The St. Charles Public Library’s Summer Reading Program will kick off on Tuesday, June 6. Registration will be held from 5 – 8pm.  At that time, families can pick up copies of the summer schedule, reading logs, and book bingo sheets.  Click here for more information on the 2023 Summer Reading Program.

At 6pm, special guests Z Puppets Rosenschnoz will perform “A la Carte: In a Fool’s Kitchen.”  The show includes a comic battle between a clown French Chef and a wily lobster set to live accordion music.  This playfully interactive comedy will feature clowning, puppetry, music, and a few unruly vegetables.

One-half Monty Python and one-half Sesame Street, Z Puppets Rosenschnoz delights children and their adults with feats of imagination, mixing hand-crafted puppetry and zany comedy with live music.

Z Puppets has earned many awards, including support from the Jim Henson Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Puppeteers of America and Minnesota State Arts Board.

Based in Minneapolis, Z Puppets tour their family-friendly comedies across the country. Appearances have included the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the National Puppetry Festival, the Walker Art Center and Boston’s Puppet Showplace Theatre.

Z artists have an extensive background teaching classes, workshops and residencies for students of all ages and abilities. Creative Directors Aronson and Griffith have served as arts education specialists for the Perpich Center for Arts Education, Children’s Theatre Company and the Educational Theater Association.

This program is made possible by a Library Legacy Grant.  All programs are free.

Coffee & Conversation
Every Monday, 10:30-11:30 AM
St. Charles Public Library
**Special Program: Vietnam, Then & Now with Lee Carlson, Monday, May 22**

On Monday, May 22 at 10:30 am, Lee Carlson will visit the St. Charles Public Library to talk about Vietnam, then and now.  From September 1968 to August 1969, Carlson served as a Marine Corps Rifleman in Vietnam.  In 2006, he returned to the country with the D.O.V.E. Fund, an organization that undertakes humanitarian projects, while also helping veterans come to terms with their experiences.

Lee Carlson’s visit is part of the St. Charles Public Library’s weekly Coffee & Conversation program.  Looking for something to do on a Monday morning?  The library is offering free coffee, hot chocolate, and apple cider every Monday, 10:30am – 11:30am.  Drop by the library for a hot beverage and a chat with your fellow community members.

Winona County 4-H Family Activity Nights
6:30 – 7:30 PM
February 16th, March 16th, April 13th & May 11th
St. Charles Public Library

After a brief hiatus, Winona County 4-H’s Family Activity Nights have returned to the St. Charles Public Library.  The program is open to all youth in grades K-5, and will be held from 6:30pm-7:30pm on February 16th, March 16th, April 13th, and May 11th.

Youth will complete hands on educational activities such as experiments, crafts, robotics, and much more.  Sign up is required to ensure accurate supplies at each session.  Click here for more information and to register: https://z.umn.edu/FamilyActivityNights

These FREE activity nights are designed for youth to explore their passions in different project areas.  We can’t wait to have you join us and can’t wait for you to check out the St. Charles Library!

This spring, the St. Charles Public Library will host two Minnesota authors as part of SELCO’s 2023 spring author tour: David Housewright and Bao Phi.

David Housewright – Tuesday, April 25, 6:30pm
St. Charles Public Library

David Housewright brings murder and mayhem to the Midwest through his Rushmore McKenzie and Holland Taylor private eye series. He has published 27 novels and is the recipient of the prestigious Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. Join us to hear David speak about his journey to becoming an acclaimed writer. This event is free and open to the public.

Bao Phi – Monday, May 8, 10:30am
St. Charles Public Library

Two-time Minnesota Grand Slam champion and a National Poetry Slam finalist, Bao Phi is a spoken word artist and writer. He has published two critically-acclaimed poetry collections, and his children’s book, A Different Pond, won multiple awards including a Caldecott Honor. Join us to hear Bao speak about his journey to becoming an acclaimed writer and poet. This event is free and open to the public.

Coffee & Conversation
Every Monday, 10:30-11:30 AM
St. Charles Public Library
**Special Program: Music with Tom Muschler, Monday, May 1**

On Monday, May 1 at 10:30 am, Tom Muschler will visit the St. Charles Public Library for a special musical program.  Performing on the guitar and harmonica, Muschler will share the songs that he loves.  Come and enjoy some traditional and newer folk music, old time country music (mostly), and maybe a few original songs.

Tom Muschler’s visit is part of the St. Charles Public Library’s weekly Coffee & Conversation program.  Looking for something to do on a Monday morning?  The library is offering free coffee, hot chocolate, and apple cider every Monday, 10:30am – 11:30am.  Drop by the library for a hot beverage and a chat with your fellow community members.

Coffee & Conversation
Every Monday, 10:30-11:30 AM
St. Charles Public Library
**Special Program: Peregrine Falcons with Jackie Fallon, Monday, April 17**

Jackie Fallon, with the Midwest Peregrine Society and the Mayo Clinic Peregrine Falcon Program, will help visitors understand the past, present, and future of peregrine falcons in Minnesota and the Region.

Come and discover the wonder of rapotrs, why they are important, and what you can do to help them survive.

Make sure to bring a camera to get a special photo of your experience and take home some special items to celebrate peregrine falcons!

Jackie Fallon’s visit is part of the St. Charles Public Library’s weekly Coffee & Conversation program.  Looking for something to do on a cold winter day?  The library is offering free coffee, hot chocolate, and apple cider every Monday morning, 10:30am – 11:30am.  Drop by the library for a hot beverage and a chat with your fellow community members.

Coffee & Conversation
Every Monday, 10:30-11:30 AM
St. Charles Public Library
**Special Program: Reminisce at the Library on Monday, April 3**

Calling all local history buffs!  The St. Charles Public Library would like your help.  During Coffee and Conversation at 10:30am on Monday, April 3, the library will be collecting stories on the history of St. Charles.  The information will be used to create a downtown history walk that will be held during Gladiolus Days.

Drop by the library, enjoy a free cup a coffee, and reminisce on businesses, events, and people of the past.  We want your history!

January 3 – March 31
St. Charles Public Library

On January 3, the St. Charles Public Library will kick off its annual Hot Reads for Cold Nights winter reading program.  Geared to both adults and teens, the winter reading program challenges people to both read and visit the library in the cold winter season.

Over the next three months, readers will have two different opportunities to win prizes.  First, for every three books read, people will be able to enter a monthly prize drawing.

Readers can also earn prizes by playing Book Bingo.  The St. Charles Public Library has special Bingo sheets that encourage people to read outside of their comfort zone.  Each Bingo square has a different challenge to complete.  For every Bingo accomplished, readers will again be able to put their name into the monthly drawing.  A Blackout Bingo will automatically earn the reader a special prize.

Hot Reads for Cold Nights will continue through March 31.

Coffee & Conversation
Every Monday, 10:30-11:30 AM
St. Charles Public Library
**Special Program: Bizarre Minnesota History on Monday, March 20**

In a special presentation at the St. Charles Public Library, researcher and author Chad Lewis will showcase over 100 bizarre newspaper stories from Minnesota that have not been seen in over 100 years. These unbelievable stories were not lost, they were simply hidden.

Lewis will take you back in time to the early days of the state when it was filled with strange deaths, ghosts, sea serpents, peculiar people, medical anomalies, oddities, psychic phenomena, and UFOs.

This will change the way you view the good ol’ days of Minnesota!

This project has been funded by the people of Minnesota through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Library Legacy fund, in cooperation with SELCO – our regional library system.

Coffee & Conversation
Every Monday, 10:30-11:30 AM
St. Charles Public Library
**Special Program: Golden Eagles with the National Eagle Center on Monday, February 27**

Have you ever wondered “How do researchers track Golden Eagles?” or “How can you tell the difference between a Bald Eagle and a Golden Eagle?” The answers await you in an engaging and entertaining Golden Eagle program held at the St Charles Public Library on Monday, February 27, 2023, at 10:30 am!

Come learn all about Golden Eagle identification and research from the National Eagle Center, the world’s premier resource for impactful eagle education and experiences. Photographs are welcome!

The National Eagle Center is an interpretive center located on the Mississippi River in Wabasha MN and is home to 5 permanently injured raptors. These resident raptors, four Bald Eagles and one Red-tailed Hawk now serve as ambassadors in educational programs in Wabasha and beyond.

This project has been funded by the people of Minnesota through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Library Legacy fund, in cooperation with SELCO – our regional library system.