Pop-Up Lend & Learn Libraries at Parks

Lend & Learn is coming to a park near you this fall! 

Due to the recent surge in Covid community transmission, we have decided to postpone reopening our indoor Lend & Learn play spaces, and instead, take Lend & Learn outside to neighborhoods all over town.

Families with children ages 0-5 are invited to attend weekly Pop-Up Lend & Learn play events in September and October! Your family will be able to explore different parks, play on the playground, participate in fun learning activities, socialize with staff and other families, eat yummy snacks, and take home activities. 

We’ve chosen outdoor parks in different areas of Columbia which are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers and have open restrooms on site. We also have a Pop-Up Lend & Learn event in Centralia. Activities alternate on Wednesdays and Thursdays, including one evening event with the City of Columbia Family Fun Fest. All events are free and open to the public. Come and go as your schedule allows. 

To reduce the risk of spreading illness, families are asked to avoid crowding together, frequently wash and sanitize hands, and stay home if you are ill or have been in close contact with an ill person.

Watch our facebook page for any changes due to weather or Covid: www.facebook.com/LnLLibraries

Pop-Up Lend & Learn Schedule:

Dino Dig

Wednesday, September 1 – 9am-12pm 

Cosmo Park

1615 Business Loop 70-W

Join us at the “dino park” at Cosmo between 9am-12pm to explore the park, dig up dino bones in the sand, do a dino scavenger hunt, plus snacks and take-home activities!

Tires & Trucks

Thursday, September 9 – 9am-12pm

Rock Quarry Park

2002 Grindstone Pkwy

Join us at the Rock Quarry park between 9am-12pm to explore the park, drive toy trucks, climb big tires, plus snacks and take-home activities!

Creative Kids – CoMo Family Fun Fest

Wednesday, September 15, 5-8pm

Cosmo-Bethel Park

4500 Bethel St

Look for the First Chance booth at the Family Fun Fest from 5-8pm for fun activities for young kids! Let the kids show their creative and artistic side. Hands-on kid friendly art activities, musical performances, theater and dance are just some of the fun to be had at the final Columbia Family Fun Fest of the summer.

Circus Play

Thursday, September 23 – 9am-12pm 

Albert-Oakland Park

1900 Blue Ridge Rd

Join us at Albert-Oakland park between 9am-12pm to explore the park, play circus games and gross motor activities, plus snacks and take-home activities!

Circus Play – Centralia

Wednesday, September 29 – 10am-12pm

Bicentennial Park

800 W Lakeview Ave, Centralia

Join us in Centralia at Bicentennial park between 10am-12pm to explore the park, play circus games and gross motor activities, plus snacks and take-home activities!

Farm Play

Thursday, October 7 – 9am-12pm 

Nifong Park – East Entrance

3700 Ponderosa St

Join us at Nifong park (east entrance near Boone Historical Society) between 9am-12pm to explore the park, play farm games and gross motor activities, plus snacks and take-home activities!

All About Fall

Wednesday, October 13 – 9am-12pm

Clary Shy Park

1701 W Ash St

Join us at Clary-Shy Community park between 9am-12pm to explore the park, do fun fall activities, plus snacks and take-home activities!

Download the Pop-Up Lend & Learn Schedule