Best Gift Ever Book Drive @ Manitowoc Public Library
Monday, November 3 through Friday, December 5
Help build a lifetime of reading enjoyment by giving the gift of reading! Manitowoc Public Library is running our "Best Gift Ever" campaign to collect new children's books for local families in need. From November 3 through December 5, you can donate new, unwrapped books by placing them in the donation box near the First Floor Service Desk. All book donations will be given to three local nonprofits for distribution over the holiday season:

• Incourage
• Lakeshore Foster Family and Friends
• Salvation Army of Manitowoc County

All types of books are welcome—picture books, board books, chapter books, young adult books, anything you feel a child or teenager would enjoy reading! You can also make a monetary donation that will go towards purchasing new children's books to be donated. For checks please make it to the "Friends of the Manitowoc Public Library," with "Best Gift Ever" in the notes line. Make sure monetary donations are submitted by November 24, so we can have the books ready for delivery in December.
Owning something as simple as a book can have a tremendous impact on a child’s self-esteem and help boost their spirits. We ask that you work with us to provide new children’s books to these needy kids. The benefits will last a lifetime.
 
Family Activity Nights (FANs)                                                                         Tuesday Evenings
Join us Tuesday evening at Manitowoc Public Library for something different and fun for the whole family! Older siblings are always welcome! Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Please check our Facebook page and event calendar for updates!
 

• Dino-Mite Terrariums!—November 4, 6:30-7:15 PM Roar into Dinovember by making your very own dinosaur terrarium. All you need to bring is your imagination—we’ll supply the rest. This program is open children ages 5-11. Registration is required! Head to www.manitowoclibrary.org/event/fan-dino-mite beginning at 5 PM on Tuesday, October 21, to secure your spot before they become extinct!
• Fin-Tastic Fish with Glaze & Paint!—November 18, 6:30-7:15 PM Red fish, blue fish, paint some new fish! Join Glaze & Paint's Ms. Katie to create your own Dr. Seuss-inspired wooden fish. This program is open to children ages 3 - 11. Registration is required! Head to www.manitowoclibrary.org/event/fin-tastic-fish beginning at 5 PM on Tuesday, November 4, at that time to snag your spot!

 
Baby Storytime                                                                      Wednesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 AM
Baby Storytime is 20 minutes of stories, songs, rhymes, bounces, parachute activities, and bubbles, followed by 20 minutes of playtime! Baby Storytime is recommended for developmental ages 0-2 and siblings are always welcome. All Library storytimes are inclusive and welcoming. You are encouraged to attend the storytime that best meets your family's developmental needs. Registration is not required.
 
Preschool Storytime                                                            Wednesdays & Thursdays, 10:30 AM
Join us in singing, talking, reading, creating, and playing at this inclusive Storytime for families with preschoolers. Storytime focuses on concepts such as life skills, counting, colors, emotions, patterns, and the alphabet. It's a great opportunity to meet new friends, socialize, and strengthen early literacy skills. Storytime is recommended for developmental ages 2-5 and siblings are always welcome. All library storytimes are inclusive and welcoming. You are encouraged to attend the storytime that best meets your family's developmental needs. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Registration is not required.
 
Dance with a Donut!
Families with Preschoolers: Wednesday, November 5, and Thursday, November 6, 10:30-11:15 AM; All Families: Thursday, November 6, 6-7 PM
Celebrate National Donut Day with a sweet-themed storytime featuring a life-sized dancing donut! Burn some calories, then enjoy a sweet treat! 
 
Drop-In Chess Club @ MPL                                                  Wednesday, November 5, 6-7:30 PM
Want to improve your memory and concentration or practice logical thinking skills? Make a smart move and join us for Drop-In Chess Club at Manitowoc Public Library’s Second Floor Balkansky Community Room from 6-7:30 PM on Wednesday, November 5! The game of chess offers many brainy benefits—and it's just fun! Those of all abilities and ages (6-years plus, please) are welcome, but staff will not offer formal instruction. Chessboards are provided and library materials are available for further learning. No registration is required, but please remember that children under the age of 8 (even prodigies!) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
 

SENSE-sational Baby Storytime                                    Tuesday, November 11, 10:30-11:30 AM

Dim the lights, lower the volume, and enjoy a sensory-friendly storytime designed for little ones who find traditional Baby Storytime overstimulating. With gentle stories, songs, and bounces, caregivers and babies (birth to two years) will explore pre-literacy activities in a calm, welcoming space. Group size is limited to 12 to ensure a relaxed environment. No registration required.
 
Read to Certified Therapy Dogs                                        Tuesday, November 11, 6:30-7:30 PM
Studies show that children who read to animals, like our therapy dogs, gain confidence and improve their overall reading. Due to limited availability, registration is required. Each family may register for one 15-minute one-on-one session with a therapy dog. Adults must accompany children under the age of 8 at all times. Registration opens at 5 PM on Tuesday, October 28. Please call 920-686-3030 or stop by the Youth Services Department to sign up.
 
Messy Marvins                                                                          Friday, November 14, 10-11 AM
It's baby art studio morning! We provide the supplies; you supply the creativity! Drop in any time during this hour with your littles (babies to preschool age) for an artistic experience. Stay neat or get messy with our self-directed art stations. 
 
Big Emotions for Little People: Gratitude                     Tuesday, November 25, 10:30-11:30 AM
Join us for a heartwarming preschool program that teaches little ones about gratitude through media from Carl the Collector, songs, and interactive activities. Children will explore the joy of appreciating everyday treasures while fostering kindness and thankfulness in a fun and engaging way!
 
Enchanted Evergleams at MPL
Wednesday, November 26, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026
'Tis the Season for the “Gleam Team”—Manitowoc Aluminum Kitsch-Mas Inc., or MAKI, for short—to present "Evergleams on Eighth" in Downtown Manitowoc! Over 100 glittering aluminum Evergleam trees in over forty different styles, sizes, and colors will be featured in participating downtown businesses, with an impressive number showcased in the Enchanted Evergleam Forest at Manitowoc Public Library! Give into the sparkle of the rare trees on display! Returning this year—an incredible custom-made 14-foot Evergleam marvel that has been donated to Manitowoc Aluminum Kitsch-Mas Inc. by a very generous pair of sisters from Kansas!