Needs addressed:
Librarians in Chenango County recognized that the need to lay a foundation for literacy skills and library use among very young children (ages birth – 2) was not being adequately met by the few local programs available for this age group. Librarians also expressed a need to increase their own expertise in conducting programs for very young children.

Target audience:
Families with children aged two and younger; specific outreach was extended to low income families through public health, WIC Centers and community based health care centers.

Community partners and their roles:

• Moore Memorial Library – sponsored a workshop for library personnel on programming for the youngest child; implemented 10 lap-sit programs at nine library locations; produced publicity and materials to support programs; created a prescription form that was distributed to health care centers and could be redeemed for free books; evaluated program.
• Success By 6 – facilitated planning between libraries and health care centers; printed forms and helped publicize program.
• Chenango Memorial Hospital, Lourdes Center for Family Health, WIC – attended planning meetings, distributed prescription forms through clinic staff.

Specific activities:

• Daylong workshop on programming for the youngest child was sponsored for library personnel
• 10 lap-sit programs were designed and conducted at nine library locations. Each adult attending programs was provided with copies of the books presented so that he/she could share them with his/her child. Weekly handouts with rhymes and songs distributed to parents.
• "Prescription" forms distributed at health care centers to encourage low-income families to visit libraries to redeem them for free books.
• Evaluations conducted with parents and library staff to measure success of program.

Staffing:

• Library Staff - 216 hours
• Project Staff: - 390 hours
• Library System Staff – 170 hours

Costs:

• Support Staff Salaries - $1,296
• Purchased Services - $10,994
• Materials and Supplies - $8,034

Additional Funding – posters donated by Peaceable Kingdom Press - $175; Rx forms contributed by cooperating agency - $20; books and materials purchased by library to support program - $746

Evaluation:

• Quantitative Measures – program attendance, number of prescription forms redeemed
• Qualitative Measures – parent surveys, comments of library staff

Changes/recommendations:

• Relying on health care professionals to distribute publicity requires a very active library presence to sustain their involvement.
• Other organizations serving children and other avenues of promotion should be included.
• Libraries should be involved in the promotion process.

Categories of service:

1. Service to Children Under 3 – Toddler Programs
2. Services to Low-Income Families
3. Parent Education

Last modified on February 29, 2000/djr
URL: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/parchld/moore.htm