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Looking for some fun, and FREE, activities to do over spring break? Look no further, Plain City Public Library has you covered! Check out the ideas below to read, walk, learn, and create your way through spring break.

Visit the StoryWalk at Pastime Park

Visit the StoryWalk® at Plain City’s Pastime Park, an innovative and delightful way for children — and adults! — to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Pages from a children’s book are displayed in cases, which are installed along the walking path at Pastime Park. As you stroll down the trail, you’re directed to the next page in the story. Find out more about the StoryWalk®

Attend (or Watch!) a Storytime

All Ages Storytime
Monday, March 30
10:30AM
Join us for stories, rhymes, songs and other learning activities appropriate for ages 6 and under. Caregiver must attend. No registration required.

Bedtime Storytime
Thursday, April 2
7:00PM
Join us on Facebook and Youtube for a LIVE Bedtime Storytime. Enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, and more that will help your little one wind down.

Find a great NEW book to read

Why not dive into a new book? Check out lists of new and recommended books to place holds online or make a trip to the library to see what new releases are available so you can take one home today.

Check out a puzzle, game, robot, or Snap Circuit kit

PCPL has a large collection of puzzles and board games for all ages, as well as Botley coding robots and Snap Circuit kits*! A rainy spring day is the perfect time to work on a 3D puzzle or try a new game. From Candy Land and card games to Avengers Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit, the library has a game for everyone! You can even check out a kit to host your own murder mystery.

*Please note that only established PCPL patrons are eligible to check out these items

Attend a Library Program or Workshop
*May require registration

LEGO Building Club
Saturday, March 28
10:00-11:30AM
Build and create with us at the LEGO Building Club! All ages are welcome. No registration is required.

Sublimation Pendants: A Workshop for Ages 12 & Up
Monday, March 30
6:00-7:00PM
Create a wearable pendant using the Workshop’s Sublimation Printer and Heat Press. For Teens (12+) and Adults. Registration is required.

Mini Wind Chimes
Friday, April 3
3:00-4:00PM
Create a mini wind chime with sunlight reflective beads and a silver bell. For ages teen (12+) and adults. Registration is required.

Plain City Writing Group
Saturday, April 4
11:00AM-1:00PM
Join fellow writers for a discussion on the editing process and how to work with editors, followed by sharing and writing time. No registration required.

Stop by a Little Lending Library

Little Lending Libraries are 24/7 book-sharing boxes that typically include books for children, teens, and adults. Take or give as many books as you’d like! Little Free Libraries have been popping up all around Plain City. You can find an interactive map of Little Lending Libraries in the Plain City area here.

Don’t forget to tag us in your social media posts! Use #PCLibrary to let us know which activities you’ve checked off your list. Have a fun and safe spring break!

Event scheduled for Sunday, February 4 

The Plain City Public Library, in partnership with Bexley Public Library, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Delaware County District Library, Grandview Heights Public Library, Granville Public Library, London Public Library, Southwest Public Libraries, Upper Arlington Public Library, Westerville Public Library and Worthington Libraries, will present acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates at 3 pm on Sunday, February 4 at the Upper Arlington High School Performing Arts Center (1625 Zollinger Road). Coates will appear in conversation with Sophia Fifner, president and CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Club. Tickets for the event start at $25 per person and are available at app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=214762.                                   

ABOUT TA-NEHISI COATES

Ta-Nehisi Coates is an award-winning author and journalist. He is the author of the bestselling books The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power, The Water Dancer and Between the World and Me, which won the National Book Award in 2015. He was a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship that same year. 

As a journalist with a career spanning over two decades, he’s written for numerous publications including The Washington City Paper, The Village Voice, The New Yorker and The New York Times. During his time reporting for The Atlantic between 2008-2018, he penned numerous articles and essays, including the National Magazine Award-winning 2012 essay “Fear of a Black President” and the influential June 2014 essay “The Case For Reparations.”

Ta-Nehisi also enjoyed a successful run writing Marvel’s Black Panther (2016-2021) and Captain America (2018-2021) comics series. Ta-Nehisi is currently writing the screenplays for the upcoming films Wrong Answer, Superman and the film adaptation of his first fiction novel, The Water Dancer. In fall 2022, he joined Howard University’s faculty as a writer-in-residence and the Sterling Brown Chair in the Department of English. 

ABOUT SOPHIA FIFNER

Sophia Fifner serves as the president and CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC), a visionary organization that connects people and ideas through community conversations and founder of Brave Philanthropist, a campaign she launched in 2022 to change the face of philanthropy and to activate giving to women’s and girls’ organizations. 

ABOUT THE EVENT

Tickets for A Conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates are on sale now. Participating libraries will not have tickets to sell at their locations. Ticket prices begin at $25.00 each. Books will be available for purchase through Gramercy Books. There will be no book signing at the event. 

Little Lending Libraries are book sharing boxes that are available all the time and freely accessible to all. These book boxes are a free book exchange and contain all types of books: from board books and picture books to chapter books to novels for teens and adults, all books in good condition are welcome! Visitors are encouraged to take a book or leave a book. You do not need to share a book in order to take one. If you take a book or two from a little library, try to bring some to share to that same library, or another in your area, when you can.

You’ll find that each Little Lending Library is different and has it’s own character! While some Little Lending Libraries stand on public property or near local businesses, others stand on private property often near sidewalks or walking trails. Wherever they live, please be respectful when visiting a Little Lending Library.

Plain City Area Little Lending Library Interactive Map

Use this tool to locate a local Little Lending Library near you! Click the arrow button to get started using the interactive map. Know of one we missed? Contact the Plain City Public Library so we can add it to our list. Little Lending Libraries are not affiliated with or maintained by the Plain City Public Library.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to the Cheryl Brockman for initiating many of these little libraries and sharing her records to make this map possible. Recognition also goes to the Plain City Lions Club and Perry Beachy for funding and building many of Plain City’s Little Lending Libraries.

Pick up your Library material from our convenient pickup lockers, available during and after regular Library operating hours. The pickup lockers are located at the rear of the building next to the book drop. Place your holds online and we will let you know when your items are available to pick up.
 

Placing Your Holds

• When you place your holds in our catalog or using the Plain City Public Library app, select Plain City Pickup Lockers as your pickup location.
  
• As always, we will notify you when your holds are ready to pick up.

Picking Up Your Holds

• We will hold your items in the locker for 3 days.
• You will need to bring your library card with you or know your card number and PIN to use the lockers.
• When you arrive at the locker, scan your library card or use the touch screen to enter your card number on the screen.
• Enter your PIN then follow the prompts on the screen.
• A locker will open for you to retrieve your items. Your items are checked out to you when the locker opens.
• Please remove all items and close the locker. Do not leave any returns in the locker; use the book return to return items.

Returning Materials

• Please use the Library’s book drop for all material returns. The book drop is located next to the pickup lockers.

Storytime Kits are designed to make PCPL’s in-person and online Storytime experience more engaging for children by introducing interactive early learning activities. These kits are appropriate for children ages 2-5 and include instruments and manipulatives that will be used at least once throughout PCPL’s seasonal Storytime sessions.

Storytime Kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Visit the library during open hours (Monday-Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-5pm) to pick up your child’s Storytime Kit. Kits may not be reserved.

Each of these items will be used in storytime sessions throughout the year but feel free to explore and play with them anytime! Below are some suggested activities to go along with each item. Have fun playing and learning!

Rhythm stick activities: https://teaching2and3yearolds.com/easy-rhythm-sticks-activities-toddlers-preschoolers/

Egg shaker activities: https://picklebums.com/music-shakers/

Bean bag activities: https://www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/bean-bag-games.html

Ribbon wand activities: http://www.beactivekids.org/assets/pdf/RibbonActivities.pdf

Silk scarf activities: http://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2019/01/play-silks-and-why-we-love-them.html

Storytime Kits are funded in part through a federal Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grant awarded by the State Library of Ohio.

Updated 11/15/21