Did you know that Spartanburg County Public Libraries offers special storytimes for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers several days of the week? Local mom Sarah Burnett has visited these sessions with her kids at different branch locations and has the inside scoop on what to expect!
Quick Tips for Spartanburg Storytimes
🗓️ Bookmark the storytime calendar for dates & times
📍 Plan for travel time to the branch you’re visiting
🕘 Arrive 15-30 minutes early to secure your spot
🚻 Give little ones a potty break before the program
🎨 Expect songs, crafts, and more to be included
💲 Save money, because storytimes are FREE!
Convenient Storytimes for Little Family Members
Spartanburg County Public Libraries offers free storytimes at branches all over the county, including Boiling Springs, Chesnee, Cowpens, Cyrill-Westside, Headquarters, Inman, Landrum, Middle Tyger, and Pacolet! It’s easy to find one near you, but one of the great things about living around Spartanburg is that none of these locations are ever really far away.
Storytimes usually take place on weekday mornings with the occasional Saturday, too, so I just like to pull up the storytime calendar and find out what my options are for the week. There are often several options for any given day, and I always plan to make it there 15-30 minutes early. Some of these events are very popular, and all the library branches are careful to enforce the strict limits on room capacity.
It’s only happened to me a few times that I’ve been turned away, and I hated missing out! Thankfully, every one of Spartanburg County’s libraries has a wonderful Children’s Section with great toys and activities. That means, whether we get there with plenty of time to spare or too late to participate, we still get to enjoy quality time playing together at our local library.
Expect Books, Songs, Crafts, and More!
While different storytimes are often advertised for different ages—specifically either babies, toddlers, or preschoolers—I have never had a problem taking my kids anywhere in those age ranges to any of them. In my experience, siblings are always welcome, and children who are slightly older or younger can generally participate as long as they don’t run roughshod. The only major difference that I have ever noticed is that the baby-focused programs are extra fantastic for meeting other new and expecting moms!
No storytime is ever exactly the same, which makes them a pleasure to enjoy time after time. They do typically follow a certain routine, though. These library teams are very well practiced, and they have definitely nailed down what tends to work best with wiggly little ones!
You can expect the program to start with a welcome, and then an overview of the rules. The rules are always very simple, asking the young learners to remain in their spots and follow instructions, and asking the caregivers to enforce the rules for their own children. I have never run into behavioral issues from kids or caregivers at these storytimes—the other parents are attentive to their children and very gracious to the families around them.
Next up, there is usually an ice-breaker or musical activity for everyone to get up and moving. This almost always involves some kind of dancing, and my little ones always love it. I think it really does help to get their wiggles out, too, because the kids tend to settle down easily afterwards.
Then comes the main event: Storytime! I usually have my children sitting in my lap or on the floor around me for this part, but chairs are typically available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you need to sit in a chair, then definitely try to be one of the first families in the room! You can also try asking a librarian whether more chairs are available.
In my experience, the stories selected have always been age-appropriate, positively delightful, and totally non-controversial. They often pertain to a seasonal theme, which can make them a great addition to any seasonal activities or unit studies your child may be doing elsewhere. If you have any reservations about potential content concerns, you can always call the library in advance of your visit to find out what stories are planned for that day.
After the stories are done, plan to stick around! There is always a simple craft or artistic activity prepared for the kids to do with your help, and then lots of toys are brought out for everyone to play together. This is a great time for kids and caregivers alike to meet other families, practice social skills, and make some new friends. Many of these storytimes have regular attenders, so you may even find a new friend group in the process!
Other Storytimes Around Spartanburg
Can’t make it to the library? There are even more options in the area!
STEM storytimes are also free to attend at the Spartanburg Science Center. Keep an eye on their website for date announcements, and check out perks for regular attendees, such as a bookmark and free books!
Need a storytime TODAY? The Children’s Museum of the Upstate in downtown Spartanburg offers a morning storytime every Tuesday through Saturday! You can pay a one-time admission fee or purchase a membership to attend regularly. You can arrive early or stay afterwards to explore the rest of the museum, and check the event calendar for more hands-on activities!
Do you know any other great storytimes happening around Spartanburg County? Let us know!
Helpful Links:
- Spartanburg County Public Libraries review
- Spartanburg County Public Library locations
- Spartanburg County Public Libraries’ storytime calendar
- Spartanburg Science Center review
- Spartanburg Science Center storytime calendar
- The Children’s Museum of the Upstate – Spartanburg review
- The Children’s Museum of the Upstate – Spartanburg event calendar
Looking for more? Check out our BIG list of Things to Do in Spartanburg, SC
