The Kern County Library, at the direction of the Kern County Administrative Office and Kern County Department of Public Health, in an effort to address the recommendations made by Governor Gavin Newsom and the State of California for COVID-19, will be making significant changes to Library operations. For the safety of the families we serve, all Kern County Library branches will be closed beginning Tuesday, March 17th, 2020. All scheduled meetings, events, programs, or gatherings are cancelled until further notice.
You miss us and we miss you!
The Library’s call center opens June 1 (call 661.868.0701) and curbside services will begin at select branches on June 15.
Please visit our Health Resources page for more information about COVID-19, health concerns, and links to County departments and updates.
To learn more about our upcoming curbside services, read our reopening press release.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Extended Due Dates
All due dates for materials currently checked out from a Kern County Library location will be extended through July 2, 2020. Materials may be returned to the Kern County Library via library bookdrops.
Library Holds
All physical holds currently ready for pickup will be available when we launch curbside services beginning June 15. Holds through the OverDrive platform will operate as normal.
**Don’t want to wait for holds? We recommend using Hoopla or RBDigital for instance access!
Our ZipBooks service is also still active!
WiFi at Every Branch
Although physical library buildings will be closed, all branches will temporarily maintain WiFi Access 24/7. **Please Note: As of 3/20, a “shelter-in-place” order has been given by California Governor Gavin Newsom and that individuals should only leave their home for essential activities.
eLibrary
With our eLibrary, residents will continue to have access to our digital collection from the comfort of their home. Our digital items automatically return and do not incur late fees. Our eLibrary services include:
eLibrary Card
Kern County residents can now request an eLibrary card via email! Our eLibrary card can by used to access our online databases and eLibraries.
To apply for a card, visit: Apply for an eLibrary card
VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING
Storytimes
Introduce children to the magic of books!
Storytimes help children develop a lifelong love for reading, and is an important element of early literacy skills. Children learn how to interact with books, introduces children to new words, and introduces them to new concepts.
Kern County Library Storytimes
Celebrity Storytimes and More
Access #OperationStorytime to discover more stories ready by celebrities, authors, and illustrators.
Disney Bedtime Hotline
Parents, add a touch of Disney magic to bedtime. For a limited time, call 877-7-MICKEY for a special bedtime message from Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, or Goofy.
Book Clubs
Join a virtual book club to keep reading and social!
Book clubs are stimulating opportunities to keep your brain active and keep you social while sheltering-in-place. They encourage stress-free environments and to think about the title you are reading in new ways! Join us online for book clubs!
Teen Book Clubs
Friday, May 22 – Beale Memorial Library
“When You Ask Me Where I’m Going” by Jasmin Kaur – Get the eBook here!
#HarryPotteratHome
Read or listen to the first Harry Potter book with no wait.
FREE • AVAILABLE on OverDrive with Kern Library Card
Music Clubs
Join a virtual music club and get musical!
Playing music during times of stress can help ease anxiety and bring about an environment of positivity. Music helps us connect and is an opportunity for you to stay social and learn something new, all while sheltering-in-place. Join us online for music clubs!
STEM Events
Get together virtually to learn about STEM topics!
Learning STEM skills (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is integral, now more than ever! Join the Kern County Library virtually in discovering the natural world around us.
Watch and Listen Parties
Get together as a group virtually!
Some of our most popular programs at the Library are those where we get together and watch a movie or listen to a story. We want to continue that excitement online through watch and listen parties; it’s a great way to join in stay at home activities together!
Cinema Macabre
Dates Coming Soon
Details: Cinema Macabre will be viewed through a Netflix Watch Party. Adults only, 18+. You must have Netflix or access to Netflix for the Netflix Party chrome extension to work (and you must have or download the Chrome browser to add the extension): http://www.netflixparty.com/ The link for the watch party will be posted on the Facebook event.
Dark Dial: Haunted Radio Hour
Tuesday, May 12 @ 6pm – Beale Memorial Library
We will go LIVE from Facebook to listen to another terrifying tale together. Those who do not have Facebook, we will be providing a link to the audio at that time via email.
Archived:
Dark Dial: Masque of the Red Death
Virtual Family Movies @ Lunch
Coming Soon – Kern River Valley Branch Library
Online Film Clubs
Film Club Documentaries
Short documentary films, under 10 minutes, featured on the New York Times. Discussion questions are included.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Art & Crafts
Create virtually!
Create something new with virtual instruction!
Games
Play virtually!
There’s nothing better than kicking back and playing a game. It encourages social interaction and play. Free play and games are naturally at home at the Library, and want to continue that play online through virtual games!
Conversation Circles
Practice speaking English in a welcoming environment!
Conversation circles are integral opportunities to practice language learning and to develop language skills. Work with other English-language learners and participate in casual conversation to practice your skills.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Breathe and relax during this time!
During this unique time, it is very important to practice mindfulness, to remember to breathe, and to remember to relax. Meditation can be one of the ways to make this happen! We encourage you take moments for yourself and your family every day!
Barks & Books Online Edition
Get reading support from our favorite pups!
Join the Barks and Books dogs from Marley’s Mutts on Facebook live for stories and fun!
Virtual Kids Talent Show
Get ready to show the world your talent!
Our Delano Branch Library is having a “Kids Talent Show Contest-Virtual Edition.” If your child has a special talent that they would like to share, record them, and submit it to us by tagging our Delano Facebook Page.
Community Virtual Events
Attend virtual events across Kern County!
Join organizations and institutions across Kern County for LIVE virtual events that are open to the public and the community. These are wonderful opportunities to join groups, see speakers, and much more!
Upcoming LIVE Virtual Events
YouTube Channel
Attend virtual events anywhere at anytime!
Check out our virtual events on YouTube! From crafts and science to how-to’s, we have fun events the whole family will love!
STAY AT HOME ACTIVITIES
Explore the Library’s Online Resources page for even more FREE links and information.
Stay At Home Reading Challenge
Get digital badges for the books you read and for participating in at-home activities!
Access Beanstack online or through your mobile phone to participate; other active challenges include the Census Reading Challenge and the In-N-Out Cover to Cover Club. Read books that you own in your at-home library, check out an eBook or eAudiobook from our eLibrary, or request a book through ZipBooks.
Crosswords, Puzzles, and Online Games
Use your creative thinking skills and play!
Mind games like these help develop logic and problem-solving skills
What's Going On In...
What’s Going On In This Picture?
Weekly images from the New York Times, stripped of their captions. An invitation for discussion.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
What’s Going On In This Chart?
Weekly charts and graphs from the New York Times. An invitation for discussion.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Exercise and Active Play
Get your wiggles out – no matter your age!
It’s easy to spend your days at home sitting around, but it’s very important to get the blood pumping and stay active.
Family-Friendly Exercise
Cosmic Kids Yoga
Yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation designed specifically for kids aged 3+.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
GoNoodle
Get your kids moving with fun and engaging games. Every dance party, yoga session, mindfulness activity, and game session is an opportunity for kids to wake up their bodies.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Koo Koo Kanga Roo
Join YouTubers, Koo Kool Kanga Roo, for dance-along shows. Some shows are for all ages, while others are for adult audiences.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Living Room Dance Parties with DJ Mel
Get you and your kids moving with non-stop dance party music!
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Language Learning
Flex your bilingual skills today!
Practice important phrases and create digital immersion in your living room. It’s never too late to begin learning!
Library Language Learning Resources
Library of Congress
Access activities!
Read rare children’s books, record your family’s oral history with StoryCorps, or write a story or poem. The Library of Congress has curated lots of activities for your family!
Library of Congress Activities
All of these activities listed below can be found on the Library of Congress website.
Record Family Histories with StoryCorps
Build an oral history of your household. StoryCorps will walk you through the process with suggested questions and interview tips. Recordings are stored at the Library’s American Folklife Center.
FREE • Download StoryCorps App
Create an “Exquisite Corpse Story or Poem”
Jon Scieszka, the 2008-09 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, started the Library’s own “The Exquisite Corpse Adventure” with an all-star cast of fellow authors (Kate DiCamillo, Katherine Paterson, Lemony Snicket) to fill in the 27 chapters. You can play too! Players construct a story by stringing together disconnected sentences or phrases. It creates a “Frankenstein’s monster” type of tale, hence the “corpse” moniker. It can be as silly or serious as the player make it. First, find a photograph in the Library of Congress online catalog or use one of the suggested images from photographer Gordon Parks, or you can also use a family photo. Gather players in a virtual circle to examine the photograph. One person starts by writing a line or sentence about the image. They pass the paper or conversation digitally, and each person adds another line of text (without seeing the lines from before). Continue this until each person has written 3 lines.
Read a Rare Children’s book
The Library of Congress has digitized copies of rare children’s books, from Mother Goose Stories to Baseball ABCs.
FREE • Access Library of Congress Collection
Read and Write in Braille
Want to learn how to read with your fingers? Introduce your children to the basics of braille with the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). NLS is free for people with temporary or permanent visual impairment that prevents them from reading or holding a page. The NLS is part of the Library of Congress and can teach you how to get started.
FREE • Access the Basics of Braille
Write a Letter to Rosa Parks
Read about Rosa Parks’ life in her own words in the Library of Congress online exhibition. Have your child create a card or write a letter, imagining they are sending it to Mrs. Parks. Here’s some inspiration! What would you say to the mother of the Civil Rights movement?
Be a Kid Citizen!
Explore Congress and civic engagement through primary sources with the interactive Kid Citizen website, a Library of Congress partner organization.
Explore Everyday Mysteries
Why do onions make you cry? How does a stone skip across water? Select a mystery every day from the Library of Congress’ Science, Technology, and Business Division and find out. Explore the fun of research!
Explore Everyday Mysteries
Why do onions make you cry? How does a stone skip across water? Select a mystery every day from the Library of Congress’ Science, Technology, and Business Division and find out. Explore the fun of research!
Lessons
School in your living room!
School may now be at home, but there are a wealth of resources online to help make learning fun and easy!
List of Lessons and Academic Websites
Lesson of the Day
Short pre-planned lessons from the New York Times that emphasize current events.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
TED-Ed Student Talks
Young learners can discover, explore, and present big ideas through short TED-style talks.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Scholastic Learn at Home
Twenty days’ worth of day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Prodigy
An engaging curriculum-aligned math platform, presented in a game-style interface.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Dream Learning
An instructional design that allows for exploration, builds conceptual understanding, and establishes confidence.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Peachtree Publishing Teaching and Discussion Guides
Access teaching and discussion guides for books published by Peachtree Publishing.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Printable Activities
Print these at home!
Play printable games, create crafts, and more — all from the comfort of your home!
Download Printable Activities
Library Census Activities
Through April 2020, the Kern County Library is emphasizing the importance of the Census in our community. Libraries believe that everyone counts, and #KernCounts. For more information about the Census, visit the Library’s Census page. Please Note: All in-person Census-inspired programming for the Census has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
DOWNLOAD Finger Puppet Craft
DOWNLOAD Avengers Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD British Royal Family Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Fantastic Four Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Futurama Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Game of Thrones Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Once Upon a Time Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Star Wars Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Full House Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Malfoys and Potters (Harry Potter) Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Simpsons Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Weasleys (Harry Potter) Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD X-Men Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Lion King Coloring Sheet
DOWNLOAD Coat of Arms Symbology Booklet
Visit Bakersfield Coloring Contest
Artists can enter the contest by posting photos of their colored picture in the comments section of the Visit Bakersfield Facebook page. The photos with the most likes each week will be named the winner. For more information, visit Visit Bakersfield’s website.
DOWNLOAD Week 1 (by April 5th @5pm )
DOWNLOAD Week 2 (by April 10th @5pm)
DOWNLOAD Week 3 (by April 17th @5pm)
COVID-19 Time Capsule
We are living through history and this time capsule helps document this experience for your family. Included are pages to draw a family picture, a “how I am feeling” sheet, a “what I am doing at home” sheet, a letter from parents, and much more.
DOWNLOAD Time Capsule Sheets
Disney Coloring Sheets
Discover coloring sheets of children’s favorite characters! Download these coloring sheets!
DOWNLOAD Alphabet Sheets
DOWNLOAD Crayola Sheets
ACCESS Digital Coloring Sheets
Comic Books
Finish your very own comics with these blank comics and drawing/writing prompts!
FREE • DOWNLOAD
Eric Carle Coloring Sheets
Do your little ones love The Very Hungry Caterpillar? Print these activities and coloring sheets for your children.
FREE • DOWNLOAD
Kindness Bingo
Get together as a family and play kindness BINGO!
FREE • DOWNLOAD
Create Thank You Cards
Download and print these Thank You cards for anyone and everyone in your life.
FREE • DOWNLOAD
FREE • DOWNLOAD
Matching Game
Print out these fun matching games and challenge each other at home!
FREE • DOWNLOAD
FREE • DOWNLOAD
Mini Books: Seasons
Create your own book at home!
FREE • DOWNLOAD
Mini Book: Seeds
Create your own book at home!
FREE • DOWNLOAD
Peachtree Publishing Activity Sheets
Access coloring and activity sheets that coincide with Peachtree Publishing books!
DOWNLOAD Aalfred and Aalbert Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Am I Yours? Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Babies in the Park Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Claude at the Beach Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Claude on the Slopes Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Duck and Penguin Are NOT Friends Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD A Friend for Mole Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Hansel & Gretel Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Hat Tricks Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Izzy Gizmo Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD King & Kayla Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Lana Lynn Howls at the Moon Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Little Rabbit Lost Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Madeline Finn Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Mr. Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3 Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD One Fox Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD P. Zonka Lays an Egg Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Paper Planes Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Poet Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Prince Ribbit Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Santa Trap Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Stanley the Farmer Activity Sheets
DOWNLOAD Zebra on the Go Activity Sheets
Writing and More
Get creative and begin writing!
Access writing prompts to begin writing today! Express your opinion, begin a story, and join written conversations.
Writing Prompts
Writing Prompts
Daily writing prompts from the New York Times. Included are picture prompts, student opinion prompts, and current events conversation.
FREE • AVAILABLE ONLINE
Easter and Other Holiday Activities
Celebrate at home!
Access activity ideas to celebrate Easter and other passing holidays for the whole family! Join in a craft or story at home.
Storybooks & Title Recommendations
VIRTUAL ADVENTURES
Aquariums
Head to the aquarium!
See the jellyfish, the tropical fish, and the sharks! Live cams of animals that live in the sea from some of the biggest aquariums, and much more!
Museums
Head to the museum!
See some of the most influential paintings and statues in history, visit exhibits of monumental antiquities, explore some of the most beautiful galleries and museums, and much more!
List of Museums
British Museum, London
Guggenheim Museum, New York
Louvre Museum, Paris
MASP, Sao Paolo
Musee d’Orsay, Paris
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Pergamon Museum, Berlin
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Uffizi Gallery, Florence Italy
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Smithsonian Institute
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Google Arts & Culture
Historical Homes
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Buckingham Palace, London
Frida Kahlo Museum, Mexico City
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Lyndhurst Mansion, Tarrytown
Monticello, Charlottesville
Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon
The Mark Twain House, Hartford
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami
Zoos
Head to the zoo!
Visit the lions, the tigers, and the bears! Live cams of the animals in some of the biggest zoos, and much more!
National Parks
Head to the park!
See nature’s most amazing waterfalls, highest mountain peaks, beautiful trees and plants, and much more!
*Virtually with Google Earth, supported in Firefox browser.
Theme and Adventure Parks
Discover the magic of theme parks!
Watch Disney’s newest parade, ride some of the most exciting roller coasters, and discover online exhibits. Many of the included experience are in 4K and are 360° immersive experiences.
ACADEMIC ADVENTURES
Space
Explore the universe!
Launch rockets, build a Moon Habitat, solve spacey puzzles, go on interstellar adventures, and more!
Science
Science is all around us!
Explore different science topics virtually. STEM includes math, technology, engineering, natural sciences, and more!
Music and Theatre
Celebrate performance art!
Get dressed up, or get dressed down and attend a virtual musical or theatrical performance!
Concerts
One World: Together at Home Benefit Concert broadcasting on Saturday, April 18 @ 5pm on ABC, NBC, ViacomCBS Networks, and iHeartMedia. Also streaming online on Amazon Prime Video, Apple, Facebook, Instagram, TuneIn, Twitch, Twitter, Yahoo, and YouTube. Broadcasting and streaming on many additional networks and services.
Paint, create, or draw something beautiful!
Create something new with virtual instruction!
• Ages 3+ 
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