Exploring the world through reading means exploring YOUR world, from your family, to your neighborhood, and the cultures, traditions and beliefs of your family, friends and neighbors.

Reading and listening to books, learning new skills on the computer or through different art mediums, watching different kinds of dance and drama performances  are all ways to explore the world.  The public library offers all these opportunities for free and encourages all age groups to participate.

As a part of the children’s library, these programs will help children, caregivers and parents develop and learn about early literacy skills, further learning development and become comfortable with the vast array of resources available through the library and the community.

An Introduction and How to Read this Blog
This year-long programming blog is broken down into several pages: a story time page with days and times listed for several age groups, a page of programs that are on-going or take place several times a year, a page delineating budget specifics and costs of various elements of programming and four seasonal pages with special one-time library events listed by month.  Please note that WordPress preferred to line the pages and seasons up alphabetically, not chronologically.  That would not have been my first choice, but there it is.

The programs listed and the resources used are based on information, locations and sources from Sebastopol, California within the Sonoma County Library System as well as a mix of sources from various branches of the Contra Costa County Library System in California. Most of the story times, special events and activities would be best suited to a small to medium-sized library serving a community of roughly 50,000 people.

The variety of programs offered will hopefully offer a sampling of cultures and art forms to children while giving them hands-on experience and the chance to try something new. The various story times and book clubs will give kids the opportunity to explore books, reading and literacy from birth all the way up to high school and prepare them to be life-long readers and adults who choose to read for pleasure.