Concepts In Practice

Many California libraries have spent years dedicating resources and staff expertise to designing early learning services for families. It is through their work and the more recent efforts of the ELF initiative that promising practices have expanded.

These libraries have integrated elements into their programs that reflect evidence-based practice, which supports the development of infants, toddlers and preschoolers as they participate with their families and caregivers in early learning.

These practices include opportunities for:

• Parents to be recognized and share their expertise about their children;
  • County of Los Angeles Public Library
  • Santa Cruz Public Libraries
• Children to experiment and explore as they discover their world;
  • Beaumont Library District
  • Santa Cruz Public Libraries
• Play as a critical element of early learning;
  • County of Los Angeles Public Library
  • Whittier Public Library
• Child development information to be shared with parents and child care providers;
  • Contra Costa County Library
  • County of Los Angeles Public Library
  • San Francisco Public Library
  • San Mateo County Library
• Collaboration among library staff and literacy services to create a welcoming environment and deliver ELF programs;
  • Butte County Library
  • Oxnard Public Library
• Partnerships with community agencies to provide a range of research-based early learning practices and family support services; and
  • Butte County Library
  • Contra Costa County Library
  • San Francisco Public Library
  • Santa Cruz Public Libraries
• An environment with enhanced features and resources to engage families and welcome infants, toddlers and young children with their parents and childcare providers.
  • County of Los Angeles Public Library