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City of Aiken
Story Time Brings Families Together in Aiken
By Rakesha Gaines, City of Aiken
The City of Aiken’s Story Time program has become a family tradition in the community. Now in its 30th year, we see parents with their children who attended this program as a child. Grandparents with grandchildren in tow, when just a few decades ago it was their children they brought. Often, entire families can be found on the lawn at Rye Patch on Tuesday afternoons enjoying reading adventures, and each family always receives a book of their own to take home! The program is geared towards children 8 and under and is offered free of charge. The readers are volunteers who donate their time. Each one brings their unique style to the characters in the books; some even dress up or bring props. Many of the recurring readers are local, retired educators who understand the importance of instilling the love of reading in children, and you can tell that Story Time is as much fun for them as it is for kids! Generous sponsors from the community cover the expense of the give-away books. The program runs in the spring and fall, with an average attendance of about 80 people each week! The Story Time program was originally the idea of Recreation Supervisor who herself loved reading and knew the benefits that such a program would have for children and families in the community. Over the years, minor changes have occurred as the program evolves and new coordinators bring new ideas to the table, including a special Story Time at the Train Museum for Train Day and Thanksgiving Story Time. However, the program’s primary goal remains to bring families together and instill a love of reading in a child that will last a lifetime!
