-on-duty.
Monday, April 21
Middle School Graphic Novel Club
4:00 – 5:00 PM. Registration Required. For grades 5-8. Dive into pages of panels! Join to chat all about The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud. Check out a copy from the Youth Desk when you register.
Tuesday, April 22
Books for Babies Lapsit
10:00 – 10:30 AM. For ages 0-23 months. Stories, songs, and bouncing babies! Read and rhyme with your little one, and connect with other caregivers.
Tuesday, April 22
Pokémon Hangout
4:30 – 5:30 PM. For ages 7-12 years. Gotta catch ‘em all! Gather with fellow Pokémon enthusiasts to trade, battle, and try a variety of crafts and games!
Wednesday, April 23
Spring Stories
10:00 – 10:30 AM. For children of all ages. Enjoy stories, songs, and bubbles with your little one and story time friends! Craft activity included.
Thursday, April 24
Fantasy Kids Crafts
4:00 – 5:00 PM. Registration Required. For ages 5-12 years. Join us for an exciting program featuring dragon-inspired fantasy crafts! Participants will have the opportunity to create their own dragon-themed crafts, including a playdough dragon egg, clothespin dragon, and work together to create
a giant paper chain dragon! This program is provided by Jennifer Buchheit, author of “The Big Book of Fantasy Kid Crafts” and creator of Studio Rosie.
Thursday, April 24
Teen Poetry Open Mic
10:00 – 10:30 AM. For grades 6-12. April is National Poetry Month -
celebrate at the library! Take the mic and read poems or lyrics of your choice! You can share original poems or lyrics, or a favorite selection by another artist. Whether it’s Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Mother Goose, or yourself, we want to hear it. Light snacks provided, and all attendees can enter to win a door prize!
Saturday, April 26
JewelRide Books for Bikes Raffle
6:30 – 7:30 PM. Join us upstairs in the rotunda for our big bike raffle! While we hope to have an audience to cheer on the lucky readers, you do not need to be present to win. See our website for more details!
Monday, April 28
Teen Crochet Club
3:30 – 5:00 PM. Registration Required. For grades 6-12. Whether you’re new to crochet or a seasoned stitcher, come join us to learn new techniques, share tips, and connect with other crocheters. If you have your own supplies and project, bring it along. Basic supplies available.
Wednesday, April 30
To Be Read… Teen Book Club
4:00 – 5:00 PM. For grades 6-12. This month, we are reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Register to get a free copy of the book at the Youth Desk. If registration spots fill up, teens are still welcome to join – ask us to request a copy of the book to check out.
Thursday, May 1
The Book Was Better Movie Screening
5:00 – 7:30 PM. For grades 6-12. Let’s be honest - the book is almost always better than its movie counterpart, but it’s still fun to watch! Bring your friends, your own drink with lid, and enjoy free popcorn and lively discussion comparing the film to the page. Check our website for movie title
Edwardsville Public Library
Adult Events & Programs
Saturday, April 12 & 26
Chair Yoga
10:00 AM Instructor Julie Hamilton leads this class using many common yoga poses.
Thursdays, April 3 & 17
Movie Matinees
Noon At the Edwardsville Public Library. Bring a brown bag lunch, and we’ll provide the drinks and popcorn. Please call the library or go to our website for movie titles.
Thursday, April 10
The Cozy Comics Club
6:30 PM Discussing – Fantastic Four by Ryan North
Sunday, April 13
Sunday Sunrise Yoga
9:00 AM Registration Required Join Yoga Instructor Lisa Allen for an hour of peaceful yoga and meditation followed by coffee & snacks.
Monday, April 21
The Reader’s Outpost
6:30 PM Discussing – We Are Legion by Dennis E. Taylor
Monday, April 28
Nothing but Vinyl Club
6:00 PM Bring your favorite record and play us your favorite song.
Wednesday, April 16
Adult Anime Club
5:30 PM Are you a fan of Japanese animation? Come hang out with people with shared interests. Showing - Memories (1995)
Tuesday, April 29
Riveted Readers Book Club
6:30 PM Discussing – Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
Monday, April 7
Chess Club
6:30 PM A casual environment for masters and novices to meet up to play and enjoy one of the oldest games in the world.
Monday, April 14
The Rough Drafts Writing Club
6:00 PM Bring your current project or start something new. One hour of dedicated writing time and a half hour to discuss and share thoughts & ideas.
Monday, April 21
Monday Evening Yoga
6:00 PM Instructor Lisa Allen will teach this hour-long class of peaceful evening yoga and meditation.
Wednesday, April 9 & 23
Adult Crochet Club
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Registration Required Come join us to learn new techniques, share tips, and connect with other adult crocheters.
Thursday, April 17
Happily Ever After
6:30 PM EPL’s new romance book club, discussing – The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Thursday, April 3
Recovery Without Stigma
6:30 PM Mark Knott, with Metro East Recovery Council, will be discussing the stigma of substance abuse disorder and how to deal with this sensitive and personal issue in a non-judgmental manner.
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Saturday, April 19
House Plant Swap
12:00 PM Come between the hours of noon and 1PM to drop off your house plants, clippings or unused garden seeds to give them a second life. Those who dropped off a plant will have priority access to the swap between the hours of 1-2PM. From 2-3PM the swap is open for the public to enjoy! Please no outdoor plants, bulk cuttings, or unidentifiable seeds.
Wednesday, April 30
Sourdough Starter Workshop
6:00 PM Certified nutritionist, Abigail Parker, will take the guesswork out of sourdough as she teaches her failproof process of sourdough creation. Learn how to go from starter to your first delicious loaf of bread. Go home with your own sourdough starter, plus a mini loaf of sourdough in anticipation of your own creation. Sponsored by the Edwardsville Library Friends.
Sunday, April 13
Puzzle Race Eggstravaganza
2:00 PM Join us for an EGGciting puzzle race! Each team will get the same 500 piece puzzle, and the first to assemble it will win a prize! Teams can be as small as 2 members and as large as 5. All ages welcome!
Wednesday, April 23
Breath by Breath: A Cystic Fibrosis Warrior’s Journey Through Lung Transplant and Beyond
6:00 PM Christina Schulze battled significant health struggles to become a pharmacist. Now, through her mentoring service, Life at Pancake Rocks, she shares her journey of resilience. This is a story of resilience, hope, and finding meaning in every breath.
Saturday, April 26
USPS Passport Fair
9:00 AM Representatives of the US Postal Service will be in the library to assist those looking to get their first passport or renew an expired passport. They can also help with an expedited passport if you need that service. To see what services will be offered, and what documents to bring, please check the front page of the Library’s Website.
Saturday, April 5
Empathy First Saturdays: Human Library
2:00 - 5:00 PM Visit The Human Library to have compassionate 1-1 or small group conversations with Human Books to promote cross-cultural understanding. Drop by the Library, choose human(s) from our “catalog”, and sign up for 15-min. time slot(s) with the book(s) you choose. Our Human Books include international students, formerly incarcerated people, formerly homeless people, and others whose life experiences may put them at risk of prejudice. This is an adult program. Youth under 18 may participate with parental permission.
Sunday, April 27
Edwardsville Fandemonium
1:00 PM Back for its second year, join us for EPL’s nerdy mini convention!
The entire library will be abuzz with fun for the whole family. This year’s con will feature:
Limited Edition Comic Book Library Cards
Geeky Trivia Rounds
Pokemon Card Trading
Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game
D&D Monster Arena Battles
LEGO Masters Building Area
Free comic books & more
Plus, activities for kids in the Youth Library!
Illinois Libraries Present: Virtual Events: The Art of Foraging with Alexis Nikole Nelson
Thursday, April 10
7:00 PM Celebrate Earth Month with BlackForager, Alexis Nikole Nelson. A forager, outdoor educator, chef, and influencer based in Ohio, Nelson uses her platforms to yell, sing and celebrate all the edible plants hiding in plain sight.
National Library Week
April 6 - 12
What draws you in to the library? Whatever it may be, the library has something for everyone! Show the library some love and stop in to celebrate with us.
Book Club Kit & Kaboodles
Calling all book lovers! Whether you're part of a book club or dreaming of starting one, our Book Club Kits are here to make it a breeze. Each kit comes with 8-10 copies of an awesome book, plus thought-provoking discussion questions to keep the conversation lively. You can check them out for a full 6 weeks! Find them in the adult library or check out the online catalog for a full list of available titles!
Edwardsville Memory Digitization Program
If you have family or community photos, movies, or recordings that you can no longer access because they are on old media formats, we can help you convert them to a digital format that you can enjoy and share.
We are able to teach you to convert, among others, 8mm film, VHS, VHS-C, cassettes, vinyl, photo slides and negatives, and we also have a new book scanner.
Here is how the program works:
Call or email so we can talk about what you want to accomplish. We will ask what kinds of media you need to convert and how much you have to work with.
We will make an appointment to give you space in the library to work and set aside time to train you on the equipment. Once you know what you are doing, we will let you work.
The equipment must be used in the library, none of it can leave the building and it can only be used when someone from Adult Services is present in the library. Conversion can be tricky and we want to be on hand to help trouble-shoot.
Start the process by calling 618-692-7556 EXT. 437 or emailing gregk@edwpl.org.
Contact Us
618-692-7556 ext. 6 edereference@edwpl.org
Greg Kessler, Head of Adult Services gregk@edwpl.org
Kelcey Stewart Adult Services Assistant kelceys@edwpl.org
Greg Guntren Adult Services Assistant gregoryg@edwpl.org