Alfred Dickey Library Adds Weekly Toddler Playtime, Continues Storytime Sessions

Alfred Dickey Library in Jamestown expanded its early-childhood offerings this month by adding a weekly Toddler Playtime while maintaining its established Storytime sessions for preschoolers and toddlers. The change increases free, in-person options for Stutsman County families seeking early learning and social activities close to home.

Storytime took place on Jan. 20 at 10:00 a.m. and featured stories, songs, puppets and action rhymes aimed at preschoolers and toddlers. The new Toddler Playtime began Jan. 22 and is scheduled to run weekly from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Both programs are provided at no charge and are intended for families with young children, according to the James River Valley Library System (JRVLS) community events calendar.

For Jamestown parents and caregivers, the additions matter in practical ways. Free library programs reduce the cost of informal childcare and provide structured opportunities for early literacy and social development without requiring a paid class or program. Offering two formats - a shorter, activity-focused Storytime and a longer, open-ended Playtime - gives families choices that fit varied schedules and developmental needs for children under school age.

The Alfred Dickey Library’s move also helps fill weekday daytime hours with community activity, supporting incidental local economic activity such as brief errands or coffee purchases by caregivers in town. Libraries often serve as low-cost hubs for social capital; expanded programming can strengthen connections among parents, caregivers, and early-childhood service providers in Stutsman County.

Logistics are straightforward: Storytime was held Jan. 20 at 10:00 a.m., and Toddler Playtime began Jan. 22, running weekly from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Both events are free and intended for families with young children. The James River Valley Library System operates the Alfred Dickey Library and posts schedule updates on its community events calendar.

Looking ahead, regular scheduling of Toddler Playtime alongside Storytime creates a predictable weekly rhythm for families planning childcare, volunteer schedules, or early learning routines. For Jamestown residents, the immediate impact is more accessible programming; in the longer term, consistent access to early literacy activities contributes to school readiness and community cohesion. Parents and caregivers should monitor the JRVLS events calendar for any updates to times or additional family programming at Alfred Dickey Library.