For many, MANY years, library staff who worked with youth had anecdotal evidence of the importance of reading, summer library programs, interactions of caring adults with kids relating to their literacy rate and other youth librarian interventions and interactions with kids and reading. But there was very little research to back-up those anecdotes we all knew so well.
A huge breakthrough in the field of research in early literacy and libraries occurred at the turn of the millennium. Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) was introduced by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA) in 2004 and provided research-based practices that completely changed the course of how - and why - library staff present preschool storytimes. The six literacy skills and, in 2011, the five literacy practices were grounded in solid research that made these sweeping changes possible.
ALSC continues to support research in Early and Family Literacy through one of their newest committees. This research can help all of us in frontline library positions.
In a recent ALSC post, committee member Joanna Ward shares the work of the committee and their toolkit that helps you view the research yourself. Joanna writes: "EFL members regularly search for articles and reports on research findings that can help the ALSC community provide the highest quality research-based early literacy services in libraries, support best early literacy practices in our communities, be more responsive to the needs in our communities, explain to stakeholders and policymakers the purpose and value of the work we do, better advocate for the children we serve, spark new ideas, and increase equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work."
Read all about what research the toolkit contains and how to access it here at the ALSC blog.
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