Contributors: Phyllis Davis, Head of Children/Youth Services, Matteson Public Library, Lora Van Marel, Preschool Services Coordinator, Orland Park Public Library, Maureen Mason, Head of Youth & Teen Services, Lansing Public Library, Sharon O'Leary, Department Manager of Youth Services, Park Forest Public Library, Sue Schlicker, Head of Youth Services, South Holland Public Library.

In fall 2009, Phyllis Davis, Head of Children/Youth Services at Matteson Public Library learned how the lack of state funding to her community’s child care providers impacted continuing education programs. The Illinois state’s budget cuts reduced the number of classes being offered.  With fewer offerings, and  given the yearly 15 credit hour requirements that a child care provider needs to stay open, , the demand and competition increased.

Phyllis investigated the requirements for hosting these training sessions. She discovered that the content followed the Every Child Ready to Read literary model, something that public and school libraries already had in practice.  She saw a community need that her library could fill . Phyllis decided to share this with the other Youth Service librarians at the public libraries in her surrounding area  who meet as part of the Children’s Librarians Association of the South Suburbs (CLASS) group.  Several other libraries expressed interest and together in January 2010 they launched a series of Free Continuing Education workshops for Child Care Providers.

The libraries involved in the initial series included:

    * Matteson Public Library (http://www.mattesonpubliclibrary.org)
    * Orland Park Public Library (http://www.orlandparklibrary.org)
    * Lansing Public Library (http://www.lansing.lib.il.us)
    * Park Forest Public Library (http://www.pfpl.org)  
    * South Holland Public Library (http://www.southhollandlibrary.org)

The other half of the partnership was to connect with the Good Shepherd Center (www.act4children.org) that supplies the certification, handles registration and provides staff to assist on the day of the event.

The topics already covered in 2010 include:

    * Every Child Ready to Read (Age 3-5), Matteson Public Library,  January 30, 2010
    * Free Resources @ Your Public Library, Lansing Public Library,  February 27, 2010
    * Every Child Ready to Read (Age Birth to 36 Months), Orland Park Public Library, March 6, 2010
    * The Importance of Integrating Math and Science into Basic Literacy Lessons, Park Forest Public Library, April 17, 2010
    * Circle Time Sampler, South Holland Public Library, April 24, 2010.

Phyllis serves as project coordinator. The volunteer libraries provide meeting space, handouts, select a presentation topic and a staff presenter.

Orland Park Public Library’s presentation provided handouts on six early literacy skills. Instructor Lora Van Marel, Preschool Services Coordinator,  included time for questions, brainstorming, hands-on activities, finger-plays and songs.  A large selection of book recommendations for birth-3 years was provided and  participants had opportunities to browse the books and ask questions.
 
Lansing Public Library’s workshop on Free Resources @ Your Library promoted public libraries and provided information and resources available to child care providers.  They discussed  the Metropolitan Library System and how to take advantage of inter-library loan as a resource for getting access to the most materials possible. “Searching the online catalog and library website was the biggest hit, while several attendees commented on borrowing from the library’s collection of book/puppet kits and setting up group visits to their local libraries,” commented Maureen Mason, Head of Youth & Teen Services.

Sharon J. O’Leary, Youth Services Manager at Park Forest Public Library conducted a hands-on workshop for caregivers on the importance of fostering an early interest in math and science. 

“Working with children every day, we see too many students that lack confidence in their ability to tackle challenging projects in these two disciplines. This unfortunate attitude towards math and science will continue in families and settings where math and science are “not fun.”  We can overcome this cycle by promoting the teaching of basic concepts to children at a time when we can take advantage of a preschooler’s natural curiosity and desire to explore,” said Sharon.

Sue Schlicker, Head of Youth Services at South Holland Public Library described her library’s contributing workshop entitled “Circle Time Sampler” as six pre-school themes. Each theme included a display of books, audio-visual materials and sample crafts.  Bibliographies, finger-plays and masters of crafts were provided and participants had an opportunity to make one of the crafts at the event.

Each participating library had a different reason for getting involved.

Phyllis at Matteson Public Library saw the workshops as a win-win for everyone.  “The child care providers in my community would get the CE credits at a low cost, others would benefit from not being bound to just their library, and the programs also advocated for libraries”.

Lansing decided to participate as a service to child care provides who work out of their homes.  Maureen stated, “We have many small day care groups that visit our library regularly so I wanted to help those individuals as best I could.  It was a good way for them to earn continuing education credits. Hopefully our participation promoted awareness and understanding of public libraries as a useful partner to the day care providers.  My goal was to make the participants feel empowered, confident and comfortable when they use the library.”

Orland Park Public Library volunteered to introduce new concepts to the local caregivers and teachers.  “Plus the workshop was a good way to get the library’s name out there. Many of the participants had not been to our library before and were able to look around and even check out materials after the program”, added Lora.

Park Forest welcomed the chance to share its information and ideas with professionals within its community who work with children every day.  Sharon added, “We also hope to receive additional ideas and feedback from participating daycare providers so we can better measure the effectiveness of early skill lessons.”  

Sue Schlicke from South Holland mentioned that her library became involved because they saw it as “an opportunity to get acquainted with the daycare providers in their area. Hopefully in return, they will see that libraries have many resources available for their use.”

Feedback from the workshop attendees has been very positive, so far.

Orland Park’s workshop required attendee participation and everyone jumped in and sang and discussed. After the event, the attendees took leftover handouts to bring back to their colleagues and schools.  “A pair of teachers told me this was the best workshop they had been to for their continuing education credit,” stated Lora.

More workshops are planned for later in the year.

Child care providers can register with the Good Shepherd Center at (708) 957-2600 or at http://www.act4children.org. Libraries interested in joining this effort or starting a similar series of workshops in their community should contact Phyllis Davis at pdavis@sslic.net.

Published May 5, 2010 in vol. 4, iss. 9 [View]