Ready, Set, Read! Story Time Is Back At Pierce County Libraries

It's story time!

The Pierce County Library System will hold free events for children up to age six featuring books, activities and songs to get them excited about reading and learning.

The age breakdown is: Baby Time (ages 0–24 months), Toddler Time (ages 2–3), Preschool Story Time (ages 3–6), Family/Bilingual Story Time (for families with preschool-age children) and Story Play Time (ages 3–6).

“We’re pro-story times,” joked Mary Getchell, communications director for the Pierce County Library System.

Getchell said the story-time program is a popular offering, and that they constantly “re-energize it, look at it again and consider what times work best based on the audience.”

“We find that it is so critical for early learning, and becase we are a leader in early learning, we’re definitely committed to story times.”

Getchell said that because the library already has the books – and patrons can check them out afterward – and staff to read to the children, the program is not a high-cost one for PCLS -- and it is free for patrons.

“And the value of it is so critical,” she said. “We are so committed to starting the kids, getting them to read and to see the joy of reading – and it becomes a lifelong thing.”

Getchell said that she understands parents of young children being hesitant to bring them to a sit-down activity, but that it isn’t uncommon for little ones to stand or wander around during story time.

“It depends on their engagement and interest, but the expectation is for the child to do what’s best for the child.”

Parents and other caretakers are required to stay with young children, she said, meaning that you can’t just drop a 2-year-old off and go peruse the magazines.

“Also, the staff that does the story times, either a storyteller or a librarian, are very animated and they know the attention span of these toddlers,” Getchell said. “They engage them and get the excitement going.

“The child responds to what is happening around them.”

Registration may be required. Contact your branch for details.

Here is the schedule for local libraries:

University Place Library, 3609 Market Place W.:
Baby Time, Thursdays, Sept. 29 – Nov. 17, 10:30 a.m.
Story Play Time, Wednesdays, Sept. 28 – Nov. 16, 10:30 a.m.    
Family Time, Mondays, Sept. 26 – Nov. 14, 6 p.m.

Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Drive N.W.:
Baby Time, Fridays, Sept. 30 – Nov. 4, Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m.     
Toddler Time, Wednesdays, Sept. 28 – Nov. 16, 10:30 a.m.
Story Play Time, Wednesdays, Sept. 28 – Nov. 16, 11:30 a.m.
Family Time, Mondays, Sept. 26 – Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m.   

Lakewood Library, 6300 Wildaire Road S.W.:
Teen Parent Baby Time, Mondays, Sept. 26 – Nov. 14, 3:30 p.m.          
Baby Time, Tuesdays, Sept. 27 – Nov. 15, 10:30 a.m.
Toddler Time, Mondays, Sept. 26 – Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m.
Story Play Time, Tuesdays, Sept. 27 – Nov. 15, 3 p.m.          
Bilingual, Wednesdays, Sept. 28 – Nov. 16, 4 p.m.