Humanities Washington is currently offering $25,000 (and more) for libraries, schools, and museums to produce Prime Time Family Reading programs! Learn more about how to bring Prime Time to your community.

How Prime Time Works

• Understanding Prime Time

  Prime Time serves families with elementary-school-aged children who could benefit from participating in a reading program together with their families. During a series of six weekly sessions held in the evenings at public libraries, schools, or museums, families experience storytelling and discussion modeled by a skilled scholar-storyteller team. Families learn how to discuss ethical and cultural themes and how to connect big ideas in children’s literature with their own lived experiences. The program empowers families to read and discuss ideas together, improving literacy and critical thinking skills. Check out quotes about Prime Time from Washington State participants.

• Bringing Prime Time to My Community

  Libraries, museums, and schools and other eligible organizations can apply to Humanities Washington for full funding and support. The program can be delivered in English or a bilingual (Spanish/English) format. Discussion leaders use big ideas in children’s literature to start each group discussion, but each discussion is unique and reflects each community served.

  Find out more below at the Apply section or contact us with any questions.

• Meeting the Needs of My Community

  Prime Time can be easily adapted to meet the needs of your community, available in both an online format and an in-person format. The online program uses the same reading and discussion techniques used for in-person Prime Time program, but adapted for an online environment. Curricula are available in English-only or Spanish/English bilingual formats. Proven program methods are in place to successfully served  multi-lingual communities, bridging both generational and cultural gaps.

  Culturally appropriate meals, for in-person programs, can be selected by team members to ensure the program will be welcoming to families. Rural schools, and museums have had great success with this program as well, serving families living far from local libraries.

  If you have any concerns or questions about how Prime Time might fit within your community, please contact our Prime Time Team.

Roles

• Humanities Washington's Role

  Humanities Washington provides all approved partners with funding for program books, healthy weekly meals, preschool supplies, and team member stipends. Humanities Washington also supplies team member training, form templates, publicity kits, program management materials, detailed timelines, sample budgets, and access to experienced Humanities Washington staff. All partners receive direct support and guidance from a dedicated project manager from application through program completion and final reporting.

• The Prime Time Host’s Role

  Libraries and museums connect with local elementary schools and apply to Humanities Washington for funding.  If approved, hosts partner with local elementary schools to identify students who would benefit from participation in Prime Time. Hosts then reserve suitable rooms, recruit team members, arrange catering or gift cards, and facilitate delivery of the program — from initializing  community partnerships to submitting final reports and budgets.

• The School’s Role
  • Identifies and recruits 30 or more students and their families in order to serve at least 15 families each week of the in-person program, or 10 to 15 families for an online program.
  • Submits a letter of support* explaining need and program support strategies
  • Allocates staff time to support the program
  • Communicates the benefits of program participation to students and their families

  *optional at time of application

• Prime Time Team Members

  Each Prime Time series is delivered by five team members, each integral to the program in important ways:

  • The Program Coordinator oversees the logistics and success of the program. This role is often filled by a librarian or program professional at the host organization who applies to Humanities Washington to fund a Prime Time program.
  • The Community Organizer, a school employee, recruits 30 or more families, supports the program coordinator, translates if necessary, and contacts families each week to maintain steady attendance.
  • The Humanities Scholar leads discussions using the Socratic Method, modeling techniques families can adopt for at-home reading and lifelong learning.
  • The Storyteller reads the stories in a way easily replicable during at-home reading and works with the scholar to model positive reading and discussion techniques.
  • The Preschool Assistant delivers the Prime Time Preschool program component for younger siblings (between three- and five-years old).

Application Resources

• Grant Guides
  • 2022-2023 Prime Time Grant Guidelines
  • Application Checklist
• Planning Guides
  • Sample Budgets 2022-2023
  • Team Member Responsibilities
  • Implementation Schedule
• Sample Evaluations
  • Evaluation — Families
  • Evaluation – Program Coordinator
  • Evaluation – Scholar and Storyteller
  • Evaluation – Community Organizer
• Books and Questions
  • Books and Questions – ‘Favorites’ ENGLISH
  • Books and Questions – ‘Favorites 2020’ ENGLISH
  • Books and Questions – ‘Favorites’ SPANISH + ENGLISH

Apply

Humanities Washington is now accepting applications from libraries and other eligible organizations* for financial support for Prime Time Family Reading programs in the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023. Application deadlines are September 1, 2022 for fall 2022 programs and January 1, 2023 for spring 2023 programs.

What hosts receive:

• One or more of the following levels of financial support: *
  • $25,000 to produce three in-person Prime Time series.
  • $10,000 to produce two online Prime Time series.
  • $8,300 to produce one in-person Prime Time series (for smaller organizations).
• Team member training.
  
• Access to curriculum materials.
• Access to experienced Humanities Washington staff.

*All Washington State public libraries, schools, and museums are eligible to apply and can combine these options in any configuration to host additional programs. For example, in the same application, eligible organizations may apply for multiple offerings:

• $25,000 for three in-person programs and $10,000 for two online programs.
• $10,000 for two online programs and $8,300 for a single in-person program.
• $25,000 for three in-person programs and $8,300 for fourth in-person program.
• Or any combination of offerings to best serve your communities.

Apply Now!

View a list of Prime Time partners

View a one-sheet about Prime Time

Prime Time Family Reading Time was developed by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Prime Time is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, The State of Washington via the Office of the Secretary of State, The Washington State Library, The Discuren Charitable Foundation, The Fordham Street Foundation, The Bamford Foundation, The BNSF Railway Foundation, The Norman Raab Foundation, D.V. and Ida McEachern Charitable Trust, The Stocker Foundation, The Helen Martha Schiff Foundation, The Allison Foundation, and other businesses, foundations, and individuals.

Contact Us

For more information about Prime Time, please contact our Prime Time Team at primetime@humanities.org, or 206-682-1770 ext. 104.

Contact the Prime Time Project Manager