My job title is Early Literacy Specialist, and I’m pretty I would neither have that job title, nor would my job even exist (in it’s present form), without Every Child Ready to Read. I discovered ECRR shortly after it was introduced in 2004 and it was, in all honesty, career-changing. I was hooked on empowering parents through 5 simple practices (or, 6 skills in the first iteration) to help their children get ready to read and fascinated by the brain science behind it. Libraries around the country, including mine, began being more intentional in their storytimes about talking to parents about how the things they were doing were helping children develop vital pre-reading skills.
ECRR changed the focus of storytime from the child to the parent. Has this change in focus been effective, though? Are we having an impact?
It was, then, with great pleasure that today I attended Susan Neuman’s presentation on her latest research, funded by a grant given to PLA and ALSC, into how libraries implementing ECRR has impacted families.
The grant looked at:
- Libraries social institutions that enable parents and caregivers to build social capital that can then be grown into information capital;
- Early literacy opportunities – not the specific outcomes (like test scores) but in terms of play and interaction; and
- Parent engagement.
The grant is a three year project and Neuman was reporting on year 1. Her methodology involved observations/ethnography in libraries, interviewing library staff, observing and recording some storyhours, surveying parents, and looking at librarians’ activities. She visited libraries in several states, and in each state at least two different library systems.
Her findings: there have been shifts in four areas:
- Library spaces: They have become more interactive; families hang out more. They are social centers where families engage with each other and interact. Libraries have spaces now for play and interaction, and books are included in that “play” which adds to the connection between books and joy. Parents are more frequently getting on the floor and engaging with their children.
- Librarians’ roles: Librarians are now taking on an educator or parent educator role. We are seen as more “hip” and as community workers. We are becoming role models and confidantes to parents. Those who go to work in libraries do it more so now from a desire to “do good” in the community than from a love of books. Librarians are increasingly trained in early childhood education and early literacy, and are gaining legitimacy as early literacy specialists.
- Programming strategies: Libraries are programming now around things like “guided play” and preparing children for school. Programming also includes socializing with others, engaging families more integrally in the activities with children, more multicultural and diverse programming, and using an expansive definition of literacy – it’s not just reading books, but also singing, talking, writing, etc. that are all part of literacy growth. Parents are expected to participate in storytime now, and we include parent “asides” are included.
- Library’s role in the community: We are community spaces, cafes, and welcome diverse families.
What does this mean for us?
Well, honestly, my own feeling is that those of us who work in early literacy in libraries know that these changes have taken place (although it’s nice to have a study to back it up). But this research is important to share with those outside our circles who haven’t yet figured out all that we’re doing to help parents help their children. When Neuman publishes this study, I will be the first to try and get it into the hands of those who still don’t “get” it and forget to include the library when forming task forces or committees to discuss growing test scores or increasing the number of children reading on grade level at 3rd grade or empowering communities. I may share it with funders as evidence of how the work we’re doing is promoting family engagement. The work we are doing IS having an impact – now we need to keep telling our story about that impact.
If you’d like to read more about Neuman’s research, check out “Libraries emerging as leaders in parent engagement” and “Libraries at the Ready” (you will need your ala login and password for access to this one)