Looking for fun, free, and genuinely enriching activities to enjoy with your little ones this week? Library storytimes are one of the best-kept secrets in the Triad — and we mean that almost literally. Free, consistent, educational, social, and available within a short drive of almost every neighborhood in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, and the surrounding Triad communities.

Whether you have a brand-new baby who needs something gentle and stimulating, a curious 2-year-old who cannot sit still for longer than 45 seconds, or a preschooler who is ready to start developing real literacy skills before kindergarten — there is a storytime session designed specifically for your child at a library near you, every week, all year long.

This guide covers every public library system in the Triad, what types of storytime programs are offered, how to find the current schedule, and — just as importantly — all the other free and low-cost benefits that come with your library card that most families don’t realize exist.

Why Storytime Is Worth Building Into Your Week

Before we get into locations and schedules, a quick word on why library storytime is worth making a regular part of your week — not just a one-time visit.

Early literacy development. The research is consistent: children who participate regularly in library storytimes enter school with stronger vocabulary, better listening comprehension, and a more positive relationship with books than those who don’t. Storytime isn’t just fun — it’s one of the most evidence-based early literacy interventions available to families, and it’s completely free.
Social development. Storytime is often one of the first group experiences very young children have. Learning to sit in a circle, take turns, follow along with a group, and interact with peers and adults in a structured setting builds the social skills kindergarten teachers consistently say they wish more kids arrived with.
Community connection. Libraries bring together families from across a community — and the regulars at a Tuesday storytime quickly become a social lifeline for parents who are home with young children and craving adult conversation as much as their kids are craving peers.
It’s genuinely free. No admission. No tickets. No supplies needed. Show up, sit down, and let someone else entertain your child for 20-45 minutes.

Alamance County Public Library Storytimes

Burlington and Surrounding Area

Website: Alamance County Public Libraries Storytime Calendar
Phone: (336) 229-3588
Schedule: alamancecounty.beanstack.org and individual branch calendars

Alamance County Public Libraries serves Burlington, Graham, Mebane, and the surrounding Alamance County communities with five branch locations and consistently strong community programming.

May Memorial Library (Headquarters) — 342 S. Spring St, Burlington, NC 27215 Alamance County library calendar
Mebane Public Library — First Street, Mebane, NC 27302
Graham Public Library — S. Main Street, Graham, NC 27253
North Park Library — Sharpe Road, Burlington, NC 27217
South Annex Library — Snow Camp Road, Graham, NC 27253 (limited hours — call before visiting)

The Alamance County system uses Beanstack (alamancecounty.beanstack.org) to track Summer Reading minutes digitally — a wonderful tool for kids who love seeing their progress toward prizes.

Guilford County Library Storytimes

Greensboro Public Library — 8 Branches

Website: library.greensboro-nc.gov Phone: (336) 373-2471

The Greensboro Public Library system offers free storytimes at all eight branch locations throughout the week. Programs vary by branch and season — always check the online events calendar for the most current schedule before your visit, as storytime days and times rotate seasonally.

Types of Storytime Programs Offered:

Baby/Lap Sit Storytime (ages 0-18 months) — Gentle songs, simple board books, and rhymes designed for the youngest library visitors. Parents and caregivers participate alongside babies. A beautiful way to introduce even very young infants to books and music in a calm, social setting.

Toddler Storytime (ages 18 months-3 years) — Short, engaging books paired with songs, fingerplays, and movement activities designed for the notoriously short attention span of the toddler years. Active, high-energy, and a genuine hit.

Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5) — Longer story sessions with more complex books, crafts or sensory activities, and interactive storytelling elements. The closest approximation to a classroom literacy experience in a library setting.

Family Storytime (all ages) — Multi-age sessions designed for mixed families where siblings span different age groups. Books chosen to engage a range of attention levels simultaneously.

Greensboro Branch Locations:

Central Library — 219 N. Church St, Greensboro, NC 27401 Greensboro Central Library Book Babies & Story Time
Benjamin Branch — 1530 Benjamin Parkway, Greensboro, NC 27408 Benjamin Branch Library Story Time
Glenn McNairy Branch — 4860 Lake Jeanette Road, Greensboro, NC 27405 Glenn McNairy Branch Library Story Time
Glenwood Branch — 1901 W. Florida St, Greensboro, NC 27403 Glenwood Branch Storytime schedule
Hemphill Branch — 2301 W. Vandalia Road, Greensboro, NC 27407 Hemphill Branch Storytime schedule
Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch — 1420 Price Park Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410 Kathleen Clay Edwards Storytime schedule
McGirt-Horton Branch — 2501 Phillips Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405 McGirt-Horton Storytime schedule
Vance H. Chavis Lifelong Learning Branch — 900 S. Benbow Road, Greensboro, NC 27406 Vance H. Chavis Storytime schedule

Pro tip: With 8 branch locations offering storytimes throughout the week, it’s entirely possible to attend a different Greensboro library storytime almost every day of the week during summer. Emily Eagle, one of our own TMoM team members, points out that during the summer months alone you could attend a different program every single day across the Guilford County system — and she would know, since she’s on a personal mission to collect library cards from all 50 states.

High Point Public Library

Website: highpointnc.gov/library Main Library: 901 N. Main Street, High Point, NC 27262

The High Point Public Library offers robust storytime programming alongside its two additional locations. Check the library calendar for current program days and times.

High Point Public Library — Current storytime schedule
Paddison Memorial Branch (Forsyth County / High Point area) — Paddison storytime schedule

Winston-Salem/Surrounding Area

Forsyth County Public Library Storytimes

Winston-Salem Branches

Website: forsythpl.org Phone: (336) 703-2900 Schedule: Check each branch link below for the most current storytime calendar

The Forsyth County Public Library runs storytimes at every branch throughout the county — 97+ free programs per week across the full system during summer peak season. Each branch has its own personality and its own regular storytime crowd, and many families find a branch they love and return to the same session week after week.

Central Library — 660 W. 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Central Library Storytime schedule
Carver School Road Branch — 4915 Lansing Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Carver School Road Storytime schedule
Clemmons Branch — Clemmons, NC Clemmons Branch Storytime schedule
Lewisville Branch — Lewisville, NC (reopened June 19, 2026 after renovations) Lewisville Storytime schedule
Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center — (reopened June 19, 2026 after renovations) Malloy/Jordan Storytime schedule
Paddison Memorial Branch — Paddison Storytime schedule
Reynolda Manor Branch — Reynolda Manor schedule
Rural Hall Branch — Rural Hall Storytime schedule
Southside Branch — 3185 Buchanan Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27127 Southside Storytime schedule
Walkertown Branch — Walkertown Storytime schedule

Forsyth County Museum Passes: Forsyth County library cardholders can borrow free museum passes — currently including Kaleideum (6 children + 2 adults), Reynolda House Museum of American Art (2 adults), and NCMA Winston-Salem (up to 8 people, a $56 value). More on this in the Museum Passes section below.

Additional Library Systems in the Triad Area

Davidson County Public Library — Lexington / Thomasville / North Davidson

North Davidson Public Library — northdavidsonlibrary.org North Davidson Library schedule

Davidson County’s library system serves Lexington, Thomasville, and the broader Davidson County area with storytime programming at multiple locations.

Davie County Library — Mocksville

Davie County Library — Part of the Northwestern Regional Library system Storytime programming available — check the current calendar at nwrl.org

Yadkin County Public Library

Yadkin County Public Library — Part of the Northwestern Regional Library system

King Public Library and East Bend Public Library

King Public Library — Northwestern Regional Library system East Bend Public Library — Northwestern Regional Library system

Both serve the northern Forsyth and Yadkin County communities with storytime programming.

East Bend Public Library

East Bend Public Library Storytimes

Tips for Making the Most of Library Storytime

Arrive 5-10 minutes early. Most storytimes fill the available space and latecomers can disrupt the flow. Arriving early also gives your child a few minutes to acclimate to the new environment before things start.

Go consistently. The children who benefit most from library storytime are the regulars. After a few sessions in the same storytime, your child knows the librarian, knows the space, knows some of the other kids — and the program becomes genuinely enriching rather than just novel.

Let go of perfect behavior expectations. Library storytimes are designed for young children. Librarians who run them have seen everything and judge nothing. If your toddler runs in circles instead of sitting quietly, you are still in exactly the right place.

Use it as the start of a library visit. After storytime, browse the children’s section together. Let your child choose a stack of books to take home. Make the whole outing a library experience, not just the 30-minute program.

Ask the librarian. Library children’s librarians are genuinely one of the most underused resources available to parents. They know what books are at the right level for your child, what programs are coming up, and what other families are doing. Introduce yourself.

It counts in summer too. Summer storytime attendance counts toward Summer Reading goals at most systems. Every session is a win on multiple levels.

FAQs About Triad Library Storytimes

What ages are library storytimes designed for?

Most Triad library storytime programs serve babies through early elementary age (birth through approximately age 7). Programs are typically divided by developmental stage: Baby Lap Sit (0-18 months), Toddler Storytime (18 months-3 years), Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5), and Family Storytime (all ages). Check your specific library’s program descriptions for exact age ranges.

Are library storytimes really free?

Yes — completely free, with no registration required for most regular weekly sessions. Some special events or themed storytimes may require advance registration (especially if they include supplies or limited space), but the regular weekly storytimes are always free and typically drop-in.

Do I need a library card to attend storytime?

No — most library storytimes are open to the public without a library card. However, getting a card is free for Triad county residents and unlocks borrowing, digital resources, museum passes, and Summer Reading participation.

How long are storytime sessions?

Typically 20-45 minutes depending on the program type and age group. Baby lap sits tend to run shorter (20-30 minutes); preschool storytimes often run the full 45 minutes with a craft or activity at the end.

Do I need to register in advance for storytime?

Most regular weekly storytimes are drop-in — just show up. Special programs, themed events, and Summer Reading programs may require advance registration. Check the library’s online calendar for registration requirements on any specific program.

Where can I find the current storytime schedule for my library branch?

Each system’s schedule is updated regularly online:

Greensboro: library.greensboro-nc.gov/events
Forsyth County: forsythpl.org and individual branch pages linked above
Alamance County: library.alamancecountync.gov/calendar
High Point: highpointnc.gov/library

What is Summer Reading and how do I sign up?

Summer Reading is a free annual program running June through August at all Triad library systems. Children (and teens and adults) log reading minutes, attend free programs, and earn prizes. Registration typically opens in June — check your library’s website in late May for registration details.

Does Guilford County Library really lend museum passes for free?

Yes — Guilford County library cardholders can borrow museum passes that provide free or reduced admission to local cultural institutions. Forsyth County cardholders have access to passes for Kaleideum, Reynolda House, and NCMA Winston-Salem. Check with your library for current available passes.

Looking for more free family activities in the Triad? See our guides to Free & Low-Cost Activities in the Triad, Cheap and Free Things to Do in Greensboro NC, our Complete Guide to Triad Area Libraries, and our Things to Do with Toddlers & Preschoolers in the Triad This Winter.

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