These issue papers were prepared for a series of seminars that were sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education's Center for Libraries and Education Improvement, held in part of the Libraries and the Learning Society Project. These seminars brought together librarians, educators, library users, and others to focus on the most effective role for…

The newborn is amazingly equipped to acquire language and literacy--these early years are the foundation upon which later learning is built. Drawing on current research, the authors of this book examine the elements of beginning language and literacy and look at how families, programs, and communities can encourage beginning language and literacy…