Story times at Darwin libraries happen all year round or during school terms depending on the program. It is never to early to get your baby and child enjoying songs, nursery rhymes and stories. I remember reading to my babies at bedtimes every night.
Darwin has four libraries and all the children’s story times at Darwin libraries details are below.
Story times at Darwin libraries
The City of Darwin libraries has a few different children’s story times available depending on your child’s age.
- Baby Book Time* – for ages 3 to 12 months and their grownups
- Rhyme Time* – for ages 3-24 months and their grownups
- Toddler Time* – for ages 1-3 years and their grownups
- Preschool Story Time* – for ages 3-5 years and their grownups
- Family Story Time* – all ages welcome
*At the moment due to Covid these sessions are ticketed. Numbers are limited for these events. Tickets are available at the Library Customer Service area 30 minutes prior to the event starting. Only one ticket is required per family. The carer must be present to receive the ticket. Late arrivals may not be admitted to the session.
Library Locations
Darwin City Library (Civic Centre, Harry Chan Avenue) Limited parking and parking fees may apply.
Casuarina Library (17 Bradshaw Terrace, Casuarina) Parking available, time limits applicable
Karama Library (Karama Shopping Centre, 37 Kalymnos Drive, Karama) Plenty of carparking
Nightcliff Library (10-12 Pavonia Place, Nightcliff) Plenty of parking
Check library opening times here
Family Story Time
Family Story Times welcome children of all ages and their family and is on the weekend. Held at 10am on Saturdays at both Casuarina and Darwin City libraries. The weekend Story Time includes songs, rhymes and stories which celebrate reading, books and using the library with your family. The Family Story Time program will run all year round.
Baby Book Time
Baby Book time is on 11am Mondays at Darwin City Library and 1pm Wednesdays at Casuarina Library. Baby book time is for babies ages 3 to 12 months and their grownups. These sessions are suitable for the age ranges specified. If you have older children also, please consider one of the other programs for your family.
It’s never too early to start reading to your baby. This program runs all year round. Enjoy all the nursery rhymes and songs and books with your baby at these sessions.
Rhyme Time
Rhyme Time explores rhymes, songs and finger play. Interact with your baby to nurture the pre-literacy, language and social skills. Suitable for babies 3mths to 24mths. Rhyme time is on 10am on Tuesdays at Karama Library and 10am at Nightcliff Library on Thursdays.
If you have older children also, please consider one of the other programs for your family. This program runs all year round.
Toddler Time
Dance, sing and read along with your child in the action packed Toddler Time program for children aged 1 to 3 years old and their carers. Toddler time only runs during school terms, if you have older children also, please consider one of the other programs for your family.
Toddler time is on 10am Wednesdays at Darwin City Library and 10am Thursdays at Karama Library.
Preschool Story Time
Perfect for kids aged 3 to 5 years and their grownups. Get ready to build early literacy skills with a variety of books, stories and fun with interactive sessions. Story times help develop listening, reading and comprehension getting your young child ready for school!
Younger siblings are welcome, but may need more assistance from their grownups. Preschool story time program only operates in school terms.
For other Children’s programs, check out the Fun Bus mobile playgroup run by City of Darwin. Note Fun bus is currently operating at Sunset Park in Nightcliff on Wednesdays due to playground renovations at Jingli.
