Board of Early Education and Care FY09 Early Childhood Resource Centers (ECRC) FY09 Request for Responses (RFR) Criteria May 13, 2008

Early Childhood Resource Centers FY09 Request for Responses (RFR) Background Information Project created in July 1992 by MA Department of Education. Provides access to a variety of educational resources and materials to teachers, providers, administrators, trainers, consultants and families. Dispersed geographically across the state. Six sites: Brockton Public Library - Brockton Cape Cod Children’s Place - North Eastham Child Care Resource Center - Cambridge Haverhill Public Library - Haverhill Preschool Enrichment Team - Springfield UMass Medical Center Pediatric Library/Child Care Connection - Worcester FY08 funding: $60,000; $10,000 per site.

Early Childhood Resource Centers FY09 Request for Responses (RFR) Overview of Program Purpose: facilitate the availability and accessibility of current early childhood resource materials to early childhood professionals and families covering all geographic regions in Massachusetts. Materials: range in scope from professional early education books, parenting books, children’s books, curriculum and curriculum kits, assessment kits, puppets, and videos/DVDs. Services: catalog/house/maintain early childhood resources, purchase appropriate current early childhood resources, maintain relationships with local coordinators of EEC initiatives and local public school early childhood and special education departments, provide child/family events and activities and teacher/provider workshops. FY07 Data Parent/Provider Workshops Family Workshops Brockton 4 11 Cape 3 4 Cambridge 5 11 Haverhill 2 23 Springfield 1 9 Worcester 5 0 #of Participants #Resources loaned Brockton 625 501 Cape 140 2500 Cambridge 520 219 Haverhill 1742 3177 Springfield 370 288 Worcester 278 453

Early Childhood Resource Centers FY09 Request for Responses (RFR) FY09 Proposal / Recommendation The new RFR seeks to establish public libraries as lead agent to: Coordinate and broaden statewide access and dissemination of early childhood resources; Increase access to resources for all parents, schools, programs and EEC funded entities – MFN, PCHP, Reach Out and Read, CPC, and CCR&Rs; Gain greater visibility of materials and parenting information – both written and web - to appropriate services for child/parent/family access; and Promote early literacy for families through library membership and connection.

Early Childhood Resource Centers FY09 Request for Responses (RFR) Proposed Required Services Ensure library webpage includes on-line catalogue of materials and E-links to each ECRC and EEC; Establish collaborative working relationships with local coordinators of EEC initiatives; Provide technical assistance and support to patrons regarding the early childhood collection; Purchase up-to-date early childhood materials; Offer early education training/workshops and/or children/family presentations; and Promote awareness of books, DVDs/videos, curriculum, and theme kits available for loan to children, families, teachers, providers, consultants, trainers, and administrators in the field of early education and care.

Early Childhood Resource Centers FY09 Request for Responses (RFR) Proposed RFR Timeline Board vote on RFR May 13, 2008 RFR posted Mid May 2008 Funds awarded July 1, 2008