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Science Kits Learn more about the world around you! Science kits contain all the parts you need for fun experiments, plus questions to think about and suggestions for further reading. Each kit comes in a box or backpack and checks out for one week. Take home a telescope, explore with a nature hike backpack, make a prediction with a weather forecasting kit, and more! How to Reserve Browse & Reserve Borrowing Kits: Kits are available to LCPL full access cardholders 18 years or older in good standing. You can borrow one kit at a time. Kits may be reserved up to 1 year in advance. The borrower is responsible for ensuring that all parts of the kit are returned in the bag on time and in good condition. You will be asked to sign a waiver at the time of reservation. Each kit is recommended for a certain age group but all kits should be used with adult supervision. For more information, suggestions for new kits, or assistance using the myTurn reservation system, please give us a call at (219) 769-3541 or email us .

Employment Resources Help for Every Stage of Your Search Job Search Tips & Tools The library sees job-seekers’ questions daily. Librarians are prepared to help you answer questions about any of the resources on these pages. Wondering how to write a cover letter? No problem. Need to find info on your chosen career? Our tools can help. Want a personalized critique and edit workshop? Send your resume and/or cover letter to jobhelp@lcplin.org and our team of specialists (with experience workshopping hundreds of resumes and cover letters) will take a look and help you put your best foot forward! Prepare Before you start your search, make sure you're ready with a stellar cover letter and resume. Our tools will help you create them so that when you do find the perfect job, you can apply right away. More info Search Ready to start your search? These local databases and job hunt tips will help you find something in Northwest Indiana that matches your skills and needs. More info Apply Now that you've found a job you want, all you have to do is apply. Get help navigating online applications, brush up on your interview skills, and even get in-person help preparing to apply for a job. More info More Resources Sometimes it feels like there are a million details to take care of when job searching or starting a new job. What local resources and grants are available to help you with things like continuing education, childcare, and other concerns? More info

Creative Arts Summit Merrillville Branch | May 30, 2026 12 PM - 4 PM Back for FIVE years running, the Creative Arts Summit returns this summer, providing creators a space to network together, showcase their work, and even market their pieces to the public. Creatives of all types are invited to submit an application to participate. Applications are open February 2 - March 20. The fifth annual Creative Arts Summit will be held at the Merrillville Branch on Saturday, May 30th, and will feature a variety of mediums, including painting, writing, and more. Past Summits have featured various authors, painters, graphic artists, sculptors, vocalists, and craftspeople (jewelry, furniture, novelty items, etc.) Similar to an art fair, visitors to the event will be free to visit with participating creators to learn about their work & process. If you or someone you know is a creator, feel free to complete the submission form with samples of your work by March 20th. We look forward to seeing what everyone has to offer. Location : Merrillville Branch, Main Level Date & Time : Saturday, May 30th, 2026 | 12PM-4PM. Applications are now closed! More info coming soon. Application opens Feb 2, 9:00 AM! The application will be open February 2 - March 20. If you are selected to participate as a creator, a second form will be forwarded to you for full registration and instruction on how to pay the $10 registration fee. You must provide samples of your work (via online media link or attachment) to be considered. Applications without samples will not be considered. While the use and/or reinterpretation of previous works (such as in pop art, collage, and song covers) is certainly allowed, complete reproduction or copies of works will not be accepted. The application period for the 2026 Creative Arts Summit is now closed! * First name * Last name * How old are you? 18+ Under 18 * Email Address * Phone Number Address Select the category or categories that most closely represent your art (up to 3) 2D Visual Art (Painting: acrylic, oil, watercolor; illustration: charcoal, pencil=sketching, digital art) 2D Multimedia (collage, film-making, graphic design, photography, printmaking) 3D Visual Art (sculpture, woodcarving, metal and glass working) Creative Writing - Graphical Media (graphic novels, comics, manga) Creative Writing - Poetry (collections of poems, novels-in-verse, Spoken Word) Creative Writing - Prose (fiction, non-fiction, novels, short-fiction) Performance Art (Music, Singer-Songwriter, Instrumental, Dance) Textiles, Crafts, and Wearable Art (plushies, figurines, novelty items, accessories, jewelry) None of the above; I'll explain below. Provide a short description of your art, work, and/or style (for example, your artistic style, genre of music, genre and format of writing, etc.) Your application must include a sample of your work. You may attach samples, provide a website, or provide a social media link to your work. (Or all of the above!) Website showing my work: Link to social media showing my work: File attachment showing my work: Upload File File size limits: Images: 25MB GIFs: 15MB Video: 4GB Audio: 50MB. Number of channels: 1 (mono) or 2 (stereo) Submit

Annual Read-a-Thon Rules Dear Parents, The Lake County Public Library Foundation encourages your child to make reading a part of their life, both in and out of school. All your child needs to do is seek sponsors, then read as many books as possible within the six weeks of the READ-a-THON. Upon completion of the sixth week, your child should begin collecting pledges to put into their envelope. Please return the envelope with the child’s information on it to your school or local branch library. Once all the money has been counted, participating schools will receive one-third of the total monies raised by their students. Encourage your child to read. It is the one gift that will last a lifetime. Sincerely, Lake County Public Library Foundation Board Ribbon: $1 - $19.99 10" Trophy: $20 - $29.99 12" Trophy: $40 - $69.99 15" Trophy: $70 - $99.99 20" Trophy: $100 and over! Each branch library will recognize the top eight students who raise the most money in their community schools. 1st place: $50 gift card 2nd place: $25 gift card 3rd - 8th place: $10 gift card Rules: The READ-a-THON is open to all children from preschoolers through eighth grade. Participants must read at their own reading level. Books may be borrowed from the school or public library. Books read for other reading programs may be counted for the READ-a-THON, but books read for school assignments or prior to the start of this year's Read-a-Thon may not be counted. Books read to children in first grade or below may be counted. In order to be eligible for prizes, all Sponsor/Booklist Record envelopes and monies collected MUST be returned to your local branch library by the deadline. The school and child raising the most money overall will be notified. A service fee will be charged on returned checks. Please make checks payable to: LCPL Foundation Trophies will be distributed to the schools in May. Some branch librarians may distribute trophies at an in house ceremony. Prizes:

Singing Teaches Early Literacy Singing with your child is a fun way to help your child get ready to read. Music helps children hear the smaller sounds of words and builds vocabulary. How Can Singing Develop Early Literacy Skills? Children develop listening skills and hear the rhythms and rhymes of language. Children get an understanding of the smaller sounds in words because singing slows down language, and often songs have different notes for each syllable. Clapping or playing instruments along with rhythms improves fine motor skills and also helps children hear syllables. Children learn new words and concepts they wouldn't normally hear in everyday conversation, adding to their general knowledge. Music helps children remember things longer because it activates a different part of the brain than regular spoken language. What Kind of Singing? Children learn best by doing activities with you. Make it fun and don't feel self-conscious about your singing voice – your child loves your voice and loves hearing you sing! Sing anything you enjoy and are comfortable with: traditional songs, nursery rhymes, and any song you like, including rock or pop! If you enjoy it, your child will, too. Sing throughout your day: learn or make up songs about routines, like cleaning up or brushing teeth – songs make ordinary tasks more fun! Sing songs with rhyming words, silly words, and long stretched-out words. Use the language you know best. They need to hear you in the language you're most fluent in. Putting it Into Action Need song ideas? Check out our catalog or stream kids' music from Hoopla . Get up and move! Children develop motor skills as they clap, jump, twirl, and play instruments. (You can make simple instruments: a plastic bottle filled with rice becomes a maraca shaker, a round oatmeal container becomes a drum, and a rectangle tissue box wrapped with rubber bands can be a guitar!) A child playing a home-made tissue box guitar Sing a book! Check our Songs and Rhymes section of picture books or make up a simple tune for one of your child’s favorite books. Sing songs again and again (and again) – repetition reinforces learning! Examples of using singing to build early literacy skills: Are there any new words in a song? Talking about their meanings afterwards will build vocabulary. Sing songs slowly: songs often break up the syllables of words by assigning a different note to each, as in "Are You Sleeping?/Frère Jacques." Sing songs quickly! Changing up the tempo will help children hear the small sounds of words differently. For example, you can "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" gently , then swiftly down the stream . . . Make up new verses to familiar songs like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" together; this develops narrative (story-telling) skills. Sing a familiar song to a different tune: it will emphasize the smaller sounds even further. For example, sing the Alphabet song to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb." It breaks up the letters LMNOP so your child can hear them individually. Sources: Saroj Ghoting Every Child Ready to Read 2nd Edition Storytime Katie: Babies Need Words Every Day Library Bonanza: Early Literacy Talking Points Story Time Secrets: Babies Need Words Every Day

Consiga su Tarjeta de Biblioteca en Línea Llene el siguiente formulario para registrase con su tarjeta electronica de la Lake County Public Library. Obtenga acceso a todos los materiales electronicos de nuestra biblioteca. La tarjeta electronica permite a los residentes de nuestro distrito acceso a la biblioteca y puede usar los recursos de la biblioteca, aun que no puedan llegar a los surcursales de la biblioteca. La tarjeta electronica no permite el uso de los materiales impresos y otro materiales, pero no se preocupe, pueden traer el codico de su tarjeta electronica con una forma de identificacion apropiada a cualquier de nuestro locales y pueden elevar el servicio de su tarjeta electronica a una tarjeta con acceso completo. Por favor de llenar el siguiente formulario para su registro. La informacion sometida es solo para el uso de los servicios de la biblioteca. Reciberan el numero de su tarjeta "eCard" despues de un periodo para validar su informacion. Nota: Se usted ya tiene una tarjeta con acceso completo, no es necesario solicitar para una tarjeta electronica. El codico de su tarjeta se puede usar para todo material electronico . Si no viven en nuestro distrito, no pueden solicitar para una tarjeta electronica, pero si es posible que puedan cualificar para otras tarjetas . in English

Did you know our Summer Reading Program for adults, children, and teens, is 100% funded by contributions? The same is true for many of our amazing programs, classes, and events, especially children's programs that foster literacy. We invite you to be a part of a long tradition of supporting the library and enhancing the many services we offer. A donation to the library is an investment in your community! The library is supported in a major way by two groups: the Friends and the Foundation. Monetary contributions to these groups have the most visible impact on our library - and of course, you can also contribute your time become an active participant in either! Friends of LCPL The Friends of the Lake County Public Library operate our booksale room and contribute to the acquisition of library materials. They also are responsible for funding Summer Reading Program activities! Learn more about how you can help . The LCPL Foundation The Foundation sponsors our annual Read-a-Thon as well as the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge , which helps kids prepare for Kindergarten. They also use their funds to provide books and materials above and beyond what would be available through the library's traditional tax-based funding. Learn more or make a donation . Support The Library Make a Memorial Donation or Gift Give a lasting and thoughtful tribute to your family or a loved one by making a monetary contribution to the Lake County Public Library. Download the gift form (PDF) . Donate Through the Legacy Foundation Monetary donations to LCPL through the Legacy Foundation are used to directly support our educational initiatives. We may also use donations to continue expanding our collection of books, movies, music, and other materials so that people can engage in self-guided study. Donate now! Volunteer Give the gift of your time! Call your library for more information on how you can donate your time and talent. Adults who volunteer 100 hours of their time and teens who volunteer 50 hours are eligible for special privilege gold or silver library cards . Learn More... Support a Read-a-Thon Participant Every year, the Foundation Board sponsors the annual Read-a-Thon, during which young readers collect pledges to benefit the library. Keep an eye on the Foundation Events page for the next Read-a-Thon dates! Shop at Amazon.com When you go to Amazon from this link , a portion of what you pay comes right back to the library and into our materials budget. Learn more... Visit Our Booksale Room Each of our locations has a sale rack, but the Merrillville branch has a full booksale room. You never know what you might find, and proceeds from sales benefit the library! Not interested in buying more books, music, and movies? You can also help us by donating some of your old ones. Learn More...

Reading Aloud & Early Literacy Reading Helps Children Learn Letters and their sounds Phonological awareness (rhyming; breaking down words into sounds) Narrative skills and comprehension Print motivation (discovering that reading is fun) Vocabulary Print awareness (the way a book is organized; learning that print has meaning) In other words, reading aloud can teach children all the oral language components they need to know in order to become successful readers. But perhaps the most important thing reading out loud can teach children is a love of reading. If the reading aloud experience is fun and pleasurable, a child will want to learn to read and will work hard to learn, even if it is sometimes a struggle. So... HOW we read with young children is every bit as important - or more important! - as how often we read with them. Reading with your child makes reading fun for them! For example: If children are actively involved in the reading aloud experience, they learn more early literacy skills - and it's more fun! Talk, talk, talk - about the story and the pictures. Encourage your child to participate with repeated phrases, animal sounds, and so on. Ask your child what is happening in the pictures or to predict what will happen next. If something in the story or the pictures prompts a memory in your child's life, talk about it! Have a conversation around the book and always keep it fun! Here are three great ways to read aloud with a child: Dialogic Reading Shared Reading Picture Book Walk This Month's Featured Reads! LCPL staff have selected these books because kids love them and they help build important pre-reading skills. Check them out today! Want more hand-picked kids' books? You can request a surprise bundle of kids' books for curbside pickup! Some Pets Angela DiTerlizzi Skills Skills Vocabulary Background Knowledge Practices Practices Talking Playing Writing Extend the book with a paper pet collage ! Have a Look, Says Book Richard Jackson Skills Skills Phonological Awareness Letter Knowledge Practices Practices Writing Reading Extend the book with your own texture book !

Library Subscriptions Want it All? Buy a Lake County Public Library Subscription! For $55 a year, anyone can enjoy the same amazing benefits that LCPL taxpayers receive from the library. Note: If you're a resident of our district , you do not need to purchase a library subscription - your taxes have already paid for one! If you are an Indiana resident you already have access to most of our physical collection through our Statewide Borrowing Agreement ; you only need a subscription for access to our digital collection and a few other services described below. What Does an LCPL Subscription Give Me? An LCPL subscription - also known as a fee card - gives you exactly the same privileges that our taxpayers receive. That means that in addition to the regular privileges we extend to all Indiana residents (like checking out items from our shelves), you also receive access to: • Online research tools (https://www.lcplin.org/databases)like Consumer Reports, Mango Languages, and Creativebug • Streaming music (https://www.lcplin.org/streaming/music)(downloads also available!) • Streaming movies & TV shows (https://www.lcplin.org/streaming/movies-%26-tv) • eBooks (https://www.lcplin.org/streaming/ebooks)and eAudiobooks (https://www.lcplin.org/streaming/audiobooks) • Digital magazines (https://www.lcplin.org/streaming/magazines) • Digital comics (https://www.hoopladigital.com/browse/comic/popular?page=1) • Purchase requests and interlibrary loans (https://www.lcplin.org/purchase-requests) • The Libratory (https://www.lcplin.org/libratory) • Video games (https://pac.lcplin.org/polaris/search/searchresults.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1&type=Keyword&term=*&by=KW&sort=MP&limit=TOM=vgm&query=&page=0)and video game consoles (https://pac.lcplin.org/polaris/view.aspx?cn=1075701,1106578) How Do I Subscribe? If you already have a card with us all you need to do is walk up to a desk and hand over $55. We accept cash or check, or can set up the option to pay online with a credit card. Or, if you'd like to pay online without visiting a branch, you can give us a call at 219-769-3541 or send us an Ask a Librarian form.(https://www.lcplin.org/ask) If you don't already have a card with us, fill out this online registration form.(https://www.lcplin.org/get-a-card) Next, bring a photo ID with your current address to any LCPL location (https://www.lcplin.org/locations/)to pay. If your photo ID doesn't have your current address, bring it along with another piece of suitable identification.(https://www.in.gov/bmv/files/BMV_Documentation_List.pdf ) (Note: If you'd rather pay online without visiting a branch, call us at 219-769-3541 or send us an Ask a Librarian form (https://www.lcplin.org/ask)after you've filled out the online registration form.) Can't I Get a Card for Free? Well, yes! We have many types of cards depending on your needs. These cards are free: Limited Access Cards If you are an Indiana resident and have a card with your home library district - the one you pay taxes to - you can get a Limited Access card. It's good for checking out physical items, but does not give you access to our online library. In-House Use Cards These are cards for people who do not want to check out materials at all. It will only let you sign up for events online, book a small group room, or use our public computers. You can learn more about these types of cards on our Borrowing Privileges (https://www.lcplin.org/borrowing)page.

Job Application Help So you've prepared your resume and cover letter , found a job you'd love to get , started the application process... and now you have questions. Maybe you're not sure how to send in your application. Or maybe you have a question about formatting your resume for this specific job. Maybe you've made it to the interview stage and aren't sure how to prepare! Don't worry, we're here for you. Employment Help Computer beginner? Check our calendar for basic tech-help classes. Need a refresher? Read the handouts from our Apply Online for a Job class. One-on-One Help Need help with an online application? Having trouble using a job search engine? Question about your resume or cover letter? Bring it on! Contact your branch to ask for a one-on-one appointment.

Where is the Libratory? The Libratory is located in Merrillville Branch just down the hall from the Book Sale Room. Our address is 1919 W. 81st Ave, Merrillville, IN 46410. You can call us at 219-769-3541 ext 354, or e-mail lab@lcplin.org (mailto:lab@lcplin.org)to get in touch with us. When is the Libratory open? Monday - Thursday: 10 AM - 8 PM Friday: 9 AM - 4 PM You can make a one-on-one appointment, use our drop-off conversion service, or send in a 3D print job any time. Just email lab@lcplin.org (mailto:lab@lcplin.org)to get started. Who can use the Libratory? Only LCPL patrons with Full Access Cards or a Library Subscription (https://www.lcplin.org/library-subscription)C(https://www.lcplin.org/library-subscription)ard in good standing are able to use the Libratory. Patrons under 18 require parent/guardian permission, and patrons 14 and under require parent/guardian supervision. How much does it cost? 3D printing costs $0.10/gram for standard filament and $0.25 for premium filament, but there is no cost to use any other Libratory equipment or software. You can bring your own jump drive to store your work, or jump drives with 16 GB of memory are available for purchase either at the Circulation Service Desk or in the Libratory for $8.00 each. For film and audio conversions, DVDs and CDs are available for purchase for $1 each. Will someone show me how to use the equipment and software? We have prepared easy-to-follow quick-start guides for our equipment! Knowledgable staff will be on hand to answer any questions you have after following the guide. We're also happy to help you find books or online tutorials for anything else you're interested in learning. More into independent study? LCPL full access cardholders have access to LinkedInLearning,(https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/go/lcplin) an online learning company that helps anyone learn business, software, technology, and creative skills! BambuLab X1-Carbon and Dremel 3D45 3D Printer A filament printer that processes .stl, .obj, and .thing files into three dimensional objects. 3D Printing at LCPL FAQ 3D Printing Resources 3D Printing Policy Cricut Maker 3 A cutting machine that can cut intricate designs from cardstock, vinyl, and other materials. Cricut Use and FAQs Elgato Video Capture Convert VHS, Betamax, and camcorder tapes into digital files Epson FastFoto FF-680W Convert your physical photos into digital files! Scanning multiple photos at once is quick and easy. Video Tutorial (by Epson): How to Scan and Organize Your Photos Epson Perfection V850 A flatbad scanner designed to handle 35mm film strips, 35mm slides, photos, and more. Video Tutorial: Using EPSON Perfection V800 & EPSON Scan Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Generation Audio Interface Available on request. Sawgrass SG-1000 Sublimation Printer and Heat Presses A printer that produces images which can be pressed onto objects such as shirts, bags, mugs, mouse pads, and more. Sublimation Printer Use and FAQs Super USB Cassette Capture and Audio-Technica LP120XBT-USB Turntable Audio cassette and vinyl record players that can be used to convert your recordings into digital sound files. WhisperRoom A sound booth for recording podcasts, music, family stories, and other audio. Bring your own equipment or use ours! 1 to 2 hour appointments available. Booth capacity: 2. Our equipment includes: MacBook Pro with Garageband, Logic Pro, and Audacity 2 MXL BCD-1 Dynamic Mics RODECaster Pro audio interface and mixer Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd generation audio interface 2 sets Audio-Technica ATH-M50 (with disposable headphone covers) Wolverine MovieMaker and Wolverine MovieMaker Pro Convert 8mm and Super 8 film reels into digital files. Equipment FAQ Conversion Limits Frequently Asked Questions The Libratory Our Equipment Have a box of old photos you've been meaning to scan? Interested in 3D printing? How about sound recording? You can do all of that and more at The Libratory, your place to explore, create, experiment, and digitize! Hours Monday - Thursday: 10 AM - 8 PM Friday: 9 AM - 4 PM Open first Saturday of each month 9 AM - 4 PM; closed the previous Friday The Libratory will follow Merrillville Branch's hours for holidays. Appointments required! You can make a one-on-one appointment, use our drop-off conversion service (material limits apply ), or send in a 3D print job any time. Just email lab@lcplin.org to get started. Media Format Material Type Max per Drop-Off Est Time Video VHS 3 tapes 2-3 weeks Video VHS-C 6 tapes 2-3 weeks Video Betamax 3 tapes 2-3 weeks Video Video8 6 tapes 2-3 weeks Video Hi8 6 tapes 2-3 weeks Video Digital8 6 tapes 2-3 weeks Video 8mm Film - 3" 6 reels 1-2 weeks Video 8mm Film - 5" 4 reels 1-2 weeks Video 8mm Film - 7" 2 reels 1-2 weeks Video 8mm Film - 9" 1 reel 1-2 weeks Video Super8 Film - 3" 6 reels 1-2 weeks Video Super8 Film - 5" 4 reels 1-2 weeks Video Super8 Film - 7" 2 reels 1-2 weeks Video Super8 Film - 9" 1 reel 1-2 weeks Video DVD 2 discs 1-2 weeks Video MiniDVD 6 discs 1-2 weeks Still Images Photos & Film 1 shoebox 1-2 weeks Still Images 35mm Slides 1 carousel (140) 1-2 weeks Audio Cassettes 6 tapes 1-2 weeks Audio LP 4 LPs 1-2 weeks Material Conversion Drop-Off Limits

...and help children learn important early literacy skills - especially background knowledge and vocabulary! A Picture Book Walk helps develop your children's language and pre-reading skills. Have a conversation with your child around a book before you read it. Talk about the pictures keeping in mind what is needed to understand the story when it is read. A Picture Book Walk is not reading the book: it's talking about the pictures - getting to know the book together A Picture Book Walk works best with books that have a predictable sequence or story. When using this reading technique, speak in the language that is most comfortable for YOU! Take a Picture Book Walk... What to Do: Look at the cover. Point to and say name of author and title. Looking at the cover, ask your child what they think the book will be about. Without reading the words in the book, encourage your child to turn the pages one at a time. Point to a picture and ask "what" questions What do you see on this page? What is happening? What is this picture telling you? What do you think will happen? When you talk about the pictures Take turns talking Introduce new words; explain what they mean Add a bit more information to what your child says Rephrase what your child says adding more words or ideas Help your child make connections to past experiences and future events. Examples: When did you . . . ? How did you feel when. . . ? How would you feel if . . . ? Guide your child so they will understand the story What words might they need to know? What do they need to know to understand the story? Guidelines from: Saroj Ghoting, www.earlylit.net What Books? Many books are perfect for picture walks. Choose something you haven't read with your child before and make sure the pictures help tell the story. You might want to try Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig; Not a Box by Antoinette Portis; Snip Snap, What's That? by Mara Bergman; Too Many Toys by David Shannon; or I Went Walking by Sue Williams. Read more about this great way to share a book and teach early literacy skills: Taking a Picture Walk from Reading With Bean