Plan your trip early and stay in Chestertown! Click here for local lodging.
Do you have a burning question about Kent County Public Library? Executive Director Arnessa Dowell has answers! You'll leave this information-packed hour knowing more about what's upcoming for KCPL and with a better understanding of the library's role in the community. We look forward to hearing your questions and are excited to give you answers!
Stop by KCPL's Chestertown Branch to visit with a representative from the People's Insurance Counsel Division (PICD) of the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, and ask all your questions about your rights as a consumer of homeowner's insurance.
Join us to paint terracotta pots with paint pens! If time permits, we'll also create origami flowers to fill them up. All supplies will be provided, just bring your creativity! Ages 13-17 Space is limited. Please register!
Calling all plant enthusiasts and newbies to start this year's growing season with your very own seedling. We will have flower seeds and all the supplies needed to make sure your seedling gets a great growing start! Beth Hill from Kent County 4-H will offer care instructions and share all sorts of information about the… Continue Reading Plant a Seedling with Beth Hill from 4-H!
The library is not a standalone organization, it's a vital part of the community! KCPL Cares is a monthly free giveaway initiative that lets us connect with and support the community in a variety of ways. This month, our giveaway features items to help you get ready for spring gardening. Care packs are available during… Continue Reading KCPL Cares Giveaway – Garden Prep!
Do you need seeds for your garden? Do you have seeds you could share? Join us for a Seed Swap in celebration of gardening and growing things. If you didn't save seeds last year, you are still welcome to attend! You do not have to bring seeds in order to receive seeds. If you do… Continue Reading Seed Swap
Maren Gimpel, Field Ecologist and Outreach Coordinator at Foreman's Branch Bird Observatory, shares the basics of backyard birding and answers your bird-related questions! You'll leave this program ready to explore your own backyard (just in time for the Great Backyard Bird Count, which takes place Feb 17-20) and with lots of new information, including FBBO's… Continue Reading Early Birds & Ducks in Water: An Intro to Birding & Avian Research
Have you ever wondered what kids around the world snack on? Join us to find out – and to try a variety of snacks! At this global snacking showdown we'll explore treats, share fun facts, and bring the rest of the world closer to home one tasty bite at a time. Please note: Due to… Continue Reading Snack Around the World Club: Try snacks from around the globe!
Let's make fudge! Join us for a special chocolatey treat at the library. Ages 13-17 Space is limited. Please register! Pizza and Make a Thing is a program series for teens where we eat pizza and make a thing.
We've turned some of our favorite stories into crafts full of love! Share your love of picture books and create a unique Valentine for someone special. All ages welcome.
Happiness Hour is a time for grown-ups to explore their powers of creativity. Join us to try your hand at something new and leave a little happier than you arrived! Featured Project: Valentines Show your love for friends, family, and anyone who's special to you by making them a handmade valentine! Enjoy delicious cookies from… Continue Reading Happiness Hour: Creative Time for Grown-Ups – Cookies & Cards
February 1st is the beginning of Love Your Library month! Visit KCPL during Love Your Library Month and pick up a custom-made Love Your Library punch card! Each time you visit any library branch during February, you can get your card punched. After 6 visits, turn in your filled punch card and choose a small… Continue Reading Visit KCPL During Love Your Library Month!
Teens, join us in the wave room to get creative, hang out, and try a variety of activities! Most Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Will it be easy or difficult? Will you be hot or cold? Find out at this here-and-there, up-and-down, back-and-forth scavenger hunt all around the library as we celebrate National Opposite Day! When you complete the hunt, choose a prize from the the Mystery Prize Box.
Looking to get rid of leftover art supplies cluttering up your creative space? Searching for supplies for a new project? Come to KCPL's Community art supply swap! Refresh your art supplies, pick up something new-to-you, and share the creative wealth with the community. We're going through our craft closets to find items that are ready… Continue Reading Art Supply Swap
Make mochi and learn about Japanese New Year traditions! Pizza will be provided. Ages 13-17 Space is limited. Please register!
The Mobile Wellness Team (MWT) from Shore Medical Center Chestertown, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health will be visiting KCPL. Stop by for free health screenings and information about local health resources!
Storytime is back after winter break! Join us in Chestertown on Tuesdays, at 10 AM for Preschool Storytime and at 11 AM for Baby and Toddler Storytime!
From January 1-31, Kent County Public Library is participating in “All the Feels,” a Winter Reading Challenge. We challenge our community to collectively read at least 100,000 minutes during the month of January and track their reading on our Beanstack site or using the Beanstack mobile app. Thousands of other libraries across the nation are… Continue Reading Winter Reading Challenge 2023: All the Feels
Gumdrops, candycanes, and frosting await as we build "gingerbread" houses at the library. This event is designed for creative builders of all ages and we will be using graham crackers rather than real gingerbread. All Ages. Registration Required. This event is being held at all three KCPL locations. Please be sure you are registering for… Continue Reading Gingerbread Houses
Take Home Bingo is a fun, laid-back approach to Bingo with the possibility of winning prizes! Pick up a Bingo card at any KCPL location starting December 1st. One card per person per day. Visit us in-person each day from December 1st-14th to see the day's numbers. Numbers will be posted at all KCPL locations… Continue Reading Take-Home Bingo – Dec. 1-14
Make different kinds of holiday cookies to enjoy or give away as gifts! All supplies provided. Ages 13-17 Space is limited. Please register!
Have you ever wondered what kids around the world snack on? Join us to find out – and to try a variety of snacks! At this global snacking showdown we'll explore treats, share fun facts, and bring the rest of the world closer to home one tasty bite at a time. Please note: Due to… Continue Reading Snack Around the World Club: Try snacks from around the globe!
Happiness Hour is a time for grown-ups to explore their powers of creativity. Join us to try your hand at something new and leave a little happier than you arrived! Featured Project: Crafting Smörgåsbord Create cards full of good cheer, design custom gift tags, craft decorations, and more! A wide variety of supplies will be… Continue Reading Happiness Hour: Creative Time for Grown-Ups – Crafting Smörgåsbord
Interested in getting started with D&D character making? Want to learn how to fill out a character sheet? Join KCPL's Teen Services Clerk for a casual D&D character making session and get pro tips on characters and how to play the game from a D&D Dungeon Master. Free gaming dice available while supplies last! Ages… Continue Reading Dungeons & Dragons: Character Creation
Share an evening by the "campfire" as we snuggle in for a special family evening storytime! Enjoy stories, crafts and a snack with your favorite children's librarians. Ages 2-7
We're filling the library with games! Join us to enjoy a mix of old favorites, new games, GIANT games, and more – whether you enjoy storytelling, multi-layered strategy, collaborative problem-solving, or fast-paced competition, there’s a game for you! Gamers of all ages and all experience levels are welcome at this casual evening of board games.… Continue Reading Out of the Box: After Hours Board Game Night
Why wear your costume only once when you can wear it twice! Get dressed up and stop by any KCPL location for a special trick-or-treat dress rehearsal at KCPL's after-hours candy giveaway!
It's an all-ages apple extravaganza! Join us for caramel apples, apple-scented potpourri and decorations, apple crafts for kids, apple pottery pinch pots, cider making, apple smoothies, goodie bags, and so much more! All ages are welcome at this family-friendly festival! Presented in partnership with Lockbriar Farms and Kent County 4-H.
Have you ever wondered what kids around the world snack on? Join us to find out – and to try a variety of snacks! At this global snacking showdown we'll explore treats, share fun facts, and bring the rest of the world closer to home one tasty bite at a time. Please note: Due to… Continue Reading Snack Around the World Club: Try snacks from around the globe!
Join us for a discussion of the 2022 One Maryland One Book selection, What's Mine and Yours by Naima Coster. Free copies of the book are available at all KCPL locations while supplies last. The book is also available for checkout. Registration is requested, but walk-ins are welcome.
Craft and create your very own spooky charm! Into vampires? Prefer zombies? Mad science in your future? We'll have supplies for making all sorts of spooky swag for the season. And, of course, there will be pizza! Ages 13-17 Space is limited. Please register!
Join us for books and fun! Preschool Storytime runs from 10 AM to 11 AM on Tuesdays, and Baby and Toddler Storytime runs from 11 AM to 11:30 AM on Tuesdays.
The 2022 One Maryland One Book, What's Mine and Yours by Naima Coster, features fraught relationships that allow the reader to explore the depth and complexities of love. "Love Maps" is an opportunity to explore your relationships with significant others and learn ways to make them less fraught and more loving and supportive. Through this… Continue Reading Love Maps: Knowing your Partner's Inner World – One Maryland One Book
Do you have a burning question about Kent County Public Library? Executive Director Arnessa Dowell has answers! You'll leave this information-packed hour knowing what KCPL is planning for the fall and with a better understanding of the library's role in the community. We look forward to hearing your questions and are excited to give you… Continue Reading 7 Questions with KCPL's Executive Director
We've made it to the end of our summer reading adventure! Come celebrate with us and the Steve Cyphers Trio as we explore rhythm and percussion and share the joy of music, from the log drum of Africa to the modern drum kit. We will also be joined by two very special guests, library-loving local… Continue Reading 2022 Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Finale with Steve Cyphers Trio – Adventures in Rhythm
After a summer of reading and logging your minutes, now is your chance to turn those minutes into fantastic prizes. At this special one-night-only summer finale for adults, the total number of reading minutes you’ve logged this summer will be converted into KCPL Bucks – and the bidding will begin! Enjoy fun, friendly competition, excitement,… Continue Reading Marvelous Mystery Auction: Adults-Only Oceans of Possibility Summer Reading Finale
It's a tie-dye/taste of the pie party! Celebrate the end of summer reading with DIY tie-dye on the patio and a taste of the town pizza competition. Sample cheese pizza perfection from various locations around town in a blind taste test and find out whose pizza takes the cake! You can bring your own t-shirt… Continue Reading 2022 Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Teen Finale
Spend an evening with Jenifer Dolde, Associate Curator of Collections at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and discover the stories behind the 1970s build of Maryland Dove by Dorchester County’s iconic boatbuilder Jim Richardson and his “hippie” crew. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving and exploring the history,… Continue Reading Maryland Dove: Tales and Legends
Hilarious duo Lenny and Mabel – “The Greatest Actors in the World” – provide this fun take on Hans Christian Anderson’s classic fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. The story follows the adventures of a mermaid who wishes to become human and win the heart of a human prince. This surprising tale of love and loss… Continue Reading Bright Star Children's Theatre Presents: The Little Mermaid
This adventure quest is part scavenger hunt, part interactive story, and treasure awaits any who solve Poseidon’s riddles! You and your teammates will travel through the library, putting together clues, and solving the final riddle that unlocks the prize at the end of the quest. Teens (ages 13-17) Registration encouraged, but walk-ins welcome!
Add nautical flair to your table with a thump mat knotted trivet! Thump mats are woven rope pads that keep blocks and pulleys from hitting and damaging the deck on boats such as Chestertown's Sultana. They're also excellent hot pads for protecting your table. Adults Please register to reserve a space!
Explore containers full of pond insects, snails, plants, and more as you learn what it takes to be a limnologist – that's the name for a scientist who studies the ecosystem of ponds, pond animals, and pond plant life. Please register to reserve a space! Recommended for Ages 5+
Arrrgh – here there be pirates! Set the scene and design a unique pirate-themed terrarium. Teens (ages 13-17) Registration encouraged, but walk-ins welcome!
The only desert island here is a dessert island! Learn how to create a simple no-cook dessert that looks like a desert island – fun, easy, tasty, and perfect for a summer treat! All supplies provided. Adults Please register to reserve a space!
If you were stuck on a desert island and only had one bottle, what message would you send? At this program, you'll explore different types of communication, including morse code! You'll also make and decorate a special desert island bottle and write your own message to send to the world. Recommended for ages 5+
Learn how to create survival bracelets out of paracord - functional, stylish, and able to save a life in an emergency situation! After you learn the basics, you'll make two bracelets. One is for you to keep. The other will be donated to Operation Gratitude to be included in a care package for someone who… Continue Reading Paracord Survival Bracelets
Shark-cuterie! Dive into the charcuterie trend by creating your very own shark-themed board. At this workshop, we'll provide a board and all the supplies you need to create a colorful shark design. You'll bring your creativity and take home a gorgeous board to inspire you to chomp into charcuterie! Adults Please register to reserve a… Continue Reading Shark-cuterie: Create a Custom Cutting Board
Sharks are unique and intelligent animals with amazing survival adaptations that have kept them at the top of the ocean food chain since prehistoric times. The National Aquarium joins us to dispel common shark myths (spoiler alert: sharks are not the fearsome eating machines portrayed in movies) and introduce us to the amazing world of… Continue Reading The National Aquarium Presents: Shark!
Go ocean retro and get groovy creating a tie-dye masterpiece! Bring a plain white t-shirt or other item you'd like to tie-dye (100% cotton fabric works best). A limited number of blank tote bags available as well. All other supplies will be provided. Teens (ages 13-17) Registration encouraged, but walk-ins welcome!
If you're interested in oceanography and marine life, you don't want to miss what's happening at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore! Dr. Paulinus Chigbu, Professor of Marine Science and Director of the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center, joins us to share details about the current Marine Science research and training programs that… Continue Reading Marine Science! with Dr. Paulinus Chigbu of University of Maryland Eastern Shore
It's beach week at the library! Use watercolors to paint seashells for decorating your very own picture frame. What will you put in your frame? That's up to you, but we'll have an ocean-themed photobooth where you can create instant memories and find inspiration! Recommended for Ages 5+
Write a tiny message in a bottle and turn it into a necklace or keychain that is uniquely yours! What will your secret message say? Teens | Ages 13-17
Come and sign up for the 2022 Summer Reading Program Oceans of Possibilities and receive your bag of swag to get started with your reading adventure! Register in person or pre-register online to play via Beanstack. Free t-shirts available while supplies last. Join the Science Guys of Baltimore to learn about waves! Waves of the… Continue Reading 2022 Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Kickoff with Science Guys of Baltimore
Do you have a burning question about Kent County Public Library? Executive Director Arnessa Dowell has answers! You'll leave this information-packed hour knowing what KCPL is planning for the summer (hint: there will be prizes, events, and more for all ages babies through adults!) and with a better understanding of the library's role in the… Continue Reading 7 Questions with KCPL's Executive Director
The library is not a standalone organization, it's a vital part of the community! KCPL Cares is a monthly free giveaway initiative that lets us connect with and support the community in a variety of ways. This month, in recognition of Mental Health Month, we're giving away something for stress relief: fidget poppers for kids… Continue Reading KCPL Cares Giveaway – Stress Relief Giveaway
Bring your creativity and create your own unique bookmark in celebration of libraries and reading! Ages 5+
Make a teeny-tiny model of your favorite book and create your own unique book-themed key chain! Let us know the title of the book you'd like to have on your key chain when you register so that we can create a tiny cover for you to use on your key chain. And, as always, there… Continue Reading Mini-Book Key Chains: A Pizza & Make a Thing Event
Sign up for KCPL's 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and track your child's progress in reading prior to entering school. Prizes will be earned along the way and a special grand completion prize will be awarded to all children that read 1,000 books. Join us for a special launch party featuring books, songs, toys, creativity, snacks… Continue Reading KCPL 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Launch Party!
Join Chestertown RiverArts volunteer Marianne Sade to learn about the Global Art Peace Project. Marianne will speak about the project's history and answer questions against the backdrop of our community's 2022 contribution to this UNESCO Prize-nominated international art exchange for peace. The artwork will be displayed in a special exhibit at Kent County Public Library's… Continue Reading Global Art Peace Project Talk
Do you need seeds for your garden? Do you have seeds you could share? Join us for a Seed Swap in celebration of gardening and growing things. If you didn't save seeds last year, you are still welcome to attend. You do not have to bring seeds in order to receive seeds. If you do… Continue Reading Seed Swap
Last modified: March 1, 2023
