Gives a foundation for understanding developmentally appropriate practice and family centered principles in the library context. Overviews theory and practice in building library environments for children, and emphasizes the importance of the self-review process, providing some 45 pages of field tested measurement instruments to use for conducting a qualitative assessment of a library's children's services, ideal for collecting information that will highlight the importance of early childhood services in presentations to funding sources and trustees. For library professionals. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
This book focuses on making public libraries developmentally appropriate learning environments for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families. The first section covers the theories and practices for librarians to provide social and physical environments in which they, parents, administrators, and the community work together with young children. Each chapter is extensively researched and has its own bibliography. The second section describes the methodologies, strategies, and tools for an "Early Childhood Quality Review" (ECQR), a self-evaluation process. The third section gives replicable questionnaires, observation guides, and other documentation aids necessary to evaluate spaces, programs, and resources. Whether a library chooses to do an ECQR or not, this is a valuable book for its insights into service to young children and gives librarians the tools to evaluate and to improve their spaces.-Patricia Obst, Summit Public Library, NJ
Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Much research has been done on learning styles, brain development, and early childhood education, showing that a quality learning environment is essential for educational success. Unfortunately, most children's librarians do not have the background of early childhood researchers or psychologists. Taking a research-oriented approach to the role of the library in the education of children, this book helps librarians provide their youngest patrons with an environment conducive to learning. The first section outlines the necessary elements for learning. Part 2 illustrates the need for a quality review of an existing library program, and the final section provides the tools necessary to complete the review. This is not a book to be read lightly?one needs to be dedicated to the idea of changing existing programs. There are numerous pages of forms, questionnaires, and checklists to help in the review process, which can be very involved and time-consuming, but for those serious about their patrons, and with time and resources, this is an excellent guide.?Ru Story- Huffman, Hagan Memorial Lib., Cumberland Coll., Williamsburg, KY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
