Ultimate Guide to Weekly Library Events in DC
- dcstayathomeparent
- Nov 12, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 28
DC's public library system (DCPL) hosts fun and educational activities for babies and toddlers. Here's a guide to weekly library events in the city.
Information last updated February 2025.
Programming Notes:
The below is a schedule based on usual story times and play times
Mt. Pleasant Library is currently closed for renovations (until mid-Summer 2025)
Timed tickets:
Some library story times are ticketed. Chevy Chase, Tenley-Friendship, and Shaw frequently require you pick up a timed entry ticket at the children’s room desk upon arrival
The DCPL website usually adds a disclaimer to these story time descriptions: “Space is limited; admission is first-come, first-served”
For Georgetown’s toddler story times you must pre-register online, there is no wait list and no walk-ins are allowed
Breaks:
The children's programming at DCPLs often have "breaks" and pause story times and/or replace them with play times. For the most accurate information, search DCPL's calendar here by age group (Birth-5) and location
DCSAHP Tips:
Baby Lap Times
This programming is meant for pre-walkers. Note: toddlers may be turned away.
What to expect from the children's librarian:
Hello and goodbye song
Nursery rhymes
Reading one to three books
Some librarians incorporate shakers, stuffed animals and puppets, a rainbow parachute, and other props to make the story time fun and interactive!
Weekly schedule:
Monday:
Woodridge: 11am-12:30pm
Cleveland Park: 11:30am-12pm
Tuesday:
Northeast 9:15am - 9:45am (note: this program is for baby & toddlers together)
Shepherd Park: 10:30am-11am
Palisades: 11am-11:30am (note: this program is for baby & toddlers together)
Tenley-Friendship: 11am-11:30am
Mt. Pleasant: 1pm-1:30pm
Wednesday:
Georgetown: 10am-10:30am and 11am-11:30am (No walk-ins, pre-registration only, registration opens on the DCPL site on Sundays)
Benning Library 10am-11am (note: this program is for baby & toddlers together)
Thursday:
MLK Jr. - Central Library: 1:00pm - 1:25pm
Southwest: 1:15pm - 2:15pm
Takoma Park: 1:30pm - 2:00pm
Georgetown: 2:00pm - 2:30pm (No walk-ins, pre-registration only, registration opens on the DCPL site on Sundays)
Friday:
Petworth: 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Toddler Story Times and Play Times
Monday:
Toddler play time:
Petworth: 10am-12pm
Northeast: 11am-12pm
Tenley-Friendship: 3pm-5pm
Toddler story time:
Cleveland Park: 9:30am-10am and 10:30am-11am
Bellevue: 10:30am-11:30am
Capitol View: 10:30am-11am
MLK Jr. - Central Library 11am-11:30am
Tuesday:
Toddler play time:
Southwest: 10:30am-11am
West End: 10am-12pm
Toddler story time:
Northeast: 9:15am-9:45am
Benning: 10:30am-11:15am
Anacostia: 10:30am-11am
Francis A. Gregory: 10:30am-11am
Lamond-Riggs: 10:30am-11am
Parklands-Turner: 10:30am-11am
Petworth: 10:30am-11am
Northwest One: 10:45am - 11:15am
MLK Jr. - Central Library: 11am-11:30am
Palisades: 11am-11:30am
Wednesday:
Toddler play time:
Petworth: 10am-12pm
Northwest One: 10:45am-11:15am
Shepherd Park: 11:15am-12pm and 3pm-5pm
Tenley-Friendship: 11:15am-11:45am
Toddler story time:
Georgetown: 10am-10:30am and 11am-11:30am (No walk-ins, pre-registration only, registration opens on the DCPL site on Sundays)
Shaw: 10am-10:30am and 10:30am-11am
Takoma Park: 10am-10:30am and 10:45am-11:15am
Tenley-Friendship: 10am-10:30am and 10:45am-11:15am
Chevy Chase: 10:30am-11am
Mt. Pleasant: 10:30am-11am
Shepherd Park: 10:30am-11am
West End: 10:30am-11am
Lamond-Riggs: 5:30pm-6pm
Parklands-Turner: 6:30pm-7pm
Thursday:
Toddler play time:
Mt. Pleasant: 1pm-3:pm
Toddler story time:
Capitol View: 6pm-6:30pm
Cleveland Park: 6pm-6:45pm
Friday:
Toddler play time:
Cleveland Park: 10:30am-11:30am and 4:30pm-5pm (Every other week)
Southwest Library: 10:30am-11:30am (Every other week)
MLK Jr. - Central Library: 11am-11:30am (Every other week)
Takoma Park: 3:30pm-5pm (Every other week)
Toddler story time: N/A