In 2025, our word of the year was Library joy—it is a reminder to celebrate the magic, connection, and discovery that happens in our library every single day. Here are some of the ways we experienced Library joy throughout the year, both inside the Library and out in our community:
Things that brought the Library joy in 2025
Chair Yoga
Every Monday morning, patrons gathered to improve flexibility, balance, and overall wellness.
Senior Educational Series
The Library offered our senior patrons four different educational series to provide valuable information to improve their physical and financial well-being, including Fall Prevention, Matter of Balance, and WISE with Real Services and the Financial Series with 1st Source Bank.
Celebrate Stories
Families enjoyed interactive book-character stations, themed crafts, snacks, and activities designed to bring beloved stories to life.
South Bend Symphony To Go
Both the Brass Quintet and the Wind Quintet performed at the Library, bringing live music and cultural enrichment to our community.
Summer Reading: Level Up at Your Library: We had an outstanding summer with 377 participants who logged an impressive 273,300 minutes of reading.
Summer Programs
This summer we hosted a mobile arcade Kick-Off Party, book clubs, Cooking Camp, Code & Create Camp, Candy Science, and painting sessions for children in grades K-12.
We partnered with Creative Hut/Amazon, Full Tilt Arcade, Purdue Extension Laporte County, New Prairie High School Robotics Team, and professional artists to host an Imagination Station Program where patrons could explore a mix of art, tech, and play as they rotated through stations.
Summer Evening Garden Strolls
Steve Sass of Indiana Nature/Ecometrid, led patrons in exploring the Library’s native plant gardens.
Indiana Author Awards Speaker Program
Thanks to a grant from Indiana Humanities and Glick Philanthropies, we welcomed Indiana Author Awards Honoree Kat Higgs-Coulthard, who shared her writer’s journey and encouraged students and families to find inspiration in their own lives.
Exploration Garden Addition
We added a large sandbox to the Exploration Garden, offering even more opportunities for creative and sensory play.
Interactive Movies
This year we hosted four interactive movie experiences—Toy Story, A Minecraft Movie, The Wild Robot, and Harold and the Purple Crayon. Families enjoyed themed activities, snacks, and creative exploration while watching the films.
Art Displays
Each month, local artists were featured on our display walls and in our front glass cabinets, celebrating creativity and giving patrons new artwork to enjoy year-round.
Friends of the Library
The Friends hosted two book sales and a daffodil sale this year. Their generosity continues to support library programs, outreach, and staff.
Daily Care of Living Things
Staff provided weekly care for 15 fish and 25 plants, helping create a welcoming space.
Staff Milestones
We celebrated service anniversaries for two dedicated team members: Julie – 25 years and Skye – 10 years.
On My Way! – Growing and Learning Every Day
Our early literacy take-home program continues to support families. Each month, 50 themed activity bags are prepared, featuring projects for On My Way journals, learning activities, games, and conversation starters.
Things That Brought the Community Joy in 2025
StoryWalk® at Bourissa Hills Park – Funded by an Amazon community grant, the StoryWalk® lets families combine reading with outdoor activity, following pages of a children’s book along a shaded trail.
Historic Programs – Partnering with Historic New Carlisle, we hosted Harriet Colfax: Tending the Light and Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses, along with a historical walking tour of our town.
Olive Elementary Class Visits – Olive Elementary classes visited for a story, STEM activities, and book checkouts, serving over 500 students. The Library also hosted the 5th Grade Battle of the Books, where students tracked reading in the Beanstack app and participated in quiz battles.
Community Snapshot – Over 4,000 copies of this newsletter, sharing local events and meetings, were printed and distributed in new boxes. The boxes were donated by New Carlisle residents. They are located at Town Hall, CVS, Groceries by Joe and the Post Office.
Donation Partnerships – The Library supported local giving through donation boxes for the New Carlisle Food Pantry, Peaceful Pastures Project, and Kids Holiday Market, helping seniors and children in the community.
Homebound Services – Library staff delivered materials to 28 local homebound residents, bringing books and library resources directly to their door.