Delivering the Best Start : A Guide to Early Years Libraries

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is now statutory in the UK for children from birth to five years, and other countries are experiencing similar developments; early years librarians, teachers, nursery nurses, playgroup leaders and childminders all require knowledge of how to promote and encourage communication, language and literary skills. Parental reading with young children is clearly vitally important, and libraries are uniquely placed to support the development of literacy skills in pre-school children.

This book provides an understanding of how children develop such skills through enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences, and is a pioneering practical guide for library and information professionals involved in planning and delivering services in early years libraries. Drawing on the authors' underpinning contemporary research and examples from current best practice, it will equip practitioners with a broad range of knowledge and ideas. Key areas covered include:

take them to the library: the role of the early years professional

people and partnerships: working across interdisciplinary boundaries, and how to involve parents and carers

buildings, design and space: the children's libraries of the future

resources for early years libraries: books, toys and other delights

reaching your audience: the librarian's role

planning and organizing: projects and reading sessions.

User-friendly and accessible, each chapter is clearly structured and sets outs the key issues for practitioners, scenarios offering insights into these, and practical ideas and resources for service provision. The book also includes case studies of successful pre-school library initiatives in a variety of global settings, useful information about relevant organizations, and links to helpful websites.

This valuable text is essential reading for all library and information professionals working with young children - whether those with responsibility for the strategic planning of services, or those involved in delivering them at community level.

Readership

: Essential for students of library and information studies or childhood studies, and practitioners undertaking NVQ qualifications, it also provides a sound background in early years literacy and provision for a range of local authority practitioners, such as nursery teachers and Children's Centre managers.

Carolyn Rankin, Avril Brock