Idaho Commission for Libraries

The Idaho Child Care Reads program helps public libraries enhance services for child care providers and the children and families that they work with. Applications from public libraries interested in the program are accepted throughout the year and will be granted as funding allows.
 
The program has the following goals:

1. Children hear at least one story a day in child care and at least one at home.
2. There are adequate numbers of appropriate books in child care settings.
3. All providers are trained to promote language and literacy.
4. Parents are encouraged to talk and read to their children at home.
5. The entire community is involved in promoting literacy.

 
Supporting Research:

• A large-scale study of child-care centers found that television sets were more prominent in low-income child-care centers than books. Over 80 percent of these centers lacked book corners, age-appropriate books, and other print materials for young children (Neuman & Celano, 2001).

 

• Almost 60% of the centers surveyed buy less than 50 books per year, even though they are likely to enroll more than 65 children each year. (National Survey).

 

• In two-thirds of the early childhood classrooms across the United States there are fewer than 50 children’s books. In fact, over 28 percent of classrooms, according to the directors of the programs, are likely to have less than one book per child. (National Survey).

 

• According to the survey, only 26 percent of the books in the collection are in good condition, 49% are considered adequate, and 25 percent are described as in poor condition.

Research shows that providing quality books, training, and library information to child care providers increases the frequency that children are read to and helps achieve the goals stated above. Evaluations from the Idaho Child Care Reads program have been very positive. Child care providers have said they have learned new literacy techniques and plan to increase the amount of time they spend reading and interacting with the children in their care.
 
For each participating library, Idaho Commission for Libraries staff will select, purchase and ship sets of 20 paperback books appropriate for children from birth to age six, a book bag, and one resource book for child care providers in order to provide Child Care Reads training. Some training materials may also be provided.

Librarians will be notified if selected to take part in the project within 10 days of receiving your application. Book sets will be available within four weeks of approving your application.