Early Literacy

The Hastings Public Library is committed to early literacy and helping kids of all ages read, learn and grow. We have many programs both inside and outside the library to help kids plus their parents & care givers read year round. See below for more information.

Story Time

Twice weekly we hold Story Time to encourage children and their parents & care givers to read. Join us for:

• Itsy Bitsy Book Club: Wednesday mornings for babies and toddlers at 10:30am. It is held at Tyden Park in June and July, and at the Library the rest of the year. Check Facebook for more information and location changes.
• Preschool Story Time: Friday mornings at 10:30am, 3-5 years old. 

Notes:

• There is no Story Time if Hastings schools are closed.
• There is typically no Story Time during August or holiday weeks.
• Check the Calendar for up to date times and schedule changes.

Reading is Fundamental (RIF)

The Hastings Public Library is proud to have participated in Reading is Fundamental (RIF) since 2005.

Our Youth Services Librarian and volunteers visit Head Start and Great Start Readiness Program classes to read to kids, create crafts and distribute books for the children to keep.

If interested in volunteering to read with this program, fill out a Volunteer Application at the library.

Reach Out And Read (ROAR)

The Hastings Public Library is proud to have participated in Reach Out and Read (ROAR) since 2004.

Volunteers from the library read once a week to Young 5s and Kindergarten students who need extra literacy support. This program is in all four Hastings elementary schools.

If interested in volunteering to read with this program, fill out a Volunteer Application at the library.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

On hold as of 2023

All Barry County libraries participate in this program encouraging early reading. Pick up a tracking book here at the library to record all books read by kids or books read to/with kids before kindergarten.

For every 100 books read, kids can come back to the library for a prize as a reward for reading.

The 1,000 books program is sponsored by:

and The Friends Groups of the Barry County Libraries

Summer Reading

Every summer the library offers a variety of programs, often supporting the national Summer Reading theme as developed by the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP). Timing varies each year but the program typically starts the week after schools end in June and runs through mid-August.

The library offers different tracking boards for kids all the way through high school. We usually even offer a program for adults too! Participants track their reading and come back to the library for prizes and entries into larger grand prize drawings at the end of the summer.

Learn about this year's Summer Reading theme, challenge, and events.

Throughout the summer there will be many special programs such as:

• Fab Labs for hands on activities
• Presentations aimed at kids
• Movies

Watch our website and Facebook for more information when we get closer to the summer.

B. Bus

The library, along with local schools and businesses, is a collaborator on the YMCA of Barry County's B. Bus.

To encourage reading all year long, the B. Bus visits neighborhoods across Barry County during the summer so kids have continued access to books. At stops, kids can checkout books, listen to stories, and engage in activities.

B. Bus image courtesy of the YMCA of Barry County website.

Early Literacy Resources

• Read by Grade Three - Parent Awareness Toolkit - from the Michigan Department of Education
• Reading is Fundamental (RIF)
• Reach Out and Read (ROAR)
• Reading Rockets
• Imagination Library - Dolly Parton's non-profit that provides books to children from birth to 5 years old at no cost.