Prime Time Family Reading Time® is a six-week reading, discussion and storytelling program. AHA facilitates the program at Alabama public libraries, schools and community centers.
During the Fall and Spring of the school calendar, public libraries, schools and community centers across the state invite families to dive into an immersive literary experience. The program utilizes award-winning children’s books to stimulate discussion about humanities themes and problems encountered in everyday life.
Each 90-minute session begins with a warm meal provided by the Prime Time host site. Next, families gather, and a storyteller leads them through up to three books. The reading is followed by a facilitated discussion with a scholar. Sessions also include time to introduce families to additional library resources, including homework aids, GED materials, books on parenting and health care, computer/internet resources, and local and international newspapers and magazines. At the end of each session, families are issued books to read before the next session. Issued books are program gifts and are meant to help families start or supplement their at-home libraries.
Programs can be presented in English, or bilingually in Spanish and English. Each Prime Time series typically serves 15 to 20 families comprised of parents or caregivers and children ages 6-12. Sites may also host a supplementary Prime Time Preschool program, which introduces young children (ages 3-5) and their families to the humanities and literature through age-appropriate storytelling and literary exploration via center-based play.
Prime Time wouldn’t be possible without the hardworking statewide host sites and their teams. Each site is staffed by a project coordinator (oversees the organization of the six-week program), a storyteller (facilitates engaging read-alongs for the families), and a scholar (facilitates discussion of stories). AHA provides training and individual stipends for these staff members. AHA also provides program funds to cover the costs of program expenses, such as food and family gifts. Program books are provided by AHA separately from program funds.
To become a host site, public libraries, schools and community centers are encouraged to apply on this page during application intake, which takes place every year in late Spring.
For more information about Jenice Riley Memorial Scholarship, contact Melanie Bouyer at (205) 558-3999 or mbouyer@alabamahumanities.org.