MDPLS Storytime Express: Innovating our Early Literacy Program

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

In May 2017, The Miami-Dade Public Library System launched the newly designed early literacy program to provide registered day care centers and homeschool organizations with enhanced thematic storytime kits. Storytime Express’s goal is to bring the joy of reading to children in our community. It accomplishes this by providing high quality picture book programs to young children and by exposing them to the joys of reading quality literature and a positive multi-ethnic experience, reflective of the community’s diverse cultures. Each kit contains an educational toy, a puppet, a music CD, and eight books. The collection contains over 1,000 kits and 90 themes geared towards two groups: ages 0-3 and ages 3-6. In June 2021, policies were adapted to include parents and any organization serving children. The more inclusive service was promoted by updating the library webpage, providing an announcement in our library newsletter and by reaching out to partners and organizations serving families, including low-income housing organizations. In October 2021, Storytime Express began a “Grab and Go!” pilot by placing multiple kits and an inviting poster on display in high traffic libraries to raise awareness about the program and allow parents to check out storytime kits directly from branches.