During their library visit, new parents are enthusiastically welcomed by the children's librarian and thoughtfully oriented to the resources available in the children's department. Pictures of new families are displayed on these bookshelves. Its goal was to provide a positive parent-child interaction program centered around books so that parents would be supported in their efforts of reading to their children and encouraged to use the library. Lapsits have few organizational rules. Participation is open, e.g. no one needs to sign up, there is no limit on attendees, and children are encouraged to move on when they're 3, but no family has been refused participation.
Parents do have to accompany their children and participate with their children.
The program is offered two times a month for families. Frequency of parent attendance ranges from one time to 27 times. The leader is a Baby TALK teacher trained in early childhood development. The event is held in the storyroom at the Decatur Public Library. Librarians report that after the Lapsit, checkout of children's material increases.