The Bureau of Library Development in the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, in collaboration with the Early Childhood Services Steering Team comprised of youth services staff from across the state, is excited to announce a new series of Early Childhood Conversations (ECC) a virtual Community of Practice designed to enhance library services for children ages 0-8 across Pennsylvania. These Community of Practice sessions are open to all library staff and volunteers providing services to young children, including school librarians and library school students. The sessions will take place virtually via the Microsoft Teams meeting platform.
The Fall 2024 series will feature sessions divided by topic rather than age group.
Session Schedule:
Session 1: September 17, 1:30-3:00 pm
Participants will discuss specific types of programming for children ages 0-8. You can join breakout rooms based on your interests:
- STEM Programming
- Arts Programming
Session 2: October 22, 1:30-3:00 pm
This session will continue the discussion on programming types for children ages 0-8. Choose from the following breakout rooms:
- Sensory Programs
- Programming that incorporates different languages, including sign language
Session 3: November 19, 1:30-3:00 pm
We will focus on programming for large versus small groups. Explore the benefits and challenges of each format, with discussions tailored to the unique contexts of different libraries.
Session 4: December 17, 1:30-3:00 pm
A show-and-tell format where participants share their favorite resources, such as websites, stories, themes, toys, fingerplays, songs, and activities. Each participant will have the opportunity to flash talk their favorites, and a comprehensive list of discussed resources will be provided.
When you register, you will be enrolled in all four sessions. While attendance at all sessions is encouraged, you may choose to participate only in the ones that interest you. Follow-up information for each session will be provided regardless of your attendance. Please note that the same Teams link will be used for all sessions.
To register, please visit https://forms.office.com/g/W6i5hCb0ud.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the Early Childhood Conversations
What is a Community of Practice?
A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of individuals with a shared passion or professional interest who come together to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices in a specific domain. In this context, the CoP focuses on enhancing early childhood services in public libraries.
Who can participate in these conversations?
Participation is open to all individuals committed to library service for children aged 0-8. This includes children’s services staff from public libraries, volunteers, library directors, school librarians, and library school students concerned with all aspects of library service to young children.
How will the conversations benefit participants?
The conversations are designed to be dynamic information exchange sessions, facilitating the sharing of best practices, innovative ideas, and successful strategies for early childhood services in libraries. Participants will build valuable professional connections with colleagues across the state, collaborate with peers to address common challenges and explore innovative solutions, as well as gain access to resources shared by participants, including program materials, event ideas, and successful initiatives, enhancing your toolkit for creating engaging early childhood programs.
Will the sessions be recorded?
No, the sessions will not be recorded. We encourage active participation and engagement during the live sessions to foster dynamic discussions and knowledge sharing among participants.
Can I participate in more than one session?
Yes, participants are encouraged to engage in all sessions, as each one focuses on different topics and aspects of early childhood programming. The first two sessions will cover specific types of programming, the third will discuss programming for different group sizes, and the fourth will be a show-and-tell session for sharing favorite resources.
Can I get a Continuing Education Certificate for attending?
As these are information exchange conversations and not formal training sessions, continuing education credits are not available for the Early Childhood Conversations.
Join us in this exciting opportunity to enhance early childhood library services and make a positive impact on young children and their families across Pennsylvania. For more information, please contact Heather Smith, Early Childhood Services Advisor for the Bureau of Library Development.
The Bureau of Library Development (BLD) in the Office of Commonwealth Libraries supports libraries and library services for Pennsylvanians through the administration of state and federally funded programs and grant opportunities including LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act), Library Access, LAMP (Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians), the Public Library Subsidy, and Keystone Grants for Public Library Facilities. BLD also provides advisory services, professional development, and continuing education for library staff and volunteer leadership at public, school, academic, and special libraries.
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