Name: Magic The Gathering Club
Start: 2025-02-14T15:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-02-14T17:00:00-05:00
Location: New Hope-Solebury Library

An Inside Look at the Bucks County Free Library

Albert Einstein once said that “the only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” And we couldn’t agree more.

Did you know that in 2022 alone, Bucks County Free Library cardholders borrowed approximately 2.2 MILLION items? The branches were visited 770,000 times, with an average of 1,100 people signing up for a new library card every month. Those are some impressive, if not surprising, numbers!

More than just a collection of books, the Bucks County Free Library offers an extensive list of in-person and virtual services, literacy-rich activities for families and a vast, easy-to-use online catalog full of traditional and digital media alike. They are an invaluable community resource, serving as an essential support system for parents, children, and thousands of Bucks County residents. And with their addition of Curbside Pickup, you can take advantage of all the library has to offer without even getting out of your car.

For Kids

Whether you’re just getting into the parenting game or you’re already a seasoned pro, the Bucks County Free Library’s children’s services department and events calendar has everything you need to support and connect with your kids. From toddler storytimes to teen art workshops, they cover all the bases and then some. Their website alone is an absolute gold mine of information.

A local family takes part in one of the library's many events — A local family takes part in one of the library’s many events and earns a badge.

A quick search on the library’s main page can help your family navigate important topics like celebrating Black joy, the vital role of women today, or transgender awareness. While their extensive selection of e-resources allows patrons to learn and explore anything from writing code with Code Combat to brushing up on their foreign language skills with Brainfuse.

Even the littlest of littles can take advantage of all they have to offer with free access to ABCmouse, a popular app geared towards children ages 2-8 with more than 10,000 fun-filled learning activities. For older kids there’s Beanstack, an app where they can track reading progress and complete fun challenges to earn Badge Squad badges like this Crafty Creator Badge and more.

“Need reliable information for your child’s school project? Try Power Kids! It’s a fantastic resource for elementary school students. You’ll find age-appropriate information about animals, art, geography, health, literature, science, social studies and technology” – Abby C., Yardley branch

an image of Penn's Little Village indoor playspace at the Langhorne branch — Penn’s Little Village at the Langhorne branch.

“For children, play is serious learning.” (Fred Rogers) And at Penn’s Little Village at the Langhorne Branch, the learning (and play!) never stops. Featuring a pre-school-sized neighborhood, this branch goes above and beyond to create a welcoming environment where the importance of play is explored and nurtured.

For the Grown-Ups

We’ve all heard the common misconception that “print is dead.” In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. There’s no denying that we live more digitally-connected lives than ever. But the constant buzz and ping of our devices can be wearying. In fact, there’s evidence to suggest that the more digitally-centered our lives become the more we crave respite from it.

What better place to find that respite than in the cozy corners of your local library? From grab and go book bundles to their Book Club in a Bag program, the Bucks County Free Library system provides countless ways to get your hands on some low-tech recreation.

Not sure where to start? Take the guess-work out of browsing for books with NoveList and NextReads, two great reading-recommendation resources. Or better yet, simply ask your friendly, local librarian! They don’t bite and they love to help. The library frequently updates its Staff Picks list in the catalog for even more convenient recommendations.

an image of Yardley staff librarians wearing funny eyeglasses in front of a display of books. — Some of the wonderful staff at the Yardley-Makefield branch showing off their good humor and eagerness to help.

Looking to get out and try something new? Look no further than the Bucks County Library Events Calendar. You’ll find everything from adult exercise classes to mid-week movie matinees. Simply search for programs by branch or date and you’re good to go. With so many locations to choose from, the possibilities are practically never-ending.

Want to flex your mental muscles instead? LinkedIn Learning can help you pick up new skills, while the various newspaper and magazine subscriptions are sure to keep you up to date on current events. You can even explore your family tree with the library’s complimentary access to Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest.

Something for Everyone

Between their digital and traditional programs, computers at every location and free Wi-Fi that extends out to the parking lot, there’s very little that can’t be accomplished with the help of your local branch.

The seven-branch system even provides support services to an additional 11 independently governed, public libraries. So no matter where you are in the county, you’re never far from their knowledgeable and caring staff. All you need is a library card; a powerful tool that allows you and your family to explore, learn and connect with the world around you.

And just so you know, Bucks County Parent loves their local libraries so much that our own events calendar does its best to keep up with their many offerings so that you never have to miss out on any of the library fun.

Now run, don’t walk, to your local branch to get your card today. For even easier access, register online.