Activities

Free activities for primary school children are held at Merri-bek Libraries.

Lego builders

Come along and build, build, build! One hour of fun-packed free-play LEGO!

This session is for primary school aged children only. ALL children need to be accompanied by a parent/carer.

Fawkner Library, 2nd Tuesday of the month, 4pm during term times.  

Curiosity Crew

A weekly STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) program encouraging children to learn through play and exploration, with the use of robotics, programming, digital technologies and creative arts.   

This program is for children aged 8 years and over

For more information on sessions see our events on our Merri-bek Libraries Eventbrite page

Random Mondays

An hour of random fun activities every week. Craft, board games, LEGO® building, or something completely unexpected!

Coburg Library meeting room, every Monday during school term, 4pm.

This program is for children aged 5 and over.

Reading Challenges

Big Summer Read 2025-2026

The Big Summer Read begins 1 December 2025 and ends 31 January 2026. The program aims to arrest the ‘summer slide’ by engaging children and their families in a fun and dynamic program encouraging reading for pleasure.

How do I participate in the Big Summer Read?

Register for the challenge on the ReadBooks website and make sure to choose your local Merri-bek library to be in the running for our Lego prize draw. 

Read and log 5 books OR read on 5 days between 1 December 2025 and 30 January 2026. Participants will receive one additional entry into the prize draw for every five entries submitted, based on either the number of books read or the number of days spent reading.

Will there be a paper-based alternative for those unable to use technology?

Yes! a printed reading log from any Merri-bek Library. Paper entries include a Days Read Calendar Log and a Books Read Log.

What are the LEGO prizes at Merri-bek Libraries? 

  • LEGO Creator Medieval Horse Knight Castle - 31168
  • LEGO Creator Medieval Dragon - 31161
  • LEGO Creator Beautiful Horse - 31166
  • LEGO Creator Wild Animals: Panda Family - 31165
  • LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box - 10696

Prizes will be randomly drawn in mid-February 2026.

Participants in the Big Summer Read must be under the age of 18, reside in Victoria and must be able to collect their prize from a specified library branch.

Will there be National and Victorian state prizes?

Yes! When participants complete the challenge they are automatically placed in the National and State draws. At the conclusion of the program, prize winners will be drawn randomly from those who completed the Big Summer Read.

For full info on these prizes please check out the Big Summer Read terms and conditions (PDF, 287 KB). The Public Libraries Victoria website has more information about the Big Summer Read.

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge

The Premiers’ Reading Challenge is a fun way of encouraging children to read. Premiers’ Reading Challenge books are easy to find. Just look for the colour coded stickers on the book spine. You can also search for books, by age category, using the library website or on the Education Victoria website.

CBCA Awards

The Children’s Book Council of Australia presents annual awards to books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature. Every year Merri-bek Libraries celebrates these books at storytimes.

Winner and Honour Books: Announced at noon AEST on the third Friday in August.

For more information visit the Childrens Book Council of Australia website.