If you’re looking to take your child to Sussex County destinations with storytimes and other exciting events, look no further than the Sussex County Library System. With six different library branches to choose from throughout the county, children of every age group will have plenty of things to do. Families in Sparta additionally have the Sparta Public Library as an option, with it free for those who live and/or work in town. The library in Sparta also extends paid Out of Town Memberships to those who don’t live in town, ranging from three months to one year.
The six libraries within the Sussex County Library System include the Main Library (125 Morris Turnpike, Frankford (mailing address is Newton), Dennis Branch (101 Main Street, Newton), Franklin Branch (103 Main Street, Franklin), Dorothy Henry Branch (66 Route 94, Vernon), Louise Childs Branch (21 Stanhope Sparta Road, Stanhope), Sussex-Wantage Branch (69 County Route 639, Wantage).
One of the best ways to access the library system, its programs, and its calendars is to register for a library card with your preferred branch and then sign up for emails that regularly deliver news and information about upcoming happenings. Though you can search through the website, the emails launch you directly into one feed with storytimes at every library. It’s here where you can find all the details, like the age groups each one caters to and the story time themes. The location, times, and dates, as well as number of spots still available, are on the calendar as well. You can easily RSVP for your choices here. The storytimes vary by age group and types, such as toddler, sensory-friendly, preschool, English-Spanish bilingual, and bedtime story events. Tweens and teens also won’t miss out on the fun with their own type of storytime events, where they can read to therapy dogs. The Newton Dennis Branch is one of the locations regularly hosting their Read to a Dog program.
And storytimes are just the start of the fun at the Sussex County Library System. The library branches collectively have a seemingly endless array of happenings at the locations from young to adult, which are visible on the events calendar here. Depending on what’s on the schedule, kids can try their hand at cookie decorating, seed planting, rock painting, Play-Doh and puzzles, and music. The library system even hosts drop-in playtime programs for tots, where kids can engage in impromptu fun and activities.
Sparta Library offers all types of storytime events for its members every month, including Lap Sit Storytime for Babies, Family Storytime, Storytime with Creature Comfort Pet Therapy, Bedtime Stories on Zoom, and Storybook Crafts (for ages 2-5 with a story and craft). Like the county’s library system, Sparta Library is also home to activities of all kinds for kids of every age group. For example, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers can have fun and socialize during Playdough Playtime. School-aged kids, tweens, and teens have a range of enriching programs they can take part in through the Sparta Public Library, such as 3D Printer Training and Usage activities (from school-aged children through tweens), American Sign Language (teens), Tween Teen Cuisine (food prep from appetizers to side dishes), Mini Canvas Painting (school-aged kids), and Lego League (from preschool through tweens).
Explore all programs at the Sussex County Library System here and the Sparta Library here.
Members of Life In Sussex staff have contributed to this post.
