Youth Services

Jasper the CCLS YA GiraffeCCLS Youth Services

What is Youth Services?

From NY Department of Library Development – “Through Youth Services programs, libraries aim to provide quality, equitable service to all young people from birth through high school, and to create lifelong learners and library users. Youth Services programs respect children and young adults and treat them with the same courtesy and attention adult patrons receive. Additionally, they advocate for youth patrons by supplying developmentally appropriate materials and resources for their use.”

CCLS’s Youth Office works to support member libraries through materials, training, sharing information, and marketing youth programs.  Our youth services cover library users between 0-18 as well as caregivers.

Reach out to LJ with any questions or ideas surrounding youth services.  ljmartin@cclsny.org 

Available Materials

Member libraries have access to STEM Kits, Storytime bags, Launchpads, and Storywalks, to name a few available resources.  Click Here to view full lists of available materials.

Calling all Teens 13-18

Join the CCLS Discord Server. You’ll find trivia, games, discussions, art, and stay in the loop about in-person library programs!  Click here to Join 

Coming Soon:

  • Summer Reading
  • Storytime Resources
  • 1K Books Before KG
  • Launchpads
  • Youth Large Print Collection
  • Social Media Posts to Share

From the Association of Library Service to Children, a division of ALA

Pausing to Talk About Copyright and Virtual Storytimes


Supercharged Storytimes for All     Supercharged Storytimes

You already provide great storytimes. Supercharge your practice to make them even better!

Supercharged Storytimes is a self-paced course consisting of six modules, which include videos, readings, activities, and reflection questions. The course provides training in how to intentionally apply research-based practices to boost early literacy in young children attending library storytime. The course is approximately 10 hours of videos, activities, readings and reflection questions.

SS4A-Supercharged Storytimes for All – How do I enroll?


Raising the Bar

Integrating Early Childhood Education
into Librarian Professional Development

The New York Public Library proudly presents a FREE four-part training series developed in collaboration with CUNY’s Professional Development Institute and funded by the Institution of Museum and Library Services.

Raising the Bar Training Series



Virtual Advantage: An Early Literacy and Storytime Video Series
presented by Joyce Laiosa and Mohawk Valley Library System

Lessons:  Introduction;  1. Research, Early Literacy Skills, and Components;  2. Intentionality;  3. Talking;  4. Singing;  5. Reading;  6. Writing and Playing.  Click on the information below the Introduction video on YouTube for links to all the lessons.

Virtual Advntage 1


Having Storytime at Home     video by Valle Blair, Youth Services Consultant, CCLS


Ready to Read at New York Libraries is a library staff training program, preparing staff to help parents & caregivers develop early literacy skills in their young children so they will be equipped to learn to read when they enter kindergarten.  For young children, especially those under the age of 3,  home is their primary source of educational stimulation.  We at the library need to help parents & caregivers with becoming their child’s first teacher.

By helping parents & caregivers learn the importance of talking, singing, reading, writing, & playing with their children from the beginning, they will help their children develop the skills needed to be ready to learn to read.

“If parents understood  the huge educational benefits and intense happiness brought about by reading aloud to their children, and if every parent—and every adult caring for a child—read aloud a minimum of three stories a day to the children in their lives, we could probably wipe out illiteracy within one generation.”  — Mem Fox   Reading Magic


Recorded Webinars

Family Literacy Webinars