Special Collections

Siouxland Libraries offers much more than books! Enjoy our special collections that cover everything from board games to science Discovery kits. All items check out for three weeks unless otherwise indicated. 

Birth to Five

Stories to Go

If you cannot make it to a Siouxland Libraries storytime, check out a Stories to Go kit! Each kit has a special theme and includes all the necessary materials for a fun and engaging storytime, such as books, activity guides, and puppets.

Toy Lending Library

Learn through play! Promote creativity, physical and emotional health, and school readiness with a Toy Lending Library box. Each box contains toys and books for children ages zero to five. Siouxland Libraries proudly supports the Toy Lending Library of South Dakota, the sponsor of this program. Visit any Siouxland Libraries branch or Toy Lending Library locations to check out a box. 

Wonderbooks and VOX Books

Wonderbooks and Vox Books bind audio and print books together. Kids can listen to a built-in audiobook as they read along with the story – no adult, computer, tablet, CD, or internet needed. Just push a button and listen!

K to Fifth

Adventure Kits

Find the adventure in reading with a Siouxland Libraries Adventure Kit. Designed for children in third through fifth grade, each kit contains books and related games or activities encouraging children to develop a love of reading.

Discovery Kits

A variety of ages can explore STEM (science, engineering, technology, and math) at home with a Siouxland Libraries Discovery Kit. Each kit contains books, tools, toys, and a binder with instructions.

Reading Kits

Build reading skills with a Siouxland Libraries Reading Kit. Kits are designed to help beginning readers develop and practice core reading skills: background knowledge, comprehension, decoding, and fluency. Each skill comes in two levels: New Reader and Developing Reader. New Reader kits target readers at the beginning of their learning journey. Developing Reader kits are the next step in building strong readers. Each level offers multiple kit options.  

Webpage verbiage, reading kit contents, and reading kit resources – Credit: Denver Public Library. 

Adult and Teen

Book Club to Go

Book Club to Go bags have everything you need to host a discussion. Each bag contains 12 copies of the book, a discussion guide, and a sign-up sheet for the book club coordinator. Email or call 605-367-8140 to reserve a Book Club to Go bag for your next book club. Bags can be sent to any Siouxland Libraries location and check out for eight weeks. They can be reserved up to one year in advance. 

Printable Book Club to Go list

Caille Room

The Caille Room collection is a research collection focused primarily on the history, culture, resources, and economic development of the city of Sioux Falls and of Minnehaha County. To a lesser extent, this collection also documents the history of adjacent counties, the state of South Dakota, notable individuals, and the Native Americans indigenous to the area. Items in the Caille Room collection are not available for loan outside of the library.

Genealogy Collection

The genealogy collection is housed at the Downtown library for the purpose of family history research. It is supported in part by resources on loan from the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). Items in this collection may be freely used within the Downtown Library but are not available for outside circulation.  The genealogy collection is supplemented by electronic databases specific to genealogy searching. These include Ancestry.com, which can be used within any Siouxland Libraries location, along with HeritageQuest and Fold3, which are accessible within the library and from home with a library card.   Microfilm of South Dakota census information and local Sioux Falls newspapers is also available for research purposes. Microfilm readers are provided for viewing and printing at the Downtown Library.

Newspapers and Magazines

Read local, national, and international articles with our newspaper and magazine collections. Browse the list, place a hold, or visit a library to find your favorite periodical. If we don’t have a publication in print, we may offer it through Libby or one of our news databases like ProQuestU.S. Newspapers, or Ebsco Megafile.

Parenting Collection

The Parenting Collection supports parents and primary caregivers as their child’s first teachers by providing educational information on topics unique to raising children. It covers all stages of child development from birth through the teen years.

Power Check Meters

Measure how much energy your devices use with a Power Check Meter. Place a hold, check it out, take it home, and save some money.

State Park Passes

Explore South Dakota State Parks for free through the Check Out South Dakota State Parks program. Passes check out for up to 3 days and can be used once per month.

All Ages

Board Games

Browse our large collection of board games for all ages. Place a hold, check it out, and take it home. Try everything from Candy Land with your little ones to Catan with friends. Enjoy family, roleplaying, cooperative, card, dense, party, two-player, and classic games for free!

Databases

Discover your ancestry, browse the Argus Leader, learn at Miss Humblebee’s Academy, and more. Siouxland Libraries databases allow you to research, prepare for a job, learn a new language, help your family with homework, and find something good to read. Learn more here.

Learning Tablets

Secure tablets with no need for Wi-Fi, our Launchpad tablets contain pre-loaded content and feature a simple, easy-to-use interface. Each children’s tablet has a different theme and contains hours of interactive learning. Adult tablets feature language-learning skills in English, Italian, Russian, Spanish, French, and more!

Magazines and Newspapers

Read local, national, and international articles with our newspaper and magazine collections. Browse the list, place a hold, or visit a library to find your favorite periodical. If we don’t have a publication in print, we may offer it through Libby or one of our news databases like ProQuestU.S. Newspapers, or Ebsco Megafile.

Playaway Audio Books

Enjoy a pre-loaded audiobook on an mp3 player – all you need is a pair of earbuds with a 3.5 mm headphone connector. Take the audiobook anywhere without needing to connect or download. Our collection features a wide variety of topics! Use the filters on the side of the screen to find the right one for you.