Storyville is an interactive early literacy learning center designed specifically for children ages
birth to five and their caregivers. Located in the Rosedale branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, Storyville was made possible by funds raised by the Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library. The 2,240 square-foot child-sized village includes developmentally appropriate books and activities for children ages birth to five. The environments and activities in Storyville are specifically designed for caregivers to help their young children enter school ready to learn.
Caregivers and their young children can explore the seven museum-quality learning areas in the village. These include a library, a two-story house, theater, store, Chesapeake Bay waterfront for toddlers, baby garden and construction site. Each area is furnished with books and engaging materials and activities which promote language and literacy, as well as other vital school readiness skills.
Babies and their caregivers can engage in peek-a-boo and play with sensory toys or read board books in their garden; toddlers can crawl through driftwood, read in a lighthouse, rock in a toy boat, fish or gaze up at the stars; preschoolers can play house in the home living area, present plays and puppet shows in the theater, shop in the store and practice building at the construction site. The library, stocked with a variety of children's books and comfortable seating, invites reading together. Books, displayed in every area, as well as parent resource materials and themed take home kits, are available for checkout.
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A view of the Storyville store.
(Photo by R. Schaefer) enlarge |
The architectural firm of James Bradberry and Associates designed the center which was constructed by Lynch Exhibits. The project cost of $700,000 was paid with donations to the Foundation from private sources and individuals as well as state funds.
Storyville is open during library hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Groups need to call the library in advance at 410-887-0512, extension 113 to make arrangements. |
Hours:
Q: What are the hours that Storyville is open?
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A: Storyville is open the same hours as the Rosedale Library: Monday through
Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and
Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Q: When is Storyville the busiest?
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A: Our busiest times tend to be weekday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon.
Capacity and Waiting Lists:
Q: Is there a limit to how many people are allowed in Storyville at one
time?
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A: We have found that a comfortable maximum capacity is around sixty
visitors, adults and children, in Storyville at one time. Once our capacity
has been reached we will begin a waiting list.
Q: When do you use a waiting list?
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A: Waiting lists are most frequent weekday mornings. There is rarely a
waiting list weekday afternoons and Sundays.
Q: How long are the waits?
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A: Waits can be as short as five minutes or as long as an hour.
Q: What can I do while I wait to be called?
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A: Once your name is on the waiting list, you may wait in the children's
area of the library where there are books and other early literacy
activities to occupy your child. Staff will come for you when it is your
turn to go into Storyville.
Q: How do you keep track of how many people are in Storyville?
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A: We monitor how many people are in Storyville by registering all visitors
to Storyville as they enter. Each group or family unit is given a pass which
they return when they leave.
Q: Do you take reservations?
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A: We do not take reservations for Storyville visits. You are welcome to
call to see if we are busy before you visit. Please call 410-887-0512,
extension 149.
Group Visits:
Q: Do I need to schedule my group a visit?
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A: We ask that groups let us know when they would like to visit so we may
try to reduce the chance of more than one group coming at the same time.
Although scheduling makes waiting less likely, please remember that it is
not a reservation or a guarantee that your group will not have to wait or be
split up. If your group is very large, we may recommend you split your group
into smaller ones and visit at separate times. Because our space is limited,
we recommend that groups come in the afternoon when we are less busy. If you
are planning a group visit, please call the Storyville Coordinator at
410-887-0512, extension 113.
Q: How many chaperones do I need for a group visit?
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A: We would like at least 1 adult for every 3 children, so they may be
actively engaged with the children in their care.
Q: Do you do private birthday parties?
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A: We do not host birthday parties in Storyville. However, you are welcome
to invite your child's friends (birth to five years) and their parents to
meet you here.
Q: What can I do to get ready for my group visit?
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A: We invite your group leader to take a tour of Storyville to get a sense
for the space and consider appropriate activities for your group. It would
be helpful to review the Storyville Rules with your group before your visit.
Please see: Do I need to schedule my group a visit?
Older Children:
Q: Why can't my older child come into Storyville?
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A: Storyville was specifically designed for preschool children, birth to
five, to use interactively with their caregivers. Recognizing that parents
are a child's first teachers, the guiding mission of Storyville is to help
preschool children, interactively with their caregivers, gain the skills
they need to enter school ready to learn.
Though Storyville may look like a play area for families with older
children, it is actually a learning environment intended for young children
who have not yet begun school. Most of the children visiting Storyville are
younger than four. While children who have entered school might enjoy some
of the features of Storyville, they are at a different developmental level
than the children for whom Storyville was designed.
Q: What can my older child do while his younger brother and I play in
Storyville?
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A: The Rosedale library has a full service children's area where your older
child can read and play while you and your preschooler visit Storyville.
Please note that Maryland Law requires that children under 8 be accompanied
by a caregiver, so an adult or a babysitter over 13 would need to stay with
your child while in the library. It may be best for you to visit Storyville
at a time when your older child is in school or spending time with a friend
unless you have another adult to stay with him in the library.
Q: May a babysitter take my child into Storyville?
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A: Since the legal age for babysitting is 13, teenagers over 13 years may
accompany children birth to five. Teenage babysitters must understand that
they are considered the adult in Storyville and thus are expected to
interact with and supervise the younger children they are with at all times.
Cleaning and Safety:
Q: How do you keep Storyville clean?
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A: To maintain an organized and hygienic environment, Storyville is tidied
and cleaned throughout the day. We ask our visitors to help by encouraging
their children to use our materials appropriately and put them away before
moving to a new area. We also ask our visitors to place any toys they feel
need cleaning in our "Sanitize Me" bin at the greeter desk. Occasionally, we
will close an area to clean it more thoroughly.
Q: Do you allow adults without children into Storyville?
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A: We do not allow unaccompanied adults in Storyville. Adults who arrive
without children are welcome to tour Storyville with one of our staff.
Donations:
Q: How can I make donations to Storyville?
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A: You can make a tax deductible contribution to benefit Storyville in
several ways:
To give online, visit the Support Storyville
page.
To give by mail, mail your check to: |
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Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library
320 York Road
Towson, Maryland 21204-5179 |
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You may also donate when you visit Storyville or the Rosedale Library.
Volunteers:
Q: What kinds of opportunities are available if I volunteer in Storyville?
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A: Volunteers play an important role in Storyville. Storyville has adult and
teen volunteer opportunities that accommodate a variety of interests and
availabilities. |
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Rovers interact with Storyville visitors to help promote early literacy
skills and the importance of learning through play, give tours to visitors,
answer visitor's questions about Storyville, shelve books, and tidy/clean
areas as needed. |
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Greeters greet visitors as they arrive, explain policies to visitors, sign
visitors in and out, and manage the waiting list, as needed. |
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Cleaners maintain, organize, and sanitize Storyville materials and areas
routinely and as needed. |
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Office Assistants assist in light office duties as needed. |
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Activities Facilitators provide meaningful, child-friendly activities for
visitors such as an impromptu story time in the Library or a circle game in
Toddler Bay. |
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Q: How old do I need to be to volunteer in Storyville?
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A: Volunteers must be at least 14 years old.
Q: How do I become a volunteer in Storyville?
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A: You can apply to become a volunteer several ways. Interested applicants
can pick up an application at the Storyville greeter desk; fill out an
application [PDF] or contact the Storyville Coordinator directly at
410-887-0512, extension 113.
Books, Toys and Materials:
Q: May I borrow materials from Storyville?
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A: With the exception of a few Big Books, all Storyville books, Baby Booster
Kits, and parent resource materials may be checked out using your library
card at Rosedale Library's check out. Storyville toys may not be borrowed.
You will find many more materials, for children and adults, in the Rosedale
library.
Q: May I return Storyville books to another Library?
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A: As with all other BCPL materials, Storyville books may be returned to any
other BCPL library. |
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The Storyville experience was created to foster early literacy and school
readiness skills through interactive discovery and play. This can only
happen with your involvement, as you are your children's first teacher. So
please take advantage of this opportunity to engage with your children!
BCPL strives to provide a safe, educational, and fun environment for you and
your children. Please assist us in this endeavor by cooperating with the
following:
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Storyville was designed specifically for children birth to five. Please make
other arrangements for older children. There is a full service children's
area in the main part of the Rosedale Library. |
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![Click here to print the Storyville Rules. [PDF]](storyville_about_rules.jpg) Print: Storyville Rules [PDF]
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Parental supervision is required. We provide Storyville staff to guide you
and answer questions, but we do not provide supervision of your children.
You are responsible for their safety and comfort. Please do not leave your
children unattended. |
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Please help us maintain a clean and sanitary environment; please keep all
food and drink out of Storyville. However, nursing and bottle-feeding
infants are permitted. |
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For the safety of our littlest visitors, the Baby Garden is reserved for
babies who are not yet walking and their caregivers. Siblings under three
years may be permitted if no other adult is available in your group to
supervise them. |
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Please model courteous and attentive behaviors by keeping your cell phones
on silent and other electronic devices off. Save cell phone conversations
for the lobby. Laptop use is not permitted. |
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Guide your children to choose developmentally appropriate toys and play
constructively. Young children thrive on realistic limit-setting and
positive reinforcement. |
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Assist your child in putting away materials in one venue before moving on to
another. This teaches your children the importance of clean up, as well as
respect for others who will follow them. |
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Have fun playing with your children! Marvel in what your children can do.
Follow their lead. Encourage them to take each learning experience farther.
These are teachable moments that will last!
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