The Los Angeles Public Library

The library is more than just a place to do homework. As the needs of the preschool community grew, the public library system answered some of those needs by offering a free, fun, safe place to enjoy children's literature.

Library Activities for Preschoolers

In addition to offering traditional services such as book and movie lending, the Los Angeles Public Library has an array of activities for preschoolers and their families. Take advantage of all your local branch has to offer by keeping abreast of the "events" calendar. Some of the things you can look forward to enjoying with your preschooler are: Story time, arts and crafts, puppet shows and exhibits.

Story time activities are ongoing at most of the branches. Themes can be seasonal (Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day etc.) or author based (Dr. Seuss, Don Freeman etc.). The stories are read by either library staff or community volunteers. Preschoolers will love story telling in a group setting. The readers are often very animated and preschooler participation is encouraged.

Arts and Crafts are sometimes offered in conjunction with story time but occur independently as well. When the craft is coupled with the story the preschoolers benefit from the tactile experience of "feeling" the story.

Puppet shows offered by the libraries are fanciful and exciting. The preschoolers love seeing a story brought to life right before their eyes. Puppets add depth and feeling to the characters in a story book that is difficult to duplicate by other means.

Be Sure Not to Miss

The lending library, in addition to the special events held at the Los Angeles Public Libraries you can also borrow books and movies. Selecting fun and appropriate reading material is an exciting event for a preschooler. Parents can use the experience as a tool to teach how to responsibly borrow, care for and return the possessions of another person. Preschoolers are able to obtain their own library card to check out their selection making the experience even more exciting!

General Information

For locations near you, hours of operation and events calendar, visit the Los Angeles Public Library website.