Libraries are learning hubs that connect families to free resources, activities, and services to cultivate children's learning about topics that excite them. Despite recent technological developments which have revolutionized how we read and access information, libraries continue to evolve in order to serve their communities, especially families…

School librarians are collaborators, making connections with community, school, technology, jobseekers, and individuals with language barriers. They have served as a resource of information to the community and students. As an elementary school librarian, the author has become more creative by seriously listening to school community members. What…

This step-by-step guide gives librarians the information to develop successful, collaborative ventures with other organizations in an effort to provide comprehensive and integrated services for children and families. Each chapter outlines steps to take in the creation of a family-centered library environment. The topics discussed are: serving…

This manual introduces the topic of family literacy programs in libraries and provides guidelines for libraries that are just getting started in family literacy programs as well as libraries that are further developing their existing programs. It is argued that illiteracy tends to be both intergenerational and cyclic, i.e., if a child's parents…

Libraries are faced with changing demographics, emerging technologies, and economic shifts. Families once attended library programs as a unit, children began kindergarten at age five, and libraries offered few programs for children under four. Intact and extended families are a thing of the past. Many children today are raised in single parent…

This planning handbook is designed to help library staff and volunteers organize, implement, and manage a Read-to-Me-Club for pre-reading or read-to-me patrons, and those parents, family members, and caregivers who care for, work with, and read to pre-readers. Nine chapters provide: (1) an explanation and description of a read-to-me program; (2) a…

This document lists 55 ideas for organizing and lending computer equipment, switches, adapters, and software. The first section lists general organizational hints, including labeling of equipment, maintaining regular inventories, and establishing a crisis phone number and contact person to help people figure things out. The second section lists…

This guide to the 1994 summer reading program in Montana provides information and techniques for developing and implementing a summer reading program at public libraries. The first section concentrates on planning and promoting programs, specifying elements of planning, promotion, and program evaluation. "Decorating the Library" contains…

This annotated bibliography lists books, papers, manuscripts and articles on higher education curricula for integrated service providers in the fields of health education and social service for at risk children, youth, and their families. The original project that produced the bibliography aimed to prepare professionals to understand the need to…

This manual is a guide from the Montana State Library for libraries interested in setting up a family reading program with a multicultural theme. The purpose of a family reading program is to encourage reading and foster an enjoyment of reading among children and families. This manual contains an introduction which gives planning information,…

This videtape is a guide hosted by Judy Woodruff to starting and enhancing a library-based family literacy project. Librarians and literacy providers learn: how to do a needs assessment, how to build a team within the library; how to develop a community coalition; how business partners contribute to family literacy programs; and how to recruit…

This manual for the 1992 Texas Reading Club aims to use books as the major focus of all reading club activities and to provide a holistic view of library programing for the reading club and other summer library activities. Following an initial chapter called "Prepare To Set Sail" containing ideas for launching the club, particular…