Storytimes near ESTES VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT

Estes Valley Community Center

Baby Storytime is designed specifically for babies, toddlers & their caregivers. Join us for 25 minutes of rhymes, songs, bounces, wiggles, stretches and play.

Makerspace

Step Back in Time and Craft Your Own Prehistoric Scene! Join us in the Makerspace for a roaring good time! In this hands-on workshop, you will dive into the basics of cutting with our Cricut Maker 3, and you will leave with a stunning, custom-made 3D pop-up dinosaur card. You will get a beginner-friendly introduction to the library’s smart cutting machine. We’ll cover the basics of loading mats, choosing the right blades, and setting material pressures. You will also learn how to navigate Cricut's software to send a pre-made design to the machine. Whether you want to send a unique birthday wish, write a prehistoric tale inside, or just display your creation on your shelf, this class will help you bring your papercraft stories to life.

Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies - Library

NOTE: During the Library renovation, from June 2026 through January 2027, Book Club for Mortals will meet in the library of the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies at 1700 Brodie Ave. See below for detailed room information. In keeping with our Summer Reading Program theme, "Unearth a Story," we'll read Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. What does it mean to live — truly live — as we age? In Tuesdays with Morrie, sportswriter Mitch Albom reunites with his beloved college professor Morrie Schwartz, who is facing death from ALS with remarkable grace and clarity. Each Tuesday visit becomes a masterclass in what matters most: the relationships we nurture, the regrets we release, and the wisdom we risk leaving unspoken. Morrie's lessons — on love, aging, forgiveness, and finding meaning — feel both timeless and urgently personal. Join us as we explore what this small but profound book reveals about living well at every stage, and what we ourselves might want to pass on before our own stories are complete. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the first-floor service desk, and you can search our collection for additional copies and formats (eBook, audiobook, large print, etc.). About Book Club for Mortals This is a book club about aging wisely and well. We read a different book each month, with topics ranging from health and relationships to end-of-life issues, from the practical to the philosophical, and from the serious to the lighthearted. We discuss both fiction and nonfiction. This is a space for open, honest, and thoughtful conversations about interesting books and ideas. Discussions are led by Mindy Rickard, our longtime host and advance care planning advisor. The book club meets on the second Thursday of each month. More program and location information During the Library renovation, from June 2026 through January 2027, the Monthly Writing Group evening session will be held in the library of the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave. From the main (south) door, cross the foyer, pass the rock wall with the quilted wall hanging on your right, then take your first right, into the door with the "Grether Library" sign above it. It's right across from the church office. We'll need at least two registrations to hold the discussion, so we strongly encourage you to register. (You can always cancel if you won't be able to join us.) Each month's book is available for checkout at the first-floor service desk, and you can search our collection for additional copies and formats (eBook, audiobook, large print, etc.). Online registrants should receive a reminder email with the Zoom meeting link approximately one day before the program starts. If you didn't receive the email or are having trouble connecting to the meeting, please call the Library at 970-586-8116, and a staff member will assist you. Related programs/resources Advance directive resources

Estes Valley Community Center

Storytime is specifically designed for children ages six and under, along with their parents and/or caregivers. Join us for songs, movement activities, puppets, and stories that encourage a love of language and books.

Makerspace

Celebrate our Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, by enjoying our summer Crafts for Tots series. We will make and create summer themed crafts together for story time themed activities! In this Craft for Tots, we will be making and using salt dough, then pressing dinosaurs into the dough to make an imprint, then painting and making into a hanging ornament! Registration is required.

Makerspace

Celebrate our Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, by enjoying our summer craft series. We will make and create summer themed crafts together for story time themed activities. In this Saturday Kids Club, we will be using colored clay, sculpting tools and assorted glass dragon eyes to make these giant clay dinosaur eyes. Registration is required.

Makerspace

Celebrate our Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, with a creative, hands-on craft adventure! Participants will decorate their very own giant dinosaur egg using paint, gemstones, glue, and more to bring their prehistoric masterpiece to life with color and imagination. At the end of the program, each participant will take home their one-of-a-kind dinosaur egg, which can be used as a fun an creative storage container as a reminder of their artistic adventure!

Makerspace

Celebrate our Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, and get ready to dig into the past! In this hands-on program, tweens and teens will become junior paleontologists as they carefully excavate their own fossil from a clay block using brushes and picks. Experience the thrill of discovery as you uncover real fossils such as dinosaur bone fragments, coprolite, shark vertebrae, and more. Once your fossil is revealed, match it with an identification card to learn about its history, origins, and unique characteristics.

American Legion Post 119

What is the nature of the U.S. Constitution, and how did it come to be? Was it the fever dream of 55 guys in wigs sweating through a long, hot Philadelphia summer, or a burst of divine inspiration? (Spoiler: neither!) Is it meant to be read rigidly and narrowly, or as a "living document"? What kind of document is it, what traditions does it follow from, and what considerations had to be balanced to produce it? In partnership with American Legion Post 119 and in honor of America's 250th birthday, constitutional scholar and author Rob Natelson will draw on his background as both a legal scholar and a historian to explore these questions. We'll take a deeper look at this most essential of founding documents, and we encourage you to bring constitutional questions of your own! About Rob Natelson Robert G. Natelson is a nationally known constitutional scholar and author whose research into the history and legal meaning of the Constitution has been cited repeatedly at the U.S. Supreme Court, both by parties and by justices. He is widely acknowledged as the country’s leading scholar on the Constitution’s amendment procedure and as one of the leaders on several other topics. He was a law professor for 25 years, serving at three different universities, where, among other subjects, he taught Constitutional Law, Constitutional History, Advanced Constitutional Law, and First Amendment. Professor Natelson is currently the Senior Fellow in Constitutional Jurisprudence at the Mountain States Policy Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and the Independence Institute in Denver, Colorado. He lives here in Colorado.

Makerspace

Step Back in Time and Craft Your Own Prehistoric Scene! Join us in the Makerspace for a roaring good time! In this hands-on workshop, you will dive into the basics of cutting with our Cricut Maker 3, and you will leave with a stunning, custom-made 3D pop-up dinosaur card. You will get a beginner-friendly introduction to the library’s smart cutting machine. We’ll cover the basics of loading mats, choosing the right blades, and setting material pressures. You will also learn how to navigate Cricut's software to send a pre-made design to the machine. Whether you want to send a unique birthday wish, write a prehistoric tale inside, or just display your creation on your shelf, this class will help you bring your papercraft stories to life.

Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies - Library

NOTE: During the Library renovation, from June 2026 through January 2027, the Monthly Writing Group evening session will be held in the library of the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave. See below for detailed room information. Calling all writers, aspiring writers, and anyone interested in writing! Join us at the Library to share your writing, enjoy others' work, and receive/provide feedback. All genres (fiction, poetry, nonfiction) and forms are welcome. The group is held on: The first Monday of every month from 5:30-7 PM (evening session) The third Monday of every month from 10:15-11:45 AM (morning session) If a meeting falls on a holiday, we will generally try to reschedule. After introductions, we'll do a brief creative exercise if time allows, then go around the room to share completed work or work in progress. Each participant will have the opportunity to share, then the other members of the group will reflect, ask questions, and provide constructive feedback. (We'll cap sharing at around five minutes to be mindful of time, and we'll agree to ground rules that will help keep the discussion respectful and productive.) Our goal is to provide participants with a welcoming space to share their work, receive feedback, and build community through writing. Participants are strongly encouraged to register for each session they plan to attend (see below). Sessions with one or fewer registrants will be canceled. For a given session, please email the work you plan to share (no more than about five minutes of reading, please) to Adult Services Librarian Eric White at ewhite@estesvalleylibrary.org, and Eric will print a copy for each registrant to use for reading and commenting. Please do your best to fit your work on a single double-sided sheet. All copies will be returned to the submitter. For more about the group (format, ground rules, suggestions for a productive session), please see the attached document. We hope you'll join us! Location information During the Library renovation, from June 2026 through January 2027, the Monthly Writing Group evening session will be held in the library of the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave. From the main (south) door, cross the foyer, pass the rock wall with the quilted wall hanging on your right, then take your first right, into the door with the "Grether Library" sign above it. It's right across from the church office.

Makerspace

Unlock your creativity and explore your inner world with SoulCollage®! Part art project, part intuitive practice, SoulCollage® is a unique process where you create your own personal deck of collaged cards using images that speak to you. In this hands-on workshop, our guest presenter will guide you through the foundations of this beautifully reflective practice. You’ll learn how to bypass the analytical mind, select images that resonate with your subconscious, and combine them into a meaningful work of art. By the end of the session, you will have completed your very first SoulCollage® card and learned how to "read" its unique message.

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church - Social Hall

The Makerspace Presents: “Granny Camp" – Bookish Crafts Edition Remember the cozy, creative joy of crafting without a care in the world? Welcome to Granny Camp! Modeled after the viral trend of reclaiming vintage crafts, slow living, and good company, this Makerspace program is all about gathering together for an evening of ultimate crafting and community. This month, we are celebrating all things literary with our Bookish Crafts theme! Whether you are a hardcore bibliophile or just love a good DIY project, we’ve got a massive buffet of creative stations set up for you. Come hang out, chat, and create to your heart's content. We will be making junk journals, bookish tote bags, magnets, bookmarks, earrings, book page roses, and so much more! Expect a cozy, relaxed atmosphere, plenty of laughter, and a room full of fellow makers. No matter your skill level, there’s a seat at the table for you. Please note: This special off-site program is being held in the Social Hall at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church at 880 MacGregor Avenue. All supplies are provided by the library! Registration is requested so we can ensure there are plenty of crafting supplies for everyone.

This author talk will be held online via our Authors and Speakers site, in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. By registering via the Event Link (see below), you'll receive an email with the watch link and reminders as the event approaches. After the talk ends, you'll receive an email with a link to the recording. Join us for a thrilling evening with acclaimed author Karin Slaughter as we chat about her North Falls series, consisting of We Are All Guilty Here, in which two teenage girls vanish in rural Georgia, and her upcoming sequel, The Secrets We Hide. In The Secrets We Hide, Slaughter welcomes readers back to North Falls. A small town with big secrets… 1601 Iris Drive looks like any other house on the quiet, residential street. But rumors are rampant about the Vickery family, and what goes on behind closed doors. When gunshots ring out, Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, discover a devastating crime scene. Allison Vickery has been murdered in her own kitchen, and her teenage daughter is bleeding upstairs, left for dead. Everyone thinks they know what happened. But secrets are buried everywhere in this small town. And it’s up to Emmy Clifton to uncover the truth… Register now to take part in the discussion and for an exclusive sneak peek of The Secrets We Hide, coming out August 11, 2026! About the Author: Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular storytellers. She is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty-five novels, including the Edgar-nominated Cop Town and standalone novels Pretty Girls and False Witness. An international bestseller, Slaughter has been published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. Pieces of Her, based on her novel, debuted at #1 worldwide on Netflix as an original series in 2022. Her bestselling thriller series, Will Trent, is now a television and streaming sensation in its 4th season. The Good Daughter has been adapted into a limited series starring Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy, and further projects are currently in development for film/TV. Karin Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.

Makerspace

Learn how to use the Library's Epilog laser cutter to make precision cuts and decorate all kinds of materials! After taking this 1.5 hour class, you will be certified to reserve the laser cutter with your library card and use it whenever the Makerspace is open. This program is ideal for ages 10 and up. A parent or guardian must accompany youth ages 17 and under. Please complete the 5-minute Makerspace Orientation before attending.

Offsite Event

Celebrate our Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, by enjoying our summer adventure series. We will visit local spots together for story time-themed activities. It's a FOAM PARTY! That's all we have to say. Come to Stanley Park and play in a whole lot of foam. You will get wet, so please dress for the mess! Registration is not required.

Makerspace

Learn how to use the Library's Epilog laser cutter to make precision cuts and decorate all kinds of materials! After taking this 1.5 hour class, you will be certified to reserve the laser cutter with your library card and use it whenever the Makerspace is open. This program is ideal for ages 10 and up. A parent or guardian must accompany youth ages 17 and under. Please complete the 5-minute Makerspace Orientation before attending.

Estes Valley Community Center - Classroom

This experiential class will focus on mindfulness as a way to cope with the stress and worry of day-to-day life, through meditations, teachings, and discussions. You'll learn about the benefits of mindfulness, how to strengthen your ability to cope with short- and long-term stress, and how mindfulness can reconnect you to your strengths and joys. You'll also leave with some meditation techniques you can practice on your own. This class is open to all, from beginners to experienced practitioners, and will be taught by Nancy Behney, a local Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor. Seating is limited, so please register to attend. About Nancy Behney Nancy Behney has been practicing mindfulness and meditation for over 25 years. She completed her formal teacher training at the Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. She has taught 8-week MBSR courses in Pennsylvania, and she currently teaches mindfulness and meditation courses in Fort Collins and Loveland. She also regularly attends mindfulness silent retreats. After raising a family and working as a librarian in Pennsylvania, she moved to Colorado in 2021. Currently living in Estes Park with her husband, she enjoys hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, playing pickleball, and volunteering in Loveland and Fort Collins.

Estes Valley Community Center

Baby Storytime is designed specifically for babies, toddlers & their caregivers. Join us for 25 minutes of rhymes, songs, bounces, wiggles, stretches and play.

Estes Valley Community Center

Storytime is specifically designed for children ages six and under, along with their parents and/or caregivers. Join us for songs, movement activities, puppets, and stories that encourage a love of language and books.

This author talk will be held online via our Authors and Speakers site, in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. By registering via the Event Link (see below), you'll receive an email with the watch link and reminders as the event approaches. After the talk ends, you'll receive an email with a link to the recording. In her ambitious new memoir, Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget, beloved bestselling author Reyna Grande illuminates the hidden cost of the American Dream and the complex journey of healing that follows survival. What is the true power of stories? Can they heal the jagged edges of a traumatic childhood? Is the cost of telling the story worth the price of the cure? With her signature blend of sophistication and raw honesty, Grande interrogates how living between two nations, two languages, and two identities has shaped the woman, mother, and writer she has become. Moving from the legacy of violence in her hometown of Iguala, Mexico, to a bittersweet family vacation in Europe spent reconciling her own impoverished past with her children’s world of abundance, she uncovers startling truths about the nature of survival. Whether being racially profiled in the Arizona borderlands or finding unexpected wisdom from the slugs in her garden, Grande unflinchingly asks: How do we bridge the gap between who we were and who we have become? How do we turn pain into power? When memory threatens to define us, how can we use story to heal while still honoring our boundaries? Register today for this virtual talk if you identify as a seeker, a dreamer, or “anyone who believes in the enduring, transformative power of finding one’s voice.” About the Author: Reyna Grande is an award-winning author, motivational speaker, and writing teacher. As a young girl, she crossed the US–Mexico border to join her family in Los Angeles, a harrowing journey chronicled in The Distance Between Us, a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. Her other books include the novels A Ballad of Love and Glory, Across a Hundred Mountains, and Dancing with Butterflies, the memoirs Migrant Heart, The Distance Between Us: Young Readers Edition, and A Dream Called Home, and the anthology Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings. She lives in Woodland, California, with her husband and two children. Visit ReynaGrande.com for more information.

Creativity Cabin Estes Park

Celebrate our Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, by joining us at the Creativity Cabin to paint your very own Dinosaur plate! Plates will be fired and participants will be called once they are ready for pick up the following week.

Makerspace

Celebrate our Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, by enjoying our summer Crafts for Tots series. We will make and create summer themed crafts together for story time themed activities. In this Saturday Kids Club, we will be using cyanotype paper, the sun, and a variety of natural resources, as well as dinosaur and bug figures to create our sun prints. Registration is required.

Makerspace

Bring a piece of nature indoors and capture the beauty of the season! Join us in the Makerspace for a hands-on crafting session to transform delicate pressed flowers into two beautiful, functional keepsakes: a custom bookmark and a stunning transparent ornament. Whether you want to create a unique gift or add a touch of botanical beauty to your home, this workshop will guide you through arranging, sealing, and preserving real flora. A Special Note for Our Flower Pressing Grads: If you attended our previous Flower Pressing class, this is your time to shine! Start pressing your favorite blooms now, and remember to bring your customized stash of flowers to class. Don't worry if you didn't take the first class or don't have your own flowers—we will provide a selection of pressed botanicals and all necessary crafting supplies for all participants.

Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies - Library

NOTE: During the Library renovation, from June 2026 through January 2027, the Monthly Writing Group morning session will be held at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave. See below for detailed room information. Calling all writers, aspiring writers, and anyone interested in writing! Join us at the Library to share your writing, enjoy others' work, and receive/provide feedback. All genres (fiction, poetry, nonfiction) and forms are welcome. The group is held on: The first Monday of every month from 5:30-7 PM (evening session) The third Monday of every month from 10:15-11:45 AM (morning session) If a meeting falls on a holiday, we will generally try to reschedule. After introductions, we'll do a brief creative exercise if time allows, then go around the room to share completed work or work in progress. Each participant will have the opportunity to share, then the other members of the group will reflect, ask questions, and provide constructive feedback. (We'll cap sharing at around five minutes to be mindful of time, and we'll agree to ground rules that will help keep the discussion respectful and productive.) Our goal is to provide participants with a welcoming space to share their work, receive feedback, and build community through writing. Participants are strongly encouraged to register for each session they plan to attend (see below). Sessions with one or fewer registrants will be canceled. For a given session, please email the work you plan to share (no more than about five minutes of reading, please) to Adult Services Librarian Eric White at ewhite@estesvalleylibrary.org, and Eric will print a copy for each registrant to use for reading and commenting. Please do your best to fit your work on a single double-sided sheet. All copies will be returned to the submitter. For more about the group (format, ground rules, suggestions for a productive session), please see the attached document. We hope you'll join us! Location information During the Library renovation, from June 2026 through January 2027, the Monthly Writing Group morning session will be held at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave. We'll meet in two different spaces: From June through August, we'll meet in the church library: From the main (south) door, cross the foyer, pass the rock wall with the quilted wall hanging on your right, then take your first right, into the door with the "Grether Library" sign above it. It's right across from the church office. From September through January, we'll meet in Downstairs Room #6: From the main (south) door, cross the foyer, turn right at the rock wall with the quilted wall hanging, go down two flights of stairs, take the first left, then turn left again right after the water fountain. If you have mobility issues and need an alternative to the stairs, we can accommodate you! Please contact Adult Services Librarian Eric White at ewhite@estesvalleylibrary.org / 970-586-8116 x832 for directions. (You'll use a different parking lot and door to access the building.)

Makerspace

Bring a piece of nature indoors and capture the beauty of the season! Join us in the Makerspace for a hands-on crafting session to transform delicate pressed flowers into two beautiful, functional keepsakes: a custom bookmark and a stunning transparent ornament. Whether you want to create a unique gift or add a touch of botanical beauty to your home, this workshop will guide you through arranging, sealing, and preserving real flora. A Special Note for Our Flower Pressing Grads: If you attended our previous Flower Pressing class, this is your time to shine! Start pressing your favorite blooms now, and remember to bring your customized stash of flowers to class. Don't worry if you didn't take the first class or don't have your own flowers—we will provide a selection of pressed botanicals and all necessary crafting supplies for all participants.

Makerspace

Unlock your creativity and explore your inner world with SoulCollage®! Part art project, part intuitive practice, SoulCollage® is a unique process where you create your own personal deck of collaged cards using images that speak to you. In this hands-on workshop, our guest presenter will guide you through the foundations of this beautifully reflective practice. You’ll learn how to bypass the analytical mind, select images that resonate with your subconscious, and combine them into a meaningful work of art. By the end of the session, you will have completed your very first SoulCollage® card and learned how to "read" its unique message.

Offsite Event

Celebrate our Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, by enjoying our summer adventure series. We will visit local spots together for story time-themed activities. This week, we're going on a Dinosaur Hunt. Join us at Mrs. Walsh's Garden for this Story Adventure as we do a scavenger hunt for all the dinosaurs in this beautiful garden area. Registration is required.

Makerspace

Bring a piece of nature indoors and capture the beauty of the season! Join us in the Makerspace for a hands-on crafting session to transform delicate pressed flowers into two beautiful, functional keepsakes: a custom bookmark and a stunning transparent ornament. Whether you want to create a unique gift or add a touch of botanical beauty to your home, this workshop will guide you through arranging, sealing, and preserving real flora. A Special Note for Our Flower Pressing Grads: If you attended our previous Flower Pressing class, this is your time to shine! Start pressing your favorite blooms now, and remember to bring your customized stash of flowers to class. Don't worry if you didn't take the first class or don't have your own flowers—we will provide a selection of pressed botanicals and all necessary crafting supplies for all participants.

Estes Valley Community Center

Baby Storytime is designed specifically for babies, toddlers & their caregivers. Join us for 25 minutes of rhymes, songs, bounces, wiggles, stretches and play.