At Canton Public Library, we know that our patrons love our storytimes, judging from the great (and repeat) attendance we see at each session.
Occasionally, we see folks stopping by a storytime session with the hope of attending, and we know it is confusing when sometimes a library staff member says, “Sure, come on in,” but other times says, “Sorry, this session is closed.”
So, can you or can’t you drop in to storytime? The answer is: it depends.
Our Family Storytimes (for ages 0-5 years) are drop-in sessions. This means that you don’t have to register in advance; you can just show up. We offer multiple sessions in the fall, winter and spring so you can pick a session that best fits your schedule, and you’re welcome to come to different times from week to week.
During the summer we offer Wings of Wonder Storytimes that take place outdoors, weather permitting, for the same age group and that also welcome drop-in participants.
For our Baby Storytimes (for ages 0-24 months) and Preschool Storytimes (for ages 3½ to 5 years) that take place in fall, winter, and spring, we require that patrons register in advance.
The reason for this is that these storytimes are tailored to the developmental needs of children at specific ages, and we need to verify that participants are the appropriate age. Additionally, limiting the size of the storytime group with registration allows us to provide small group settings with greater opportunities for children (and parents) to make connections with each other and with the librarian conducting the storytime.
Important Arrival Policy: As with all of our storytimes, we do ask that patrons are punctual, as late arrivals can distract young audience members and disrupt the librarian’s performance. We allow a 5-minute grace period once the storytime begins. After that time, we close the session to additional attendees. This policy helps us maintain the flow of the storytime and respect the time of all attendees.
We believe that storytimes are a key tool to build early literacy skills and foster a love of reading at an early age. Our storytimes are designed to be interactive, educational and fun for children of different age groups.
If you have any questions about our storytime programs or would like assistance with registration for Baby and Preschool Storytimes, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to seeing you and your little ones at our next storytime adventure!
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