General Information | Special Programs | Regular Programs
General Information about Programs
Many of our programs are popular. Please be aware that you may have to park across the street at the Town Hall or at Brooks Park. All of our programs have a limited capacity, though not all programs reach that capacity. It is best to call ahead to find out more information about whether there will be a need to register, or how free tickets will be distributed. Popular programs may feel crowded or loud, and will incorporate children of many ages and abilities who may make unexpected movements or unexpected noises. The lights in the library are a combination bright fluorescent and LED lights. The lights cannot be turned off for safety reasons. All programming spaces at the library are wheelchair accessible.
Our Event Calendar listings contain descriptions of individual programs. If you would like additional information, have questions about a particular program, or would like to ask us about possible accommodations for your child, please email Youth Services Librarian Ann Carpenter at acarpenter@clamsnet.org one week in advance. Every child is different, so accommodation possibilities are best communicated through clear, written discussion. We will always try to make requested accommodations if we are reasonably able to make them, but time may not always permit us to do so if they are made less than a week in advance. Sensory Kits are available with noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, and sunglasses, though we encourage families who know they will need these items to bring their own, both because familiar items may be more successful and because we have a limited supply.
This page is intended for use in determining what a young person can expect at a program. For more information about our child safety policy and policy on behavioral guidelines for minors, visit the Child Safety Policy page.
Special Programs and Ticket Information
Special programs are any program that do not occur on a monthly or weekly basis, and can be a wide variety of program types from magicians and storytellers to live animal programs. These programs typically take place in our large meeting room. While capacity is limited (see the information below on obtaining free tickets for these events), these events are usually very popular and you can expect a large number of children and families, as well as crowded conditions on the main floor of the Library before the program begins. If you have questions about a particular program, or would like to ask us about possible accommodations for your child, please email Youth Services Librarian Ann Carpenter at acarpenter@clamsnet.org.
Tickets for special programs are free and are given out at the Youth Services Desk starting 30 minutes prior to the start of the program. Please be aware that our parking lots quickly fill and you may need to park across Main St. at Brooks Park or behind Town Hall so you should plan the time for that into your arrival so that you are at the Youth Services Desk 30 minutes prior to the start of the program and in time to receive tickets for your family. This is especially true for programs held on holiday weekends, during school vacation weeks and during the Summer Reading Program. For popular programs where we may have to turn some people away we ask that families try to limit the number of adult family members attending to be proportional to the number of children they are bringing to the program. This will enable other families and their children to enjoy the program.
Audience Style Programs
Audience style programs include, but are not limited to: live animal programs, magic shows, storytellers, science programs, jugglers, circus acts, mimes, musicians, the Harwich Mariner storytime, puppets, and any other program where the primary purpose of the program is for children to watch a performance/presentation given by one or more presenters. While there may be opportunities for children to volunteer as “assistants”, these programs will require the child to sit on the floor or in a chair for the duration of the program. Popular programs mean children will be sitting very close to one another.
Many of our programs are loud and exciting, and frequent bursts of laughter or other audience responses are normal, but there is an expectation that the children will not unduly disrupt the presenter by vocalizing, moving out of their seat, or otherwise disrupting the experience for other audience members. Because youth programs are often high energy, audience members should expect to be exposed to sudden loud noises, sudden or unexpected movement by the presenter or their animals, and the possibility of bright lights. We will not knowingly host a performer using strobe lights or any other light effect that might cause seizures.
Craft/Art/Interactive Programs
Craft/art/creation programs include but are not limited to: craft programs, theme parties, cookie decorating, slime making, food preparation, art, origami and any other program where the primary purpose of the program is for the children to actively participate in creating or interacting with something. There is an expectation that some of these programs may be messy and may include materials that will stain. Food based programs have an inherent risk of choking. Any family who has a food restriction should contact Ann at acarpenter@clamsnet.org 48 hours before the program to ensure that an appropriate substitution will be available.
Some interactive programs, especially the theme parties, feature multiple stations with things to do, which means that children will be moving freely from station to station and moving in unpredictable ways in a possibly crowded environment. Noise levels tend to be medium to high at all art/craft/interactive programs because participants will chat with one another as they work, reminiscent of a school cafeteria (though rugs and lower ceilings mean that there is not as much acoustic echoing as in a cafeteria).
Regular programming is held weekly or monthly and follows a regular pattern such that any one week’s program will be very similar to another week’s program, differing only in details. If you have questions about a particular program, or would like to ask us about possible accommodations for your child, please email Youth Services Librarian Ann Carpenter at acarpenter@clamsnet.org.
Storytime
Our Tuesday and Thursday storytimes are designed for ages 0-5, but all ages are welcome. Because many of our storytime participants are very young, there is no required expectation that they will sit for the entire program. Attendees should be prepared for unexpected movement and noises from other young children. Some storytimes, particularly those in the summer months, can be quite crowded, with an attendant rise in the noise level as many voices sing together. Shakers, scarves, and bubbles are used as part of the program, and there is a parachute that is covered in soft balls that are flung around the room at the end of the program.
STEM Storytime, when it is running, is aimed at preschool students. Because this program is intended for preschoolers, there is an expectation that they will sit for 5-10 minutes at a time to listen to a story or engage in a craft. Some STEM Storytime crafts can be messy, and some are sensory based. Because the other participants are also young children, attendees should be prepared for unexpected movement and/or unexpected loud noises.
Legos
Lego days are for all ages. Children can freely build with blocks from our unsorted bins of lego blocks. Because Lego building lasts for multiple hours, attendance can vary widely over the course of the day, from one child to a dozen at a time. Participants can expect to share the space with others, engage in shared access to the bins of lego blocks, and to direct their own playing without librarian assistance. The lego program is held in our picture book room, which also houses space for very young children, so in addition to the typical noise level and movement of a group of children playing with lego blocks, participants can also expect that in the same room there will be very young children who may make unexpected noises and unexpected movements.
Food and Fun
Our regular food and fun program is for middle school and high school students in grades 5 and above. Participants will make a food item and play games or do crafts. Attendees with food restrictions should inform Ann at acarpenter@clamsnet.org 48 hours before the program to ensure that an appropriate substitution is available. This program can be messy and can sometimes involve getting materials on participants hands. Participants can anticipate the sorts of movement and noises associated with small to large groups of tweens and teens.
Other Teen/Tween Programming
Other regular teen/tween programming includes, but is not limited to: book groups, Magic: The Gathering, Destination Imagination, writing clubs, etc. These programs often, but not always, supply snacks to the participants. Attendees with food restrictions should inform Ann at acarpenter@clamsnet.org 48 hours before the program to ensure that an appropriate substitution is available. Participants can anticipate the sorts of movement and noises associated with small to large groups of tweens and teens. Many, though not all, of these programs have conversation as a key element to the program, such as discussing a book or arguing about the rules to a game.