FREE Summer Programs at Lakeland + Polk County Libraries

Lakeland Public Library

• Songs and stories with Mr. Charles – Select Wednesdays at 10am – June 15, Jun 29, July 13, July 27.
• Kids’ Sewing Camp – Spools Out for the Summer – June 20 – 23, 2022 from 10am-11:30am. Registration is required and opens at 10am on June 13.
• Take Home Craft Kits – Pick up an ocean themed take-home craft kit each week at any Lakeland Library. New kits will be available each Monday and will be given out while supplies last.

The Lakeland Library is undergoing renovations and the Children’s Room is the only space currently open, you can still reserve and check out books using the catalog or by visiting the check out desk. Visit Lakeland’s other libraries for more hands-on summer programming.

Lakeland Public Library
100 Lake Morton Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801
Website  /  Facebook  /  (863) 834-4280

Larry R. Jackson Branch Library

• Drop-In Crafts and Games – Fridays from 10am – 12pm. Ocean themed weeks including the beach, mangroves, coral reefs and more.
• Tech-Know Monday (ages 6-12) – select Mondays at 3:30pm, June 13, July 11
• Beakers and Books (ages 7-12) – select Thursdays at 3:30pm, June 9, 23, July 7, 21
• Kids’ Sewing Camp – Spools Out for the Summer – June 13 – 16, 2022 from 10am – 11:30am. Registration is required and opens at 10am on June 6.
• Take Home Craft Kits – Pick up an ocean themed take-home craft kit each week at any Lakeland Library. New kits will be available each Monday and will be given out while supplies last.

Jackson Branch Library
1700 N Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33805
Website  /  Facebook  /  (863) 834-4288

eLibrary South Lakeland

• Tech-Know Tuesday (ages 6-12) – select Tuesdays at 10am, June 14, July 12
• Beakers and Books (ages 7-12) – select Tuesdays at 10am, June 7, 21, July 5, 19
• Kids’ Sewing Camp – Spools Out for the Summer – July 11 – 14, 2022 from 2pm – 3:30pm. Registration is required and opens at 2pm on July 4.
• Take Home Craft Kits – Pick up an ocean themed take-home craft kit each week at any Lakeland Library. New kits will be available each Monday and will be given out while supplies last.

eLibrary South Lakeland
4740 S Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33813
Website  /  Facebook  /  863-838-4507

Auburndale Public Library

Check with the Auburndale Library for more details on summer programs soon!

Auburndale Public Library
100 West Bridgers Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823
Website  /  (863) 965-5548

Bartow Public Library

Bartow Library Summer Shows – held at the Bartow Civic Center Auditorium, across the street from the library:

• Wednesday, June 8th – 10:00 – 11:00 AM – Katie Adams, storyteller and puppeteer
• Wednesday, June 22nd – 10:00 – 11:00 AM – Windell Campbell, storyteller and puppeteer
• Wednesday, July 6th – 10:00 – 11:00 AM – Gatorland
• Wednesday, July 20th – 10:00 – 11:00 AM – Raptor Center of Tampa Bay, Inc.
• Saturday, July 30th – 2:00 – 3:00 PM – Rick Martin’s Tricky Dogs

Summer Storytime from June 7 – July 28, 2022:

• Ages 3-5 on Tuesdays from 10 – 10:45am. Stories, music, fingerplays, and short film adaptions of children’s books.
• Ages 6-8 on Tuesdays from 3 – 4pm. Stories, games, crafts, and a film.
• Ages 18 months – 2 years on Thursdays from 10 – 10:30 AM. Book Babies includes Nursery Rhymes, music, fingerplays and bubbles.

Family Film and Popcorn – Fridays at 2pm, June 10th – July 29th

Bartow Public Library
2150 S. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830
Website  /  Facebook  /  863-534-0131

Davenport – Polk County Library Cooperative

Join the Polk County Library Cooperative for Story Time Fun as we embark on an ocean learning adventure at the Peter Rust Civic Center in Davenport on select Wednesdays at 11am (June 15, 29, July 13, 27). Take home a free book from our Little Lending Library.

Peter Rust Civic Center
5 S Allapaha Ave, Davenport, FL 33837
Website

Dundee Public Library

2022 Details TBD

Dundee Public Library
202 E. Main Street, Dundee, FL 33838
Website  /  863-439-9424

Fort Meade Public Library

Join the Fort Meade Library for summer programs. Visit the Fort Meade Library Facebook Page for a full calendar of events.

Fort Meade Public Library
75 East Broadway St., Fort Meade, FL 33841
Website  /  863 285-8287

Latt Maxcy Memorial Library – Frostproof

Join the Latt Maxcy Library for stories, crafts and games every Wednesday at 10am this summer from June 1 – July 27, 2022. Check the library’s Facebook page for other special events this summer.

Latt Maxcy Memorial Library
15 N. Magnolia Avenue, Frostproof, FL 33843
Facebook  /  (863) 635-7857

Haines City Public Library

Preschool Storytime – Ages 2 – 5 | Wednesdays at 10:30 AM | Stories, songs, puppets and a craft. Limited space available. First Come/First Serve.

Elementary Craft Program – Kindergarten – 5th Grades | Tuesdays from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Explore a different ocean themed craft every week. Drop in style crafts. Each craft takes about 20-30 minutes to complete.

Other programs include Teen Movies and Teens Video Games, and more. Check the calendar for a full list of events.

**The Lake Eva Water Park in Haines City opens at noon – make a day of it and attend a library program then head to the pool.**

Haines City Public Library
111 North 6th Street, Haines City, FL 33844
Website  /  Facebook  /  863-421-3633

Lake Alfred Public Library

Check with the Lake Alfred Library for summer programs.

Lake Alfred Public Library
245 N. Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred, FL 33850
863-291-5378

Lake Wales Public Library

The Lake Wales Library will host Summer Programs on Thursdays at 10:30am at Candlelight Christian Academy.

• June 16 – Gatorland
• June 23 – Giving Tree Drum Circle
• June 30 – Florida Aquarium
• July 7 – Out of My Hands
• July 14 – Beach Party with Florida Foam Factory
• July 21 – Touch a Truck with Kona Ice

Other summer programs at the Lake Wales Library Include:

• Wiggles + Giggles Storytime – Tuesdays at 11am from June 7 – July 20
• Making Waves Movie Day – Wednesdays at 2pm during the summer

Visit the Library’s Facebook Page for a full list of summer events including teen programming.

Lake Wales Public Library
290 Cypress Garden Lane, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Website  /  Facebook  /  (863) 678-4004

Mulberry Public Library

Oceans of Possibilities Summer Programs – Join the Mulberry Library on Wednesdays at 2pm for interactive, fun filled programs designed for elementary-age kids. Programs are held in the Mulberry Civic Center, located in the same building as the library. A description of each week’s activity can be found on the Mulberry Library calendar.

• June 15 – Pirate Tales with storyteller Katie Adams
• June 22 – Marine Megafauna with the Florida Aquarium
• June 29 – Pirates Adventure Show: Ahoy Ye Maties!
• July 6 – Movie Matinee
• July 20 – Mad Science of Tampa
• July 27 – Pirate Party

Preschool Story Time – Every Wednesday at 9:30AM and 10:30 AM. Fun Stories, Songs, and More! Ages 5 and under. FREE Program, no registration required. Held in the Mulberry Civic Center upstairs from the library.

Elementary Time – Tuesdays at 10am. Hands-on activities for elementary-age kids. A description of each week’s activity can be found on the Mulberry Library calendar. FREE program.

All events are first come, first served – no registration required but seating may be limited. The Mulberry Library also hosts activities for teens and tweens, Pokemon Club, and more, check the calendar for upcoming events.

Mulberry Public Library
905 NE 5th, Mulberry, FL 33860
Website  /  Facebook  /  863-425-3246

Polk City Community Library

Join the Suzette Penton Polk City Community Library for summer programs at the Donald Bronson Community Center. Each event on the Summer Reading Program schedule requires registration via the library’s Eventbrite page: polkcitycommunitylibrary.eventbrite.com.

• Summer Movies – Thursdays at 11am
• Summer Programs – Tuesdays and Wednesdays, check the schedule for dates/times

Polk City Community Library
215 S. Bougainvillea Avenue, Polk City, FL 33868
Website  /  863 984-4340

Winter Haven Public Library

Dive into Oceans of Possibilities with this year’s Summer Reading Programs from June 6 – July 28 at the Winter Haven Library! Registration is required for each event, space is limited. Unfortunately, the library cannot accommodate daycares, summer camps, or groups this summer.

• Shark Scavenger Hunt – June 16 at 10:30 a.m. OR 2:30 p.m., Registration opens June 3
• Ocean Scavenger Hunt – June 23 at 10:30 a.m. OR 2:30 p.m., Registration opens June 10
• Snake Education with a Twist – June 30 at 10:30 a.m., Registration opens June 17
• Shark and Fish Craft – July 7 at10:30 a.m. OR 2:30 p.m., Registration opens June 24
• Katie Adams’ Make Believe Theater presents Pirate Tales! – July 14 at 10:30 a.m., Registration opens July 8
• Mad Science of NE Central FL presents Amazing Oceans – July 21 at 10:30 a.m., Registration opens July 15
• Pirate Ships and Buried Treasure Craft – July 28 at 10:30 a.m. OR 2:30 p.m., Registration opens July 22

The Winter Haven Library will also host Summer Storytime for ages 5 & under. Tuesdays at 10:30am – 11:30am OR 2:30pm – 3:30pm. Registration required – registration opens the Friday prior to each event. Children enjoy stories, songs, finger plays and puppet shows that develop early literacy skills and promote interaction between parents and children.

Winter Haven Public Library
325 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881
Website  /  Facebook  /  863-291-5880

Library Programs by Date

TIP – Use the filter button to see events at a specific library. Use the arrow to see next month. Please keep in mind that we may not have all library events listed on our calendar, check directly with your library for a full list of upcoming events.