Youth Services Events

Upcoming Event Details

Oceans of Possibilities: image of two children riding on a fish with a banner saying "READ MORE"

In-Person Summer Reading Events all over WA!

  • Inclusive StoryWalk at Seattle Sensory Garden June 25th and August 25th 10 - 2pm

  • Westport Aquarium Touch Tanks July 7th 4 - 5pm

  • Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium SeaLab July 27th 4 - 5pm

  • Paddling and Swim in Spokane with NWABA  August 9th 10 - 2pm

Registration is Required

Contact Youth Svcs at:

[email protected] 


Multisensory Storytimes

NOTE: In-person Mutlisensory Storytime is canceled until further notice. Please visit the WTBBL YouTube page for Virtual Multisensory Storytime

Join us Fridays at 11 AM at WTBBL. All children ages 0-5 and their caregivers are welcome to attend.

Come laugh, read, sing, dance, and play! All storytimes are held in the WTBBL Meeting Room at 2021 9th Avenue, Seattle WA 98121. Free parking is available in the attached WTBBL garage. A short craft will follow each storytime.

multisensory storytime poster.pdf

 

Past Events

Halloween 2019 - Spooktacular Stories to Share at Jack Straw

It was spooky fun at Jack Straw on October 19th! Youth patrons read and recorded a fearsome fairytale, created some amazing sound effects, and molded monsters out of clay. It was a great day! Special thanks to the Jack Straw Cultural Center and all the volunteers who helped out at this event.

Image shows a voice coach and youth patron in a recording studio, while in the foreground a technician and blind youth patron work on sound levels on the computer.  Close-up of two youth patrons speaking into microphones in a recording studio, one reading lines in braille and the other in large print.

A youth patron shows off his clay creation (a skull) while his mother looks on.  A multitude of artificial cobwebs adorn the hallways at Jack Straw, providing a spooky and tactile corridor. .

A close-up of a youth patron practicing her lines from a braille script in a recording studio.

 

2019 Summer Reading Program Events - WTBBL, UW, Yakima, Spokane!

A group of youth patrons and family members walk around WTBBL halls as they go through a scale model of the solar system. One patron holds a soccer ball, representing the size of the sun in relation to each planet (Jupiter is a blueberry).  Two youth patrons explore tactile models of the sun and its solar winds at the UW Planetarium.

A girl uses her cane and mother's arm to explore the arboretum in Yakima.  

A group of teens work together to solve puzzles in the accessible escape room at the Spokane Public Library.

Sunday Spooktacular! October 21st, 1-3pm

It was a a ghoulish afternoon of food, games, crafts, and a spooky costume contest.  Sunday Spooktacular Flyer

A child in a Mickey Mouse Costume and glasses holds up a "monster" he made out of craft puff balls and googley eyes. His father and baby sister look on in the background.  A youth patron dressed in a Hogwarts robe mixes bright green slime.

Two children in Hogwarts robes explore the insides of a large pumpkin.  A group of children in costumes (astronaut, police man, Mickey Mouse) paint masks at a craft table.

Two girls, one dressed as a cheerleader and another as a unicyclist with blood stains, make craft monsters.

WTBBL Volunteer Jane (dressed as Snow White) works at the "dirt cup" station, helping guests mix chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos, and gummy worms for a tasty snack.

Saturday August 18th - Challenge Air Fly Day!

Free ride on a real airplane at Paine Field in Everett! Youth 7-18 with a disability were invited to attend, with a guardian and one sibling or friend. Challenge Air Fly Day

Experience Music Therapy! Saturday August 11th from 1-3pm. 

Students from Seattle Pacific University and a Certified Music Therapist hosted a hands-on demonstration and information session about Music Therapy. 

A group of youth patrons and their families sit in a circle around a drum as Music Therapist Dani Valdes leads a song about weather and animal sounds.  Music Therapy students from SPU play the ukulele, shaker, and sing as a youth patron in a wheelchair focuses on a port-hole toy. The toy has beads in it that, when moved, produce a sound like ocean waves.

Dig In! Mini Museum - July 28th from 1-3pm

Patrons and their families participated in a fossil dig brought to us by the Burke Musiem. Much fun was had as we rocked our way through geologic time! 

A female youth patron smiles at the camera as she investigates small rock fragments with a magnifying glass and brush.  A youth patron feels different types of rocks as her mother guides her hands over each.

Sample casts of dinosaur foot bones are displayed on a table.  Youth patrons dig in a tub of dirt and sand for a very large fossilized bone.

ROCK the Stacks! Harry Potter Party - July 14th 5:30-8pm

Teens and tweens had a truly magical night! Seekers found Dementors, Bowtruckles, and Dragons in a mysterious scavenger hunt among WTBBL's many shelves; N.E.W.T.-level trivia yielded some awesome prizes (Dobby the House Elf, a miniature Quidditch kit, and Genuine Jelly Slugs); we made wands, were Sorted, and ate Chocolate Frogs; a true Slytherin attended in the form of a ball python named Roan; and the talented fan-band Tonks & the Aurors kepts us dancing all night! 

Teen patrons pose in front of a brick wall reading "Platform 9 3/4". Teens are wearing a crown, holding a "Have You Seen This Wizard?" sign, using a wand, and holding a Monster Book of Monsters.  A teen patron smiles as a snake touches noses with him.

A young patron in Harry Potter glasses and robes reads a braille transcription of the Scavenger Hunt list.  A patron holds her Trivia prize - a Dobby the House Elf figurine.

 

 

June 30, 2018 2-4pm - Calling all Musicians! 

The Summer Reading Kick-Off party was a blast, featuring music by and for our local artist/patrons! Games, prizes, food, and sweet tunes made for an exciting afternoon. It was a great way to start the Summer off! srp kick-off 2018

A teen patron plays the ukulele and sings.  Young children paint with primary colors. Their paint brushes have different size bells attached, ringing with each stroke.  

A toddler wears a rainbow-colored mohawk wig and waves around her baton.  A youth patron plays her violin for the crowd.

May 5, 2018 - Special Pet Meet & Greet

  • Emerald City Pet Rescue brought some furry friends to WTBBL! Families learned about animals with disabilities, assistive technology for pets, and met some wiggly pups. Guests made no-bake dog treats and miniature doggy wheelchairs following the very exciting event. SpecialPetFlyer.pdf  

​Youth Patron Erfan pets a rescue dog - a double merle Australian shepherd who is deaf - surrounded by other guests at the Special Pet Meet & Greet Event on May 5, 2018.  Emerald City Pet Rescue representative Bethany Black delivers a presentation about the care and rescue of animals with special needs to guests at the Special Pet Meet & Greet Event on May 5, 2018.  

Youth patrons enjoyed playing with a double merle Australian Shepherd, a deaf dog from Emerald City Pet Rescue at the Special Pet Meet & Greet Event on May 5, 2018.   WTBBL Assistant Manager Alycia cuddles a rescue Chihuahua at the Special Pet Meet & Greet Event on May 5, 2018.

2018 Braille Challenge

It was another awesome Challenge day for our Braille readers and writers on March 3rd! Students from 1st-12th grade participated in the regional contest sponsored by The Braille Institute. We let off some steam with an exciting presentation by the Seattle South King Sluggers Beep Baseball Team! 

Kevin Daniel of the Seattle South King Sluggers helps a student at bat.  Our Highest Score Overall winner working hard on her Speed & Accuracy test.

Welcome Winter @ WTBBL

On January 6th we had an amazing time exploring an igloo made of recycled Braille, getting messy with wintery STEM activities, and eating cold-weather snacks! Two children explore "snow" made of corn starch and shaving cream.

Fall 2017 Pen Pal Program

We have finished another installment of the Pen Pal Program, with students from all over Washington matched by reading grade level and medium (UEB or large print). Letters were forwarded to WTBBL, then sent on to pals. Stay tuned for news on our next Pen Pal Program, coming later in 2018! For information on how to register, please email Erin at [email protected] or call (206) 615-1253. 

 

Parent-Infant Playgroups

Families and their young children who are blind or visually impaired were invited to attend "PIP" Playgroups each 2nd Monday of the month at 11 AM. Playgroups were presented by King County B-3 Vision Services and will have activities to explore learning without vision. For more information, contact Erin at [email protected] or (206) 615-1253.

2017 Washington Braille Challenge

The 2017 Washington Braille Challenge was held on Saturday, February 18 from 9 AM - 4 PM at WTBBL. The Braille Challenge is an academic competition for students in grades 1-12 that encourages braille literacy in a fun and competitive environment. The 2018 Challenge will be held in March. For more information, contact Erin at [email protected] or (206) 615-1253.

Challenge Air Fly Day

We had such a fun day of airplane rides and activities on Saturday, July 23, 2017 at the Paine Field Airport! This event was open to all youth with disabilities under the age of 18, with a parent or guardian present.

Dog Day at WTBBL

On Sunday, May 1, 2017 from 2-4 PM, WTBBL held quite the special event. "For Your Eyes Only", a Guide Dogs for the Blind Puppy Club, presented about the guide dog lifestyle and the Canine Buddy Program.

Youth had the chance to interact with guide dog puppies and working guides! Refreshments, crafts, and games were available. This event was open to all youth 18 and under and their families.

Teen Tech Week Adapted Gaming Lab

Thanks to the generosity of YALSA and Best Buy, WTBBL was able to host a drop-in gaming lab for teens ages 13-18 on Saturday, March 12, 2017. We had so much fun will braille board games, braille card games, giant jenga, Legos, audio games, and more! For more information about the Adapted Gaming Lab, please contact Erin at [email protected] or (206) 615-1253.

2014 Experience Art Competition, Exhibition, & Reception

WTBBL invited all youth patrons to create a work of art for entry into the WTBBL Art Competition and Exhibition! We had art of multiple styles and sizes, from our talented patrons age 5-18. All entries were showcased in a special gallery at the library, and all participants received a recognition prize. Special Awards included the Director’s Award and Audience Favorite!