Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

What is Acid Rain?: Can acid rain hurt us? Although acid rain is not acidic enough to directly burn our skin, it has a harmful effect on forests, plants, soil, insects, and other life forms.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity to visualize the impact that acid rain has on plants.

Space is limited, so please register by March 16 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

Join us for Craft Night at the Library! In March, explore your springtime creativity by making your own unique mason jar vase.

We will provide the supplies, just bring your creativity.

*This program is at capacity. This program is intended for patrons 12 and up and registration is required for this program.

Creative Kids Club is an arts and crafts program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage artistic expression with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the third Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Creative Kids Club information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Each month we investigate a different subject from science, history, or the arts. Most sessions will include books, short videos, a slide presentation, and a craft project. This program designed for ages 7-14 years old.

Join us in Young Adult Area of the library at 3:00pm on the third Friday of each month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Homeschool Discoveries information.

March Book: Sweep by Jonathan Auxier

It’s been five years since the Sweep disappeared. Orphaned and alone, Nan Sparrow had no other choice but to work for a ruthless chimney sweep named Wilkie Crudd. She spends her days sweeping out chimneys. The job is dangerous and thankless, but with her wits and will, Nan has managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again. When Nan gets stuck in a chimney fire, she fears the end has come. Instead, she wakes to find herself unharmed in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature—a golem—made from soot and ash. Sweep is the story of a girl and her monster. Together, these two outcasts carve out a new life—saving each other in the process.

The Inkwell Explorers Book Club is for tweens 9-12 years old. The club features a middle-grade novel each month. Tweens register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the fourth Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

If you enjoy reading about the past, consider taking part in our new book group. We'll read mainly fiction, though sometimes we'll expand our horizons and delve into well-written narrative history. Anything's a potential subject as long as it's historical.

March’s Book: Discovery: Orphan Train Saga #1 by  Sherry Burton

*Any questions? Call (269) 782-3826, email librarydirector@dowagiacdl.org.

Join at the library to learn about the history of Henna, how to do basic designs and get FREE Henna done by Henna Design House*. You do not want to miss this memory creating experience fun for all ages and skin types!

*Henna is temporary and lasts for 5+ days. This program is at capacity and we are no longer accepting reserves. Check back on the events page of our website for upcoming programs.

Nature Ninjas is an environmental program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage environmental awareness and artistic expression with the younger children. This program corresponds to last week’s Creative Kids Club stone pottery project.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the fourth Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Nature Ninjas information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

Peeps Fermentation: Explore how a chemical reaction using Peeps can blow-up a balloon.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity to learn how a simple seasonal candy can teach you about biology and chemistry.

Space is limited, so please register by March 30 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

The Make & Share Cookbook Club invites participants each month to prepare one of the recipes from a selected cookbook and bring it to share during that evening's gathering where we will discuss the dishes we made and the cookbook. This book club is held on the first Thursday of the month from 5:15-6:30 pm in the community room. We ask that participants bring their item along with serving utensils and pot holders if the dish is hot.

In April, we are cooking from Pizza Night: Deliciously Doable Recipes for Pizza and Salad by Alexandra Stafford

*This program is intended for adult patrons only. If you have known food allergies, please make the host aware before attending. The monthly book selection is available for pickup at the front desk. For more information, email erin@dowagiacdl.org or call 269-782-3826.

Wandering Warriors is the first activity in our Freaky Friday program, designed for kids ages 3-8 and will meet once a month to encourage younger children to be inquisitive.

Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Freaky Friday information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

April Book: Chill of the Ice Dragon by Tracey West

In book #9, Mina, a Dragon Master from the Far North Lands, needs help. Her fortress was frozen by a terrible Ice Giant! Only a Fire Dragon can unfreeze it, but Rori and Vulcan are no longer at the castle. Can Drake and his friends find them in time to help their new friend?

The Adventures in Bookland Book Club is for kids 6-8 years old. The club features an easy chapter book each month. Parents/kids register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the second Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

Join us for the Sip & Share Book Club at Sister Lakes Brewing Company. April’s book is: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

This event will be held at:
Sister Lakes Brewing Company
92500 CO RD 690
Dowagiac, MI 49047*

• Discussion starts at 6:30pm

• Drinks and food are available for purchase, visit Sister Lakes Brewing Company for an up-to-date menu.

To register, please fill out the form below.

To access the book using Dowagiac District Library resources:

• Download the Libby or CloudLibrary using your Dowagiac District Library card for digital content

• Visit MeL.org to request an Interlibrary Loan (usually takes a week between submitting the request and receiving a call from us that it’s available to pick up)

• Or place a hold on the library copy

• Don't have a card? Visit our Get A Card page to see if you qualify for a digital card today

• We also have copies of the book for checkout at the front desk of the library. Please make sure to bring your card to checkout.

*This book club is for adult patrons. This event is in conjunction with Sister Lakes Brewing Company, but we do ask that you ONLY contact the library for any questions you may have about it. For further information, please call Erin at (269) 782-3826 or email erin@dowagiacdl.org

Join us for Crafternoon at the Library. This is a creative break in your day where we will have a craft available for patrons on the 2nd Thursday of each month.*

In April, we will be making bee and bird-friendly seed bombs! When it’s time, you'll be all set to toss, water, and watch them grow.

This is a free program. We will provide the supplies, just bring your creativity.

*This program is intended for adult patrons. For more information or to register, email erin@dowagiacdl.org, all 269-782-3826, or fill out the form below.

Multi-award winning author Sherry A. Burton will be at the Dowagiac District Library for a presentation of 'The History of the Orphan Trains' on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 6:30pm in the community room.

The Past Pages Book Club will be reading the authors book, Discovery, The Orphan Train Saga #1, meeting on Thursday, March 26 at 5:30pm in the community room. Copies of the book will be available for check out before the meeting.

Future Scientist Society is a STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage science inquiry with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the second Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Future Scientist Society information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Little Beakers is a science program designed for kids ages 4-7 and will meet once a month to encourage scientific inquiry with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 11:00 on the second Saturday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Little Beakers information.

Space is limited, so please register by April 7 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below.

Please complete to register for this event.

Recipe Rock Stars is a fun beginner cooking program that dishes out simple recipes and cooking basics. This program is for teens 6th through 12th grade and meets the second Tuesday of each month at 3:30 pm in the Pokagon Room on the 2nd floor.

April’s recipe is: Cheeseburger Hand Pies

*Registration is required for this event. Sign up by Friday, April 10. Sign up in the youth department, call 269-782-3826, email erin@dowagiacdl.org, or fill out the form below.

The library Board of Trustees holds its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 14, at 4:30pm. The meeting is in the Community Room and open to the public.

Questions or comments can be sent to Director Tom Shilts 269-782-3826 or email librarydirector (at) dowagiacdl (dot) org

If you need special accommodations per ADA or for other reasons please contact the Director at the email address above before the meeting and accommodations will be arranged.

Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

Picasso Bunny: Blend art history, Easter fun, and hands-on creativity to design a bunny masterpiece with a playful twist.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity to combine art appreciation with fine motor skills, creative choice-making, and color theory.

Space is limited, so please register by April 13 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

Join us for Craft Night at the Library! This April, we’re turning basic supplies into pressed flower bookmarks, ideal for keeping your spot in those springtime reads.

We will provide the supplies, just bring your creativity.

*This program is free and intended for patrons 12 and up and registration is required for this program. Call 269-782-3826, email dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com, or fill out the form below.

Creative Kids Club is an arts and crafts program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage artistic expression with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the third Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Creative Kids Club information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

April Book: Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone's business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago, and she's been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her "upstream mother," she's found a home with the Colonel--a café owner with a forgotten past of his own--and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known.

The Inkwell Explorers Book Club is for tweens 9-12 years old. The club features a middle-grade novel each month. Tweens register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the fourth Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

If you enjoy reading about the past, consider taking part in our new book group. We'll read mainly fiction, though sometimes we'll expand our horizons and delve into well-written narrative history. Anything's a potential subject as long as it's historical.

April’s Book: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

*Any questions? Call (269) 782-3826, email librarydirector@dowagiacdl.org.

Nature Ninjas is an environmental program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage environmental awareness and artistic expression with the younger children. This program corresponds to last week’s Creative Kids Club stone pottery project.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the fourth Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Nature Ninjas information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Saturday, April 25, 2026 10:00am-12:00pm

Saturday, May 2, 2026 10:00am-12:00pm

On these two occasions everyone will have a chance to paint a character or scene from the book while they share thoughts and feelings about the story. They will work with pencils, and colors. The paintings will be compiled into a fun video. Participants will take their art, done on watercolor paper, home.

Saturday, May 16, 2026 10:00-12:00pm

During the final event, attendees will watch the video that has been developed. They will then discuss the intriguing aspects of the book and video. Refreshments will be served.

For more information call the library (269) 782-3826 or visit the front desk.

Saturday, April 25, 2026 10:00am-12:00pm

Saturday, May 2, 2026 10:00am-12:00pm

On these two occasions everyone will have a chance to paint a character or scene from the book while they share thoughts and feelings about the story. They will work with pencils, and colors. The paintings will be compiled into a fun video. Participants will take their art, done on watercolor paper, home.

Saturday, May 16, 2026 10:00-12:00pm

During the final event, attendees will watch the video that has been developed. They will then discuss the intriguing aspects of the book and video. Refreshments will be served.

For more information call the library (269) 782-3826 or visit the front desk.

The Make & Share Cookbook Club invites participants each month to prepare one of the recipes from a selected cookbook and bring it to share during that evening's gathering where we will discuss the dishes we made and the cookbook. This book club is held on the first Thursday of the month from 5:15-6:30 pm in the community room. We ask that participants bring their item along with serving utensils and pot holders if the dish is hot.

In May, we are cooking from Simply Jamie: Fast and Simple Food by Jamie Oliver

*This program is intended for adult patrons only. If you have known food allergies, please make the host aware before attending. The monthly book selection is available for pickup at the front desk. For more information, email erin@dowagiacdl.org or call 269-782-3826.

Recipe Rock Stars is a fun beginner cooking program that dishes out simple recipes and cooking basics. This program is for teens 6th through 12th grade and meets the second Tuesday of each month at 3:30 pm in the Pokagon Room on the 2nd floor.

May’s recipe is: Candy Sushi

*Registration is required for this event. Sign up by Friday, March 6. Sign up in the youth department, call 269-782-3826, email erin@dowagiacdl.org, or fill out the form below.

May Book: Waking the Ice Dragon by Tracey West

In book #10, Drake dreams about a Rainbow Dragon trapped in a cave. The dream is a message from Worm telling him that the dragon needs help. The Drake and Ana set off to look but the must Obi, a new Dragon Master. How will they find Obi and how will the find the cave?

The Adventures in Bookland Book Club is for kids 6-8 years old. The club features an easy chapter book each month. Parents/kids register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the second Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

Join us for an evening of classic bingo with a springtime twist! Between rounds of bingo, we will have quick and silly Spring-themed challenges. This program will be held in the community room of the library and is for all ages. No registration is required.

Creative Kids Club is an arts and crafts program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage artistic expression with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the third Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Creative Kids Club information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Saturday, April 25, 2026 10:00am-12:00pm

Saturday, May 2, 2026 10:00am-12:00pm

On these two occasions everyone will have a chance to paint a character or scene from the book while they share thoughts and feelings about the story. They will work with pencils, and colors. The paintings will be compiled into a fun video. Participants will take their art, done on watercolor paper, home.

Saturday, May 16, 2026 10:00-12:00pm

During the final event, attendees will watch the video that has been developed. They will then discuss the intriguing aspects of the book and video. Refreshments will be served.

For more information call the library (269) 782-3826 or visit the front desk.

Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

Groundwater and Soil Porosity: Learn how water is stored underground by measuring the pore space in materials like gravel, sand, and soil.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity to see how our groundwater can become contaminated over time.

Space is limited, so please register by March 16 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

Nature Ninjas is an environmental program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage environmental awareness and artistic expression with the younger children. This program corresponds to last week’s Creative Kids Club stone pottery project.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the fourth Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Nature Ninjas information.

NOTE: This is a follow-up activity from the Creative Kids Club on May 15.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Little Beakers is a science program designed for kids ages 4-7 and will meet once a month to encourage scientific inquiry with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 11:00 on the second Saturday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Little Beakers information.

NOTE THE DATE CHANGE!

Space is limited, so please register by May 19 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below.

Please complete to register for this event.

May Book: The Losers Club by Andrew Clements

Sixth grader Alec can’t put a good book down. So when Principal Vance lays down the law—pay attention in class, or else—Alec takes action. He can’t lose all his reading time, so he starts a club. A club he intends to be the only member of. After all, reading isn’t a team sport, and no one would want to join something called the Losers Club, right? But as more and more kids find their way to Alec’s club—including his ex-friend turned bully and the girl Alec is maybe starting to like—Alec notices something. Real life might be messier than his favorite books, but it’s just as interesting.

The Inkwell Explorers Book Club is for tweens 9-12 years old. The club features a middle-grade novel each month. Tweens register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the fourth Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

The Make & Share Cookbook Club invites participants each month to prepare one of the recipes from a selected cookbook and bring it to share during that evening's gathering where we will discuss the dishes we made and the cookbook. This book club is held on the first Thursday of the month from 5:15-6:30 pm in the community room. We ask that participants bring their item along with serving utensils and pot holders if the dish is hot.

In June, we are cooking from Pretty Delicious: Simple, Modern Mediterranean, Served with Style by Alia Elkaffas and Radwa Elkaffas

*This program is intended for adult patrons only. If you have known food allergies, please make the host aware before attending. The monthly book selection is available for pickup at the front desk. For more information, email erin@dowagiacdl.org or call 269-782-3826.