The Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library is starting another round of childhood reading programs to get kids interested in reading and boost childhood literacy.

The library’s Story Hour is a long-running program for children between the ages of 3 to 6. The point of the program is to introduce children to reading and learning at an early age and hopefully instill a love for the library, Assistant Children’s Librarian Megan Nix Miller said.

The story hour will begin on Friday, Sept. 28 and be held every Friday until Nov. 16. The program will be from 10 to 11 a.m. in Holland Hall.

The second program, Baby and Me, is relatively new and is for babies and toddlers up to the age of 3. Miller said the program will feature short stories and nursery songs. Staff will also conduct finger plays for the children, such as the Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Miller said these finger activities are important for young children, because they help improve hand-eye coordination. Children do not automatically pick up literacy skills, rather they learn them from a young age, she said. Rhyming songs and finger plays promote pre-reading skills. Having good hand-eye coordination helps children concentrate and follow words on a page once they start to read, Miller said.

Miller said children will also have time after the program to play with each other and socialize. Miller said that during the library’s first Baby and Me program held this spring, she noticed many of the toddlers had no siblings and as such didn’t have as many opportunities to socialize with others their age. Miller said early socialization is imperative for a child’s wellbeing since it teaches them important social skills. Spending time with other children teaches toddlers to share and play with others.

The Baby and Me program will begin Tuesday, Oct. 2 and will be held every Tuesday until Nov. 20. The program will begin at 10:30 in Holland Hall.

Miller said both programs are free to the public and don’t require registration. Those interested in updates from the library can request to be added to the email list.