Like many new moms, I desired that my children would love reading and learning. I sought ways to “increase the odds” of this happening. This was my motive upon taking my first daughter to story time at the age of 6 months. We became faithful to our Monday morning story time routine, fast instilling in my daughter a love for books and anticipation in visiting one of her favorite people, Miss Carrie, our story time librarian.
What did I hope to gain with trips to story time? I hoped my daughter would hear new stories, learn new things, sing songs, play games, make friends and come to love the library. Each of the items on my “wish list” did come true, but my list of benefits was only the tip of the iceberg.
What I did not know is that I would also gain from story time! Story time came to mean more than listening to stories about Spot and practicing flashcards. Story time became an outlet for me to make new friends and meet new moms. Story time became a wonderful social experience for my daughter and me.
Each summer, the library features a Summer Reading Program where parents record the books they read to their children and earn prizes: free books with the Mid-Continent Public Libraries, prizes and a free book with the Johnson County Libraries, and coupons and treats with the Kansas City and Cass County public libraries.
Our local library became my outlet to learn and grow and stimulate my own desire to learn when the ABCs and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse seemed to dominate our days. It is difficult, if not impossible, to successfully browse bookshelves as a new mom with infants and toddlers in tow. The library offers the perfect solution through online catalogs (available at all major library systems in KC). Thanks to this system, I became a “library junkie” with well over fifty books, movies and CDs checked out at any given time. The online catalog enabled me to request books from the comfort of my home and have them available to pick up at our library location. The online catalogs also allow book renewal if you haven’t quite finished reading your favorite novel and a system to pay fines online as well.
Another favorite library feature is the outdoor drop box. The library does not have to be open for business, nor do you have to physically enter the library to return materials. Many library drop boxes are curbside so you can drive up to make returns.
So, what else does the library have to offer? If you browse the library websites you will find a calendar of events. Our local libraries host wonderful programs for families ranging from concerts to puppet shows, as well as children’s programs including craft projects and petting zoo visits, and adult programs to learn new languages or art forms. These events are free and provide another outlet to meet new friends in our community.
Are you a library-aholic? If not, this is one addiction I strongly recommend.
Five Reasons I Love the Library:
- Story time is a great place for moms AND tots to meet friends.
- The online catalog enables book requests from home.
- The outdoor drop box with convenient book returns.
- Classes and programs for adults AND children. I’m learning Thai cooking techniques with a friend this month…for FREE!
- Our local librarians are some of the most helpful people in KC.
Story time Daily Schedules
Dial-A-Story Call to listen to a new 3-5 minute story each week. 816.701.3456
Story-Tarium KC Museum. Learn about local & regional history; see films, lectures & other history-related programs. Visit KCMuseum.com for complete schedule. 816.483.8300
Monday:
Ages 12-24 Months:
10:00, Red Bridge Library. 816.942.1780
11:30, Corinth Library. 913.495.3850
Ages 18-36 Months:
9:30, 10:30 & 11:30, Liberty Library. Registration required. 816.781.9240
9:30 & 10:30, North Oak Library. Registration required. 816.436.4385
10:00 & 11:00, Parkville Library. 816.741.4721
10:00 & 11:00, Colbern Road Library. 816.525.9924
10:00, South Independence Library. 816.461.2050
Ages 24-36 Months:
10:15, Lackman Library. 913.495.7540
10:30, Corinth Library. 913.495.3850
Preschool Story Time:
10:30, Cedar Roe Library. 913.384.8590
Family Time:
10:00, Garden City Library. 816-862-6611
10:30, Corinth Square Learning Tree Store. 913.385.1234
10:30, Park Place Learning Tree Store. 913.498.1234
6:30, Northern Resource Center Belton Library. 816.331.0049
Tuesday:
ELL Story time
7:00, Blue Valley Library. Preschoolers whose first language is not English. 913.495.3850
Ages 0-18 Months:
1:00, Main KCK Library. 913.551.3280
Ages 9-18 Months:
10:00, Boardwalk Library. Registration required. 816.741.9011
Ages 18-36 Months:
9:30 & 10:30, North Oak Library. Registration required. 816.436.4385
10:00, Blue Springs South Library. 816.229.3571
10:00, Antioch Mid-Continent Public Library. Registration required. 816.454.1306
10:30, Smithville Library. 816.532.0116
Ages 24-36 Months:
9:30. Westport Library. 816.701.3488
11:00, Blue Valley Library. 913.495.3850
Preschool Story Time:
10:00, Blue Springs North Library. 816.224.8772
10:00, Southeast KC Library. 816.701.3484
10:00, Barnes & Noble, Independence Commons. 816.795.9878
7:00, Red Bridge Library. For teddy bears and children 2-6 years. 816.942.1780
Family Time:
9:30, 2nd & 4th Tue., Wonderscope. 913.268.8130
10:00, Northern Resource Center Belton Library. 816.331.0049
10:00, Pottery Barn Kids (both the Country Club Plaza & Town Center locations). Earn free prize after attending five story times. 816.561.8140 & 913.345.0053
11:00, Borders, 8628 N. Boardwalk Ave., KCMO. 816.741.1787
1:00 & 7:00, South Independence Library. 816.461.2050
6:30, Plaza Library. 816.701.3481
7:00, North KC Public Library. 816.221.3360
7:00, 1st Tue., Blue Ridge Library. 816.761.3382
7:00, Boardwalk Library. 816.741.9011
7:00, Indian Creek Library. 913.971.5235
Wednesday:
Ages 0-18 Months:
10:15, Lackman Library. 913.495.7540
10:30, Plaza Library. 816.701.3481
Ages 0-24 Months:
10:30, Oak Park Library. 913.752.8700
7:00, 2nd and 4th Wed., Grandview Library. 816.763.0550
Ages 0-36 Months:
11:00, Sugar Creek KC Library. 816.701.3489
Ages 12-24 Months:
9:30, Waldo KC Library. 816.701.3486
10:15, Olathe Main Library. 913.971.6874
Ages 18-36 Months:
9:30, Platte City Library. 816.858.2322
9:30, Northern Resource Center Belton Library. 816.331.0049
10:00, Boardwalk Library. 816.741.9011
10:15, Antioch Johnson County Library. 913.261.2300
10:30, Cedar Roe Library. Registration required. 913.384.8590
Preschool Story Time:
10:00, Barnes & Noble Leawood, Town Center Plaza. 913.491.4535
10:30, Trails West KC Library. 816.701.3483
10:30, Main KCK Library. 913.551.3280
10:30, Argentine KCK Library. 913.722.7400
10:30, Waldo KC Library. 816.701.3486
11:00, Blue Valley Library. 913.495.3850
11:00, Northern Resource Center Belton Library. 816.331.0049
Family Time:
10:00, Riverside Library. 816.741.6288
10:00, Archie Library 816.293.5579
10:00, Drexel Library 816.657-4740
10:00, St. Joseph Borders. 816.279.6111
10:00, Pleasant Hill Library. 816.987.2231
10:45, Harrisonville Library. 816.884.3483
11:00, North KC Public Library. 816.221.3360
11:00, Barnes & Noble Zona Rosa. 816.505.3355
6:30, Colbern Road Library. 816.525.9924
Thursday:
Spanish Story Time
10:30, Argentine KCK Library. Ages 2-5. 913.722.7400
Ages 0-24 Months:
9:30, Gardner Library. 913.856.7223
10:00, 2nd and 4th Thur., Grandview Library. 816.763.0550
Ages 9-18 Months:
9:30 & 10:30, Liberty Library. Registration required. 816.781.9240
9:30 & 10:30, Lee’s Summit Library. Registration required. 816.524.0567
Ages 12-24 Months:
10:15, Blue Valley Library. 913.495.3850
10:15, Lackman Library. 913.495.7540
Ages 18-36 Months:
9:30 & 10:30, Plaza Library. 816.701.3481
10:00, Blue Springs South Library. 816.229.3571
10:00, West Wyandotte KCK Library. 913.596.5800
10:00, Platte City Library. 816.858.2322
10:00, Boardwalk Library. 816.741.9011
10:00, Blue Springs North Library. 816.224.8772
10:00, North Independence Library. Registration required. 816.252.0950
Ages 24-36 Months:
10:30, Oak Park Library. 913.752.8700
11:00, Blue Valley Library. 913.495.3850
Preschool Story Time:
10:15, Antioch Library. 913.261.2300
Family Time:
9:00, Harrisonville Library. 816.884.3483
10:00, Buckner Library. 816.650.3212
10:00, Garden City Library. 816-862-6611
10:00, 2nd Thur., Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO. $5/ea. Registration required. 816.697.2600
10:00, Overland Park Borders, 91st & Metcalf. 913.642.3642
10:30, North Oak Library. 816.436.4385
10:30, Park Place Learning Tree Store. 913.498.1234
10:30, Harrisonville Library. 816.884.3483
11:00, Barnes & Noble Country Club Plaza. 816.753.1313
7:00, Lee’s Summit Library. 816.524.0567
7:00, Raytown Library. 816.353.2052
Friday:
Ages 9-18 Months:
10:00, 4th Fri., Antioch Mid-Continent Public Library. Registration required. 816.454.1306
Ages 18-36 Months:
9:30, 10:30 & 11:30, Liberty Library. Registration required. 816.781.9240
10:00, Fri., Antioch Mid-Continent Public Library. Registration required. 816.454.1306
Preschool Story Time:
10:30, Plaza Library. 816.701.3481
11:00, Trails West KC Library. 816.701.3483
Family Time:
10:00, Raytown Library. 816.353.2052
10:00, American Jazz Museum, 18th and Vine, KCMO. Free Jazz Storytelling. 816.474.8463
10:00, Overland Park Borders, 120th & Metcalf. 913.663.2356
10:30, North Oak Library. 816.436.4385
Saturday:
Ages 0-36 Months:
11:00, Barnes & Noble Leawood, Town Center Plaza. 913.491.4535
Ages 18-36 Months:
10:00, South Independence Library. 816.461.2050
Family Time:
10:00-12:00, 2nd Sat., Agricultural Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs, KS. Admission. 913.721.1075
10:00, Lakeside Nature Center in Swope Park, KCMO. 816.513.8960
10:00, St. Joseph Borders. 816.279.6111
10:00-2:00, 4th Sat. of month, Kansas City Zoo. Zoo Tales. 816.513.5700
10:30, Borders Olathe, 119th & Strang Line Crafts and stories. 913.764.0336
11:00, Barnes & Noble Zona Rosa. 816.505.3355
11:00, Overland Park Borders, 120th & Metcalf. 913.663.2356