Need to reach the Children’s Department? Call us at 203-453-8282 (from 10am-6pm M-F while library is closed to the public) or email us at childrens@guilfordfreelibrary.org and the library will respond as soon as they are able (no circulation inquiries via email!).
The library is currently open for browsing and staying for children and families. There are no computers in the children’s area (go upstairs to the adult section if you need to use a computer), and limited options for in-person play toys. If you wish to return kits/toys/other equipment, please visit the children’s room during open browsing hours (DO NOT PUT THESE ITEMS INTO THE BOOK DROP!).
Anyone entering the children’s department is required to wear a mask regardless of their vaccination status. Masks for children and adults are available at the door. If your child (aged 2 & up) cannot wear a mask properly, please do not bring them to the library. The rest of the library is mask-optional for vaccinated individuals.
Curbside pickup is a service we continue to offer in addition to traditional holds checkout inside the building and browsing for materials. Kits, toys, and other non-standard items cannot be placed on hold nor put out for curbside pickup (you may borrow them in person during open browsing hours only).
Kit and Toy Library items will be quarantined for at least 2 days before being checked in. Do not be alarmed if they are still on your account. There will be no fines assessed during this period of time.
Masks and social distancing continue to be in effect for in-person programs, which take place outside on the library’s front lawn, weather permitting. Please do not show up if you or anyone in your family have been exposed to coronavirus, have a suspected exposure, or tested positive in the last 14 days, or if you are feeling sick or anyone in your household is under quarantine. Call the library at (203) 453-8282 if you cannot make it for any reason so we may let someone else participate. In-person events will take place outside on the library lawn, so bring sunblock, a hat, water, etc. to stay safe in the sun.
Libraries across the state have joined together to host a community calendar of virtual events that are open to residents from any town. To see what libraries in the area are up to, click here.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram for more featured family-friendly resources.
You may access the library’s digital collections from home with your library card. For many of these services, you will also have to create a free account using your email.
Overdrive & Libby (books/audio)
Freading (books) You will need to create a free Adobe Digital Editions account with your email to use this service.
eGo (CT State Library powered by RBdigital) ~ Must create a different username/password than for Guilford/LION content on other RBdigital links above!
Open Library (free ebooks from Internet Archive ~ Must create a free account to access)
Many companies and organizations are stepping up to offer a multitude of learning remotely during this difficult time, and while we can’t keep track of all of them, we will update this list as more resources come to our attention. Please feel free to email us at childrens@guilfordfreelibrary.org if you see something online that you would like to see added to this list.
You may also want to check out our parent/homework resources page here.
Guilford Public Schools latest news & resources
Government Information for Children
Lakeshore free curriculum resources for at-home learning
Mad Science at-home experiments
Crazy 8s Math Club’s At-Home Math Activities
More author talks/picture book read-alouds
Even more author talks/read-alouds
Calendar of live online events w/authors for children/teens
Audible is making some of their children’s content available for free (you must sign up for your own account and they may have other restrictions/paywalls).
Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk live daily Q&A videos with their animals at 3pm on their facebook page.
Peabody@Home is full of learning activities for all ages, printables, ways to browse the collections from home, citizen science for kids, and more.
Beardsley Zoo animal cameras, distance learning resources, and live animal Q&A videos Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 2pm on their facebook page.
The Barnum Museum has tours and programs posted regularly on their youtube channel.
More cameras and virtual tours from parks, zoos, museums, NASA, and more from around the universe.
Keep your body occupied along with your mind by following along at home with the high-kicking hijinks of the Rockettes and their free live classes on Instagram.
Storytime from space (Astronauts reading books to kids from the international space station).
A list of databases (mostly adult/academic/scholarly) that are being made freely available to the public, updated by Library Journal.
Resources for teachers or other librarians from the CT State Library.
The Children’s Department of the Guilford Free Library is the place to read, play, learn and grow! Here you’ll find everything for children from birth through 6th grade, as well as for the adults who come with them.
The children’s room was dedicated to a wonderful former librarian, Lana Ferguson, who gave so much to make it what it is today. Head on over to our facebook page to see pictures from this meaningful event.
Guilford residents with babies or toddlers are welcome to join our early literacy initiative, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. A fun program of reading to your children. Read books, record titles, receive a book bag, and your children will be set for Kindergarten! For more details, click here. To sign up, please visit the children’s room.
