Partners
Partners
Statewide partnerships have been established with California organizations that share a similar mission and that focus on supporting families and child care providers with very young children. Through these state level relationships, ELF libraries have been encouraged to initiate collaborations locally.
As a result of local partnerships, libraries have expanded their available expertise, outreach to families, visibility in the community and available resources. 
- Specialists in child development, health related topics, parental concerns and other areas of interest are included in library programs.
- Libraries reach a broader population of families through outreach and recruitment in partnership with family focused agencies. Connections can be made with hard to reach families who may not be typical library patrons as services are brought to the community.
- Partner agencies become representatives of as well as advocates for the local library's early learning initiative. The library's message is communicated as their partners work in the community, serve on committees and present the case in support of early learning.
- Libraries and agencies combined efforts present a more appealing case for increasing support and resource allocation for early learning programs. Through these partnerships, funders have taken notice, recognized the value and awarded grants to ELF libraries.
State partnerships have been established with these organizations:
- California Department of Education's Child Development Division,
- First 5 California Children and Families Commission,
- California Public Television (Acrobat pdf, 23K),
- California Child Care Resources and Referral Network, and
- Zero to Three, western office.