Photo Provided A child colors with his mom at last year’s Bedtime Storytime that will again kick off Christmas programs at the Belmont County District Library.

MARTINS FERRY — Children can get in the holiday spirit by attending Bedtime Storytime at the Belmont County District library — an event that kicks off its Christmas programming.

Bedtime Storytime will be from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Martins Ferry Public Library at 20 S. Fifth St. The event combines two programs, Storytime and Toddler Tales.

The Toddler Tales program focuses on bonding between the parent and child and features reading and songs for children ages 6-24 months. Storytime begins with a welcome song and alternates between books, songs and action rhymes that children ages 2 and up can enjoy. The rhymes and songs are more involved than Toddler Tales because of the age of children.

Children’s Librarian Anessa Keifer described the program as an evening edition of Storytime and Toddler Tales.

“I mean, really, this is just all about being festive and fun and enjoying yourself,” shesaid.

Santa will be at the library for families to get free photos with their children, and then they can fill out a form and pick up their photos at the circulation desk or Keifer will mail them out.

Keifer wants Bedtime Storytime to be a fun event for children to start the season. Children are welcome to wear their pajamas at the library’s biggest event of the year, she said. There will also be cookies at the event.

Instead of being held downstairs, like most other programs, this program will be held upstairs in the library due to the large number of people who participate.

Toddler Tales coordinator Leslie Schuller will do a winter themed presentation first with Keifer doing a winter theme for Storytime as well.

“We’re just hanging out and eating cookies and taking pictures with Santa,” Keifer said.

The overarching theme is a bedtime story, Keifer said.

Participant numbers for both programs have been going up this year, she said.

Bedtime Storytime attracts a lot of children and parents who attend Storytime and Toddler Tales but also sees new people that Keifer has never met.

Keifer believes this program is another way of introducing children to the library.

Other programs will be going on across the district libraries for the Christmas season as well. Bridgeport Public Library will have a paint and read at 11 a.m. Dec. 7. People can register by calling the library at ​740-635-2563. At 11 a.m. Dec. 14, Bridgeport Public Library is also having storytime with Santa in conjunction with the Women’s Club of Bridgeport.

Powhatan Point Public Library will have an “Elf Academy,” where children learn how to be an elf and earn their diplomas while Santa is there, from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 14.

Shadyside Public Library will be having the Bellaire Thespians for a holiday play at 3 p.m. Dec. 6. The theme will be “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The community band will be going to Shadyside Public Library at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 17 for a holiday concert.

Victoria Read Public Library in Flushing is having a Christmas party after the Flushing Christmas parade with lineup starting at 9 a.m. Dec. 7.

“I just like hanging out with them,” Keifer said. “I like getting to meet new people, and I love seeing kids’ faces light up. It just means the world to me.”