Kids

2022 libraryThe Ethel M. Gordon Oakland Park Library is proud of its involvement with the youth in the community. We offer an assortment of programs for various ages to encourage and promote a love of books and reading. Please call 954-630-4372 as this information is subject to change. We welcome and invite you to visit us!

Weekly Storytimes

Fire Rescue and Police Storytime

Join the Oakland Park Firefighters on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 10am and an offer from the Broward Sheriff's Office on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 10am for storytime! Make sure to check out the fire truck after storytime on Firefighter days! In the event there is a 5th Monday in any given month, there will be no storytime. Please not that storytime may be cancelled without notice based on the availability of the Firefighters or Officers.

Tales for Tots

Join Ms. Brittney on Wednesdays at 10am for Tales for Tots! This program creates hands-on storytelling adventures for toddlers and their caregivers, with different stories, music, action rhymes, and other interactive activities each week. Build early literacy skills while having fun!

Library Programs and Events

The library offers a variety of programs for all ages. Please visit the calendar for a list of current offerings.

Technology

Early Literacy Stations (ELS)

Come check out the Library's ELS which provides over 55 bilingual English and Spanish educational games for kids ages 2-8. Each section offers a child a safe, standalone computer not connected to the Internet that is age-appropriate, engaging, and academically relevant for children. The ELS has a large monitor with touchscreen capability plus a colorful keyboard and tiny mouse to promote easy learning and self-discovery. The ELS software covers seven circular areas: reading, math, science, social studies, writing, arts and music, and reference.

Playaway Launchpads

The Oakland Park Library has Playaway Launchpad tablets available for checkout. Each Launchpad comes with preloaded reading activities, games, and puzzle applications designed for children. Each device is touchscreen, does not require Wi-Fi access and has a universal headphone jack. One tablet can be checked out at a time to patrons who have an Oakland Park Library card in good standing. Each tablet is available for a 7-day loan period.

Print Collection

Multilingual Books

Multilingual books are available in the Youth Services section. Languages include Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, and Mandarin with many more languages added throughout the year. Books range from toddler board books to juvenile non-fiction.

Accelerated/Advanced Readers (AR)AR

The library identifies books that have an AR status through stickers on the spines of the books. Look for one of these stickers on the spines of books. The library is transitioning from general Advanced Reader stickers combined with color-coded dots to signify the grade level to single stickers that denote AR and grade-level. You can find signs within the Youth Services section of the library that tell you which colors to look for. You can find the AR information on the first page of the book or on the title page in the top right corner.

Item Request

Item Requests

Did you know that you can request books, movies, CDs, and CD-Books that the library doesn't currently own? While there are some limitations, in most cases, the library will either purchase or InterLibrary Loan the item for you. You can make these requests by either filling out a request card in the library (ask for one at the Circulation Desk) or online. To make your request online, go to the library's catalog. For instructions on how to make the request, take a look at this tutorial.