MCLS Storytime Program Switches Location

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The John McIntire Library remodeling venture is forcing change upon many of the programs that promote public literacy. 

Muskingum County Library System Youth Service Librarian Katie Merritt explained the relevance of their Storytime program and how it’s being affected by the building renovations. 

“So Storytime, we have a few different ones to reach different age groups,” Merritt said. “So we have Baby Storytime, which are for 0-to-2. We have our Toddler Storytime, which is 2-to-3-and-a-half. We have our Preschool Storytime, which is 3-and-a-half to around 6-years-old. And then we have our Family Storytimes, which is… that combines all of those at our branches.”

The Storytime program promotes literacy to children and shares literacy tips to parents by providing examples of how to introduce reading to their children, while encouraging structure and phonics. 

“So with our remodel going on, we usually do our Storytimes in our Storytelling Room, which is on our lower level,” Merritt said. “But since we can’t access that area for a while now, we’ve adjusted and we’ve gone actually across the street to the Welcome Center to do our Baby, Toddler and Preschool Storytimes. Our Family Storytimes are at our branches on Mondays are Duncan Falls and… Dresden, they switch back and forth and then Thursdays our Family Storytimes are at New Concord.”

Merritt noted that the Zanesville-Muskingum County Welcome Center, which is located across Fifth Street from the library was the most convenient option, not only because of it’s location but also because of how well it provides a roomy and quiet backdrop for the Storytime participants. For more information about the Storytime program, you can call or visit your local MCLS library or look into it at muskingumlibrary.org.