Feature Stories :
Public libraries provide great benefits in early learning education
In 2003 the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction launched the Early Learning Initiative to increase the role public libraries play in addressing the needs of young children in the state. Studies on infant brain development have shown that a child’s development before the age of three is just as important for future scholastic success as the skills learned once a child is ready to start school. This makes the hard work by public libraries in Wisconsin to inform parents of the importance of early learning an important part of the overall efforts to help children start school ready to learn.
This year, DPI has awarded several Wisconsin Library Services and Technology Act literacy grants to library systems for innovative adult, family and early literacy programs. Although not all programs are just for early learning, each has a component that focuses on young children. The following is a sampling of just a few of the many helpful programs offered by the state’s public libraries through the DPI grants.
Dane County Library Service: “Every Child Ready to Read”
In the heart of south central Wisconsin, Dane County libraries are working with Head Start and Even Start Family Literacy, programs that serve low-income families.
Through “Every Child Ready to Read” workshops, parents who may be unsure of their own literacy skills receive the tools they need to feel comfortable in their role as their child’s first teacher. There are three workshops, one for each different stage of language development: Early Talker, Talker and Pre-Reader.
Indianhead Federated Library System: “Partnerships for Promoting Early Literacy”
In 10 mostly rural counties in west central Wisconsin, many of the 53 public libraries and four county library services of the Indianhead Federated Library System have already been working to increase information and resources about early brain development and emergent literacy. Now thanks to an LTSA grant, 27 more libraries in the system are providing parents and caregivers with low incomes the education and resources they need to help stimulate brain development in their young children.
Libraries will establish and build on partnerships with other organizations and agencies serving low-income families to increase awareness of library resources and programs, including Better Badger Baby Bus, Head Start and Even Start centers, and public health clinics.
Lakeshores Library System / Mid Wisconsin Federated Library System: “Family Literacy Resources for Grandparents”
An interesting literacy program in eastern Wisconsin is “Grandma, Read to Me: Family Literacy Resources for Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren.” Public libraries in the Lakeshores Library System and the Mid Wisconsin Federated Library System are providing support for grandparents who are primary caregivers for children. The parents of these children cannot care for them for various reasons. While this program is for children of all ages, the grandparents caring for the youngest children can certainly benefit from workshops, programs and story times that focus on the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, and their literacy needs.
Milwaukee Public Library: “Ready to Read with Books2Go”
The “Ready to Read with Books2Go” program is an enhancement of the “Books2Go” program that reaches out to preschool providers that began in 2000 as an LTSA grant and now is funded privately. “Books2Go” brought books from libraries to child care providers. Now, “Ready to Read” will provide in-depth training from literacy instructors on developing pre-literacy skills in children to child care providers and parents at 20 locations.
Ready to Read focuses on six skills necessary for developing pre-literacy skills in young children: narrative skills, letter knowledge, print awareness, vocabulary, print motivation, and phonological awareness. This program has a strong emphasis on brain development and incorporating fun, easy, and educational activities that make a considerable difference in the children’s lives.
South Central Library System: “Building a Community of Emergent Readers”
“Hand-in-Hand: Building a Community of Emergent Readers” is the second year in a Birth-to-3 Early Literacy project. In the first year, librarians built partnerships with community agencies that serve families and learned techniques for presenting developmentally appropriate programs for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. In year two, librarians will focus on innovative methods for educating parents and caregivers about ways to help their children develop early literacy skills.
New forms of publicity, such as public service announcements in English, Spanish and Hmong are being created to attract families who traditionally do not read in the home. SCLS continuing education programs will be provided not only on emergent literacy issues, but also on methods of working with families who live in poverty.
Waukesha County Federated Library System: “Waukesha County Baby Brain Boosters”
Waukesha County Federated Library System (WCFLS) is instituting a four-part “Baby Brain Boosters” program in each of the 16 member libraries.
“Baby Brain Boosters” includes “Baby & Me” birth-to-3 programs at 10 WCFLS libraries that do not currently offer ongoing programs for babies. “Signing with Your Baby” classes, classes in baby sign language and promotional items such as bookmarks, brochures and posters are included. “Baby Brain Boosters” involves outreach and special emphasis on serving Waukesha County’s growing Hispanic population.
For the complete list of 2006 LTSA Adult, Family, and Early Literacy Projects, please visit http://www.dpi.wi.gov/pld/06abstracts.html#literacy%20projects.