Miami-Dade Public Library System

Jump Start
101 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida 33130
305-375-4116 Fax 305-375-2984
Email: jumpstart@mdpls.org

Jump Start is a “storytime kit program to go” for all licensed preschool and kindergarten childcare centers.  The kits contain all the tools to present fun, high quality storytimes on a variety of themes.  Each kit includes books, fingerplays, a flannelboard story, a puppet and a music cassette tape or CD. Jump Start is available to all eligible preschool and kindergarten childcare centers which are physically located within the library’s taxing district. The center may be either a private, public or church school.  Parent co-ops, licensed family care providers and homeschoolers can also participate.

GETTING STARTED
Call the Jump Start office to determine if your center is currently registered with the program. Once your center receives its library cards, your contact person can call to order kits. The kit is sent to the branch library of your choice and you will be notified when it is available for pick up. Two library cards are issued in your center’s name.  One of the two cards (a keychain card) is for the person responsible for picking up/returning kits at the library. The kits are checked out for two weeks, but call the office if you need to renew.  Centers are allowed three kit renewals and an extra two renewals during hurricane/natural disaster situations. Your contact person should place another kit order a few days before returning the old kit order so he/she can return/pick up kits in one trip to the library.

Jump Start offers free workshops to teach you how to present the materials so that you have fun, high quality storytimes. 

RETURNING THE KITS
Along with a love of reading, you also want to teach the children to respect books. Nothing accomplishes this more than seeing the way you treat books. Please return all materials. There is a checklist to help you make sure you are returning all items. If an item is missing or damaged, you will be notified.  If an item is lost or damaged beyond normal wear and tear, your center will be urged to replace that item. Your cooperation in returning/replacing items helps to ensure the program’s ability to circulate storytime kits to other centers.