📚 Blount County Public Library - Children's Programs
- Baby & Me Storytime (ages 0-3)
- Little Learners Storytime (ages 3-5)
- STEAMKids (ages 8-12)
- LEGO Club (grades K-5)
- Kids Book Club (grades 4-8)
- Tween Book Club
- Free Create Friday (arts & crafts)
- Monthly Board Game Day
- Seasonal events (Easter Egg Hunts, Peeps Diorama Contest)
- Astronomy Nights with Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society
As a homeschooling mom who spends way too much time at the library (no judgment, please), I can tell you that the Blount County Public Library's children's programs are an absolute GOLD MINE for families in our area.
Why I love it: The BCPL doesn't just have books (though they have AMAZING children's sections). They've built a whole ecosystem of programs that support kids' learning and socialization in ways that are free, accessible, and actually fun.
What's available:
👶 Baby & Me Storytime (Ages 0-3) Perfect for those wiggly toddlers and their grown-ups. Think bounces, music, and stories - exactly what you need on a rainy Tuesday afternoon.
📖 Little Learners Storytime (Ages 3-5) Stories, music, and movement for preschoolers. This is where my kids learned to love reading before they even started "school."
🔬 STEAMKids (Ages 8-12) Weekly projects themed around science, technology, engineering, art, and math. If your kid is curious about how things work (or why), this is their jam.
🧱 LEGO Club & Free Time (Grades K-5) LEGO challenges and free building time. Sometimes you just need a space where building with LEGOs is not just allowed but encouraged.
📚 Book Clubs - Kids Book Club (Grades 4-6 & 7-8): Find new books and new friends! - Tween Book Club: For those in-between ages who need their own thing
🎨 Free Create Friday Arts and crafts supplies, paper, yarn, fabric, recycled materials - whatever your brain can come up with, you can make it here.
🎲 Monthly Board Game Day On the last Saturday of every month, they put out a variety of board games in the Children's Department for families to play together.
🌙 Seasonal & Special Events - Easter Egg Hunts: Annual spring tradition - Peeps Diorama Contest: Vote for your favorite pop culture-themed Peeps diorama (yes, this is a thing, and yes, it's adorable) - Astronomy Nights: Learn about telescopes with the Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society - Tween Night events: Special activities like "Transfer a T-shirt into a Bag"
Branch locations: - Alcoa: 209 E. Franklin Street - Maryville: Main branch (check website for address) - New Market: Serving the New Market area - Oliver Springs: Serving Oliver Springs - Townsend: Serving Townsend
Pro tips from a library regular: - Call ahead or check online for current schedules - programs can change seasonally - Registration is required for some programs - don't show up expecting to just walk in - Email them at bcpl.kids@blounttn.org for book club spots or questions - Check their Facebook for updates and special announcements - Use it as a homeschool resource - they have curriculum support, educational programs, and quiet study spaces
The vibe: The BCPL kids' programs feel like a community effort. The staff clearly care about kids' literacy and learning, and you can see it in how they run their programs. It's not just "here's a storytime" - it's thoughtful, varied programming that meets kids where they are.
Whether you're looking for a weekly routine, a rainy day activity, or just a place to meet other families, the Blount County Public Library's children's programs are worth exploring. And the best part? It's all free.