Winter break is a great reprieve for students who have kept busy with school, sports, clubs and other activities all fall. While most look forward to the time out of school, it doesn't take long for boredom to strike. Omaha Public Library (OPL) can help bring excitement to those dull winter days with a variety of free programs for kids and teens, and resources to help keep their minds active.
Winter break activities at OPL branches
For Kids:
🐾 Read to a Dog 🐾
Kids and teens can enjoy a special 15-minute, one-on-one reading session with a registered therapy dog and their handler. Perfect for building confidence and sharing a story! Available at Willa Cather, Florence, Elkhorn, and Millard Branches.
🎥 Interactive Movie: Wonka 🎥
Join us for a magical afternoon watching the 2023 film Wonka! Some branches will also feature other versions of this classic tale. This interactive experience includes themed activities during the movie—perfect for the whole family.
🔐Elephant and Piggie Escape Rooms 🔐
Kids can dive into an Elephant and Piggie themed escape room adventure. Will you solve the puzzles and make it out in time?
🍂 Nature Storytime: Leaf Man 🍂
Experience stories, creative movement, music, and more at Nature Storytime! Explore early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing with Leaf Man and other engaging stories.
🎲 Storybook Character Bingo 🎲
B-I-N-G-O! How well do you know classic and popular storybook characters? Test your knowledge with a fun bingo game and maybe even win a book to take home!
📖 DIY Accordion Sticker Books 📖
Ready to get crafty? Create your own accordion-style book and bring it to life with vibrant stickers, journaling quotes, crayons, and markers. Let your imagination run wild as you create your very own story!
For Teens:
🧩 Puzzle Competition: Escape Room Edition 🧩
Put your puzzle skills to the test with an Escape Room twist! Teams will have 2 hours to complete the same 368-piece puzzle and crack the included mystery. Available at multiple OPL branches—can your team beat the clock?
🔐 Inheritance Games-Themed Escape Room 🔐
Teens can unravel mysteries in an Inheritance Games-inspired escape room 🕵️♂️. Will you solve the puzzles and make it out in time?
✍️ Writer's Workshop: Poetry✍️
Teens (ages 13-18), join a member of the Nebraska Writers Collective for a free poetry workshop ✍️. Express yourself through words and creativity in this fun and inspiring session. Online registration is required.
For Adults:
🧘♀️ Gratitude Workshop🧘♀️
Join Andrea Joy Pearson for a presentation on the importance of gratitude 🙏 and how to create and cultivate your own culture of gratitude. A great opportunity to reflect and develop a positive mindset.
🎉 Reading Challenge Kick-Off Party 🎉
You’re invited to a “book tasting” party to savor “literary treats” from our “book buffet”! The menu features reading materials to help you complete Omaha Public Library’s 2025 Reading Challenge. Be one of the first to pick up your 2025 Reading Challenge notebook!
📖 Adult Book Clubs 📖
OPL hosts book clubs at most library locations, with monthly meetings facilitated by OPL staff. Check out our book club schedule and find out what we’re reading this month!
No matter how you spend your break, OPL has something fun for everyone!
Never run out of things to do with books, movies, music, and resources to enjoy anytime!
OPL's collection has thousands of books, music, movies and more available for patrons to check out from any branch, but here are a few things you might not know:
- equest custom reading lists based off of books you like and genres you enjoy.
- OPL librarians made a list of the best books they read in 2023 called OPL's Top Shelf! It's a great guide if you're looking for new reading material!
- OPL librarians also work hard to put together book lists for patrons of all ages, including these lists made specifically for the holiday season:
- Birth to 5: Snowy Day Stories, Little Detectives, and Gingerbread Adventures
- Kids: Making the Move, Crack the Code!, and Fantasy Graphic Novels for Kids
- Teens: Cookbooks for Teens, opens a new window, Warm Up This Winter, and Manga We Loved in 2024
ROnline resources are also worthwhile. Add four new songs to your digital music collection each week for free with OPL's subscription to Freegal Music. Anyone who's eager to keep learning can take on 70+ new languages with Mango Languages, or sharpen your professional skills with LinkedIn Learning, offering courses in everything from project management to graphic design.
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