Children & Young People

Orbit Newsletter

Our Orbit Newsletter contains a full list of school holiday activities. You can download the newest issue here Orbit Newsletter - June 2019 For more information contact Barjinder on 4732 7891 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For regular information about school holiday activities please subscribe to the Orbit Newsletter by completing the form below.

Term 4 Activities

Tickets will be available soon.  Bookings are essential.

Children

VIRTUAL REALITY MINECRAFT with Australian Immersive Education Academy

Work in a small team using room-scale VR programs with laptops and VR goggles to construct a virtual 3D Minecraft world over four sessions. Learn how to design, create and express ideas with cutting-edge immersive technologies.

WHO: 8-13 years
WHEN: Thursdays, 4-5.30pm (5-26 September 2019)
TICKETS: $150 per child for an 4 week term - buy tickets for Virtual Reality Minecraft on EventBrite

Young People

WRITE AND DRAW A MINI GRAPHIC NOVEL with Madison Martin

In a five class series write and draw a ‘one-shot’ mini graphic novel chapter. Draw on techniques from Maus to DC Comics and infuse these with your own creative style. Create new characters and landscapes or build your work in Madison’s July holiday workshop.

WHO: 12-17 years
WHEN: Tuesdays, 4-5.30pm (6 August-3 September)
TICKETS: $70 per student for a 5 week term - buy tickets for Write and Draw a Graphic Novel on EventBrite

Story Time

Story Time for preschoolers is the ideal way to nurture young children's love of stories and reading skills. It runs during school terms at Penrith, St Marys and St Clair Libraries. Sessions consist of theme-based, social activities including singing, listening to stories and doing art and craft.

Penrith: Wednesdays 10.30 - 11.30am 
St Marys: Tuesdays 10.30 - 11.30am 
St Clair: Thursdays 10.30 - 11.30am 

Don’t miss Rooby Roo at Story Time on 6, 7 & 8 August. Arrive early at 10.20am to get your own photo with Rooby Roo!

Storytime Term 3 themes

Baby Time

Baby Time sessions include songs, games and activities to share with your baby. Guest speakers talk on interesting topics once a month.

Penrith: Mondays 10.30 - 11.30am

Toy Library

Our toy library includes study toys for under 8s and a range of family board games. There are baby toys, construction sets, puzzles, vehicles, food, animal and house play sets. 
Toy Library does not run during school holidays. 
Find a session at a branch near you:

• Penrith: Wednesday 10am-Noon and Saturday 10am-Noon
• St Marys: Tuesdays 10am - Noon and Saturday 10am - Noon  
• St Clair: Thursday 10am-Noon and Saturday 10am-Noon. 
• Apply to become a toy library volunteer.

Toy library conditions of use:

• If you bring a child to a toy library session be sure to supervise and accompany them at all times.
• Toys in the cupboards are for browsing and borrowing. Toys are made available for play during Toy Library sessions.
• Care for the toys and return them in a clean condition.
• Return damaged toys and parts as toys are repaired wherever possible.
• A replacement cost may be charged for lost toys when negligence results in damaged toys.
• The library is not liable for damage/injury resulting from borrowed toys.

Toy Library Outreach Service

We specialise in providing toys for children with disabilities and high support needs. Featuring switch-adapted, sensory and educational toys, children will delight in making them function through lighting up, playing sounds and movement. Through hands-on play, they can build valuable problem-solving, coordination, reasoning, numeracy, literacy and fine motor skills.

A specialised outreach service is available, with the Library Children’s Inclusion Officer providing home visits for families living in the Penrith area or one-on-one borrowing sessions by appointment and opportunities for extended loan periods. Referrals are required to access this service. 

For details on the referral process for the Toy Library Outreach Service This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 0418 664 879. 

Fox Tales

‘Fox Tales’ was developed by the DIG Creative Maker Space Program, a creative and professional development program for Greater Western Sydney digital artists/designers within their first 5 years of professional practice. Penrith Library sponsored the 2nd DiG project which was completed in late 2018, to encourage teens to visit our library and use our collections: visit penrith.city/foxtales

Studiosity

Studiosity is an online service providing live homework and study help for years 3-12.

Go to Studiosity and log on from home with your Penrith City Library card. Membership is free for all students living or going to school in the Penrith Local Government Area. Studiosity provides one-to-one academic support in English, Maths, Science, assignment research, and study skills.

Tutors are online Sunday to Friday between 3pm and 10pm.

View the Library Catalogue