Williamsburg Regional Library Events & Activities This Week
Youth Events:
April 8 & 9- Baby Lapsit Storytime Baby Lapsit Storytime is a storytime program especially for babies from birth to 18 months and their caregivers. This storytime includes 15 minutes of songs, fingerplays, and lap games. This storytime will feature the same songs and activities every week; this repetition of rhymes and songs forms a foundation for learning for your baby and strengthens the language connections in the brain.
April 8 – 10 AM at Williamsburg Library
April 9 – 10 AM at James City County Library
April 8 & 9 – Baby Stay and Play Stay after storytime or just come in for the playdate to chat with other caregivers while your baby has fun with our toy collection. On the first Monday and Tuesday of each month, experts from Child Development Resources will join us to answer your questions about your baby’s development.
April 8 – 10 AM at Williamsburg Library
April 9 – 10 AM at James City County Library
April 9 & 10 – Toddler Storytime Toddler Storytime is a program designed for toddlers aged 18 months to 3 years and their caregivers, featuring brief stories, rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and other activities.
April 9 – 10 AM at Williamsburg Library
April 10 – 10 AM at James City County Library
April 8, 10, 11 – Preschool Storytime Preschool Storytime is a program designed for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old and their caregivers featuring stories, rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and other activities.
April 8 – 10 AM at James City County Library
April 10 – 10 AM Williamsburg Library
April 11 – 10 AM at James City County Library
April 10 – Homeschool Enrichment: Engineering with LEGO Learn STEAM concepts, problem solving, and the engineering process while you build with LEGO®, in another installment of our LEGO® Education SPIKE series. Pick up a ticket at the Children’s Desk starting 30 minutes before the program to reserve your spot. 2 PM at James City County Library
April 12 – Up, Up, and Away / Storytime at the Airport Join the WRL Bookmobile team for an all ages storytime at the Williamsburg Jamestown Airport. While you’re there, you can see planes take off and land right outside! 10 AM at Williamsburg Jamestown Airport
April 14 – Spring Festival Celebrate springtime with the library! This fun-filled, educational event is a great opportunity to connect with local organizations and learn about gardening, the importance of pollinators, and more. Help judge our Edible Book contest! 1:30-4 PM – Stryker Center
April 14 – Quiet Time for the Spectrum Enjoy the library before hours in a quieter, less stimulating environment for people with autism and sensory issues. 12-1 PM – James City County Library
April 15 is the LAST Day to Submit Poems for the Youth Poetry Contest WRL invites middle school and high school students (ages 9-18) in James City County, York County, and the City of Williamsburg to participate in a WRL Poetry Contest. Submit one poem 3-26 lines long; one submission per person. Cash prizes will be awarded. Printed poems can be dropped off at either library location at the Adult Services desk between April 1-15 or emailed to teens@wrl.org. Winners and honorable mention poems may be posted on the WRL web page and read at the awards presentation by either the writer or a designee. Poetry reading and prize presentation is 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28, in the Williamsburg Theatre. You do not have to be present to win.
Open Art Studio Come paint, draw, create, and explore with a variety of materials in the Open Art Studio. James City County Library
Monday-Thrusday from 1-7 PM
Friday from 1-5 PM
Saturday & Sunday from 1-4 PM
Daily – Come Play at the Kiwanis Kids Idea Studio! Come in from the cold to the James City County Library. Play in a vibrant, engaging area that focuses on the twin literacy skills of reading and play. The Kiwanis Kids Idea Studio integrates our collection with children’s museum-style elements including air tubes, an interactive floor, a giant tablet table, and more! James City County Library
Daily – Story Trail Take a walk outdoors and read a story at the James City County Library’s Story Trail. We invite families to walk from page to page in the green space behind the library. All Day – James City County Library
Teens:
April 15 – Youth Poetry Contest WRL invites middle school and high school students (ages 9-18) in James City County, York County, and the City of Williamsburg to participate in a WRL Poetry Contest. Submit one poem 3-26 lines long; one submission per person. Cash prizes will be awarded. Printed poems can be dropped off at either library location at the Adult Services desk between April 1-15 or emailed to teens@wrl.org. Click the button below for submission guidelines. 1-4 PM – All Libraries
Now – May 7 – Youth Art Show Exhibit Join WRL in celebrating youth art and creativity in our community! WRL invited middle school and high school students in James City County, York County, and the City of Williamsburg to share one original work of art to be displayed. Exhibit hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm at the Stryker Center
Daily — NEW Teen Room at the James City County Library Check out the brand-new teen room at the James City County Library! This room features fun tech including virtual reality headsets, Nintendo Switches, an arcade game table, and lounge seating. For ages 13-18.
Adult:
April 8 – Solar Eclipse Bring-Your-Own Picnic A total solar eclipse will cross our area at approximately 2 pm. Bring your own picnic to experience this amazing astronomical event outside on City Square! We’ll provide snacks, special eclipse viewing glasses while supplies last, and live music by Joe’s Day Off Trio. 12:30-2:30 PM – City Square
April 8 – Mahjong Lessons Come learn this ancient Chinese board game! No experience necessary. 2 PM – Stryker Center
April 9 – Virtual Author Talk: From Murder to Atonement–Confronting My Son’s Killer Watch a one-of-a-kind conversation with National Book Award-winner Colum McCann as he is joined by Diane Foley, the inspiration behind the heartrending book American Mother. American Mother is the story of a mother who, in the course of confronting her son’s killer, gets to the elemental heart of violence and forgiveness. 2 PM – Virtual
April 9 – SCORE Workshop: How to Start & Manage a Non-Profit Organization Starting and running a non-profit organization requires more applications and approvals than a conventional business. How long will it take? Attend this workshop and you will learn how to start a non-profit. Click the button below to register for this event. 5:30-7:30 PM – Williamsburg Library
April 10 – Internet 101 Learn the basics of navigating a web page, including how to bookmark so you can find pages later. Seating is limited, please call 757.741.3300 and choose option 2 to sign up. 2 PM – Williamsburg Library
April 10 – Dewey Decibel Concert Series: Peninsula Concert Band The Peninsula Concert Band will perform a variety of music including march, classic, and popular music. The band is made up of volunteers and has been performing in the Tidewater area for 72 years. Their mission is to educate, entertain, and enrich the community. Free admission, no tickets required. 7 PM – Williamsburg Library
April 11 – Introduction to Libby Learn how to use the library’s one-stop shop for ebooks and eaudiobooks. Please bring the mobile device you want to read or listen on (smartphone, tablet, ereader). You will need to know your library card number, your password for downloading apps, and your Amazon password if using a Kindle device. We will also go over using Libby on a desktop computer. Seating is limited; please register by calling 757.741.3300, and select option 2 to sign up. 2 PM – Williamsburg Library
April 13 – The Heroes of the Titanic (And One Villain) Join author and historian Bradley Harper on April 13, 2024, one day short of the 112th anniversary of the day the Titanic ended its trans-Atlantic journey to sink into legend. Brad will speak of the heroes and villains of that fateful night and, at the end, discuss the premise for his historical novel, pitting a gang of female thieves against the son of the real-life inspiration of Professor Moriarty as they do a battle of wits over a life-sized painting of a nude Circassian woman by the French artist Blondel, which was aboard the ship. 10 AM – Stryker Center
Makerspace Open! Check out our new creative space at the Williamsburg Library. Explore 3D printers, Glowforge 3D laser printer, Cricut, and sewing machines during walk-in hours. Read more about the Makerspace. Walk-in hours: Mon-Thurs: 1 – 7 PM, Fri: 1 PM – 5 PM, Sun & Sun: 1 – 4 PM.
Updated Jan. 5, 2024: Free Covid tests are available at both library buildings! Ask a WRL staff member for a kit (limit 2 per person) or call to schedule a curbside pickup at 757.741.3300, option 1. A library card is not required.
Check the WRL calendar for additional events this week and upcoming www.wrl.org/events/
Book Clubs
April 3 – Fellowship in a Ring 6:30 PM James City County Library
April 13 – Next Chapter 2 PM Williamsburg Library
April 16 – Turning Pages 6:45 PM Williamsburg Library & Virtual
James City County Library
7770 Croaker Road,
757.741.3300
Williamsburg Library
515 Scotland Street,
757.741.3300
Stryker Center
412 N Boundary St,
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Abram Frink Jr. Community Center
8901 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, VA, 23185