Building Strong Communities through Early Childhood Development, Parent Education and Family Support

Birth 25% Wiring of the Brain!

Birth 25% One Year 75% Wiring of the Brain!

Birth 25% One Year 75% Three Years 90% Wiring of the Brain!

How Young Children Learn Relationships are at the core of learning Social-emotional-intellectual learning are inextricably linked Play = Learning The way adults interact with children makes a difference

Objectives for Children encourage social & verbal interaction among children & between parent & child promote early brain development for early literacy, learning & eventual school success have access to developmentally appropriate materials and activities begin the process of lifelong learning

Objectives for Parents increase parent awareness & use of library services & materials introduce parents to community agencies and resources lessen sense of isolation increase knowledge of child development & early literacy support the parent as the child’s first teacher provide a safe place in community to share activities with children when it is convenient for the family encourage parents to talk, play, sing and read aloud early & often feel confident & empowered

Objectives for Libraries Broaden range of children’s services to include infant, toddler & parent services Increase use of library materials appropriate for young children, parents & caregivers Reach new and underserved audiences Institute a new interactive relationship with the community Become a vital community resource for healthy early childhood development, early literacy and family support Develop staff capacity as family support providers

Core Components of a Family Place Library

Collections for Parents/Caregivers and Children Beginning at Birth

Environment and Space

Identify and build relationships with other family serving agencies and outreach to new and underserved audiences

Professionally Trained Staff serving families through partnerships infant brain development child development parent education space design collection development outreach and coalition building running the Parent Child Workshop documentation and evaluation

Parent/Child Workshop Signature Program

Play-based and Informal

Parent and Child Together

Librarian serves as facilitator, early literacy and information specialist

Community Resource Professionals Speech, Hearing, Language & Early Literacy Child Development Nutrition Music, Play and Health

Room Design Play and Book Area Art Activity Area Resource Material Area

Room Design

Parent Child Workshop Format and Audience 5 Weeks Once per week 1 ¼ hours per session For children 1-3 years and parents and caregivers Infant and preschool siblings may attend with registered toddler.

Parent Response “I’m putting more time and effort into being with her and helping her recognize things. Now I shut off the TV, play music and read to her.” “ I talk more and differently. I used to be silent. Now I interact and tell her what I’m doing and point to things and talk about them.” “I let her ‘read’ more. She plays a bigger role now in making decisions, selecting books and songs “ I used to put everything away at home. Now I have books and other things on the tables to talk about. It changed my relationship with my child, my relationship with other children and my relationship with other parents. I would not have missed it.

Family Place Library Benefits Have a proven framework and model Participation in the Family Place Training Institute plus 3 years of technical assistance including one on-site visit Annually updated training materials Participation in National Family Place Libraries™ Symposiums and other training opportunities Affiliation with a nationally recognized family-centered library initiative including use of the trademarked Family Place logo and materials Recognition nationwide as a member of the National Family Place Libraries™ initiative (including inclusion on the Family Place website with links to your library’s website)

National Recognition Publications Talk to Me Baby by Betty Bardige Learning to Read the Word, Language and Literacy in the First Three Years, by Joanne Knapp-Philo Many Families Many Literacies, an International Declaration of Principles, Denny Taylor, ed. Additional publications include books published by ALA and Neal Schuman and articles in American Libraries, Family Support Magazine, and an entire issue of Zero to Three National Partners Sirius Thinking, producer of PBS’ Between the Lions National Association of Mothers’ Centers Parent Child Home Program Get Ready to Read

Director’s Comments “We implemented Family Place in three library systems, Saginaw, Oklahoma City and Norfolk. I can say that in every location, the thing that touched people most was that people understood it and emotionally responded well to it. Family Place has given us a model that we can use immediately. It’s a model that works, a model that makes sense, it’s replicable and staff and the community love it. In each community, Family Place put the library on the radar screens of funders and the city councils.” Norm Maas, Director of the Norfolk Public Library.

Librarian comments “Since becoming a Family Place Library, our library looks different, sounds different and feels different. The Family Place concept has opened up our minds to all that a library can be for its community. The training has provided us with a springboard, propelling us into creating new programs and partnerships, and acquiring new resources for our community. “ — Family Place Coordinator, Shippensburg Public Library, Shippensburg, PA

Family Place Libraries Family Place Libraries™