Parents can now get important information about early intervention services at several local libraries during special storytimes called Community Play Dates. Hosted by several Reading District Libraries, in collaboration with the Berks County Intermediate Unit’s (BCIU) Early Intervention Team, these unique children’s programs aim to connect families to important community resources in the comfortable, familiar setting of storytime.
Community Play Dates are designed for kids ages 3-5 and include a storytime or playtime facilitated by a youth services librarian with the addition of self-directed learning stations. Parents and children can explore these learning stations together while talking with Berks County Intermediate Unit early intervention professionals, who will share information about their services, model helpful behaviors, and answer questions.
“We are happy to be able to use storytime as a way to connect parents to the resources they need to help their families grow and thrive,” said Marissa Guidara, youth services district consultant for Reading District Libraries. “Topics for Community Play Dates could include socio-emotional skills, Pennsylvania early childhood learning standards, and sensory inclusive tools, which are integrated into the storytime environment that kids are familiar with.”
Community Play Dates will be held at:
- Boyertown Community Library – Fridays, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, and March 8 at 11:30 a.m.
- Fleetwood Area Public Library – Fridays, Jan. 12, March 1, and March 22 at 9:30 a.m.
- Hamburg Community Library – Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 11 a.m.
- Kutztown Community Library – Mondays, Feb. 5 and March 4 at 10:30 a.m.
- Mifflin Community Library – Tuesdays, Jan. 23, Feb. 20, and March 19 at 10 a.m.
- Spring Township Library – Tuesdays, Jan. 16 and March 12 at 5:30 p.m.
- West Lawn-Wyomissing Hills Library – Thursdays, Feb. 29 and April 11 at 11 a.m.
In addition to these Community Play Dates with BCIU, many of the 25 library locations in Berks County offer sensory-inclusive storytimes and activities with other community partners and agencies. For more information on library programming, please visit www.berkslibraries.org/events.
Reading District Libraries is the district library center for Berks County libraries as designated by the PA Department of Education’s Office of Commonwealth Libraries. Reading District Libraries coordinates activities, collaboration, and shared resources among the libraries of the district; acts as an intermediary between the libraries and the Office of Commonwealth Libraries; and provides support and assistance to library staff and boards, mainly through the district consultant librarians.
