Upcoming Events

Featured Events

Snowy background with icy tree branches, event name centered in middle.

Adult Winter Reading Challenge

All Day 12/1 - 1/31
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Enrichment
Event Details:

Joplin Public Library's Winter Reading Challenge for Adults is perfect for cold days indoors, getting a jump start on New Year’s Resolutions, reading new things, or simply enjoying a challenge!

Peach and brown background, graphic of people doing yoga, event name above.

Yoga Class

Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Community Room (Whole)
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Class/Workshop, Health & Wellness
Event Details:

Join yoga at the library! This class is open to any experience level. Some yoga mats will be on hand but supply is limited; please bring your own if you have one. 

Informational flyer of the Black History Fair with a colorful Alma Woodsey Thomas painting behind it.

All-Ages Black History Fair

Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 11:00am - 12:30pm
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Community Room (Whole)
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Enrichment
Event Details:

Community members are invited to the Joplin Public Library's All-Ages Black History Fair. Connect with your community, hear from members and organizations in Joplin, and learn about Black history, present, and future in Joplin and beyond!

Blue and purple background, graphic of easel, paint, and paint brush in the center, with event title above.

Tiny Art Night

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Community Room (Whole)
Age Group: Teens (ages 11-18), Adults
Program Type: Arts, Crafts & DIY
Event Details:

Get inspired and join us to paint tiny masterpieces on tiny canvases! This is a self-guided paint night where we provide paint supplies and canvases and you create whatever you'd like! Limit 1 canvas per person. 

Filters
Age Group

Spark Lab

4:15pm–5:00pm
Youth, Children (ages 6-12)
Education, STEM/STEAM
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Children (ages 6-12)
Program Type: Education, STEM/STEAM
Event Details:

Explore a different STEAM-related activity each month! January’s focus is TBD! Ages 6-12

Young Artists Club

4:15pm–5:15pm
Youth, Tweens (ages 8-12)
Arts, Enrichment
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Tweens (ages 8-12)
Program Type: Arts, Enrichment
Event Details:

Join us at our Young Artists Club to learn about famous artists and create art in their styles.

This program is designed for children ages 8-12 

Disclaimer(s)

Accompanying Adults

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

Read and Play Preschool Hour

9:30am–10:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 3-5 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, moving, dancing, and playing!

Read and Play Preschool Hour

10:30am–11:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 3-5 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, moving, dancing, and playing!

LEAP! After School

4:15pm–5:00pm
Youth, Children (ages 6-12)
Crafts & DIY, Games & Activities, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Children (ages 6-12)
Program Type: Crafts & DIY, Games & Activities, Storytime
Event Details:

LEAP into 45 minutes of reading, creating, building, and exploring. Parents/guardians are welcome and encouraged to participate. Ages 6-12

Read and Play Preschool Hour

9:30am–10:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 3-5 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, moving, dancing, and playing!

Read and Play Preschool Hour

10:30am–11:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 3-5 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, moving, dancing, and playing!

Read and Play Toddler Hour

9:30am–10:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 0-2 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, rhyming, and connection.

No registration or library card required to attend.

Read and Play Toddler Hour

10:30am–11:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 0-2 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, rhyming, and connection.

No registration or library card required to attend.

Lego Build-a-thon

1:00pm–2:00pm
Youth, Children (ages 6-12)
Games & Activities
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Children (ages 6-12)
Program Type: Games & Activities
Event Details:

Collaborate, build, and explore your creative side! Ages 6-12

Disclaimer(s)

Accompanying Adults

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

All Day
Closing
Branches:
Joplin Public Library
Description:

The Library will be closed in observance of Martin Lurth King Jr. Day

Read and Play Preschool Hour

9:30am–10:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 3-5 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, moving, dancing, and playing!

Read and Play Preschool Hour

10:30am–11:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 3-5 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, moving, dancing, and playing!

LEAP! After School

4:15pm–5:00pm
Youth, Children (ages 6-12)
Crafts & DIY, Games & Activities, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Children (ages 6-12)
Program Type: Crafts & DIY, Games & Activities, Storytime
Event Details:

LEAP into 45 minutes of reading, creating, building, and exploring. Parents/guardians are welcome and encouraged to participate. Ages 6-12

Read and Play Preschool Hour

9:30am–10:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 3-5 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, moving, dancing, and playing!

Read and Play Preschool Hour

10:30am–11:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 3-5 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, moving, dancing, and playing!

Read and Play Toddler Hour

9:30am–10:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 0-2 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, rhyming, and connection.

No registration or library card required to attend.

Read and Play Toddler Hour

10:30am–11:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 0-2 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, rhyming, and connection.

No registration or library card required to attend.

Super Saturday: Winter Wonderland

10:00am–11:15am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning
Event Details:

Come learn and play in an indoor winter wonderland! This family event includes play-based, literacy-focused activities for preschoolers. 

Ages 2-5

Chapter Book Club: Dragons

4:15pm–5:15pm
Youth, Tweens (ages 8-12)
Arts, Book Discussion, Summer Reading
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Tweens (ages 8-12)
Program Type: Arts, Book Discussion, Summer Reading
Registration Required
Event Details:

This session’s theme is dragons! Bring a book of your choice to the club, where we’ll talk about our books and work on dragon-related activities

Preschool Playdate

10:00am–11:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Summer Reading
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Summer Reading
Event Details:

Come play with us! Escape the cold with toys, activities, and self-guided play in our storytime room. 

Ages 2-5

Disclaimer(s)

Accompanying Adults

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

Dog Day Afternoon

4:00pm–4:45pm
Youth, Children (ages 6-12)
Enrichment
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Children (ages 6-12)
Program Type: Enrichment
Registration Required
Event Details:

Dog Day Afternoon is designed to help newly independent readers become more comfortable reading!

Read and Play Preschool Hour

9:30am–10:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 3-5 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, moving, dancing, and playing!

Read and Play Preschool Hour

10:30am–11:00am
Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Early Learning, Storytime
Library Branch: Joplin Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Youth, Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-5)
Program Type: Early Learning, Storytime
Event Details:

This fun storytime geared towards 3-5 year olds and their families includes reading, singing, moving, dancing, and playing!