Bright Beginnings Frequently Asked Questions
If you’d like to know more about this innovative program, please call our Outreach Office at 702-207-4275.
What types of activities comprise the Bright Beginnings program?
- Traditional lapsit story times and parent programs conducted at the Henderson Libraries branches.
- Learn and Play Story Times for infants and toddlers, 0-3 years old, and their caregivers. These are conducted at locations throughout Henderson.
- Ready-for-School Story Times for preschoolers 4–5 years old and their caregivers. These are conducted at locations throughout Henderson.
- Early Literacy Workshops for caregivers, child care providers, volunteer readers, and other adults who work with children from birth to age 8.
- Traveling Book Collections of high-interest, high-quality books for children and parents to enjoy at partner locations throughout Henderson.
- A maintained web page on the Henderson Libraries web site linking to local early literacy, adult literacy, and ESL programs as well as to internet resources.
- A Community Awareness campaign aimed at reaching adults with the information they need to help “build a community of readers!”
Haven’t you been providing story times for years? What’s different?
Story times conducted as part of the Bright Beginnings program are concept-focused programs based on the state of Nevada Pre-Kindergarten Standards and High/Scope Active Learning Practices. They expand on the traditional library story time format by actively involving parents and children in every aspect of the program and including parents as an integral part of the story times so they can learn ways to read and play with their children that will enhance pre-literacy and early literacy skills. We help them turn their every day routines into learning experiences using “teachable moments.”
Because of the hands-on activities included, the take-home materials provided to each family each week, and the enrichment package given to each family who attends a complete program series, Bright Beginnings programs are more expensive and staff-intensive to conduct than a typical story time series. The “Ready for School” programs, for example, cost about $15.00 per child per 10-session series.
To ensure future funding opportunities, we conduct parent surveys or pre- and post-assessments with many of our programs to demonstrate that they truly have a behavioral impact. This, too, is unique to the Bright Beginnings programs.
Why is the public library involved in early literacy?
This is a service response that has been evolving in public libraries for just under a decade now. There is a large body of scientific research available which supports the tremendous impact that enriched early language experiences have on a child’s long term school success. The public library is uniquely positioned to support the early literacy development of young children for several reasons.
- Our services are available to everyone, community-wide, for free.
- A number of our staff members have special training in early literacy “best practices,” and all have a great deal of experience sharing books effectively with young children.
- Youth Services librarians keep abreast of developing trends and research in early literacy and brain development.
- The Public Library Association (a division of the American Library Association), has been actively advising, coordinating, and supporting library-based early literacy initiatives nationwide since about 2001, and has been funding research in support of these types of initiatives since the late 1990’s.
Why is the library involved in training child care providers and volunteers?
Any time a book is shared with a child, a valuable interaction takes place. We know from recent research, however, that simple things can be done by the reader to make the experience even more enriching for the child. This is an area in which children’s librarians excel, and it only makes sense to share our experience with others who work with young children. We are also aware that child care providers in Nevada must attend 15 hours of training each year, and the demand for appropriate classes here in southern Nevada is high. Unfortunately, in reviewing the classes available for these providers, we find that very few have an early literacy focus. This type of training for those who work with our youngest and most impressionable children is crucial, and the public library is well positioned to provide this service.
What are the Traveling (or “Deposit”) Book Collections?
Aimed at children aged 0-8 and their caregivers, these collections of primarily paperback books are housed at up to 12 partner locations throughout the community where parents and children congregate for periods of time. They provide quick and easy access to high-quality and entertaining reading materials that may be enjoyed while waiting for services, or even checked out from our partnering organizations to share at home. The collections are designed to encourage parents and children to develop the reading habit.
Where does the funding for this program come from?
Henderson Libraries provides the staff and many of the resources for developing and conducting this program. Additional sources of major funding are an Institute of Museum and Library Services Innovation Grant administered by the Nevada State Library and Archives; and United Way of Southern Nevada, Success By 6®.
If you’d like to know more about this innovative program, please call our Outreach Office at 702-207-4275.
[Home] [Babies and Toddlers] [Preschoolers] [School Years] [Adults] [English] [Resources][About] [Events] [Gallery] [Contact Us]
