After a short break storytimes return to the Children's Room at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library.

We offer storytimes for all ages and each storytime is followed by Stay and Play time. Here is our schedule starting in January of 2013.

Baby Lapsit: Fridays at 11:30AM starting January 4. This is a special storytime just for babies not yet walking. Come sing and play with words, rhymes and dancing! This informal program for babies and their parents/caregivers introduces the pleasures of the library to babies and their favorite adults!

Toddler Storytimes: Tuesdays at 11:30 starting January 8. Two and three year olds with a parent/caregiver will love this weekly storytime which includes movement, books and rhymes to encourage early literacy.

Family Storytimes: Wednesdays at 4:00PM starting January 2 and Saturdays at 11:00AM starting on January 5. Children of all ages will enjoy this weekly storytime which includes stories, songs, fingerplays and rhymes. A special movement activity using scarves, sticks, shakers and more is always included in this fun storytime! Join us as we teach children the love of reading and the pleasures of the library. 

Stay and Play follows each of our storytimes. During Stay and Play, toys are brought out for children to play with. Parents are invited to play with their children for some bonding time but it is also a great way to interact with other adults, make connections and perhaps learn some new parenting tips.

  Have you ever wondered what your baby is trying to say to you? Find out how to communicate with your baby by learning the basics of baby sign language at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. Stefanie Jatta an American Sign Language (ASL) trained instructor will teach you the benefits of and how to do signing with your baby. Workshops will be held on the 4^th Friday of each month from January through April at 11:30am.

Also returning in January to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library is our Baby Lapsit storytime for non-walkers. This storytime is especially tailored to babies 0-12 months old with an accompanying adult. Enjoy age appropriate books, rhymes and music. The program will be held on the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Fridays of every month at 11:30am with a Stay and Play session following.

Can’t make it to the Dr. King Library for these baby programs? Check out your local branch library for materials on Baby Sign Language, Rhymes for Babies and Parenting in general. Here are a few Baby Sign Language suggestions…

• The Baby Signing Bible: Baby Sign Language Made Easy by Laura Berg, 2012
•  The Complete Guide to Baby Sign Language by Tracey Porpora, 2011
• Baby Songs (DVD), 2010
• Babies & Toddlers 2 (DVD), 2010
• Superbaby: 12 ways to give your child a head start in the first 3 years by Jenn Berman, 2010

After a short break, the story times in the Children's Room at the King Library return the week of September 3rd. We have story times for all age groups so check out the one that's just right for your child.

• Toddler Storytime for Ages 2-3 on Tuesdays at 11:30AM 
• Family Storytime forAll Ages on Wednesdays at 4:00PM and Saturdays at 11:00AM
• Lapsit for Babies (Pre-Walkers) on Fridays at 11:30AM. Dates are September 7, 14, 21 and October 7th and 14th. Registration is required; please call (408) 808-2183 or drop by the Children's Room.

All of our storytimes include stories, songs, fingerplays and more and are always followed by Stay and Play, a half hour program, where children and parents can play with toys. It's also a great time for parents to meet other parents ,share ideas, make friends and set up those play dates!

We're starting off our 4:00PM Wednesday Family Storytime on September 5 with a special one called "Power Up with Reading," presented by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. Children will hear stories about fruits and vegetables, do a fun activity and of course enjoy a Healthy Snack! Children will have fun and parents will get some important and helpful information about nutritious foods and snacks for children.

Wednesday Family Story Time.  We are happy to announce the return of Wednesday night Family Story Time in February.  Family Story Time is a great way for parents and children to enjoy stories, music, rhymes and activities together.  Join us any Wednesday night at 6:30 starting February 1.

eReaders.  Did you get a Nook, or a Kindle, or another electronic reading device for Christmas?  Or did you already have one that you haven’t quite figured out how to use yet?  Why not bring it in this Saturday, January 28, to our ereader “petting zoo.”  Library staff will be on hand to show you how to access the library’s ever growing selection of ebooks using whichever ereader you own.

Job Seekers.  Adults in the area who are job hunting may be interested to know that we have a Job Seekers Support Group that meets once a month in the library.  Everyone is welcome to attend and share job search tips and strategies.  The group meets the third Wednesday of each month in the Community Room,  9:45-11:00 am.  Please note that the library is closed at program time so please plan to enter the building from the Community Room door adjacent to the parking lot.

A Compliment.  We are always happy to hear kind words about our services and our building.  Most recently a customer complimented us on our Children’s Room.  She said it was the best one she had ever seen.  She particularly like all the face out  displays on the wall.  If you haven’t noticed this before, please come in and check it out.  We hope you’ll like it too.

On January 2012, the storytime schedule at the Alviso Branch Library will resume again!

Family Storytime starts on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 6:30pm.

And the First Inclusive Storytime will be on Thursday, January 5th at 10:30am. We especially  invite families and caregivers with children with special needs to our Inclusive Storytime. 

Storytime Schedule at the Alviso Branch Library:

• Family Storytime (weekly) with Stay & Play Activity- Wednesdays at 6:30pm
• Preschool Storytime (weekly) with Stay & Play Activity - Thursdays at 10:30am
• Inclusive Storytime (monthly) with Stay & Play Activity - 1st Thursday of the month at 10:30am