Storytime now starts a little earlier at the Forsyth County Public Library.

A new Books & Babies program invites infants up to 18 months and their caregivers for a library learning experience.

Those who attend can enjoy singing, rhyming games and reading board books together, said Vanessa Cowie, youth services coordinator.

The program also includes about 15 to 20 minutes of unstructured time to allow babies and adults to socialize, Cowie said.

The library launched the program at the Sharon Forks branch, where it held the first gathering earlier this month.

The registration-required program will also take place this Saturday, as well as March 3 and 10.

The library started the storytime after receiving many requests from residents and seeing several babies at programs targeted to toddlers.

"They really needed a program that’s more developmentally suitable to them," Cowie said. "We’re trying to let it be about what babies really need."

Traditional rhymes, for example, when combined with the finger play "reinforce early learning," she said.

The program also provides an introduction to the library and books in a positive environment, Cowie said.

"We’ll be talking in an informal way about early literacy concepts, encouraging your child to interact with print, calling out what words to say to your child as you talk and share language with your baby," she said.

"These are the building blocks of literacy that you can use with very young children."

Mother Stephanie Gericke attended the first session with 1-year-old daughter Autumn, whom she said was engaged by the program.

Gericke, whose husband works for the library, said she hopes to develop her daughter’s interest in reading early.

She also enjoyed a latent effect of the storytime.

"It sets aside a special time to be with your child and devote time just to activities and reading," she said.