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Photos of teen and adult activities: crochet, books, craft supplies, computer work

Something to Do

While Staying Home

Isolating at home is the responsible thing to do, but no one ever said it was the most fun thing in the world. We're here to make it a little better, because teens and adults need enrichment just as much as kids do.

This page will be updated periodically with new activities!

Just Added:

Check here for the newest activities just added to the page!

Virtual Puzzle: Chase Away the Winter Blues

Skip To:

Virtual Escape Room

Video Guides: Crafts & Activities

Genealogy Corner

Read This: LCPL Staff Picks

Virtual Jigsaw Puzzles

Other Things to Do (printables and more)

Virtual Escape Room

Can you make it to the end?

Tests of the Worthy Chapter 1: Trial of Cunning and Insight

Tests of the Worthy Chapter 2: Trial of Strength

 

Video Guides: Crafts & Activities

Check out our playlist of crafts and how-tos (designed specially to be done with materials you probably have at home - no need to run to the craft store). We've included some tutorials on how to use our lesser-known online collections, as well!

Virtual Jigsaw Puzzles

Tip: To make the puzzles more challenging, click the rotate icon when you first open them! Or, click the grid icon to give the puzzle more (or less!) pieces.

 Purple Trees at Merrillville Branch

Sign and books Practice Shelf Care

Gnome on top of a stack of gardening books Gnome Sweet Gnome

Black tote with neon green handles. Books are popping out the top LCPL Bag O' Books

A terrier reading the book Ivan the Terrier Ivan the Terrier

The Reader statue wearing a red mask Mask Up Hoosiers!

A bronze frog sitting cross legged under a rainbow with books on meditation, coping, and being happy Peace, Love, & Books

An open book sitting on a tray in the grass with a vase of purple flowers, a teapot, a cracker and cheese plate, and a mug that says bookmarks are for quitters Bookmarks are for Quitters

Two stormtroopers behind a library desk. One is on the phone, the other is offering a book for his inspection These are Not the Books You're Looking For

The display case at lake station new chicago branch with paper decorations of books and paper letters spelling Our Books Missed You Our Books Missed You

A book lying open on a table with two stacks of books in front of it, and beyond that library shelves filled with books So Many Books

Display case filled with paper cut out decorations: Balloons, letters spelling Glad You're Back, bookworms, and books Glad You're Back

A white dog wearing glasses sitting on an old school desk with an open book. Books are Fun

A dog wearing glasses reading a book at an old timey school desk No, You Can't Borrow My Book

A 3D owl made of the pages of a discarded book Bookworm Owl

A young man sits at a picnic table reading under a large tree with splendid orange, yellow, and green leaves. Many leaves already litter the ground around him. Take a Break

R2D2 pushes a star wars book into a book drop outside Munster Branch R2D2 Returns Books

A waypointing sign showing destinations like Camelot, Who-ville, Panem, The Shire Your Next Adventure

Funny DVDs like Shazam, Rookie of the Year, and Skate Kitchen set on fake snow with snowflakes in the background Chase Away the Winter Blues

Other Things to Do

Printables and other simple crafts and activities to try out!

Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

National Library Week BINGO

Teen Reading BINGO

Drawing Prompts

Writing Prompts

Outside To-Do List

Inside To-Do List

No-Sew T-shirt Bag (watch our video tutorial, too!)

Pictionary Prompts

Charades Prompts

Library-Themed Word Search

Book growing a treeGenealogy Corner

Brushing up on your family history? We can help.

Online Genealogy Research Tools

How to Find Genealogy Webinars During Quarantine

Using City Directories for Genealogy (Video) 

Read This!

LCPL staff picks for teens and adults


Want more?

Try our Reader's Advisory Tumblr!

Upcoming Events
Virtual Storytime - Picture Book Storytime
Sat, Jan 16, 10:30am - 10:45am
Lake County Public Library YouTube Page - bit.ly/LCPLstorytime
Children and families are invited to tune in for a short digital storytime. This session will last 10-20 minutes and will feature books... more
Children and families are invited to tune in for a short digital storytime. This session will last 10-20 minutes and will feature books and songs to foster pre-literacy skills.
Virtual Storytime - Book Breaks
Sun, Jan 17, 10:30am - 10:45am
Lake County Public Library YouTube Page - bit.ly/LCPLstorytime
Children in early elementary grades are invited to join us for a picture book reading. This special program will feature a longer... more
Children in early elementary grades are invited to join us for a picture book reading. This special program will feature a longer picture book, read in its entirety.
Talk to a Lawyer Day
Mon, Jan 18, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Merrillville
In honor of MLK Day, get free legal advice from NWI lawyers. Reserve your spot via email, or get in a waiting room to have a brief, free... more
In honor of MLK Day, get free legal advice from NWI lawyers. Reserve your spot via email, or get in a waiting room to have a brief, free chat with a volunteer lawyer.
Virtual Storytime - Book Break: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Mon, Jan 18, 10:30am - 10:45am
Lake County Public Library YouTube Page - bit.ly/LCPLstorytime
Children in elementary grades are invited to join us for a special MLK-themed book break.
Conscious Conversations: The Underground Railroad - via Zoom
Mon, Jan 18, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Zoom
The Legacy Foundation's newest community conversation series begins with a discussion of Colson Whiteheads's The Underground Railroad. ... more
The Legacy Foundation's newest community conversation series begins with a discussion of Colson Whiteheads's The Underground Railroad. The Griffith-Calumet Twp branch will host a discussion via Zoom.
Virtual ESL Classes
Mon, Jan 18, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Lake County Public Library Zoom Room
English Classes are for participants who are learning English as a second language. Virtual class is for high beginners and intermediate... more
English Classes are for participants who are learning English as a second language. Virtual class is for high beginners and intermediate level students. Classes are free.
Virtual Storytime - Picture Book Storytime
Tue, Jan 19, 10:30am - 10:45am
Lake County Public Library YouTube Page - bit.ly/LCPLstorytime
Children and families are invited to tune in for a short digital storytime. This session will last 10-20 minutes and will feature books... more
Children and families are invited to tune in for a short digital storytime. This session will last 10-20 minutes and will feature books and songs to foster pre-literacy skills.
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance - Hobart Virtual Book Chat
Tue, Jan 19, 10:30am - 11:30am
Hobart Branch - Zoom
Our January 2021 title is Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. Pick up a copy at the Hobart curbside and join us for a virtual chat! Contact... more
Our January 2021 title is Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. Pick up a copy at the Hobart curbside and join us for a virtual chat! Contact us at hobart@lcplin.org for event details.
Explore Hearst Castle!
Tue, Jan 19, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Merrillville
Join rangers as they explore the Hearst Castle live and talk about William Randolph Hearst's vast collection of world art. You'll need... more
Join rangers as they explore the Hearst Castle live and talk about William Randolph Hearst's vast collection of world art. You'll need an email address to register.
Virtual Storytime - Mother Goose on the Loose
Wed, Jan 20, 10:30am - 10:45am
Lake County Public Library YouTube Page - bit.ly/LCPLstorytime
Children from birth through 23 months and a caregiver are invited to tune in weekly for a 10 to 15-minute lapsit program that fosters... more
Children from birth through 23 months and a caregiver are invited to tune in weekly for a 10 to 15-minute lapsit program that fosters child development and pre-literacy skills.
Rescheduled
Carnivorous Plants!
Wed, Jan 20, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
New date Tuesday, January 12, 2:30pm - 3:00pm
Lake County Public Library Zoom Room
Journey into the secret world of carnivorous plants with Longwood Gardens! You will need an email address to sign up.
Rescheduled
Explore Hearst Castle!
Wed, Jan 20, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
New date Tuesday, January 19, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Lake County Public Library Zoom Room
Join rangers as they explore the Hearst Castle live and talk about William Randolph Hearst's vast collection of world art. You'll need... more
Join rangers as they explore the Hearst Castle live and talk about William Randolph Hearst's vast collection of world art. You'll need an email address to register.
Teen Virtual Book Club - Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Wed, Jan 20, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Lake County Public Library Zoom Room
Join us for our virtual teen book club! This month we will be reading and discussing "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky... more
Join us for our virtual teen book club! This month we will be reading and discussing "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli. Registration is required. Ages 12-18
Virtual ESL Classes
Wed, Jan 20, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
LCPL Zoom Meeting - Zoom Room
English Classes are for participants who are learning English as a second language. Virtual class is for high beginners and intermediate... more
English Classes are for participants who are learning English as a second language. Virtual class is for high beginners and intermediate level students. Classes are free.
Virtual Storytime - Middle Grade Book Tasting
Thu, Jan 21, 10:30am - 10:45am
Lake County Public Library YouTube Page - bit.ly/LCPLstorytime
Children in mid to upper elementary school grades are invited to tune in weekly to learn about a book and hear the first chapter. All... more
Children in mid to upper elementary school grades are invited to tune in weekly to learn about a book and hear the first chapter. All books are available on Hoopla or Overdrive.
Virtual Storytime - Book Breaks
Fri, Jan 22, 10:30am - 10:45am
Lake County Public Library YouTube Page - bit.ly/LCPLstorytime
Children in early elementary grades are invited to join us for a picture book reading. This special program will feature a longer... more
Children in early elementary grades are invited to join us for a picture book reading. This special program will feature a longer picture book, read in its entirety.
Virtual Storytime - Picture Book Storytime
Sat, Jan 23, 10:30am - 10:45am
Lake County Public Library YouTube Page - bit.ly/LCPLstorytime
Children and families are invited to tune in for a short digital storytime. This session will last 10-20 minutes and will feature books... more
Children and families are invited to tune in for a short digital storytime. This session will last 10-20 minutes and will feature books and songs to foster pre-literacy skills.
Virtual Storytime - Book Breaks
Sun, Jan 24, 10:30am - 10:45am
Lake County Public Library YouTube Page - bit.ly/LCPLstorytime
Children in early elementary grades are invited to join us for a picture book reading. This special program will feature a longer... more
Children in early elementary grades are invited to join us for a picture book reading. This special program will feature a longer picture book, read in its entirety.
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez - Book Buddies Virtual Book Discussion
Mon, Jan 25, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Griffith-Calumet twp Library - Zoom
Our January title is "The Friend" by Sigrid Nunez. Pick up a copy at the Griffith curbside and join us for a virtual chat! Email... more
Our January title is "The Friend" by Sigrid Nunez. Pick up a copy at the Griffith curbside and join us for a virtual chat! Email required. Contact us at griffith@lcplin.org for event details.
Virtual ESL Classes
Mon, Jan 25, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Lake County Public Library Zoom Room
English Classes are for participants who are learning English as a second language. Virtual class is for high beginners and intermediate... more
English Classes are for participants who are learning English as a second language. Virtual class is for high beginners and intermediate level students. Classes are free.
See all events