FAQs

What exactly is Storytime Central?

Storytime Central is a planning and professional development program designed for children’s librarians and early childhood educators who lead storytime. It supports both planning and real-world delivery through clear planning structures, practical training support, and curated storytime materials.

The program includes an extensive, searchable database of storytime-tested books and songs, along with planning tools, research-based frameworks, lesson plans, printables, and professional learning experiences — all designed to help you plan storytimes you are excited about, reduce prep time, and deliver confident, consistent storytimes across the year.

Who is Storytime Central for?

Storytime Central is built for:

• Public librarians

• School librarians

• Early childhood educators

• Storytime presenters and outreach librarians

• Early Literacy Specialists

Whether you lead weekly storytimes or jump in seasonally, the resources are designed to meet you where you are. We currently have members across the U.S. and Canada, serving urban, suburban, and rural communities.

Why was Storytime Central created?

Does group storytime feel harder than it used to? It's not just you. Kids are facing shorter attention spans and more screen time than ever, all against the backdrop of a national literacy crisis. And it shows up in the room. Caregivers are under record levels of stress and information overload, and many are unsure how to navigate early childhood spaces. Layer on new books published constantly, research that keeps shifting best practices, and multiple responsibilities pulling librarians in every direction. It's a lot to keep up with, especially when the training and support for storytime vary so much from one library, school, or system to the next.

That's exactly why we created Storytime Central. It's a living, continually updated planning and professional development program, built to give you consistent structure and support all year long. Not a one-time training or a static set of resources you've outgrown by summer.

What ages does this work for?

Resources primarily support storytimes for ages 0–7, with flexibility for mixed-age groups and outreach settings. Age recommendations and adaptability notes are included where helpful.

How is this different from Pinterest, Google, or Facebook groups?

Storytime Central was created because of the rabbit hole that is the internet. Everything inside Storytime Central is:

• Curated by experts

• Storytime-tested (used with real kids, not hypothetical ones)

• Searchable by theme, age, skill focus, and more

• Aligned with early literacy best practices

• Created with a culturally competent lens

• Housed in a private, professional forum

No ads. No AI-created lists or printables. No endless scrolling. No saving 47 tabs. No wondering if something will actually work in a room full of wiggly kids.

How much time does this actually save?

Most members report saving 1–3 hours per week on planning. Many plan entire seasons in one sitting using the database, Storytime Planning Workbook, and guided planning sessions.

Librarians also report using the book database for reader’s advisory and collection development, saving significant additional time.

Do I get full storytime plans?

Yes, but not in a rigid, one-size-fits-all way.

You’ll find:

• Complete storytime plans for popular seasonal themes

• Plug-and-play book and song suggestions

• Planning frameworks you can reuse week after week

You can follow a plan exactly or adapt it to your style and setting.

Are the books and songs developmentally appropriate?

Absolutely. In fact, the databases were created specifically to help storytime professionals avoid resources that appear appealing but are not truly developmentally appropriate.

• Research-based early literacy principles

• Child development best practices

• Over 100 combined years of real-world storytime experience

Nothing is included just because it’s trendy or cute. Every resource includes a recommended age group.

Is this religious or secular?

Storytime Central is secular by default and designed for public and school library use. Some members adapt materials for faith-based settings, but content is not religiously framed.

Can I use this for outreach or school visits?

Yes! Many members use Storytime Central for:

• Classroom lesson planning

• Outreach storytimes

• Preschool and daycare visits

• School library programming

• Family events and special programs

Resources are flexible and adaptable to different spaces and group sizes.

What’s included in the membership?

Your membership includes:

• Searchable book and song databases

• Up to 15-hour Professional Development Certificate per user, annually

• Thematic storytime plans

• A comprehensive training guide

• Print-and-go felt board kits, templates, and extension activities created by professionals

• Trainings and professional development sessions with guest experts

• Storytime Planning Sprints (January, May, and August)

• Opportunity for professional exchange and collegial support within program activities

• Ongoing updates with new resources added regularly

Are there any participation requirements?

There are no participation requirements. Members can use the platform at their own pace. Because the tools are designed for real-world use, most members naturally accrue their 15 hours of professional development through regular engagement.

How often is new content added?

New content is added monthly, including:

• New books

• New songs

• Seasonal themes

• Fresh storytime plans

• Printables

• Updated database search filters

• New trainings

This is a growing, living resource—not a static course.

Can my library’s entire Youth Services team use this? Or my school district’s Media Specialists team?

Yes! Small Group Plans are available for teams of up to 4 users, and Large Group Plans are available for teams of 5+ users, including large library systems and school districts.

These plans allow multiple staff members to have their own logins—even across different locations or branches.

Many teams report greater storytime consistency across locations, increased flexibility to cover for one another, and less stress and planning fatigue.

If you need a quote or invoice for your system or school district, you can reach out directly.

Can I pay by check or purchase order?

Yes. If your organization requires payment by check or purchase order, that option is available—just reach out for setup.

Is this good for brand-new librarians?

Absolutely—and it’s also invaluable for experienced librarians and those who earned their MLIS but didn’t receive enough practical, on-the-job storytime training.

New librarians gain:

• Clear structure

• Confidence

• A starting point that actually works

Experienced librarians gain:

• Time savings

• Fresh ideas

• A streamlined planning system

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. Storytime Central subscriptions may be canceled at any time. However, because Storytime Central is a full-year professional development and planning program, subscriptions are not prorated and are non-refundable once the billing period has begun. Month-to-month subscriptions are not available.

Do you offer a trial or pilot option?

For libraries, districts, or state agencies that need to evaluate Storytime Central before committing to an annual subscription, a request-only 30-day paid pilot may be available for a small evaluation team.

The pilot provides full access to Storytime Central for evaluation purposes. If a team proceeds with an annual, district, or statewide subscription, the pilot fee is credited toward the overall cost. Feel free to reach out to our team at [email protected] for more information. 

I already have my own structure—will this still help?

Yes! Storytime Central is designed to support your structure, not replace it. Think of it as a planning partner—not a script you have to follow.

Who created Storytime Central?

Storytime Central was created by Alyssa Jewell, MLIS (La La Librarian), along with a team of experienced storytime professionals—including public librarians, school media specialists, and early childhood educators—who have collectively led tens of thousands of storytimes. Everything inside is built by people who actively do this work.

More questions?