Storytime Information

What is Storytime? Storytime is a gathering of children ages 3 - 6 years on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings for the purpose of educating and entertaining them through books. Each storytime will consist of books read aloud and possibly include poetry, plays, games, puppet shows, music or crafts.

There are three sessions of storytime: October and November, February and March and June and July. Storytime is from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. on each Tuesday of these months and from 10 - 10:30 a.m. on each Wednesday. Occasionally storytime may be cancelled when it coincides with a holiday or special event. Notice of cancellation is always posted ahead of time in the library and printed in the local newspaper.

Storytime Goals

• To create in children an appetite for reading and for using the library
• To encourage children to respect other children, the storyteller and library materials
• To stimulate children's imaginations
• To help children develop language, listening, and motor skills
• To teach library manners

All children are unique and have different levels of listening ability at different ages. Therefore, the Children's Librarian suggests that a child, regardless of age, who displays inability to sit and listen quietly, may benefit from a break of one or two weeks before returning to storytime or have a parent stay with them. Children adapt at different rates, so please, keep trying!

Storytime Registration

Registration is required for each storytime session. If a child is one or two months shy of his/her third birthday, a parent may register their child or simply wait until the next session. One-time visitors are welcome anytime.

There are two other programs for younger children:
Babytime sessions meet on Tuesday evenings, 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in January, May and September. Toddlertime sessions meet on Thursday evenings 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in January, May and September.

• Baby Time for babies - birth to 18 months
• Toddler Time for toddlers - 18 months to 36 months

Register at the front desk one month prior to each scheduled baby, toddler or preschool session.

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Storytime Rules

(Ms. "Shelly" likes to call them ...library manners.)

The first time a child attends storytime, the parent or guardian should sit with the child. By the second or third time a child attends, the parent or guardian may or may not leave the immediate storytime area. The parent or guardian may go to other areas of the library but must remain in the library! If a parent or guardian for some reason must leave the building, the Children's Librarian must be notified in advance of the storytime.

Parents/guardians, may drop their children off and pick them up no later than five (5) minutes after storytime ends. This is a very important safety precaution! Library staff is unable to supervise children before and after storytime. (Refer to the Dwight Foster Public Library's Unattended Children Policy.)

Everyone is asked to make every effort to avoid late arrival to storytime. Interruptions are a distraction to the children as well as the storyteller.

Storytime sessions are limited in size. A session may be cancelled if participation becomes too small. Parents/guardians may be asked to change sessions, or an additional storytime may be added to control attendance problems.

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One Final Word...

Storytimes are just an introduction to the exciting world of books and reading. Parents and guardians need to take time to read to their children everyday. They need to help children choose books to take home from the library. This example will show children that reading is a worthwhile and enjoyable activity. In addition, the bonding between parent and child is beyond measure...take time to enjoy it. As a mother and now a grandmother, I can tell you that these years will go by too quickly. Yes, I know, it doesn't seem like it now. Nevertheless, invest this time with your child now and you will both reap the benefits forever. Walk down the path of imagination with your child and once again or maybe for the first time enjoy being a kid again through the world of children's books.