The American Library Association reminds us that early literacy “does not mean early reading instruction or teaching babies to read; it is the natural development of skills through the enjoyment of books, the importance of positive interactions between babies and parents, and the critical role of literacy-rich experiences.” With this important lesson in mind, the Sherman Center for Early Learning in Urban Communities partnered with the Judy Centers at Lakeland and Curtis Bay Elementary/Middle Schools to launch the “Families, Libraries, and Early Literacy Program” (Early Literacy Program, ELP).
The goal of the Early Literacy Program was to introduce the Judy Centers’ parents and caretakers of young children (birth-3) to the wonderful services and resources available to them through the Enoch Pratt Free Library system and facilitate their regular use of the system to promote their children’s language and literacy development. In addition to encouraging families to use the library to create literacy-rich home environments, we provided them with choices of books from our diverse books project to enhance their personal collections of beloved stories.
Four times a year, our faculty and staff, along with the Lakeland and Curtis Bay Judy Centers, and the Brooklyn branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, met with families at community-based locations to share books and information, develop materials, and model activities that promoted early literacy and a young child’s love of reading.
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Lakeland Judy Center participants at the Lakeland STEAM Center event:
Curtis Bay Judy Center participants at the Enoch Pratt Library, Brooklyn Branch event:
