Description

This interactive workshop prepares library staff to lead engaging musical Storytimes for infants through early elementary age. With peers, participants explore vocal technique, songs, movement activities, and musical play while making connections to early literacy and childhood development. Each person will leave with a plan for bringing a musical Storytime into their work. 

This workshop is intended for library staff who work with children ages 0-5. 

Learning Outcomes

After completing this workshop, learners will be able to:

1. Identify connections between music, early literacy, and childhood development.

2. Demonstrate the use of a musical voice to engage children during Storytime activities.

3. Select strategies for encouraging caregiver participation across diverse program settings.

4. Practice and evaluate musical Storytime techniques through peer exchange.

5. Adapt a story into an interactive activity appropriate for a specific age group. 

How will I be participating?

During this in-person workshop, expect frequent, active participation for maximum impact! Collaborate with peers through the use of breakout groups and hands-on activities. Please bring your laptops - they will be needed for the final activity.

Please note, sessions will not be recorded.

Location

This workshop will be held IN PERSON at the MLS office in Marlborough, located at 33 Boston Post Road West, Suite 400 (Fourth Floor), Marlborough, MA 01752. Parking is free and plentiful.

Please see the ​MLS Marlborough Building Guide​ for directions and other helpful information.

Guidelines for Conduct

Please refer to the Learning Hub's ​Community Guidelines for Conduct​ as you engage with this workshop. Additional policies and information can be found in the site wide footer.

Accessibility

The Massachusetts Library System (MLS) strives to create inclusive and accessible events. To request a reasonable accommodation to attend this event, please contact Sarah Donnelly (Event & Project Manager) at sdonnelly@masslibsystem.org or 508-357-2121 ext. 301. All reasonable accommodation requests should be made no fewer than two (2) weeks before the event, although we will attempt to fulfill reasonable requests made after that time. If you may need assistance during an emergency evacuation, please let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly. 

How do I get a certificate?

To receive a certificate of completion by email, participants must: 

• Attend the live session in full 
• Actively participate in all workshop activities, including discussions and breakout groups 
• Complete the post-workshop evaluation 

Why participation matters 

This workshop is designed to be interactive and collaborative. Active participation strengthens the experience for everyone and supports deeper learning. If you prefer self-paced learning, MLS offers self-paced courses and live and recorded webinars that do not require live participation. 

Registration is in the MLS Learning Hub:

Register here for Leading Musical Storytimes: Tools and Techniques. 

If you don’t have a Learning Hub account, create one here: Log in / Create account.