Where does story time take place?
Most programs will take place in the Crawshaw Story Room on the lower level. Music and Movement is always in the Dutcher Community Room on the 1st floor. In some special cases you might find us in the Frog Garden or outside!
How do I choose the right story program?
All of the programs have a suggested age for participation. Sometimes you might need to try a few out and see if it suits you and your child. When in doubt, try a family program that incorporates activities for different age groups. Children learn so much from each other.
If your child is very high energy, Music and Movement might be the way to go! If your child prefers quiet or needs more sensory friendly activities a sensory story program might be the best fit.
Who conducts library story times?
Library story times are always conducted by a librarian on staff. Sometimes they might invite special guests from the community, authors or teen volunteers.
Why do I see the words Story Time sometimes and other times Early Literacy?
Early literacy is a term libraries use to encompass the entire concept of reading skills before a child actually can read. All story time programs are early literacy programs because they teach and practice skills that help children learn to read. Caregivers can find more early literacy skills to practice at home on the NYS Early Literacy Calendar.
My child doesn't sit still. Can we still come for a story time?
Yes! Many children struggle to sit still and pay attention. Your child can still benefit from a story time program by paying attention as they move around. How do you manage this? Try to keep your child to the back of the space or outside of the circle so they are less distracting to other families. Do not take down any books or puppets from the shelves. If your child is not happy, take a break or leave for the day. You can always come back and try again.
The times and days do not work for my child. Can you change the schedule?
We do our best to provide a variety of programs on different days and times and we hope it works for most of our patrons. If you would like to suggest a day or time, please tell the staff at the children's desk or ask for a suggestion form. We can't promise that we can make it work, but we always want to hear from you!
How do the librarians choose the books for story time?
Our staff all have training and varying years of experience in offering early literacy programs. They choose age and skill appropriate books based on their expertise and the suggestions from other librarians in the field. Books are often chosen based on a theme the librarian wants to present, a seasonally appropriate choice or to support the library's plan of service. Repetition can be extremely helpful, but the staff do try to bring in new material to keep things fresh. If a book does not work for your family, you are always welcome to step out and rejoin the group when it's done.
Why do adults have to participate if story time is for children?
Children learn so much from their adults and caregivers. If the adult is not paying attention, neither will the child. Adults can also pick up ideas for things to do when reading at home or songs to sing in the car. Early literacy can happen any time and all the time. We encourage caregivers to chat with each other during social times or after the program so they can remain focused on their child during story time.
Why are you making us sing?
Singing is one of the early literacy practices that can be done anywhere with no equipment. It doesn't matter if you can carry a tune or not! Singing helps all of us and no one will judge you here.
Why is there no story time this week?
While we do our best to keep up a regular story time schedule, we take advantage of school breaks to refresh our plans and offer more programs for the school-age kids who normally can't visit us during weekdays. Check our calendar or stop by the children's desk to find out when story time returns!
